Review: Ender's Shadow - Orson Scott Card

Rating: 4/5
Summary: Basically this is Ender's Game from Bean's perspective. There is more backround on Bean before and after he meets Ender, but it follows the same sequence of events.
Review: I was recommended this book by several people based on the fact that I loved Ender's Game. I also read Speaker for the Dead and was told that I would appreciate this more because it was more like the first book. In my opinion, its too much like the original book. I was draw in to the story in the beginning because Card tells of Bean's history, but when Bean's story begins to meet that of Ender's, I found myself bored. I knew what was going to happen and the details of Bean's story weren't enough to keep me enthralled as much as Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. I guess its just the originality of the plot line and the new characters that entertain me. Other than that, the quality of writing was just as good as the other two books and character development was definitely up to par with Card's other work. A good sequel, but I actually enjoyed the depth of meaning in Speaker for the Dead more as a sequel.

 *If you don't know how the "sequels" work with the Ender's Game books you should know its quite confusing. Check this link out for a better understanding of Ender's Universe.

Buy it here: Ender's Shadow

Review: Speaker for the Dead - Orson Scott Card

Rating: 5/5
Summary: In this sequel to Ender's Game we follow Ender as an adult in a future in which he's skipped thousands of lightyears and is now a Speaker for the Dead as he did for the Buggers in the first book. He has traveled to one of the "Hundred Worlds" and must help a new species of alien justify their existence and to speak the deaths of some important, and not so important, people on the planet.
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I had heard from several friends that this is too philosophical and not as good as Ender's Game but I found it just as entertaining, although a little sad, and much more adult. I appreciate the deeper meanings in the plot and the depth of the characters and if you liked the ending of the previous book, you will definitely enjoy reading this. Card is a very talented writer and really draws the reader in to his character development and the plots with plenty of surprises and interesting relationships. Definitely a "must read" if you liked the first.

Buy it here: Speaker for the Dead (Ender, Book 2)

Review: Divergent - Veronica Roth

Rating: 5/5

Summary: In a futuristic world, teenagers must decide to live in one of 5 factions based on their own personal beliefs on life society. Of the 5, Tris chooses the total opposite of what she's from, shocking her family and herself. During the initiation process of joining her new faction, Tris learns some awful truths about the societies and the way each is run while also learning about her own strength and choices.

Review: I actually really enjoyed this book. I worried at first that this was going to be too similar to Hunger Games and I wasn't going to be able to get into it. However, the characters were captivating, the plot was thick with lots of interesting relationships, action and twists. I also thought this book had the perfect balance of fight scenes and sexual tension to make it a great YA book for all ages (above 14ish) to enjoy. I definitely recommend picking this one up if you liked Hunger Games and Unwind.

Buy it here:Divergent
 

Review: A Million Suns - Beth Revis

Rating: 5/5
Summary: Amy and Elder continue their adventure aboard Godspeed and Elder begins to take on his role as leader of the ship. Things begin to spin out of control when the community is taken off the drug Phydus and they start to rebel. Elder has very little control when murder, riots and crime begin to emerge on the ship and Amy finds herself on a mystery adventure of her own.
Review: FANTASTIC! I loved the first book in this series, Across the Universe, and I couldn't wait for this sequel. Now I have to wait forever for the third one! The characters are even better developed this time, and the plot seriously thickens. I love the mystery thrown in to this story and the realistic approach that Revis takes on Amy's true feelings for Elder. Truly, I have zero complaints about this book except that the third in the series can't come fast enough. This is the next Hunger Games/Twilight obsession, I'm sure of it. If you haven't read Across the Universe yet, you need to go grab both of these and get on it!

Buy it here: A Million Suns: An Across the Universe Novel

Review: Everlost - Neil Shusterman

Rating: 4/5

Summary: Nick and Allie are two young teenagers who die in a car accident and end up in sort of a middle-world. They find that the many other children live in this world have all gotten lost on their way to "where they are going." Along with other children, Allie and Nick encounter monsters, get stuck in some unusual places and learn what "skinjacking" is.

Review: I really enjoyed this book as a YA genre to its core. Allie and Nick are fantastic characters and are very believable in that their thoughts are immature and not overly adult like you typically get from authors writing in this perspective. The adventure they embark on is also a greatly unique story and I was constantly wanting to know what happened next. Definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys YA and the fairy-tale fiction style.

