Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Jenny Downham debut novel Before i Die brings a new meaning to living life and not taking it for granted. Sixteen year old Tessa is suffering from leukemia and is enduring the painful procedures of checkups and multiple prescriptions of medication.
With only months to lives she feels that she hasn't done enough so she creates a list of things she wants to do before she dies and having sex is only one of them. With time ticking can Tessa finish her goals in life before she dies.

When i read this book , it gave a lot of insight on the world and how there is so muck to live rather than sitting on a couch watching TV. Tessa's hold onto life was inspiring, it would make anyone appreciate how much life is worth. Downham really captured the experiences of teens and what they go through everyday. Such a novel would be a great read and you won't want to put the book down.

Splendor by Anna Godbersen Book Cover!

This is the book cover for the last book of the Luxe series which is titled Splendor. It's unfortunate that Splendor will be the last book, but there must be an ending somewhere. I'd take my chances that the girl on this cover is Lina "Carolina" Broud (is that her last name?). Her dress is breathtakingly beautiful. I absolutely adore the color of the dress, and the voluminous layers of silky, lavender fabric. If I could, I would wear the dress myself. :) What do you think of the book cover? Splendor by Anna Godbersen is released in October 2009. Be on the look out.

Books Soon to Review

I apologize for not doing a book review in a few days. I've been trying to cram in at least five books so I could review them one after the other. Be ready for these book reviews :)

• Touch by Francine Prose
• Undone by Brooke Taylor
• The Hollow People by Brian Keany (I don't think I spelled his last name right)
• Red is for Remembrance by Laurie Faria Stolarz
• Fade by Lisa McMann

Be on the look out for these reviews. I've litterally got a stack of ten books I've have left to read. So don't worry, I'm not going anywhere soon. :)

The Hollow People Book Review

The Hollow People by Brian Keany. Servant boy, Dante Cazabon, an uneducated teenager who has been treated like trash discovers he has amazing powers of the Odylic Force. Dante soon discovers his mother was killed of insanity. He soon mets Bea, the daughter of two doctors. Tarnagar, a dystopia, where people take a drug to give up their dreams. Literally. The man behind this, Dr. Sigmundus, promised tranquility and peace where there is absolute order, where people are free of making choices of their own. The Hollow People has a dark, mysterious tone. The Hollow People ends in a big cliffhanger which indicates a second book.

I enjoyed reading The Hollow People even though its a short read. Dante's determination and spirit is inspiring.

I soon discovered that The Hollow People is a trilogy. I currently have the second book in my stack of books to read. So be on the look out for it. The second book is titled, "The Cracked Mirror."

Twenty Boy Summer Book Review

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.

Summary

“Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?”
“Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?”

For Anna Reiley and Frankie Perino, the ingredients for the Absolute Best Summer Ever are simple: Two girls. Two bikinis. And twenty days in Zanzibar Bay, California. The best part? According to Frankie, if they meet one boy every day, there’s a good chance Anna will find her first summer romance.

Anna lightheartedly agrees to the fun, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie… she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death last year.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

Book Review

Twenty Boy Summer revolves around elements such as heartache and loss, first love, summer flings, summer vacations by the beach, and best friends. The part that I was captivated by was the story about the sparkling sea glass, tears of a love sick mermaid, symbolizes a broken heart and grief. I loved how the author used symbolism such as sea glass. How Anna came to terms with her broken heart and came to discover beauty in fractured and broken. This book contains sex, drinking, and smoking. I found a bit weird to find young girls yearning to cast off their virginity as if virginity were a disease. All in all, Twenty Boy Summer is a compelling book that was wonderfully written. I would definetly recommend Twenty Boy Summer as a summer YA read.

Book Cover of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

This is the book cover of the much anticipated sequel of The Hunger Games which is titled Catching Fire. I cannot wait till the book comes out! 85d6qn9wyc

The Hunger Games Book Review

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Do you crave adventure? Do you watch reality tv shows like "Fear Factor" or "Survival"? If you checked yes to those questions, then obviously the Hunger Games is truly a book you'll devour and love. Let's introduce 16 year old hunter Katniss Everdeen (she has the same birthday as me, May 8th). Ever since her father has passed away from a mine explosion, Katniss had to do everything in her power to support her family since her mother was incapable of doing so. The Everdeen's reside in Panem, District 12; the poorest district that relys on coal mining. Every year since the war, each 12 districts must choose one boy & one girl between the ages of 12-18 to particiate in the Hunger Games.

On the day of the Reaping, Katniss finds herself voleentering to take her little sister's place, Prim, in the Hunger Games. Along with another fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark aka the boy with the bread, they travel together to the Capitol. Before Katniss leaves for the Hunger Games, she promises Prim to do whatever it takes to stay alive. Staying alive is easier said than down once she meets the other tributes. Will Katniss Everdeen survive and return back to District 12 with fame & fortune? Or will she die?

