United We Spy

Just yesterday, the series that has been a major player in my life ended. That's right, after eighteen months of waiting, United We Spy, the final chapter in Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series, came out.

I bought this book at six o'clock last night, and finished it at about two o'clock this afternoon. I was so excited, and wanted to see the end! In some ways, I wasn't disappointed, and in other ways, I was.

This book, set a few months after the events of Out of Sight, Out of Time, follows our heroes as they track down the leaders of the Circle, stop them from starting World War Three, and face graduation. I must say, the characters themselves are much less involved in the actual task of finding the people than I has expected. The parental figures in the series tried to keep them out of it for their own protection, but since when do our favorite Gallagher Girls (and Gallagher Guy) ever followed adults' instruction?

In my opinion, overall, this was a great book, and a semi-satisfying end to the series. It closed the arc, and the characters came full circle (no pun intended). Yet, there were things I disliked about this, such as:

There were many things which happened in this book that should have been major plot points, but were just glazed over! Several characters which we haven't seen since Cross my Heart and Hope to Spy show up, but they only get half a chapter, and no explanation of where they have been since then, or why/how they were in the story now. Backstory on one of the main four girls is given, and it is a basis for the rest of the events of the book, but really isn't explained very well. One of the members of the Circle hints to their motive in joining, but we never learn the extent of it, and Cammie didn't express any interest in finding out! A character is revealed to be much more than an acquaintance of the main characters, but that fact isn't delved into really.

At the very end, there is an event which was, to me, jumping the shark, and really sad, and didn't really add to the plot. Well, I guess it did add to the heart feels which were in Liz's valedictorian speech.

Within the book, Cammie talk to several of the heirs of the Circle's founders. With each one, she finds herself about to hear the Circle's plan, then the heir died, the secret along with them. This got old rather quickly.

There were things I really enjoyed, too! I enjoyed how Ally experimented with the characters being in different environments and situations, and how changes affected their abilities. Of course, there was the common theme of Ally Carter books where one moment my heart was being broken, then my mind being blown, then both being mended.

And then, ZAMMIE SCENES. I loved how, against other YA fiction of today, they didn't get too sexual. They were just little take in the moment, taking in being together, taking in being alive together, romantic moments that just seemed to define the couple.

I also loved how Ally, in these last few books, has pulled in facts from previous books that at the time seemed meaningless, but ended up playing a big part in the long run. It gave me a feeling of, What other hints have I missed? This is why I consider her one of the most clever authors I have ever known. She makes her readers go back and re-read. Which I would do, anyway. Even if the series is over, I still hold fast to the fact that I will forever in my heart be a Gallagher Girl.

Which leads me to... the dedication. Ally dedicated UWS, "For all the Gallagher Girls- past, present, and future.The way Ally loves her fans makes me love her even more as an author. This series has been as much a part of her life as it has been of ours: it was not just something she wrote to put bread on the table. It was also for us.  And for herself, and the world she had created and felt like a part of.

And that world has come to its end. I cry as I write this, because this series began it all. Without it, I might never have wanted to write: fiction or otherwise. And outside of that, it has changed me, and how I view the world (not that I am placing it as a higher book than the Bible, of course!) And it also led me to befriend a girl who now I can't imagine life without. God works in mysterious ways: He planted an idea in Ally's head, knowing one day it would lead other girls to.. however it affected their lives, and how it would lead me to be a writer, and a friend. I am still grateful for that.

So, what started with unwrapping a package under a tree one cold Christmas morning ends on a rainy day in Spetember. I wish all of you happy reading, and God bless. I look forward to what else God has in store. Here's to Gallagher Girls, and to the new Embassy Row!

" 'So this is good-bye?' I asked.
   'Come on, Gallagher Girl' Zach turned to me. He winked. 'What would be the odds of that?'"

Reached

I can admit when I'm wrong. So, now that is what I am here to do. I was wrong about Reached being the worst book in the Crossed series by Ally Condie.

Granted, it wan't the best either.

(Warning: Spoilers for previous two books ahead) This book takes place almost immediately after the events of Crossed. Our first perspective is from Xander. He, while performing his duties as a medic, encounters the fulfillment of a long-told, and very obscure and obtusely played out prophecy: a terrible disease, literally called The Plague, has made its way to within the bounds of The Society, which causes chaos in a world where there is supposed to be no such thing as sickness.

So, our heroes are now bound on a mission to the Outer Provinces to research for a cure to be distributed by the Rising. During that period, the Plague mutates, and even Ky (as an obvious ploy to make an otherwise sort of boring Outbreak-esque story dramatic) succumbs to it, only causing Cassia to work even harder towards the cure.

We encounter a lot of complicated conspiracy within the Society, and the Rising, and forced romance, and other stuff. What will be the fate of our heroes' country?

Overall, I thought this was pretty good, and though I said earlier that it was sort of boring, it did have its exciting points. I have to admit, I enjoyed the drama with Ky falling sick. It was refreshing to get away from the cliche of the heroine turning to damsel in distress, only for the hero to come in and save the day at the last minute, which is what I had expected once I had wrapped my head around the Plague. I was intrigued by how during the time Ky is sick, we get a deeper insight into his mind, and a little of his past that we still don't know.

One thing I did not like, however, was the cliche distopian open-ending. An election is being tallied at the end of the book, and we don't get any idea as to who actually wins (unless you count Ky and Cassia telling how they voted). Really, Condie, really? I also could have stood a bit more explanation on how the Plague worked. We see the symptoms, but not the disease, if that makes sense.

This was a great book, even though it didn't completely close the series. All three books are on my personal shelf :D

Towering

I just finished Alex Flinn's newest book, Towering. Just as Beastly was based off of the timeless story of the Beauty an the Beast, Towering is based on Rapunzel.

This book switched from the perspectives of Wyatt, a boy who just lost his best friend and moved to this town called Catskill, and Rachel, a girl who has never known anyone besides a woman she calls Mama, though she knows that she isn't her real mother. She has lived locked up in a tower in the woods of Catskill since she was very young.

Wyatt moves in with the mother of a friend of her mom's, Mrs. Greenwood, whose daughter disappeared eighteen years ago, and was presumed dead. The first night, Wyatt finds the diary of this girl, and then comes face to face with her ghost, right before Greenwood comes in a scolds him for being in her daughter's room.

He reads the diary, and investigates her disappearance, and the strange singing he keeps on hearing, when no one else does. He discovers Rachel, hidden in the tower all other people thought was abandoned.