Buy it here: 

Everlost (The Skinjacker Trilogy)

Ender's Game movie in 2013

I just saw that there is an Ender's Game movie in production with Harrison Ford and Abigail Breslyn as some of the stars! Can't wait!!!

Check it out here on IMDB.

Review: Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

Rating: 5/5
Summary: In a futuristic world, Ender is a child that has been born for his potential. When he is sent off to school to learn how to command a ship and battle aliens he finds his journey a little different than that of the other children and much more difficult than he ever imagined.
Review: Read this now! The cover of this book is awful and even the summary did not really seem appealing to me. However, this style of writing, the incredible plot twists and adventures and the creative characterization really make this book a must read. Its not hard to suspend disbelief in the beginning of the book (when you meet Ender and realize a 6-year-old is thinking much more intelligently than normal) if you just remind yourself that this is the future and this is specifically what he was born for. The ending is absolutely satisfying, especially since there is a series that follows this if you're so inclined to read more, but you don't feel you have to either. I highly recommend you pick this up and read it, or listen to the audio for more of the intended attitudes of the characters. You won't regret it!

Buy it here: Ender's Game (Ender, Book 1)

Review: Mark of the Golden Dragon - L.A. Meyer

Rating: 5/5
Summary: Jacky does it again! Somehow she manages to get stuck in a sticky situation (this time on another deserted beach,) leaving her friends thinking she's dead and her love Jamie gone mad with nothing but revenge on his mind. When Jacky finds out about Jamie's plan she must hurry back to England to save him from  a terrible fate with the noose.
Review: I have to love this adventure just as much as the others. As Jacky gets older, she gets smarter making her plans and adventures much more cunning. Along with age also comes handsome men and the return of one of my favorite of her pursuers. Again, L.A. Meyer kept me absolutely captivated throughout this story and depressed when the book was over. Definitely a must read, but more so a must listen if you're really looking for great storytelling. Katherine Kellgren is one of the best narrators ever. I would even put her above Jim Dale (Harry Potter's narrator!)

Buy it here!

Neil Gaiman reads The Graveyard Book, for FREE!!!!

This is one of my very favorite books, and the incredible author has decided to read it online for free. So not only do you get a great story for free, but in audio format by the author, which happens to be my favorite way to hear a story! Enjoy!
http://www.mousecircus.com/videotour.aspx

Wordy Mama's First Giveaway!!!

Hello everyone!
In celebration of the upcoming holidays I'm throwing my first giveaway! I'll send one hardcover copy of Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier to the winner and it would make a great Christmas gift if you don't want to keep it yourself! My review is here.

All you have to do to enter is post a comment below with the title of a book I reviewed that you read and if you enjoyed it, OR post a link to my blog on Facebook and comment below "FB." The deadline is Dec. 9th and the winner will be selected at random. Good luck!

Thanks everyone and have a great week!

Review: American Gods - Neil Gaiman

Rating: 5/5
Summary: Shadow, newly released from prison, is thrown into a world of new and old gods after taking a much needed job with one. The new gods of technology and the old gods of mythology are at war and at the climax of the book, Shadow confronts the gods in attempt to stop the huge destructive battle between them.
Review: This is an excellent book. Gaiman again blows your mind with character development and fantastical worlds. The plot is incredibly imaginative and enthralling. This is not a YA book however. I would certainly not let even a teenager read this book due to some sexually explicit scenes that in my opinion make this book perfect for the twenty-somethings and up who love a good fantasy. Anyway, I don't want to spoil much because this is a definite must read, but the story is so intricately detailed you won't want to put it down. Again, you've just got to love Neil Gaiman and his imagination!