The Hunger Games is an excellent read. I totally reccommend you read this book. I picked up the book, and finished it the next early morning. Once I go through the first couple of pages, I couldn't put the book down. Haha. There's not one book review that I haven't read that gives props to The Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins did a brillant job & I'm looking forward to the squeal: Catching Fire.

Recommendations from Sparklinglilly.

Newest book I'm reading: Bloodhound by Tamora Peirce. Second in the Becca Cooper series. She is the ultimite fantsay writer! One of my favs.

Recommendation: Jinx by Meg Cabot **** four stars! If you're into horror, suspense, romance, and magic Jinx is for you!

Eternal Book Review

Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith. Eternal has two POVs: Zachary: the guardian angel & Miranda: the vampire. Zachary is a GA (guardian angel) for Miranda. One night, after Miranda bombed her audition for a play, Lucy and Miranda go to the mall to rent a couple of horror flick movies. Both girls, encounter a guy whom Lucy takes interest in. He invites them to the cemetery behind their high school. Zachary's forbidden intervention saves Miranda's life and prevents her from ascending into heaven. Instead, Miranda is adopted by a vampire, Dracul aka the "reigning exalted master of the eternals" & at that point, her soul is forfeit. As punishment from the arch angel Michael, Zachary is taken away his powers and ends up in human form.

Fast forward a year. Miranda is a vicious "eternal" (the vampires prefer "eternal") fiend, the daughter of the vampire "king", and Zachary (still in human form) is attempts to save her soul and earn back his wings. In detail, Zachary is given a guardian angel named Josh whose Zachary's best friend. Zach is tasked with an "assination of sorts" and heads to Chicago in search of the vampire he must stake. Only, Zachary doesn't realize he is supposed to stake Miranda until he interviews for a job as Miranda's personal assitant.

Truthfully, I'm not a fan of this book. You would expect me to be a fan of this book since I LOVE vampires, but this book had no plot line. Or it seemed like it didn't have a plot line. That's just my opinion & as we say at Uncover "we are not afraid to voice opinions". LOL :) If you would like to find out for yourself, be free to buy the book.

Book cover!!! Although, I wasn't a fan of the book, I adored the book cover. The book cover was mainly the reason why I checked ou the book. The wings looked enchanting and heavenly. Props to the person who made the book cover. What do you think? :)

Blue is for Nightmares Book Review

Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie-faria Stolarz. Teenager Stacey Brown begins to have horrible nightmares about her best friend/roomie, Drea. Stacey's nightmares always involve Stacey frantically searching for Drea in the woods. Along with the nightmares, Stacey wets her bed, much to her embarrassment. Stacey attempts to keep her bed wetting a secret in fear of total humilliation from her friends. Nightmares and wet beds aren't the only things on Stacey's mind: Chad, Drea's on & off boyfriend.

One night, Stacey does a card reading for Drea, but doesn't tell her that the ace of spades (death card) comes up. Strange events start to occur to Drea and Stacey. The hockey shirt that was supposed to cover up a hole in the window has disappeared. Their laundry has disappeared. Drea receieves lilies, which Stacey attributes to an impending death. A stuck-up girl, Veronica, tells them she has been experiencing the same events. Everyone is a suspect.

This book was...okay. The beginning was slow-paced, but as I got further into the book, I devoured the book quickly. One thing disgusted me: the bed wetting. Eww. Not to be shallow or anything, but the book could've been better off without the bed wetting.If you like mysteries and suspense, then I recommend you read the book including the whole series. Next week, I'm planning to read the next book "White is for Magic".

Book cover!!! I l-o-v-e it. I adore the candles with smoke above it. The font is perfection for this type of book. The background with the camoflauge words gives it that "eerie" and "suspenseful" feeling. Kudos! LOL :)

Dirty Little Secret Book Review

Dirty Little Secret by Laurie-faria Stolarz. Camelia lives a normal teenage life. She has two best friends, a caring family, an awesome job at an Art store, and good grades. Everything changes when she encounters an out-of-control car in the parking lot where she is almost killed at the end of her sophomore year. A stranger saved her by pushing her out of the car's path. The mysterious stranger's touch is "electric". Camelia can't get his face or touch out of her mind. It's all she can think about. The problem is, right after that strange encounter he disappeared.

After summer vacation, at the beginning of her junior year, strange events start to happen. She starts receiving pictures of herself with notes attached. The first picture was of her in the parking lot with a heart around her face. Notes that tell her that's she's being watched. Notes that tell her to be a good girl. Notes that say her time is coming very soon. Camelia receives gifts (which are later shredded by the stalker) & strange phone calls. It suddenly dawns on Camelia, that she is being stalked. Coincidently, her mysterious stranger has enrolled in her high school.