The two, of course, fall in love, and together find out a creepy secret about their town.

I didn't enjoy this book. Sure, I loved the mystery of Catskill, but other than that, I really didn't understand it. Even though we got backstories, some of the things in the story still seemed to have loose ends. I can't say much more on that, since I don't do spoilers (except to tease my friends :D )

Also, the romance didn't feel right. In Beastly, you could connect to the characters and fall in love with them. In this book, since Wyatt didn't meet Rachel until halfway through the book, so their relationship was sort of rushed. In general, the individual characters didn't get a lot of time to become relate-able and enjoyable. 

If this, all by itself, were a mystery novel, it would be an amazing story. But in this case, it has to live up to the magic and familiarity of its fairytale, and being a romantic story. In the second case, I think Flinn has failed. In a general opinion, I believe she peaked when she wrote Beastly, and has struggled to live up to the hype it received ever since. 

Middle Ground

Katie Kacvinsky released a sequel to her dystopian novel, Awaken, called Middle Ground. Since I liked its predecessor (until its-non-ending), I got this book and finished reading it today.

This story takes place almost immediately after the events of its predecessor. Maddie is supposed to be keeping a low profile, since she is technically supposed to be in a detention center. Of curse, this proves impossible for our rebellious heroine, because almost as soon as the book begins, we find her causing a ruckus in a virtual dance club in L.A. and nearly getting arrested. And guess who had already been there? Justin.

Maddie isn't immediately arrested, but the very next day, Damon, her probation officer, comes to her brother's apartment, where she is staying while she's in California, and takes her to the local detention center. What is supposedly a rehabilitation clinic, detention centers end up being torture centers. I refuse to describe exactly how this is, because it is so disturbing one has to read it for themselves to actually believe it.

I still liked this book, but not nearly as much as its predecessor, mainly because of the scenes in the detention center. Just the same, it had added morals to its overall theme: live. Now it's: live, and stay strong.

I can't decide which dystopian government has disturbed me the most: The government in The Giver, Matched, or this series- all have their ways of manipulating people to their ideals so they can be controlled easier. I guess that's part of why these stories have so much appeal- everyone loves to hate them.

Again, this series has seemed to have less to do with rebelling over abuse of technology, and more to do with Justin and Maddie's relationship. Not that I don't LOVE Justin and wish I had one for myself, but I would appreciate it if the content of a book actually followed its official plot.

As seems cliche for this genre, the story didn't end: it stopped, leaving it open for a potential sequel. This ANNOYS ME to no end! I want to know the resolution of THIS BOOK'S CONFLICT in THIS BOOK, NOT the sequel which is creepier than its predecessor.

Sorry if I'm ranting, this is just my opinion. This book is good, and it's another one of those books I recommend, but at the same time don't recommend

Crossed

I finished the sequel to Matched today. I'm afraid that this series will end up like the Hunger Games, and digress in plot quality as the series goes on. This book caused these expectations. When I review it, keep in mind that there will be spoilers from Matched. Read with caution!

This book half revolves around Cassia searching for Ky in the Outer Provinces, and half revolves around finding the mythical "Rising", the rebellion against the Society. Cassia and Ky switch off narration by chapter, which is okay at first, but after a while confused me. After Cassia found Ky, they're at the same places, the same events are going on, and the tone of Cassia and Ky's narrations are very similar, so you really have to pay attention to the first page of a chapter or you'll be totally lost until you see "Cassia said" in what you thought was her chapter.

I have fallen in love with how much Ky loves Cassia, and how devoted he is to running from the Outer Provinces, where he has been "fighting" the war with the Enemy, and getting back to Society so he can at least send a message to Cassia. The same goes for Cassia's devotion to Ky, even though he's not exactly the guy I'd fall for.

My hatred for the Society has grown, as we discover that the blue tablet, said to save a citizen when taken, actually is poison to slow you down if taken, to keep you in one place so the Society could find you, or kill you if you have rebelled against the Society and are outside of their range of help. Not that I'm surprised.

This book doesn't end. It just stops. What is Cassia's work in Central? Why wasn't she reclassified? Has Xander told her his secret? Is Ky going to be okay? Does he still have Cassia's grandfather and Vick's tissue samples?

So, overall, this is an OK book, but it lacks a certain something that I was looking for. I do not have much hope for Reached, the final book, coming out in November. I'll still read it, of course. I still like the series, but I think Reached will be the worst of all the trilogy.

I am Here!

The other day, I read a manga book for the first time ever. My friend recommended I do t, so I decided to at least try, even if it is a bit unusual.

I read I am Here! Volume 1 by Ema Toyama. It revolves around the story of a girl, Hikage Sumino , who is basically invisible to others. Her only friends are the two people who comment on her daily blog. But when the most popular boys in her class talks to her, she decides to re-invent herself.

I liked this story, because at times I can relate to Hikage, though not so much anymore, now that I am in high school. I thought the romance between Hikage and Hinata was super sweet! Hinata is awesome, and cute! Yet, so are all anime guys...

I thought the character development was a little bit rushed. I expected this book to be about her getting to know Hinata, and becoming stronger and gradually more confident because of him, and gradually she would become more and more outgoing. But no. At the very end of this book, she announces in front of the whole class that she had always felt invisible, and Hinata was the only person who saw her, and suddenly her classmates are all buddy-buddy with her.

Speaking of her classmates, Aya and her crew were so mean! I really didn't like her! I didn't really understand why she said "This is all your fault.". What is all Hikage's fault??

Overall, I liked this book. I want to get the second book, but my dad doesn't approve of me reading manga. When he saw the book, he asked me "Why don't you read a REAL book?" and I don't imagine he'll let me get the next one. I don't know. I understand where he's coming from, but I do usually read real books! This was just for fun, to take a break! Why can't he just let me enjoy it?

Until next time- happy reading!

Matched

I recently read this novel by Ally Condie as filler material between Gallagher Girl books. I LOVED IT! Here's Matched:

This story revolves around Cassia, who lives many years in the future, in the world now known as the Society. The government gives you everything: your home, your clothes, your jobs, deliver your food to your house, and even...your spouse. You are "Matched" (hence the title) once you turn seventeen, but aren't officially married until you turn twenty-one.

