Nine Days by Fred Hiatt

Synopsis from Goodreads: A fast-paced contemporary thriller in the vein of James Patterson and Anthony Horowitz set against the bustling backdrop of Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the border of China. This heart-pounding adventure takes place as two teens, an American teenage boy and his friend, a Chinese girl from his Washington, DC-area high school, must find her father who has been kidnapped—and they only have nine days. Although the characters in the novel are fictionalized, they are based on a real Chinese family who were part of the Chinese Democracy Movement and inspired this story.

Number of pages: 256
My review: Seeing as that I've been to China (and Hong Kong) I absolutely loved this book. It definitely took me back to all the culture, sights, sounds, and just amazingness that is China. Not only that but I loved how the author implemented the political sector and what is going on, not only in China, but also in the United States as well. It was implemented in such a way that it wasn't like I was reading all this information about politics that I was bored, it flowed well with the story line, and really pulled the whole story together very nicely.
I also loved how this was based on a true story, so I could totally imagine a lot of this stuff happening. All the different situations that Ti-Anna and Ethan got into. It was extremely fast paced, and just kept flowing and flowing. Definitely makes me wish I was back in China *nostalgia*
When I was finished reading I was kinda wishing that there would be a sequel! It ended on sort of cliff-hanger ending, but also tied up a lot of loose ends, and left me feeling overall pleased with the whole novel. This definitely inspired me to want to read more novels on Asia in general, or novels about kidnapping and social unrest in communist China.
You're sort of getting a history lesson, action adventure, and tour of China and Hong Kong, all in one book. It wasn't overpowering, super easy to read, and I loved the whole darn thing. Ti-Anna and Ethan were really strong characters who were just smart. It's not often I come across characters that actually have some common sense (they're all either so in love that they can't think straight, or just so engrossed in become a mythical creature and trying to discover who they are that there's no room to show off their intelligence.)
Anyways, I would definitely recommend this for adults and young adults it was so great! I gave it 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads!
See you soon!

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Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Synopsis from Goodreads: Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.
 
So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?
 
Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and  lways surprising.

Number of pages: 336
My review: Wow. You know those books that when you're done reading them you kind of just sit there and stare off into space and your mind sort of goes blank? That's what I did after I read this. It was just so profound.
I don't think a book has ever made me cry as much this one did. It was really deep and made me think about all the people out there who have problems that are similar to Vera's and Charlie's. Also, the plot itself was written so beautifully and was so original that I just found myself wanting to devour the book even more. Overall, great read. Like really, really great.
I honestly can't put into words my feelings about this book. It's kind of like Perks of Being a Wallflower except more sad, and more involved with a larger variety of characters.
I think I'll leave this review at that. Seriously go read this. It will probably be on my list of top favorites of 2013 because it was just so excellent. I was pleasantly surprised after reading Ask the Passengers which I didn't really like and then I read this book and it was so excellent. Bottom line: GO READ IT.
See you soon!

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Top Ten Tuesday #18

Check out all the info here at The Broke and The Bookish's website!

May 14: Top Ten books dealing with tough issues

(Side note: These are in no particular order)

1. Crank by Ellen Hopkins

2. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

3. Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite by Lianne Simon

4. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

5. Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

6. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

7. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

8. A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer

9. The Look by Sohpia Bennett

10. Easy by Tammara Webber

What's on your list? Leave a link below and I'll come check it out!

See you soon!

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Stacking the Shelves #12

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga over at Tynga's Reviews. Stacking the Shelves is a way to show off what books you have received throughout the week (whether they be for review, from the library, etc.)

This week: May 5th - May 12th

Received from library: 

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

(I'm currently reading this and absolutely LOVE it)

Nine Days by Fred Hiatt

Received from Paperbackswap:

Rose Daughter by Robin McKiinley

Purchased on Amazon:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

What did you get this week? Leave me a link below and I'll come check it out!

See you soon!

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Agent Colt Shore: Domino 29 by Axel Avian

Synopsis from Goodreads: When an ordinary kid learns he’s the heir to a secret agent dynasty, F.A.L.C.O.N puts him on a case to protect a famous rock group and find a missing journalist. Before he knows it, Colt Shore has gone from body guard to rock star to full-fledged agent when he learns that a human trafficking ring plans to kidnap a group of teenage girls. It will take more than his ingenuity and skills and a couple of cool gadgets to protect his new friends and rescue the captured girls before it’s too late.

