YA Challenge #5- Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location

The second book in the "Secrets of My..." series begins with Kaitlin's 'come back' after she was discovered at a local high school undercover. The filming has begun with the Yet Untitled Hutch Adam Project and already things are a bit rocky.

Kate's co-star Drew was once her boyfriend, and he publicly humiliated her telling GQ magazine that he was using her to get his star to rise. That is not the only thing that is causing Kaitlin's stress to rise. Hutch is known for meditating on scenes that he doesn't feel. When Hutch calls an emergency meeting Kaitlin fears she is going to be fired!

When she arrives at the meeting she notices the new scripts with "FOR YOUR EYES ONLY" - and she relaxes a little. Why would Hutch bring her in on a meeting with top secret scripts? Hutch tells the room that he couldn't get this one actress out of his head - ever since she auditioned. She even helped with some ideas for the movie, and she'll play the perfect villain for Kaitlin's character. When he tells her to walk in, Katie is floored to see none other than Sky Mackenzie! Kaitlin can't seem to do anything without Sky getting her claws in.

That's not all, Carol (the studio's press person) tells Kaitlin that she'll have to do tons of press with Drew (her co-star) to create a lot of press for the movie. That means that her time with Austin is even more less frequent and she has to deal with the drama between Drew and Austin. However Drew won't let Katie out of his cross hairs and he makes sure that he is either touching or flirting with her in front of the press (added bonus if Austin is there too!) Katie tries to go along with the flow but it gets hard, especially one day when Austin comes to watch her shot, and Drew kisses her and it wasn't even in the script!

Kaitlin and Austin have dinner at Austin's house, finally a moment without paparazzi nipping at their heels. Kaitlin has an movie premiere to go to after having dinner with Austin, but they worked it out so that Kaitlin's body guard will pick her up and she can meet Drew (Carol wants Katie to go with him for press.) Both Kaitlin and Austin are shocked when Drew picks up Kaitlin from Austin's house! None of Kaitlin's camp new about the switch, so at the party Kaitlin yells at Drew and Sky to leave her alone! Her life with Austin is on the rock, the press has been reporting that Hutch can't stand Kaitlin, and now Sky and Drew are out to ruin her career.

I loved the second book just as much as the first! The books still moves at a quick pace and has plot twists to keep you entertained. In this book you get to see more of a 'behind the scenes' look at what it takes to make a movie. You also learn about stars and their trailers (if your a well known A-lister star your trailed is 200 times better than if your a nobody.)

Carol Daumer Gutjahr over at Book Nook has also reviewed the first two book in the series! To check it out click here.

Books in this series:

1) Secrets of My Hollywood Life (reviewed)

2) Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location

3) Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Family Affairs

4) Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Paparazzi Princess

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location By Jen Calonita. New York (c) 2007

YA Challenge #4- Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid follows Greg Heffly through his first year of middle school. As the year school year progress Greg goes through many little adventures. Adventures include dealing with his older and younger brothers, school projects (like plays, patrols, running for class positions.) For halloween, Greg and his friend Rowley go to the high school for the "Haunted House" and that's where Greg gets an idea. He notices that people are paying $5 to get in - so he's going to create his own haunted house and charge 50 cents. The only problem - where to build a haunted house? So they decide to go to Rowley's house. Only problem is Rowley's dad found out and now they have no money making scheme.

The only problem I found with this "novel in cartoons" was there was no real plot. Greg mainly talks about things that are important to every middle schooler - popularity, girls, avoiding "cooties", and how to stay away from bullies. The book flows well, the pictures help, as well as the short stories. Other than that I was scratching my head trying to think of something to write for this post! I feel that it is defiantly a YA book - a nice, funny, short story for young kids to enjoy.

Although this book was funny, I don't know if I will read the other books in the series. I will say that this challenge allowed to me to read a book I would have normally passed. I do like that I got to see a boy's POV in the middle school. It was kind of refreshing to not here "I don't have the 'in' clothes" or "why doesn't so-and-so like me" or hearing about how the reining queen of the preps causes drama. I'm on the fence right now as to read more books in this series or not. Hmmmm.....