At Cassia's Match Banquet, where she will see and meet her Match for the first time, she is shocked to discover that her Match is her best friend, Xander. Most people are Matched with people outside of their province, someone they have never met, so this is very extraordinary. Cassia is very satisfied, happy, and excited on beginning her new life with him.

Each person Matched receives a silver box containing the equivalent of a flash drive with information about their Match on it. When Cassia views hers, just to see Courtship Regulations and a few tidbits she might not already knew, Xander's face disappears, replaced with another boy's- and Cassia knows him, too. An Official tells her it is just a rare glitch. A malfunction. But she's conflicted.

Cassia suddenly finds herself constantly encountering the other boy, Ky. She gradually falls in love with him, and vice versa. She now has to choose: Xander, and a life of safe predictability, or Ky, and a life of new experiences.

I thought this book was AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! I love stories that take place in a dystopian future. They always make me wonder if that really would be us someday. This Society seems the most realistic of that in any other book I've read. I like it more, because the Society at least gives some choice in life. But of course, the government is worse than any I've seen. They base everything off of percentages and predictions. Every so often they purposely throw a curve ball into someone's life just to see the outcome.

The characters themselves, as seems the way in this genre, are all flat, except for the narrator, Cassia. Except maybe Ky. Sweet, mysterious Ky. Of course, I say that, when I sort of like Xander better. It's a toss up, really. Why does everything have to have a love triangle and make you pick sides?!? I find that more and more in YA fiction these days. It is becoming cliche.

I loved this book, and am currently reading its sequel, Crossed. It confuses me so far, because the narration switches off between Ky and Cassia. I am liking it OK, but it isn't as good as the first. But I AM starting to like Ky better. Mostly because Xander only appears in the second and fourth chapters.... And Ky is super sweet and REALLY loves Cassia. I will review the entire book once I finish, probably sometime over the long weekend. Oh yeah, happy labor day weekend! Bye!

Edited to add: Poems seemed to play a theme in this book, which I really don't understand.

Awaken

I just finished reading Awaken by Katie Kacsvinsky, a dystopian novel that takes place 48 years in the future. I had to read this for my summer reading assignment. i had never heard of this book before, but I'm glad I have now.

48 years in the future, people's lives all take place online: school, dates, movies, friendships, and you can just delete the parts of you that you don't like. People rarely go outside into the real world anymore. The main character and narrator, Maddie, is perfectly happy with this life. Until she meets Justin on a homework help site.

He takes her outside, shows her what the real world is like. He teaches her how to feel, see things for what they are, and to live in the moment. It makes her think that things should be different. But her father created Digital School. And she's already been caught rebelling against it once, three years ago.

As Maddie falls in love with Justin, she has to choose where her loyalty lies: with her family, and a life plugged in, or with her boyfriend, who is rebelling against all she's ever known, but, deep down, knows is wrong. What she chooses isn't surprising.

This book is more about learning to live, and Maddie's relationship with Justin than rebelling against DS. It's a sweet romance and all, but I like it when all aspects of a story are touched to their fullest. Overall, the characters were pretty flat, except for Maddie. I was very disappointed in the ending, because it left you feeling like nothing had really been solved, except that Maddie has learned about feeling, real people, and the real world. DS is still going strong. It left me thinking, That's it? 


I hope that Kacsvinsky plans on releasing a sequel, because I am curious to find out what becomes of all of the characters, and the world around them. The next book I review will probably be When the Legends Die by Hal Borland, the other book I am supposed to read this summer. Until then, arrivederci!

Kingdom Keepers IV-V

Today, I finished Ridley Pearson's latest novel, Shell Game, aka Kingdom Keepers V. It occurs to me I never reviewed Kingdom Keepers IV, Power play. I shall revise that now, by reviewing both books.

Power Play: With Maleficent and Chernabog in prison, things are finally returning to normal for the Keepers. The Keepers are just settling in, Philby gets a video call form Wayne, telling him that the Overtakers are regrouping and planning a jailbreak for their leaders. It's up to the Keepers to stop them.

The stakes are higher now: some Overtakers are DHIs now. They have control of which Keepers cross over or not. Worse, they have started casting spells on children, and they follow their every whim. Paranoia sets in as the Keepers no longer know who to trust, when the OTs are going to attempt their jailbreak, or how.

New Overtakers introduced are Cruella de Vil, the Huns, Jafar the Evil Queen from Snow White, and Judge Frollo.

The Keepers come to realize that the good Disney characters are forming an army to fight with the Keepers. They are missing their leader: Mickey, who disappeared not long before they started tearing down Toontown. The OTs are expanding onto the cruise ships just as the DHIs are, in two weeks.

This book is easily my favorite, or second favorite in the series. It explains a lot about how the DHI technology works.

Shell Game: The Keepers are trading off patrol of the Disney maintenance base in Disney's Hollywood Studios to fend of OT attacks.One night, Willa and Finn witness Maleficent, Cruella and the Evil Queen steal an old journal of Walt's, mostly about Chernabog.

Finn has a vision, much like Jess's. he is in a factory, then reaches the roof of the building and jumps off with Willa, dropping the Return, or what he assumes is the Return. He is scared of what this might mean.

During the duration of the book, we gain two unexpected allies and one unexpected enemy. King Triton is willing to assist the Keepers while they are at sea. As for the enemy, well, think of the Overtaker children as OTKs. What if there was an OTP/OTA??

There are several rumors floating on the boat: the Keepers will be replaced with younger kids after the 2.0 beta test, the OT server is on the ship, as will as OTKs as DHIS. Are any of them true? Along with recovering Walt's journal, Finn's mission is to find out.

New OTs introduced are Tia Dalma, Hyenas from The Lion King, and Ursula

I didn't like the ending very much. It's a cliffhanger. Overall, this was a good book though.

I have very few problems with this series. Pearson's main problem is with continuity, or lack thereof. In KKI, Maybeck declared he was a catholic. In KKIII or KKIV, Maybeck said "I don't really do churches." In KKI, Finn was an only child, as far as we can tell. In KKII and beyond, he has a little sister. In KKI, Jezebel turns back to Jess, but is called Jezebel again in KKII, revised in the following books. In KKIII, Stitch was an OT, no question. In KKV, Stitch helps Finn escape a variation of CTDs, without any mention of his previous OT status.

These aren't important plot points, but annoying in-continuities nonetheless. I hope that KKVI comes out sooner than a year!