Review: Unwind - Neal Shusterman

Rating: 5/5
Summary: In a future America, the fight over pro-life vs. pro-choice has lead to "Unwinding," a way of aborting a child after the age of thirteen. Connor is an Unwind who refuses to have his life ended, although society says you don't really die, and he runs away. The story follows his escape and adventures and tackles issues like abortion, kamikaze teenagers, and unwanted babies.
Review: Go read this book, now! While classified as a YA book, I certainly wouldn't allow my preteen to read it. This is a very dark story and as a mother, left me a few restless nights when I first started reading. However, the plot has its lifts of happiness that help combat the serious issues it deals with. The internal moral wars that take place in each of the characters add a completely believable depth to their personalities and you get to witness several unfortunate teenagers grow into adults much more socially responsible than most adults I know. Warning, this is not a cheery book that leaves you with butterflies and rainbows, but it is very much worth the read and will prove to be a book you have trouble putting down.

Buy It Here: Unwind

Wordy Mama's Author Awards (my favorites and why)

Stephanie Meyer - Even if you don't love her books, you've still got to love Stephanie for one reason. She can emulate a teenage romance better than any writer I know. The first time I read Twilight, I was so enamoured I felt in a daze for weeks. The silly passions we have as teenagers are so intense and she put those crazy hormonal emotions into words. I felt like I was sixteen again absolutely believing the person I was dating was my soulmate and when we'd broke up, I'd cry for days so hard I'd throw up. Bella's complete entrancement with Edward is just that, except for them it just happens to work out. She does the same in The Host with an undeniable love that never falters. Although her male characters are slightly unrealistic (no man is that sensitive, romantic, thoughtful or protective) its absolutely what we imagine our Prince Charmings will be when we finally meet them. I bestow Stephanie with the "Teenage Fantasy" Award.

Neil Gaiman - Neil is one of the best fantasy writers I've ever followed. He has an incredible way of creating a completely believable fictional world. He's so successful at it that after reading Neverwhere I actually developed a passion to head to London, even if it is just to taste the air that inspired him to write it. Neil's The Graveyard Book makes me wish I believed in ghosts and that I lived near a graveyard so I could go searching for lost little children and buried treasure. He never lacks for details and his fantastical worlds are so captivating you can't help but want to get lost in them over and over again. I present Gaiman with the "Make-Believe I Was There" Award.

L.A. Meyer - Louis wrote (is writing) my favorite series of all time, the Bloody Jack books. A big part of what makes me love them so much is the heroine, Jacky Faber, who is always getting herself into trouble and then back out of it, typically with the help of friends. You can't help but fall in love with her adventures and secretly wish you lived that life, even if its full of lots of trouble and drama. Not only does Jacky have many adventures filled with adversaries and friends, but she also has a ton of male pursuers, which makes for just the right amount of lust and love in the series. Louis is so great at creating a loveable heroine that you envy even her faults. This is why I gift L.A. Meyer with the "Most Enviable Heroine" Award.

Suzanne Collins - While Suzanne doesn't have a huge base of books for me to make my opinions on, the Hunger Games trilogy is definitely quite awesome enough to mention. Her series sticks in my brain primarily because of the unique action scenes and drama. If Katniss's "fighter" attitude isn't enough to ensnare you, then the arena should be. The tricks, dangers and just plain awful circumstances that the contestants get stuck with are so captivating that you can't put the books down. And they don't end in the arena! Poor Katniss and the other characters are constantly plagued by appropriately believable trouble and this is what absolutely drives the readers to stay up late hours of the night reading "just one more chapter." I grant Suzanne with the "Fight 'Til the Last Page" Award.

Reminder for a great must read....

I really can't stress enough the amazing-ness of the Bloody Jack books, especially in audio format. It truly is my favorite series, even above Harry Potter and Twilight (if you'll believe that!) If you're trying to find a great Christmas present for someone in your family who works on their computer for long hours, cleans often (I listen while I clean to make it go faster,) drives a lot of miles, or just likes listening to their iPod, definitely pick the first few up for them. I promise they will thank you later.
And seriously, audio is the only way if you can. Katherine Kellgren is one of the few women I'd LOVE to meet and take acting lessons from. She sings and reads in like 10 different absolutely believable accents and languages in both male and female.
Here are the links to the audio CDs if you don't use Audible.com:

Review: The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

Rating: 5/5
Summary: Liesel is a foster child who steals books when she discovers her love for reading. Set in Germany during WWII, she uses reading as her escape in the bomb shelter and when she struggles with friendship and family. When her family decides to hide a Jewish man in their basement Liesel learns a new lesson about life and love.
Review: I expected this to be a depressing book, but it surprised me. I loved that it was told from the viewpoint of Death personified but unfortunately it hints to the ending. A well-paced plot and excellent character development truly makes this a great read. You can't help fall in love with Liesel and her family. Definitely a good one to purchase for your shelves or as a great Christmas (or Hanukkah) present!