Her mysterious savior's name is Ben. Rumors start to swirl about Ben. Rumors that say he killed his girlfriend. Apparently, students at the school aren't so happy to have him around. Camelia is drawn to Ben because of the connection she feels after he saved her three months ago. Ben doesn't make it any easier for Camelia. As she spends more time with Ben and the stalking continues, Camelia's trust is torn in two. Should she trust Ben? Is Ben the stalker? Is Ben a murderer?

The author, Laurie-faria Stolarz has written a book seeping with suspense and mystery. As you get deeper into the book, you begin to ask yourself questions, "is Ben the killer?" or "is Ben the stalker?" Everyone seems to be a suspect. In a few chapters, Stolarz gives you a peek of the stalker's mind and his journal entries about how infatuated & obesses he is.

If you like suspense, creepy or mysterious novels then I would definetly recommend "Dirty Little Secret" for you. The sequel of "Dirty Little Secret" is titled "Dirty Little Lies". I believe the sequel comes out in late 2009.

Book cover!!! To be honest, I'm not really impressed by the book cover. I have no idea how it's supposed to be related to the book. I expected something...dramatic, but instead it's "safe". That's just my opinon. You may have a different opinon than me. Come on, voice your opinions!

Wings Book Review

Wings by Aprilynne Pike. Strict vegan, Laurel Sewell is an ordianry girl who was homeschooled her whole life until sophomore year when her parents decided to open a book store in Crestview City, California. Laurel dreads going to public school until she meets a handsome science geek named David Lawson. As a few days past, Laurel begins friendships with David's friends and doesn't hate public school as much. One day, Laurel get this zit-like bump on her back. Over a few days, the zit continues to grow into a softball bump, and Laurel gets the idea that it's a tumor. One morning, Laurel wakes up to a set of flower "wings" on her back. It becomes apparent that from her homeschooled life in Orick, Laurel's life takes an unexpected turn for a not-so-normal life.

When Laurel was three years old, she was left on her parent's porch in a basket with no knowledge of where she came from. It turns out she's not even a human; she's a faerie.

"Wings" is a brilliant debut novel. Aprilynne Pike is a remarkable world builder and writer. For me, the beginning of the book was a bit slow-paced, but as it gravitated towards the end, that's when I got absorbed into the book. I kept flipping pages, and didn't realize I was at the end.

Here's a wonderful excerpt. (my favorite) This excerpt is between Tamani (a fellow sentry faerie) and Laurel.

"Then he was there, turned half toward her with a guarded expression etched across his face. She didn't stop or even slow her step. When she reached him, she grabbed the front of his shirt in both fists, pulling him to her, pushing her mouth up into his. Heat swirled through her as she pulled his face closer, tighter. His arms wound around her and their bodies melded with the sweetness of his mouth, and Tamani held her aganist him as if he could somehow pull her inside of him, make her part of him.

And for a moment, she did feel like part of him. As if their kiss brideged the gap between two worlds, even if only for that one brief, sparkling moment."

Book cover time! Omigee, I loved the book cover. It was simple but yet enchanting. The pink font fit perfectly. And the wings! I love them. I had a hard time imagining the wings in the book until I looked at the cover. Good job!

sorry

ok so my other poem never came though

he it is it was inspired by "The Red Wheelbarrow"

so much depends
upon

the little innocent
child

running away

with the future
in her hands

let me know whatcha think:)

Poems:)

ok so my english teacher would give us a poem and we would copy it and i have one that i have copied
please tell me what you think
and i hope you enjoy:)

inspired by
"The Red Wheelbarrow" This is my poem
William Carlos Williams

so much depends "so much depends
upon upon

a red wheel the little innocent
barrow child

glazed with rain running away
water

beside the white with the future
chickens in her hands"



and this is my random poem:)

a picture is but a thousand words.
a wave is but a wrinkle throughout an ocean crashing
against a simple shore: everything can be simple but it
depends on the eyes you're looking through

let me know what you think and i will leave more:)

Need Book Review

Need by Carrie Jones. This book is the best yet! Zara White aka Phobia Collector moves to snowy Bedford, Maine to live with her spunky grandmother, Betty. Although, Bedford, Maine is cold as hell and a small town, her mother thinks that Zara needs a change of scenery after her stepfather's death.

Ever since, her stepfather has passed away by a heart attack, Zara begins seeing a tall man in a black cloak. This mysterious man seems to be following Zara everywhere she goes. All the way from Charleston to Bedford. Zara can't shake the feeling that this guy is bad news...a stalker. Who is this man and what does he want?

On the first day of school, Zara has a run in with a guy in a red MINI COOPER. When the guy emerges from his MINI, Zara can't tear her eyes off of him. Nick Colt, cross-country runner and stunningly handsome. They soon become friends...and more.