The Hunger Games vs. Its Movie

Hi all! I'll bet lots of people have been waiting for this: today, I am reviewing The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. For the first time, (and, most likely, the only time) I am going to do a joint review of the book, and its movie, which JUST came out in theaters and IMAX yesterday!

Part One: "The Tributes":
Most everyone who is a dedicated reader, and/or hasn't been living under a rock these past few months, knows the story of the Hunger Games: In the ruins of what was once known as North America, lies a new nation called Panem, ruled by the Capitol. The nation is divided into twelve districts. To keep those districts in line, each year, the Capitol forces each district to send one girl and one boy, called "tributes" to fight to the death on live television, called The Hunger Games. The very plot made me wary of this book at first, but it could be worse, at least in my opinion. Well, this book begins in District Twelve, the poorest of the districts, home of Katniss Everdeen, who has to go against the law and hunt to feed her family. It's the day that the tributes are chosen, called 'Reaping Day". There are minor differences at this point in the movie:

• The major icon of the series is the Mockingjay, or the Mockingjay pin. In the book, Katniss is given the pin on reaping day by the daughter of District Twelve's mayor, for her protection. Katniss explains that these birds are crosses of jabberjays, the Captiol's creation, and mockingbirds. These birds can mimic anything they hear.  In the movie, Katniss trades for it while she is selling the game she caught that day, and doesn't express what the birds are. Katniss gives the pin to her little sister for protection, eventually to be returned. We never see the mayor or his daughter. 
• Katniss's family has an adopted cat, an ugly, bald-spotted cat. Katniss hates the cat, and the feeling is mutual for the cat. they don't tell you this in the movie, but in the book, Katniss had tried to drown it, but her little sister begged her not to. The cat has continued resentment towards her after that.

Katniss has a little sister, named Primrose, this year being her first year of eligibility for the Hunger Games. She is fairly confident that she won't get chosen, since her name is only in the drawing for the tributes once: each year that you are eligible for the Hunger Games, your name is entered once, adding one time each year from age twelve to eighteen (e.g. at age 12 you are entered once, 13 twice, etc.), unless you opt to get a tessera, to afford extra food, by entering your name in more than required.

Against the odds, Prim's name is called and Katniss volunteers to take her place. And that is how our story begins. Her fellow tribute is a boy named Peeta Mellark, the baker's son. They say goodbye to their loved ones, and are shipped to the Capitol to train and prepare for the arena. Training goes well, as well as the tributes' public appearances to earn sponsors (people of high society who chip in to buy and ship supplies to their tribute when needed). Again ,there are little differences between the book and the movie:

• There are more sequences with Effie Trinket, District Twelve's escort, and Haymitch, District Twelve's mentor, in the book. They cut a lot of the training out in the movie. There is a lot of dialogue between Peeta and Katniss that is cut out, as well, such as how Katniss saw one of the servants that now works at the Traning Center, and how she met Gale. I know I haven't mentioned Gale, but it's because he isn't really an important character, in either the book or the movie! He's Katniss's best friend and hunting partner, but after he doesn't get chosen for the Games, the last we see of him is when he says good-bye to Katniss, except for a couple of times in the movie when they cut back to District Twelve.
• The interviews with Ceaser and the District Twelve's tributes are longer in the book, and in the book, all the tributes were sitting on-stage, not lined up off-stage, as in the movie.
• In the book, after the interviews, when Peeta professes his crush towards Katniss, she pushes him into an urn, which breaks, the shards of which cut Peeta's hands, while in the movie she simply shoves him into a wall.

Part Two: "The Games"

   There is a new arena for every Hunger Games, as to make it a surprise terrain, and as to avoid any one tribute getting too familiar with one arena before-hand, giving them the upper-hand in that aspect. This is where, in the movie, it gets really dizzying and graphic. The details are still the same, though. At the beginning, when the tributes are lifted into the arena, they must wait for sixty seconds before being let to run free in the arena. Why this is, I have NO idea.There is a structure in the very center of the arena, called the Cornucopia, which is filled with weapons, food, and other essentials for survival. This is mostly a call for a bloodbath as tributes fight over the supplies. Katniss was advised to avoid the Cornucopia for this very reason, but goes for it anyway. She ends up missing out on the bow and arrows that she was aiming for, but still gets a backpack filled with useful supplies. The Games go essentially the same as in the book, except:

• Katniss's pack also had night-vision glasses, but these were excluded from the movie for whatever reason.
• It takes Katniss an entire day and a half to find water in the book, but it takes her much less time in the movie.
• Some dialogue from the book (which was actually pretty comedic) was cut out from certain parts of the movie.
• A lot of dialogue between Rue is cut out from the movie, so you can't as easily fall for her as you do in the book, which became a sort-of important plot point for the next book (not the relationship itself, but how Katniss is affected by her death and her reaction towards the Capitol)

Part Three: "The Victor"

A rule change is announced one night: if the last two tributes left standing are both from the same district, they are both winners. Katniss runs to find Peeta, who she knows is still alive, but just barely. She tries to nurse him back to health, but he has blood poisoning, which she can only treat with medicine from the Capitol. There is an announcement of a feast at the cornucopia, where each remaining district will be offered a pack of supplies that they desperately need. Katniss wants to go for Peeta, but he won't let her risk her life for him, because he knows that the Capitol is just drawing the tributes together for another bloodbath. The remaining chapters are different in this way:

• So that Katniss can go to the feast without Peeta's knowing, in the book, Haymitch sends Katniss a vial of sleeping syrup to give to Peeta, hidden in food. In the movie, Katmiss just waits for him to fall asleep naturally.
• Clove inflicts much more damage to Katniss in the book than in the movie. 
• The mutts that appear near the end of the story are different in the book than in the movie. I'd explain it, but it is really creepy, and it is something that really needs to be read for oneself. 

There are several other differences, but that would spoil the ending, which I never do. I found the movie too rushed: they didn't give a lot of detail in-between events to set for the next one. There is a lot more cussing in the movie than there is in the book. I found it interesting that, in the movie, they gave more of a perspective on how the Gamemakers manipulate the Games, and how people back home react to the Games. Since the book is in first person, obviously these observations cannot be made. Overall, I found it a good adaptation of the book, but as is usually the custom, the book is better.

Parental Guidance:  Both the book and the movie can be very vivid and gruesome. Take extreme discretion before allowing your child to read this book or see the movie. However, also take in mind that there is NOTHING AT ALL suggestive in either. Katniss is more flight than fight. In fact, the whole reason that there is a continuation of the series is that she wishes to rebel against the Capitol. So, at least the narrator has somewhat good morals! I enjoyed both immensely, and will be picking up Catching Fire and Mockingjay as soon as possible. I hope you go get yourself a copy of this crazily-amazing series!