Books in this series are

1) Diary of a Wimpy Kid

2) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

3) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Stray

4) Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. New York (c) 2007

YA Challenge #3- Dork Diaries

Being a tween is not an easy thing. To begin with, your parents are a constant embarrassment. They still use your humiliating childhood family name and don't hesitate to use it in public. On top of that you have to make sure that you are wearing the most "in" clothes and you have to make sure that you are in the "in" crowd. And if you're not? Then you better work your butt off to be acknowledged by them.

Nikki Maxwell has just transfered to a private middle school called Westchester Country Day. Automatically she has no friends, and in-order to become popular she needs an new iPhone. DUH! She begs and pleads for her mother to buy her one. When her mom arrives home from the mall that day, Nikki thinks she's gonna get it! Unfortunately what she gets is...a diary. This is no good. How is she supposed to get in with the CCP (cute, cool, & popular) crowd with a dumb diary?

Things for Nikki aren't going so well. She doesn't have a cell phone, her clothes are not from the mall, she has no friends, and to make matters worse, Mackenzie (the Queen of the CCP) will not stop picking on her. One day at gym class Nikki makes friends with Zoey and Chloe. They become good friends - and suddenly school life isn't so bad. Nikki's school is having an art competition. Nikki has been going to art class for 4 summers and has almost perfected her skill. When she goes to the office to sign up she sees Mackenzie signing up. Nikki joins too, and hopes to beat Mackenzie. On the day of the art competition Nikki's photo breaks, and it looks like once again Mackenzie has won.

When I was reading this book, it made me think back to the days when I was in middle school - and how I desperately wanted to be part of the "preps" at my school. I would beg my dad to let me buy new clothes. However, being a single parent, he couldn't do it. I remember watching the show "Clarissa Explains It All" and admiring her, she could make any outfit look cool. It seemed that I could not. I completely sympathized with Nikki.

This book is VERY VERY funny. In the beginning of the book, Nikki has to do a paper on "A Midsummer Night's Dream". I almost spilled milk out my nose when I read "I was kind of surprised, because I didn't know he [Shakespeare] wrote teen chick lit" (13). This book has some other very funny parts. I also love the pictures - it's very "tween"! I can't wait to see if sequel come out. I will so totally read it!

I got the inspiration to read this book at Holly's blog which is Writer's Block Reviews. Also Nona from J Kaye's Book Blog posted about the book which can be found here. However, on J Kaye's Book Blog - the book was also in a contest (which is now closed.) I hope you guys enjoy the book as much as I did :)

Dork Diaries : Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell. New York (c) 2009

Challenge 2 for me! (I can do it!!) - August Reading Challenge

I found this challenge via Falling off the Shelf, and from there I went to Pizza's Book Discussion. He is the original creator of this challenge. The goal of this challenge is to read as many books as you can in August. I am going to attempt this. I'm infamous for only blogging 2 books per month! Not a good blogger. For my goal I hope to blog 15 books!!

The Challenge Sign Up is here

Book 1) Revelations

Book 2) Flowers for Algernon

Book 3) Do-Over

Book 4) Queen of Babble

Book 5) Blood and Chocolate

Book 6) Remember When

Book 7) Biting the Bullet

Book 8) Thora: A Half-Mermaid Tale

Book 9) Ms. Taken Identity

Book 10) Queen of Babble: In The Big City

Book 11) Certain Girls

Book 12)

Book 13)

Book 14)

Book 15)

Jaz Parks - Mission 2

I must quickly say that when I googled a picture to put for this post, Queen's photo popped up. It made me chuckle and I just had to play the song. Oh Queen how I love some of your music :)

Jaz and Vayl now have another dangerous mission on their hands. A crazed Chinese vampire named Chien-Lung has stolen Burgman's armor. This isn't just any old armor. Burgman has created an armor that adheres to the wear's skin (at a molecular level.) The armor has spikes that can shoot out of the back, grow poisonous claws, scales that sprout quickly to protect the head, you get the point. Chien-Lung wants to use the armor to create an army for China that will take over the world. Samos is once again the puppet master behind the scenes.