Number of pages: 370
Release Date: May 15, 2013
My review: This book was such a great surprise for me. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did and I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite books of 2013! Agent Colt Shore had it all; action, adventure, secret agents, cool gadgets, and a really great plot to top it all off.
Right from the start we are thrown into a world where there is a high school set up for secret agents in training for a company called FALCON. But, unlike other YA books where the characters are placed into this school and they have to go through the whole "who am I? I'm not a *insert type of person here including but not limited too; vampire, werewolf, etc.* No, Colt knew from the start that he was an agent in training which I really liked. Of course there were secrets here and there that were revealed and that definitely made the book all that more interesting.
As Colt begins his adventure, and right up until the end, I liked how we kinda of got a history of the different places he was going or a connection to real life events that had transpired in different places of the globe. This made me a lot more interested and curious about the real life issues going on in these settings and often I'd set the book down to do my own research, which was way, way, cool.
Agent Colt was one of those characters that I felt an immediate liking to. He was level-headed and wise despite the fact that he was a 15 year old newbie in his field, but he just had this aura about him that drew you in.
Also, often with books like this about secret agents and adventure and stuff you feel that the characters get too lucky, but I didn't feel that way at all. All of the obstacles that Colt had to overcome sounded reasonable and like something that could happen in real life.
Overall, it was just a really awesome and fantastic book. I can't express to you how good it was. Of course, once I finished the book all I could think was, when is this going to be made into a movie, and when is there going to be a sequel?

Here's some more info about Agent Colt Shore: Domino 29 and Axel Avian, the author!

axelavian@gmail.com – write and say hello or ask questions .

AxelAvian.com – Come and browse the site for more on locations and characters in the book. PLUS - a challenging Android and iphone game ap called Agent Colt Shore: Falcon Academy on the website to be released on May 15^th as well.

AMAZON Hour!! – Buy the book May 15^th before noon on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Agent-Colt-Shore-Domino-29/dp/1933608528/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367417773&sr=8-1&keywords=agent+colt+shore+domino+29

Check out Axel’s latest YouTube installment of “Regular Guy Spy” where he answers reader questions about his mysterious past as a secret agent. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBtoIQ8O_zI

You can follow Axel on Instagram!!

The publishing company is running a Fan Fiction writing contest with some great prizes: write another chapter of Agent Colt Shore using one of the characters from the book and submit to Karen.lee@arundelpublishing.com

Want to win the book for yourself? Enter below! We have five books to give away!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


See you soon!

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Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Synopsis from Goodreads: Crazy Rich Asians is the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.
When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick's formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should--and should not--marry. Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider's look at the Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.

Release date: June 11, 2013
Number of pages: 403

My review: Honestly, I have a couple of different emotions about this book. I read it while reading a few other books because it is just a massive hunk of a book (you know the type, big book but tiny writing), but also because there were some spots that were a bit slow for me. The first 100 pages were awesome; a lot of backstory which made me really care for or understand the characters later on down the road, and I liked how the switching viewpoints was set up. Sometimes when books switch the views on different characters I am left feeling a bit confused and dizzy, but Crazy Rich Asians did it where it wasn't switching all over the place and each character had their fair share of speaking time throughout the novel.
The next 100 pages (so around the 200 range) were pretty good, lot's of name dropping and finally more of the characters and families get to interact, especially Rachel being introduced to a large majority of Nick's family. Also more thrawting and scheming comes out which always makes a book more exciting!
Then the 300 page range. Oh my goodness. It seemed to drag on a little too long. The story was good I just felt that it wasn't going anywhere fast. Often in cases like this I'll say something like it could have been taken out, but honestly it's probably better left in otherwise the ending would have felt weird or sort of rushed (which it already kind of was but I'll explain that in a minute).
The last 100 pages were pretty awesome. A LOT more drama started happening and the ending story about Rachel and her mom made the whole book worth it. That story in itself could be a novella or companion novel for this book!
The characters themselves were pretty cool. Nick and Rachel are a good couple; you can totally see how they are compatible, even if Rachel is sometimes a little TOO goody-two-shoes for my liking (although she does have her moments of outburst which made me laugh).
Nick's family; pretty much all jerks, except for a couple cousins or uncles and aunts here and there. His mother is pretty awful although his dad seems super cool. Astrid, one of Nick's cousins is honestly such a chic and cool character. I loved her little side story and I was rooting for her from the very beginning (dare I say it, more than Rachel?). Rachel's family, which is just her mom, total sweetheart. Loved her!
Another cool thing about the book was when it discussed Asian cuisine or used some phrases that were in different languages it left little asterisk and at the bottom of the pages it explained everything for you. Some were really short one sentence things, but some asterisk were pretty long and took up almost half the page. You're sort of getting a mini-history lesson with some of the things the author included.
So, in conclusion, it wasn't completely awesome but it wasn't a let down either. I gave it a solid four stars on Goodreads and I would definitely recommend you check this out for yourself when it comes out. Warning though; if you don't like name dropping or rich people flaunting money, don't read this. You'll hate it.
See you soon!

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Top Ten Tuesday #17

Check out all the info here at The Broke and The Bookish's website!

May 7: Top Ten Books when you need something light and fun!

(Just a little side note, sorry I've been skipping a couple of the past TTT's but I've been crazy busy studying for AP tests. It's a miracle that I'm even posting this one!)

1. Anything by Lisi Harrison

2. Anything by Rachel Hawthorne 

3. Anything by Zoey Dean

4. Austenland by Shannon Hale

5. Cruel Summer by Alyson Noel

6. The Death by Bikini Mysteries by Linda Gerber

7. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

8. Pretty much any romance ever written

9. Sweet 16 by Kate Brian

10. The Summer series by Katherine Applegate

What's on your list?

See you soon!

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