Thirteen R3asons Why

Today, I read Thirteen R3easons Why by Jay Asher. A friend of mine recommended it, so I borrowed it from the library. It was slightly different from how she described it, but it was still good.

This book is mainly in the point of view of Clay Jensen, who, one day. gets a box of audio tapes on his porch. There is no return address on it, so he gets suspicious. He plays the first of the tapes, and he hears the voice of the other narrator: Hannah Baker, who had committed suicide a couple of weeks before.

The tapes were like her suicide note: each side of each tape has a story, connecting to the reason she killed herself. Each story has to do with a different person, who ends up on her list of people to get the tapes and pass them on to the next person. Another, unrelated person, knows who does, and if one person doesn't the tapes go public.

This book is filled with drama, half-suspense, and heartbreak. I seriously cried a few times, a very rare thing for me, especially with books. I really liked it, but I thought Hannah had no right to make the list, the tapes, or kill herself. Most of the reasons were her own fault. I'm going to explain, and for those of you who don't want it spoiled, you can skip over this part. I'll get back to the main review in bolded words so you'll know when to stop scrolling

Reason One: She could have decided to take it slower, to get to know the real Justin, who would spread rumors, instead of rushing to get her first kiss. Then, a lot of the stuff that followed might not have happened.

Reason two: see reason one.

Reason three: see reason one

Reason Four: See reason one.

Reason Five: Why did she ask a random girl to come catch a peeping tom??

Reason six: She could have listened to her gut, which was very smart.

Reason Seven: She could have never gone to Rosie's, never seen Zach, et cetera.

Reason Eight: She could have kept her poetry private in the first place. Don't share what you don't want getting out!

Reason Nine: Hannah could have told Clay about everything! He was open and ready to talk! But no, she had to stay and cry about it. Sure, Clay could have stayed, but he didn't know because she wouldn't tell him!

Reason Ten: She was right across the hall! Hannah could have stopped Bryce, but, again, she had to hide in the closet and cry. She refused to stop another girl from going down the exact same road as she was going down.

Reason Eleven: Hannah could have called the police. That innocent senior would still be alive. But, again,  guess what? She had to think about her own problems.

Reason Twelve: Need I explain?? She was fed up with the world that she actually didn't care what happened.

Reason Thirteen: Why is Mr. Porter's story the last one, the one whom could "take the tapes to [h-e-double-hockey-sticks]"? He was just trying to do his job as counselor! He didn't know what was going on because, guess what, Hannah wouldn't tell him! Hannah herself chose to leave.

Enough of my ranting,  I need to get back to the main review. In all, I think they needed to go deeper into Clay's character. What did people say about him? Why was he so perfect (except when he lied to his mother and everyone else that night he listened to the tapes)? Who was Skye, whom Clay went after at the end of the book? This was a good story, and I recommend it, but at the same time don't recommend it.

Beastly

Today I will discuss one of my all-time favorite books: Beastly by Alex Flinn.

This book is a modern remake(retelling?) of the classic tale, Beauty and the Beast. It is set in New York City, New York, where the elite school Kyle Kingsbury, our hero, goes to is located. Kyle is the son of a news anchor, Rob Kingsbury. He is your typical beast: On the outside he is blonde, with blue eyes and charming face, but on the inside, he is cruel, selfish, and conniving. He makes fun of people who are uglier than he, and isn't affected in the least by his victims' upset faces as result of his pranks.

It isn't surprising that Kyle ends up on the ballot for homecoming royalty.When his class is voting ,however, one girl screams that the ballot is only made up of the pretty people for evil reasons. The girl, Kendra, is fat, with crocked teeth and a horned nose. She's like a witch. Kyle has never seen her before.He argues that human nature doesn't want ugly people as royalty, and maybe ugly people should become beautiful to try and make it in the world. Kendra glares at him, saying,

   "...[You'd] better hope you never get ugly, Kyle. You are ugly now, on the inside, where it matters most, and if you ever lost your good looks, I bet you wouldn't be smart or strong enough to get them back. Kyle Kingsbury, you are beastly.". These words stick to him like glue for the next few days until the dance. As a joke, he fake asks Kendra to the dance, planning to dump her like a sack of hammers in front of the entire school to humiliate her.

The night of the ball, instead of the purple orchid corsage his real date had asked for, he found a single white rose, like Kendra had asked for. He tosses it to the ground, and it loses a petal. Still thinking his date might like it, he takes it with him. She throws it to the ground of the limo, and it loses yet another petal. When they finally get to the dance, Kyle eventually gives the rose to the girl taking and selling tickets, since no one else was using it.

Kyle's prank went as planned, but Kendra didn't seem hurt in the least. It was almost as if she was expecting it. She gave one final curse to Kyle and left. He didn't have any more fun the rest of the night. When he gets home, he meets Kendra, who was waiting for him.

Kendra revealed herself to be a beautiful sorceress. She curses Kyle to being a hairy beast with claws and fangs, so his outside could match the inside. For his one act of kindness, though, (giving the rose to Linda) he gets two years to fall in love(for the two petals that fell off the rose), become kind, and get the girl's love in return. Kendra leaves him her mirror, which shows him anyone he wants to see, so he won't be completely alone and possibly find someone.

His father forces his now-ugly son to move to Brooklyn, alone. His only companions are the maid and his blind tutor, none of whom can reveal Kyle, or that he is Rob Kingsbury's son. Kyle falls into depression, and at first makes no real effort to fall in love. if he finds a girl, is up for you to find out.

I found this a very interesting read. I commend Flinn for her effort to make some back-story on the beast character, Kyle/Adrian. In other versions, you may or may not get any clue as to how the beast is selfish like he is. Most times they focus on the Beauty. My only concern is that the themes are, how you say.... Suggestive. Before Kyle becomes Adrian he is also a little inappropriate... So, look out for that.

I have one question, too: Kyle joins a chat room for magically transformed teens, and I can follow the stories of all but "Grizzlyguy's". What fairytale is it supposed to me? SilentMaid was obviously The Little Mermaid, Froggie, the Frog Prince, but Grizzlyguy's? I mean, what story is it if SnowWhite isn't "*that* SnowWhite"??? Any clue? Answer appreciated! BYE!!