We catch up with Cole and Jaz on a moped. Generally a moped is not the vehicle of choice for our heroine; she prefers her 1965 Corvette Sting Ray 327 convertible. Her boss Pete though is tired of Jaz blowing up cars. A moped is less likely to cost more money if it gets blown up, right? Our crew is stationed at the Corpus Christi WInter Festival in lovely Texas. Chien-Lung has brought his Chinese acrobats to preform for the people of Corpus Christi. In order for our gang to move in undetected by Chien-Lung and his army, Jaz & Co. have become performers. Jaz is to belly dance, Cole will do a juggling act, Vayl will sing, and Cassandra will do her readings. Just as in the last mission, nothing goes according to plan, and a easy mission is not in their future.

While Jaz and Cole are viewing the camp ground they come across a nice Chinese woman and her child. As they are talking to the woman the child begins to choke on a hot dog. Thinking quickly Cole does CPR and saves the child. They learn that the Chinese woman is one of the acrobats in Chien-Lungs camp. They switch tickets and go back to the RV to prepare for the mission.

Jaz's past has been plaguing her even more. Whenever she sleeps she sleep walks, but they are not peaceful. In her dreams she is still dealing with the loss of Matt, her sister-in-law, and the guilt she carries with her. She also fights with her twin brother, Dave. She is still struggling with the fact that Matt is no longer with her, and the guilt she has that her team died under her watch. Cassandra and Jaz go to meet one of Cassandra's friends that might be able to help Jaz with her issue. But when they arrive to meet Cassandra's friend - a soul reaver is there who attacks Jaz. After Jaz is released from the hospital (her hands needed stitches) another piece of the mystery is revealed. Samos has brought reavers into this world for one thing - world war. They have to race against the clock to stop Chien-Lung from mass producing Bergman's armor and stop the reaver from killing innocent people. ANother tall order for Jaz & Co.

Another review of this book is by ScifiChick

Books in this series

1) Once Bitten Twice Shy (reviewed)

2) Another One Bites the Dust (just reviewed)

3) Bitting the Bullet

4) Bitten to Death

5) One More Bite

6) Bite Marks

Another One Bites the Dust by Jennifer Rardin New York (2007)

YA Challenge #2 - Secrets of my Hollywood Life

The first thought that comes to me when I think about this book is how utterly funny and fast paced it is! I usually take more than a day to finish any book I start. I get easily distracted by TV or the internet, but once I started this book I couldn't put it down!! :)

To quote a line from William Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice "All that glitters is not gold..." Kaitlin is one of Hollywoods new teen sensations. She has a killer role on the soap opera "Family Affairs", has a wonderful wardrobe, and a killer life style. However she has to put up with a very demanding family. Her younger brother Matt keeps annoying Katie to put a good word out for him and her mother keeps trying to live vicariously through her. On top of that she has no time to just breathe.

Family Affairs had just finished shooting the final episode for the season. Katie has been feeling like a break away from the lime light would be a nice way to re-charge her batteries while the show is on hiatus. She is tired of putting up with Sky's antics. Sky is her "sister" on the show but in real life Sky hates Katie and takes any chance she can get to ruin Katie's image.

Katie decides to tell her family at her movie premiere that she plans to attend her best friend Liz's high school. Everyone agrees that Katie can go there for only 2 months (with a handful of other press related shows scheduled.) Katie is forbidden to tell anyone but her close entourage about her idea. Now she has to keep not only the Hollywood life in order but her new alias as Rachel secret. Hopefully she can keep her new double life away from Sky, who keeps looking to put Katie out of the lime light permanently.

A couple of weeks in the Spring Fling is all anyone is talking about! Kaite has a new crush, Austin, who is the sophomore's #1 hunk. The theme for the spring fling is Hollywood. Austin asks Katie to be his date. She agree - and they're going to the dance. Katie is 'playing' herself and Austin is playing Trevor (Katie's co-star). When Sky appears at the dance, it only signals one thing to Katie - doom.

