Young Adult Challenge

I know I am joining the competition a little late. But rather late than never right? To sign up for the competition on J Kaye's Book Blog click here

The link to the reviews of the books will be on the left hand side of my blog (just look for this photo)

Books I have read for the challenge so far are :

1) Geek Charming by Robin Palmer

2) Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Colonita

3) Dork Diaries by Rachel Renne Russell

4) Diaries of a Wimpy Kid

5) Secret of My Hollywood Life: On Location

6) The 39 Clues Book 1: Maze of Bones

7) 13 Reasons Why

8) Chosen

9) Being Nikki

10)

11)

12)

Book Ideas are

You Maybe by Rachel Vail

LA Candy by Loran Conrad

13 Little Envelopes by

Fragile Eternity by

Blood Chocolate by

Mr. Benedict and the Mysterious Society

Being an orphan is not fun. Feelings of 'unwontedness', 'despair', or 'not fitting in' are some thoughts that seem to haunt you. It's even worse if you are a very bright and talented child, and all the other orphans taunt and tease you. Reynie (Reynard in full) fits right into that category. He has is own private tutor (Ms. Perumal), reads extensively, and can even speak 3 languages. 

One day Reynie come across a newspaper add that asks "Are You A Gifted Child Looking For Special Opportunities?" It tells him to come to a building with only 1 pencil - to take the test. If he does not follow the rules exactly (if he brings say 2 pencils) then he is disqualified. The tests are hard and have 3 levels. The tests filter through many, many children - and only 4 remain. Katy, Sticky, Constance, and finally Reynie. They finally meet Mr. Benedict who tells them the reasonings behind the tests - and the task he has for them. The kids must infiltrate a top secret society that has been broadcasting brain washing messages - and only the children can.

    The task is dangerous for if they fail then the world will fall under the evil plans of Mr. Curtain (who we later learn is Mr. Benedict's twin). Along the way the children learn that they have a family and that they each poses strength that help them out as a whole.

Do the kids finally beat Mr. Curtain and save man-kind? 

The book was ok. I found that at times the passages went on for longer than necessary. But it is a kids book. All in all I'd give it an "ok" rate. It was neither remarkable nor regrettable. 

Another review (far better from mine) is found at BookApex 

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (c) 2008

In this Series:

1) The Mysterious Benedict Society

2) The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey 

3) The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoners Dilemma (coming soon)

Kitty Goes to Washington

The closing chapter in "Kitty and the Midnight Hour" is a sad one - I almost cried.

Towards the end of the first book, Kitty is finally becoming a stronger wolf at the irk of the alpha female Megan. Megan has always been jealous of Kitty - and sees the way Carl looks at Kitty. So what would any women do when jealous? Well get rid of the competition of course! Sure it's a little harder when the competition is a werewolf who has superhuman strength and heals a lot quicker than your average bear but thats why you hire hitmen or create a psychotic werewolf to take out the alpha male. Only problem: your target is smarter than you think.

Kitty uncovers the hideous truth of her pack - and challenges Megan. TJ comes to the aide of Kitty and the cost is TJ's life. Carl bans her from her home in Colorado and makes her a lone wolf. She has no choice but to wander the wilderness of the US.

Our Kitty is not scared to travel the United States by herself. She sees it as an adventure which she is more than willing to do. However the lose of TJ weighs her down, and not having a pack is something she misses as well. While on the road she gets a call from her friend Ben (who also happens to be her lawyer). Ben tells her that the US Senate would like her to appear in a hearing for her knowledge on the matter of the Supernatural World - and she has no choice but to show up in DC.

In DC she is stopped by a roadblock and a MIB (Man in Black) asks her to pull over. When she does she is told that Alette, the Master of the City, is offering Kitty her hospitality. Now, we've all read books were the Master of the City kills without remorse and doesn't offer anything without getting anything in return. Alette is not like that; she is 'old world' and still clings to that which made her human.

When Kitty arrives to the Senate hearing she is gets face to face with Senator Duke - a bible thumping senator that believes all that is Supernatural is by caused by demons, and in leagues with Satan and therefore evil. Kitty had hosted the Senator on her talk show a couple months back. The hearings begin with Dr. Flemming - who leads the study of Pre-natural Biology. As the hearings continue, Kitty's time to testify gets pushed back, closer to the full moon which Duke knows and counts upon.

When you get a hunch you follow it right? Kitty has a feeling that Flemming is up to no good, and calls on Cormac for help (Cormac and Kitty become quite good friends). They break into Flemming's lab and find that there are 2 cells - on with garlic paint and the other with silver flecked paint. This 'scientist' knows more than he puts out.

Once again Kitty must play the role of Sherlock Holmes and uncover the darker side of Flemming, Duke, and Leo. Leo is Alettes second in command that will sell her out for his own selfishness.

As the series continues we follow Kitty on her adventures that become more intense, and we see her grow from submissive little wolf to a stronger wolf.

I love how Vaughn mixes the Supernatural with the everyday - it's SiFi without being ridiculous.

Recommend to me by Darla D.

Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn (c) 2006

Next Book : Kitty Takes a Holiday

Kitty and the Midnight Hour

Trying to make a place for yourself in this world can be tough. Your friends, co-workers, family, and even strangers on the street always seem to have advice that is either "what's best in mind for you" or "well meaning". How would you cope though - if you have a pack leader that wouldn't let you be yourself and follow your dreams?

Kitty Norville is trying to balance her wants and need with that of the Supernatural world - a balance that is often hard to keep. She entered the world not by her own choice but by that of a Werewolf out on the prowl. She was in her college years and with a man who took advantage of her; by raping her and then leaving her in a secluded dark park.

Now adapting to her pack, she finds that she is the bottom of the pack - something she doesn't mind too much as long as she can keep her pride and joy - her radio show. They say all good things must come to an end, and our Kitty does not agree to that saying. A local Vampire leader comes to her alpha and demands that she stop her radio show - for it might bring attention to the supernatural world. Wold you let something go that you've worked so hard to create? I did not think so.

Kitty whines and begs for Carl (the alpha pack leader) to let her keep the show after it becomes syndicated, after all she'll be giving Carl a nice fee to let her keep the show. That does not bode well with the Vampires and other pack members especially her best friend TJ. He agrees with Carl (naturally so, since he is the Beta male) and tells Kitty to shut the show down.

One night while doing the show she gets a rather interesting call.

"Hello Kitty I'm in the lobby and I'm here to kill you."

Quickly thinking Kitty knows the only way to save her life is to keep the guy on the line, and then make him her friend. Cormac (the hitman) tells her the rules set forth - he must kill her on air. However, our Kitty is smart and a fast thinker - and comes to the conclusion that both she and Carmac have been set up. She quickly explains this to Cormac who then makes a deal with Kitty.

The death threat on Kitty is only one of many. She now begins to play detective, and finds that all that glitters is not gold within her pack. The police begin to call on her as a retainer to help them solve a slew of murders that have yet to be solved. Can Kitty find out who has been orders the hits - is it the Vampire leader or someone within the pack? Who has been slaughtering helpless victims in the city? Kitty has to solve the riddles while fighting for a place in the world.

Recommended to me by Darla D

Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn (c) 2005

Books in this Series:

1) Kitty and the Midnight Hour

2) Kitty Goes to Washington

3) Kitty Takes a Holiday

4) Kitty and the Silver Bullet

5) Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand

6) Kitty Raises Hell