Theodore Boone: The Abduction

Hello one and all to another edition of All About Books! Today, I will be discussing the sequel to John Grishham's major success of a YA novel.

This story takes place almost immediately after the events of the first book. Theo is trying to settle back into a relatively normal life, when he gets a phone call one night. It is the police, saying that his best friend, April, had vanished from her bedroom! It is even thought that she was kidnapped by a fugitive murderer, whom was April's pen pal. Theo and his parents rush to the scene to investigate. Mrs. Finnenmore is in tears, saying she had checked on her daughter just hours before she disappeared. Theo knows this is a lie.

April confided certain things to Theo. One of these things was that her mother had been gone that night, and she was holding a baseball bat to defend herself should the need arise. Her doors were locked, and she was afraid, because she was home alone. Her father had been gone for days.

Theo doesn't mention any of this, and gives the police an abridged statement. He immediately begins his own investigation in search for April. Some of his and Aprils' fellow classmates even pitch in! They are, however, frequently stopped by the police, even though they are breaking no laws.

Theo is now tangled up in another legal frenzy. He is conflicted on what he is able to do, and what he is allowed to do. His parents made him promise not to keep anything from them and not to take any unnecesary risks. They don't want him worrying over April too much, either. But, soon enough, Theo convinces his uncle Ian to go on a possibly wild goose chase across the country to save his friend. The ending will surprise you if you follow the official investigation headed by the police.

I found this a very interesting read. It was a page turner, and I barely set it down after I got it. I couldn't help but notice how much more in this book that it leans more on Theo being some sort of detective, not a lawyer/judge-in-training. is he really a kid lawyer? Or is he just another kid detective that we know always gets into trouble?

I am hopeful that John Grisham will continue this series. he hints at another book when, at the end, Judge Gantry tells Theo that he's rescheduled the Duffy murder trial for the following month. I hope we get a follow-up on that trial, and the mysterious witness!

Overall, this series is amazing. I love how Grisham can make anything seem suspenseful. The only part I don't like is how little knowledge the other fellow "teens" are portrayed as ignorant of the law, even of something as simple as mortgage and foreclosure! I'll admit, I may know more about the law than I should at my age, but I know that my fellow classmates at least understand foreclosure! I hope Grisham revises this in his later books.

The Romeo and Juliet Code

Hello all, and welcome to All About Books. Today, I'll be discussing the interesting sort-of- historical fiction novel, The Romeo and Juliet Code.

Now, don't be fooled by the title. This isn't just another love story that follows the romantic archetype. This is about trust, truth, adjusting.

This book starts out where we find a young Felicity Bathburn-Budwig being dropped off at her grandmother's house in America. You see, this takes place in the 1940's, right around the time the US joined the second World War. There is lots of bombing in England, so, like many other parents, Felicity's parents are sending her off to safety until the war ends.

Felicity Bathburn-Budwig is a typical Englosh eleven-year-old, except for one thing: she still clings to her stuffed bear, Wink, and talks to him like he's real. At least she realizes that she might-just might- be too old for Wink, but refuses to give him up. She is also very upset that her parents are just dropping her off in a place where's she's never been before, to live with people she's never met before. At the same time, she is very curious about her new surroundings.

Sooner than you know it, Felicity witnesses an awkward reunion between her father (whom she calls Danny) and her Uncle Wilson. She later finds out that there was a very serious quarrel in the family, and that's why Danny and Winnie (Felicity's mother) stayed in England

Felicity (whom is nick-named Fliss by Uncle Wilson) discovers lots of secrets on the very first day she arrives. Her grandmother, called The Gram, refuses to talk about her son Danny, there is someone named Derek locked in his room and never comes out, the biggest probably being Wilson's receiving letters from Portugal, in hand-writing that Fliss swears is her father's

Later in the story, we get to meet Derek, who is only one year older than Fliss. He hides in his room because he just got over polio, which paralyzed his left arm. He's very se;f-conscious about it and hardly gets out of bed except to see Fliss. As the story progresses, though, he loses this pride.

When Fliss intercepts one of the letters from her Danny, she sees that it is all in code, and she can't help but think that her parents are in trouble. She has to crack the code, mend her family's quarrel, all while surviving her crush on Derek. All this leads to a surprising confession from Uncle Wilson and Winnie.

I found that this book starts out very slowly, and that you don't get a very good idea on the characterization of everybody until the end! As the letters come in it gets interesting, though. When I finally finished it, i was begging for Phoebe Stone to write a sequel so I can learn more about Fliss and Derek's relationship now, and get a follow-up on Winnie and Danny. Sadly, this was not to be :(

Until next time, abinata!

P.S. I will get my review of the second half of the Carter House Girls Series ASAP!

Carter House Girls Series (Books 1-4)

Welcome one and all to another edition of All About Books! Today, I'll be talking about the first half of a new (well, not TOTALLY new, but new to me) series i found: The Carter House Girls.

The whole series arc is that Mrs. Carter, a retired model and fashion magazine editor, opens up her mansion to board teenagers. They include her granddaughter, DJ, DJ's childhood friend turned punk, Casey, an old neighbor and aspiring designer, Rhiannon, quarter- rebel, quarter-fashion mogul, quarter-bully, quarter- sweetheart Taylor, and exotic fashion-mogul Kriti. 

All these girls play unique roles in Carter House. All of them have their own sort of sad back stories. But I won't get into those right now, because they're sort of spoilers.

Book one, Mixed Bags, centers around the introduction and beginning development of the characters. DJ had just lost her mom, and had been rejected by her dad, who chose his new wife and their twin girls over her and shipped her to grandmother's. She's been getting along OK in Crescent Cove, but only has one true friend: Conner. Sweet sweet, understanding Conner. She isn't crazy about having housemates. And, when they get there, her opinon isn't helped a bit. 

Taylor immediately shows herself to be self-centered, and puts down DJ for being average, and not in the fashion circle. And, as soon as she sees DJ with Conner, she tries to make a move on him.

Eliza seemed sweet, but still sort of puts DJ down for fashion, but not nearly as bad as Taylor

Kriti is the only one who seems more concerned about education than fashion- not that she isn't concerned about being fashionable. Her dad makes designer knock-off purses.

DJ was looking forward to rooming with Casey, until she sees her. After a year of not seeing her, Casey has become a punk rocker/goth. 