I love how Jen Calonita created a sexy boy that was also smart, funny, and wanted Katie for her brian and not her beauty. I also love Katie. She kept her head held high no matter how many slanderous lies Sky kept spreading in the gossip columns. I can't wait to read the next book!!

Also reviewed at Dear Author

Books in this series

1) Secrets of My Hollywood Life

2) Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location

3) Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Family Affairs

4) Secret of My Hollywood Life: Paparazzi Princess

Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita. New York (c) 2007

1st post for YA Challenge: Geek Charming

We have all read the story of the Prince and Princess: Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. Also we have all read the many adaptions of those stories. For instance, a story were there is the popular girl at school who meets the totally geeky guy at school, and eventually fall in love. I thought this book would be exactly that. It wasn't - and thank god for that.

A heads up for you readers - the POV changes every chapter between Dylan (a girl) and Josh (a boy). I tend to hate books like these at first, because it's harder for me to get into it - but I overcome it. I tend to love the switching POVs at the end of the book. Go figure.

Let me introduce you to the two main characters. Dylan - who is "the most popular girl at Castle Heights High" and Josh who is "the geek". Now Josh isn't just any geek he is a film geek. There is a difference according to the book. Dylan has been dating Asher since they were sophomores. The senior year has started out as yet another fabulous life. Dylan is still seated upon her throne with her hunk boyfriend and all social crises have been averted. That is until one afternoon after shopping with her BFFs Hannah and Lola her new designer bag plummets into the water fountain. Can we cue the PANIC alarm and flashing red lights? Some buff young man must come and save the day, I mean she is the most popular girl ever! She settles on Josh - Mr. I-need-my-inhaler-even-though-I-have-no-asthma guy.

Film geeks are totally different than the pocket protector geeks. Don't let them get you fooled. Josh has been dreaming of getting into the USC Film program since he could walk. He needs a stellar documentary to show the people over at USC his talent. He decides that he will capture the other side of popularity and he'll use Dylan for the star role. Josh makes Dylan agree to let them film her and her popular crowd in exchange for saving her purse. She reluctantly agrees. Only does she know that she has started something that will be life altering.

Dylan can't be seen with someone as uncool as a geek. But a promise is a promise. As the camera starts rolling the true Dylan slowly emerges and so does Josh. From wimpy geek to a self-assured man. But how will the two survive the high school social field with all that peer pressure?

For a YA book I quite liked it. I thought it would be so "tween" like Hannah Montana or whatever overly-glitter show they have on now. The truth is, this book deals with deep down emotions that we as teenagers have gone through: wanting to fit it, the awkward stage, finding ourselves, loneliness, deceit, love, loss of love, etc. Take Dylan for example. On the outside she is the complete run of the mill "barbie dolls" that Mean Girls mocked. She only cares about gossip, appearing flawless every second, and loves to belittle the less popular people. Robin Palmer has Dylan go through some pretty rough times (rough by High School standards). At one point in the story Dylan has just been dumped by Asher and shows up to the Halloween party by herself. While Josh and crew are filming: coke spills are her dress, her tiara falls on the floor and gets stomped on, and then her dress rips and she knows she is no longer in the 'in crowd'. Poor girl.

I remember being in High School and wishing desperately to be like the "in crowd". I hated that I couldn't afford to go and by the 'in' clothes - mine were so average and dull. I would walk through the hall ways, or see them in class and wonder what made them so cool? I eventually came to see that being me was more important that trying to fit a mold that wasn't me. Dylan's fall from grace is sad but funny. Her and Josh, over the month of him filming, have become great friends. He helps her to be real. I felt like I was with Dylan every step of the way. Everyone should read it to re-experience high school life. Take a trip down memory lane. One that's funny and heart warming.

Another great review of the book is here

Geek Charming by Robin Palmer New York (c) 2009