She befriends a small girl with orange hair named Issie and a guy in a wheelchair named Devyn. As soon as Zara makes friends, she also makes an enemy. Devyn has been seeing the same cloaked man too, and soon they come to conclude that the man is a pixie. A pixie? Yep, a pixie. This pixie isn't the kind who wears flowers and dances around in the snow. He's the dangerous kind that kidnaps young boys and feeds off them. Several times, Zara notices golden dust that the man leaves behind. Not only are the townspeople holding secrets of their own, ones that could alter Zara life forever.

This book was a little slow-paced, but Need was still BRILLIANT! I recommend this for fans of Twilight or Wicked Lovely.

Book cover! This book cover was stunning. I loved the golden lips and the tree branches at the bottom. It created a kind of winter wonderland scene. The tree branches are really that got me. What do you think? Props to the person who made the book cover.

Bliss Book Review

Bliss by Lauren Myracle. This book will chill you to the bone. Bliss Inthemorningdew (that really is her last name) is the daughter of hippie parents who currently live in Canada. Bliss never went to school and lived in a commune with her parents, until one day her parents decided to give Bliss over to her grandmother in Atlanta. Her grandmother sent her to an elite private school called Crestview Academy. According to a rumor and ghost story, a girl has commited suicide and blood has stained the walls. Although, Bliss is a new girl to Crestview Academy, she starts to hear a bone-chilling voice.

Bliss revolves around first love, new friends, ghosts, envy and racisim. Truly, this book is a book you'll enjoy.

The book cover! Well, I love love love it. I'm not sure, but maybe the girl is Bliss. Haha. I love how there's blood written in Bliss's name. It gives the whole book an eerie feeling. Props to the person for the book cover.

Let's Welcome Kristine!

Hip hip hooray! Let's welcome Kristine to Uncover. We are very excited to have you as one of our team members. We look forward to what you can bring to Uncover. Yay!

Welcome Lauren, one of our new book reviewers.

Let's welcome Lauren to Uncover book reviews. She's a teenager like me who does excellent book reviews, if I say so myself. I hope you come to enjoy her views on YA reads and opinions. Like me, she has a love for reading. Yay, for Lauren!!!

Thirteen Reasons Why Book Review.

Why would someone ever commit suicide? Is their life really that bad? 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher lets you into the mind of a girl that couldn't handle her life anymore. Clay Jensen has just recieved a package with several cassete tapes inside. By listening to them he learns why Hannah Baker, a girl who commited suicide, decided to end her life. The tapes give 13 reasons why Hannah made her decision, with each reason having to do with a different person. Each person on the tapes will recieve the package that will tell them what important role they played in Hannahs life and her decision. This is a great book to read. It keeps you wondering what role each person played in Hannahs decision.

Book Review by Lauren :)

Books To Review

• Bliss by Lauren Myracle
• Need by Carrrie Jones
• Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria-Stolarz
• Dirty Little Secret by Laurie Faira-Stolarz
• Eigth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer
• Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
• The Break Up Bible by Melissa Kantor

i'm not done with this yet. hahaha.

The Luxe Book Review

"The Luxe" by Anna Godbersen. Love a good scandal? Do you love "Gossip Girl" ? Then you will absoltely love this book. This book blends in with Jane Austen's times. A twist of both Austen and Gossip Girl. The Luxe takes place in the late 1890's. Where gorgoues, volumes of dresses galore, lady-like manners is essential, natural good looks are admired, money and class is a factor of being well-known, and gossip is a favorite topic amongst elite New Yorkers. The Luxe follows the lives of five individuals whose lives are entertwined. As the lives of New York’s elite become more and more tangled, you’ll be unable to put the book down. Anna Godbersen writes a novel tremendously rich that it would be as if she lived during the nineteenth century. It was as if she were one of those elite figures. The books is amazing. Anna Godbersen's characters are very dynamic that I was fully incapable of putting the book down once I flipped through the first page. I definetly recommend that you read this book. Now here comes the chatter about the book covers. Personally, I couldn't think of a better Elizabeth Holland than the one modeling on the book cover. The Victorian dresses are extremely gorgoues and breath taking. I love how the dress skirt folds in volumous folds of pink fabric. If I could, I wear the dress myself. No matter how old it is. I believe the font used for the book is ITC Edwardian Script.

About "Uncover"

This magnificent blog of mine will cover the books I've previously read & my opinions & book covers & more. As you know, summer is probably the time where I do the most reading since I have no school, thank god for that. I am very passionate about Young Adult fiction and live to read. I promise to deliver an honest, raw approach to your reading recommendations. And if you disagree with me, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I love constructive criticism here at Uncover, so please feel free to make your voice heard.

P.S. I'm looking for people to help me out :)