Rhiannon is still the sweet Christian girl she always was. Slow to judge, and hard to hold grudges

Dj is overwhelmed by these changes. But, soon enough, she begins to be overtaken by fashion! But, not where it completely takes over her life. She even begins to date Conner! But, still, as summer goes by, there are mean strikes of jealousy and hatred.

Overall, this is a great book! But, there ARE some scenes that might not be appropriate to girls under thirteen. Although, in the end, it has a good, Christian theme- DJ even accepts Christ into her life! 

In the second book, Stealing Bradford, Taylor is jealous that almost every Carter House Girl has a steady boyfriend. She tries to make the moves on Rhiannon's boyfriend, Bradford! 

I won't go TOO deep into that plot, because if I do, I'll spoil parts of the first book. And, after that, I'll spoil THIS book. There are still the same parental warnings as with the last book.

In book three, Homecoming Queen, two of the Carter House girls are planning to run for homecoming queen. They cause major separations within the house because of their campaigns, and where they think peoples' loyalties lie.

Also, this book centers around DJ getting into an accident. She runs to save a boy from being run over while playing in the street, and gets run over herself! She's out for the entire remainder of the volleyball season, and she is bummed. Now she has to go to physical therapy, and her sports life is thrown completely off-whack. To make matters worse, Conner's ex-girlfriend, who still has feelings for him has moved back into town. 

This happens to be my favorite so far, because there is MAJOR character development with Casey. Again, the same parental warnings apply.

In the fourth book, Viva Vermont!, The Carter House Girls participate in the annual charity fashion show in Crescent Cove. Afterwards, Mrs. Carter tells the girls that a friend of hers has invited them to use his ski lodge for Veteran's Day weekend. It's off to the slopes!

Only, unknown to Mrs. Carter, several boys catch wind of the trip by way of Taylor, and tag along, renting a near-by lodge. Taylor, Eliza, and Kriti host a huge party while Mrs. Carter is away, and it's up to God to help DJ and her friends get it under control.

This is my LEAST FAVORITE of the series so far. The parental warnings apply ESPECIALLY to this book. If I were to read this series again, I'd skip it, unless it ends up being important to the plot of the next book.

I commend Melody Carlson for this beautifully written series! You can easily picture these characters, and feel like you know them. The situations seem SO real. And, it has the Christian theme! It's a win-win! I highly recommend this series, and will pick up the rest of the books soon.

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, and Out of Sight Out of Time

Hello all! I have two things to discuss today.

I recently finished John Grisham's first attempt at a young adult novel: Theodore Boome: Kid Lawyer. I found it a refreshing change of pace from Nancy Drew. In fact, this book is sort of a Hardy Boys twist on Nancy Drew. I am probably confusing you, so allow me to elaborate:

This book, as the title implies, is about a kid lawyer. Now, Theo doesn't have a liscense or anything, but both his parents are lawyers and he dreams of being a trial lawyer or judge someday. Theo lives with his parents in a small town called Strattenbourg. It's very small, so you can imagine there aren't alot of exciting cases. But, when a murder trial comes along, Theo is super excited.

Every chance he gets he watches in the courtroom. He believes the defendent is guilty, but the defense lawyer is making a good case. Before Theo realises it, he finds himself in the middle of it. He discovers that a friend of his is the cousin of a witness that nobody knows about. And his testimony will prove to turn around the outcome of the trial. But.the witness is unwiling to testify, due to the fact he is an illegal immigrant.

The clock is ticking, and Theo doesn't know what to do. This is defnately not something that a thirteen year-old should have to deal with.

I found this book very captivating. It starts out a little slow, but not too slow. I find that the climax is a little TOO close to the end, though. I highly recommend it, and hope to soon pick up the sequel: Theodore Boone: The Abduction.

Now for our second topic: Out of Sight, Out of Time. This is the fifth installment in Ally Carter's hit series, the Gallagher Girls Series. It, unfortunately, doesn't come out until March 2012. It is very looked forward to, because it sounds like the most exciting of the series. You can read the full description here. A countdown widget is to the right of the page.

Until next time!

The Kingdom Keepers Series and New Apps

Hey, everybody! Sorry for the delay, but school keeps you busy! In this post, I will make my first ever summary of an entire SERIES! Also, I will make an update on the new apps on the page.

The Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson is about five kids who were recruited by Disney to participate in their new "Disney Hosts Interactive" program, or DHI, for short. DHI can also stand for "Daylight Hologram Imaging". These kids were made into holograms that would walk around and give tours of Disney's Magic Kingdom in Disneyworld, Florida. Only, at night, when the kids go to sleep, they find themselves inside the park as their holograms. This is caused by the work of a retired Imagineer who needs their help in defeating a group of Disney Villans called "Overtakers"

That is the basic summary of the series arc. There are three book in the series so far, and the fourth will come out tomorrow.

Book One: Disney After Dark is centered around the story called "The Stonecutter's Quill" It leads the kids to finding Walt Disney's first Ink Pen, which has the power to weaken the Overtakers' leader, Maleficent. It also brings some old plans of Walt's, which were never used, to life.

The characters for the entire series are as follows:

Finn Whitman- He is the main character, as the books mostly center around his life. He is the chosen leader of the DHI's, though he is reluctant to accept the title. He is able to fully cross over into his DHI-self, even when he is awake and out in public

Terry Maybeck- Over-confident one of the group. He does have talent, and can cross over, but not as purely as Finn- none can.

Charlene aka Charlie- Jock of the group. She occasionally lacks self-confidence, but is very useful where athletics are concerned.

Willa- Smart, and clever. She is very talented when she is brave enough.

Philby- Computer-geek. He researches any information relevant to what his friends are doing, and then some. He rarely lacks knowledge of any subject

Amanda Lockhart- Mysterious girl who shows interest in Finn, as he does for her, though neither owns up to it. It is revealed later in the series that she is a Fairlie- being "fairly human". She is half human, half fairy and has the ability to levitate herself, and other objects.

Jezebel "Jez" Lockhart, aka Jess Lockhart- Sister of Amanda. She used to be under the spell of Maleficent and was her loyal servant, until Finn released her from the spell. She is also a Fairlie, and has dreams that always come true in the future. She, and her sister, are eventually made into DHI's as well.

Book Two: Disney at Dawn is set in the Animal Kingdom. Disney is expanding the DHI's to the other parks, and the cruise ships. They added a patch to the program that would prevent the kids' crossing over into the Disney parks at night. Only, Maleficent has escaped and got hold of the program, before it was patched. Now, she has the ability to control the DHI halves of the kids, and the new DHI's of animals.So, if the kids were to fall asleep, Overtakers could trap them and they would be caught in sleep forever. To worsen matters, Jess disappears. It is up to the kids to destroy the rouge program, find Jess, and stay awake in the progress.

Book Three: Disney in Shadow takes place in Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Wayne, the Kingdom Keepers' friend and mentor, disappeared at the end of the previous book. They are determined to find him, and are led by Jess's visions to Epcot. One night, when they are searching, they drop the remote that returns them to their homes, and it gets locked in a lost and found locker in Magic Kingdom. They are trapped in the park until it opens and they can get the remote. We meet Wayne's daughter, Wanda!

This entire series is AMAZING and I can't wait until the next book arrives in stores. I like book three the best, because it has ALOT of suspense. Wanda didn't play much of a role in my opinion.

Now for the new apps:

• There is a new countdown widget for Ally Carter's new book, Uncommon Criminals. I am not thrilled by the plot, and will borrow it from my local library before spending money on a copy of it.
• Facebook "Like" Button: I will add this to all of my blogs, and this button will let you like the page I made for my blogs. On this page, I will update you on new posts, and I will put up polls for which books to talk about on here. Ha! as if anyone actually reads this... Does anybody read this? Hello?

Anyway, I'll talk to you later. Ciao!

Gimme a Call

Hello one and all to All About Books. I know it's been pretty quiet on here, but surely if you read this you must know that I recently started school again so these blogs won't be quite as active as they would be in the summer.

Today, I'll be talking about one of the best books of 2010, Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski.

It starts out where Devi is sitting on the water fountain in the mall on her Senior Skip Day, moping about her recent break-up and contemplating returning the watch she bought for her now ex-boyfriend.

Devorah "Devi" Banks is a typical american girl. She has had a less than great High School experience.She spent all her time with her now ex-boyfriend, Bryan, and neglected her friends and her studies. Now, they've broken up and Devi has nobody to hang out with at the mall during her Senior Skip Day.

She is thinking about what she would tell her younger self if she could go back in time. While she's thinking, she accidently drops her cell phone INTO the water fountain. Great. As if her day could POSSIBLY get any worse.

When she tests all the buttons to see if the chlorine destroyed it or not, she hits the Send button, and it starts ringing.

Back, three years prior to this, fourteen-year-old Devi picks up her phone when it rings and she sees the name "Banks" on the caller ID. Each of the Devis thinks the other is crazy, and Freshman Devi doesn't believe the girl on the other side of the line is really Senior Devi until later.

Devi realizes she has been given an amazing gift. She can go back in time and change her life for the better, starting with never going out with Bryan in the first place. She can start all over!

Only, she doesn't realize how fast the changes apply to her. One moment, all of her picture frames are filled with pictures of her and Bryan, the next, of her and her friends. Sometimes, Freshman Devi makes a change so drastic, it hits Senior Devi like a bomb.

How does this wild story end? Does Devi get into UCLA and completely forget about Bryan? Or, will Freshman Devi decide to go ahead and date him, despite the heart-breaking results? Find out it Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski.

Walk Two Moons

Welcome back to All About Books, the third most popular blog on the web! Okay, I'm kidding about the popularity thing. BUT, if we work hard enough, we can make that happen someday!

Anyway, today I will be reviewing Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons. It's about a girl named Salamanca Tree Hiddle (but everyone calls her Sal) She is the narrator of this story. She is on a trip from Eucilid, Ohio to Lewiston, Idaho with her grandparents. Along the way, she tells the story of her friend, Phoebe. The story of mysterious messages, a potential lunatic, and her mother's disappearance.

Inside Phoebe's story, Sal finds her own. Her mother left, promising to be back by when the tulips bloomed. Only, she isn't back. Sal wants to find her and bring her back home by her birthday, even though it seems impossible.

During the trip, Sal's grandparents stop at many places that her mother visited. They have all sorts of adventures, including an encounter with a certain water moccasin (you know what a water moccasin is, right? A deadly snake?).

Such an interesting story ends in tragedy for Sal. I can't tell you exactly what happens or I'll spoil the book. Just so you know, this is a really good book, but it isn't one of my favorites.I didn't write much because there isn't much to say. It sort of (to me at least) just lulls and ends in sadness. Someone else might enjoy it, though. I'll see you soon!.

Only the Good Spy Young

Hey everyone! As you may know, I'm back from Branson. Along with me, I brought something special: Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter! It's finally here!

The book starts out as Bex and Cammie are skating on an ice rink in London during their winter break from school. Bex is interested in some boys that are hanging around and checking them out. She looks at them carefully and sees a familiar face.

  "Hey, Cam," She says with an evil smirk, "Are you sure you've given up all boys?"

She intentionally falls down on the ice. Seven of the eight boys go to her "rescue". But the one that hangs back, the one who doesn't move, is the most interesting of them all.

Zachary Goode is a sort of friend of the Gallagher Girls. Being a student at the Blackthorne Institute for Boys, he knows their secrets and is good at keeping them. He doesn't even try to hide the fact that he likes Cammie.

Cameron "Cammie" Morgan is a student of the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women/ Target of international terrorist group. She narrates this story. Being almost kidnapped twice last semester, she is hiding as best as she can.

Rebecca "Bex" Baxter is a fellow student at the Gallagher Academy. She's one of Cammie's best friends. Her family invited her to join them on their Christmas vacation in England.

Cammie was happy and surprised at the same moment when she saw Zack. Her excitement ends when he tells her Joe Solomon didn't show when he was supposed to meet with Zack. This got her worried. What if something had happened to him? What if the Circle got to him?

  Soon, after talking more, Mr. Baxter calls the girls off the ice to get going. When Cammie turns back to say goodbye, Zack was already gone. This is where things go wrong.

Cammie realizes that there is a double agent, a traitor, a member of the Circle whiten the Gallagher walls. That person, desperate, strikes when Cammie was most vulnerable. Now, Cammie is unsure who to trust. Bex and Cammie need the help from old friends if Cammie is to ever come close to being safe. They realize that the key to Cammie's future may lie deep in the past.

It's a great story where the girls must lie, hack, and steal their way to answers. But, near-tragedy overcomes them when they get closer to the truth. If you were to read this, you will be shocked at what Cammie is doing over her summer.