Buy It Here: The Book Thief

Review: Sisters Red - Jackson Pearce

Rating: 4/5
Summary: Scarlett and Rosie March are werewolf, or rather Fenris, hunters. As young children, their grandmother was killed by a Fenris and the teenage girls have since trained and become fearsome hunters, vowing to save as many lives as possible. Things get tricky when the new moon phase brings about a huge wave of murders and the girls take on their largest challenge yet.
Review: I just picked this book off the library shelf because I loved the cover and I'm so glad I did. I love that this is a twist on Little Red Riding Hood, but so completely different you can't compare the two stories. The characters are uniquely wonderful and captivating and the plot was very well paced and dotted with a satisfying amount if drama, plenty of action, and the perfect dose of romance. The only thing that would have made this book a full 5/5 for me was a little more sexual tension a la Twilight. Other than that, this was a great read for YA fans and heroine enthusiasts.

Buy It Here:  Sisters Red

Review: Stardust - Neil Gaiman

Rating: 4/5
Summary: Tristran Thorne promises his love a fallen star and must leave his rural English home to get it. On his trip through the magical world outside his safe town he meets witches, goblins and other magical creatures including a girl that turns out to to flip his life completely upside down.
Review: This is definitely a fun book. A perfect example of a modern fairy tale in which true love leads the hero to learn more about himself than he ever expected. Like all of Gaiman's stories, the character development is excellent and deep and you absolutely feel absorbed in to the mind of the main character. The plot is well paced and packed full of interesting events and action. I warn you though, this book has many differences from the movie if you've already watched it. If you haven't, don't yet! The book is much more mature and detailed while the movie feels like it was made for a much younger audience. Maybe buy the movie for your little sister and read the book yourself, because there are definitely some explicit scenes in the book you don't want your little sister reading....

Review: Going Bovine - Libba Bray

Rating: 5/5
Summary: Cameron is a teenage boy who gets diagnosed with "Mad Cow Disease" and ends up on the adventure of a lifetime (quite literally) trying to chase down the one man that can cure him. Along the way he makes friends with an angel, a dwarf and a yard gnome who aid him on his quest.
Review: I really enjoyed this one by Libba Bray. She constantly amazes me with her variation in characters and plots and this one is no different. So completely unlike her others, this book takes place in the present with a male narrator and is 100% believable. The book has several great climax points with a storyline that moves quickly without flitting over details. The ending is surprising and expected at the same time, and leaves you satisfied. I loved this book but in a much more mature fashion than the ways I loved Twilight. Definitely a good read for adults more so than teenagers.

Review: Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

Rating: 5/5
Summary: Jacob drops out of college just before graduating and joins the circus when tragedy disrupts his planned future. This book follows him as he learns the ropes of working in a circus, makes some interesting friends, and falls in love.
Review: You've probably already heard, but this is a "must read." Told from the interesting perspective of Jacob as an elderly man in a nursing home reminiscing on his youth, this story captivates your imagination immediately. Gruen seems to give her characters real life and feelings that you can feel in their dialogue and thoughts. The story is threaded with love, action and thrills all at the right time and amount. While definitely not a YA book, this is still a wonderful read, especially because you can imagine Robert Pattinson as Jacob thanks to the movie (if thats your thing.)

Review: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson

Rating: 5/5
Summary: This book is actually a memoir by Bill Bryson, another of my favorite authors. He grew up in America, moved to England and lived there for awhile, then moved back home. This book is the recounting of his life in both countries and family adventures.
Review: I love Bill's British humor and wit in this book. Reading this made me love America and want to visit England all at the same time. He's got a great talent of leading the reader through what would normally be mundane details (A Short History of Nearly Everything is a perfect example of this) and rocking your socks off. He somehow makes everything easy to read and hysterical at the same time. This is one of those books you laugh out loud to and purchase for your parents/siblings/best friends as a gift. You really can't go wrong reading any of Bryson's books, but this one is definitely my favorite.

Buy It Here: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir