Friday, December 30, 2011

Top Ten Week: Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2012

Top Ten of 2011 hosted by Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic and Lisa from A Life Bound by Books. It's the last day of Top Ten Week! It's been fun listing my favorites this year and finding new recommendations from bloggers through their own lists. The last topic is Top 10 Books I'm looking forward to in 2012. I thought I'd make it a little special by listing two top tens. Now as usual, In no particular order (click title for summary):

Sequels

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)Pure (Covenant, #2)Insurgent (Divergent, #2)Pandemonium (Delirium, #2)Bitterblue (The Seven Kingdoms, #3)A Million Suns (Across the Universe, #2)Hallowed (Unearthly, #2)Until I Die (Revenants, #2)Timepiece (Hourglass, #2)This Is So Not Happening


Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #3 by Cassandra Clare) - December
Pure (Covenant #2 by Jennifer Armentrout) - April 3rd
Insurgent (Divergent #2 by Veronica Roth) - May 1st
Pandemonium (Delirium #2 by Lauren Oliver) - February 28th
Bitterblue (The Seven Kingdoms by Kristin Cashore) - May 1st
A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2 by Beth Revis) - January 10th
Hallowed (Unearthly #2) - January 17th
Until I Die (Revenants #2 by Amy Plum) - May 8th
Timepiece (Hourglass #2 by Myra McEntire) - June 12th
This Is So Not Happening (He's So/She's So by Kieran Scott) - May 1st


Debuts/Stand-alones

Isla and the Happily Ever Afte...The Fault in Our StarsCinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1)Incarnate (Newsoul, #1)Something Like NormalThe Alchemy of ForeverSecond Chance SummerThe Fine Art of Truth or DareTouching the SurfaceThis Is Not a Test


Isla and the Happily Ever After (by Stephanie perkins) - 
The Fault in Our Stars (by John Green) - January 10th
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1 by Marissa Meyer) - January 3rd
Incarnate (Newsoul #1 by Jodi Meadows) - January 31st
Something Like Normal (by Trish Doller) - June 19th
The Alchemy of Forever (Incarnation #1 by Avery Williams) - January 3rd
Second Chance Summer (by Morgan Matson) - May 8th
The Fine Art of Truth or Dare (by Melissa Jensen) - February 16th
Touching the Surface (by Kimberly Sabatini) - September 4th
This Is Not a Test (by Courtney Summers) - June 19th

2011 has been the biggest year for me in reading. I took a big leap from achieving 33 reads in 2010 and got to finish 137 books this year(!!!). My original goal was 100.. but then I graduated from high school in March and I know I won't be having any much free time in college, so I thought I'd read as much as I can during summer. 



2011 Reading Challenge

2011 Reading Challenge

Dea has
completed her goal of reading 135 books in 2011!
hide


74 - Contemporary
46 - Fantasy
13 - Dystopia
4 - Historical Fiction

What are the books you're most looking forward to in 2012? Feel free to leave a link to your own list in the comments and I'll be sure to check them out! 

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Author Guest Post by PJ Sharon: Diaries, Journals, or Blogs?

Hi everyone! Today we have PJ Sharon on the blog. She's the author of Heaven Is For heroes, On Thin Ice, and her upcoming novel Savage Cinderella will be released in Spring 2012. Welcome Ms. Sharon!! 

Hello Dea and Teen Readers' Diary. Thank you all for hosting me today. Since your blog is all about teen readers and diaries, I thought I would talk about how teens decide about their mode of written communication.

I was about ten years old when I got my first diary. Of course, that was back in the dinosaur age before PC’s, e-readers, or even cell phones! A few of my friends had diaries too, but none were as committed to writing every night like I was. My diary had a lock and key which I thought was just the coolest thing—especially because it kept my brother from reading about my most embarrassing moments. I filled the pages with scribbles, doodles, and drawings, as well as sharing my deepest thoughts and emotions with my pen and paper. My mother never said anything, but I think she must have appreciated my persistence in filling those pages, because every Christmas, I got another diary to start my new year off. I still have those diaries and can’t believe the drivel, the secrets, the drama, and the stories I wrote between those pages.

Later, in my twenties, I got back to writing, but by then I called my little notebooks Journals. This was way cooler than keeping a childish “diary”. And “journaling” was all the rage. It turned out to be a really helpful way for me to express myself through some very difficult times. I wrote heart-wrenching poetry to help me through a few bad break-ups, and I wrote some short stories which later prepared me for writing full length novels and publishing.

 Now that computer technology has evolved, my time is spent blogging and writing Young Adult fiction rather than keeping personal journals. But I felt so strongly about my journal writing experience, that I made my character in ON THIN ICE keep a journal. I have Penny write in her journal sporadically throughout the book because I wanted to show that the thoughts she shared with her journal were much deeper than even the thoughts that she acknowledged as the narrator of the story. Penny’s first journal entry is where the book starts.
Journal Entry,
May 15th

I’m a liar. I know it, I hate it, and I can’t seem to help myself.  I feel the lies piling up as if I’m being buried, each one a stone that keeps me pinned in a shallow grave.

God knows I have my reasons for hiding from the truth. Truth is hard and ugly. The lies are easier. As Mom gets sicker, my world grows smaller and the lies grow bigger. The uneven ground beneath my feet leaves me unsteady, and I’m waiting for the earthquake that will disrupt my life and change it forever.

At school, I’m expected to get all A’s. On the ice, I’m expected to pass tests, compete, and win. At home…well, I’m expected to be strong, help out, take charge, and be an inspiration—like one of Mom’s Celine Dion slit-my-wrists songs. If I am “Perfect Penny,” maybe everything will be okay, but I know that I’m lying, even to myself. Because no matter how hard I try, I will never be good enough to change the truth.

Writing down our thoughts lets us express the deepest parts of ourselves, even the parts we don’t recognize in ourselves. I’m always surprised by the profound words that come out of my head and onto the page when usually, what comes out of my mouth is so much less so.

Whether you blog in a public forum as I do, or if you keep journals or diaries like Penny, writing down your thoughts is a way of immortalizing yourself in the moment. The written word is so powerful that it can change the world—like the Bible, America’s Declaration of Independence, or even the birthday card you write to your mother that brings her to tears. When we write, we make our thoughts and ideas a permanent record in the world—a record that we were here.

So tell me, teen readers, do you keep a diary? A journal? Or do you blog?


About the Author: PJ Sharon is author of contemporary young adult novels, including HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, a finalist in the Denver Heart of Romance Molly contest. Her stories have garnered several contest finals, including two awards for ON THIN ICE, and a place in the prestigious Valley Forge Romance writer’s contest for SAVAGE CINDERELLA coming out in the spring of 2012.
On the road to publication, PJ decided that indie-publishing was the best fit for her books. Although the themes are mature, evoking plenty of drama and teen angst, PJ writes with a positive outlook and promises a hopefully ever after end to all of her books. She believes in strong heroines empowered by learning valuable life lessons. Because of this, readers of all ages will be captivated by the emotional and romantic journeys of her characters.
Writing romantic fiction for the past six years, and following her destiny to write Extraordinary stories of an average teenage life, PJ has been a member of Romance Writers of America since 2007 and is an active member of the Young Adult chapter of RWA. She is mother to two grown sons and lives with her husband and her dog in the Berkshire Hills of Western MA.
Visit PJ Sharon on these sites:
On her Website: http://www.pjsharon.com
Follow PJ on Twitter: @pjsharon
Follow PJ on Facebook: PJ Sharon Author Fan Page
Follow PJ’s Promotional blog @ http://pjsharonyawriter.blogspot.com
Follow PJ’s Tuesday blog @ http://secretsof7scribes.wordpress.com
Follow PJ’s Friday Healthy Teen Tips blog @ http://yabeyond.com 

On Thin Ice  

Buy it on these sites:
Amazon ││Smashwords ││ Barnes & Noble││CreateSpace
Summary: Seventeen year old figure skater Penny Trudeau has secrets. She’s not perfect, as hard as she tries to be. With a mother who is dying and a father who treats her like she’s invisible, Penny has every reason to lie. To escape the life that is spinning out of control, she falls into the arms of an older boy. But when she lies about her age and he finds out the truth, Penny loses the one good thing that has happened in a long time.


Carter McCray is the hockey hunk she falls for, but Carter has his own family drama, and he’s not looking for trouble. Penny proves to be the exception, until the truth comes out and he can’t get past the betrayal—or her father’s threats.
Can Penny find her way back into Carter’s heart, or will she have to face the harsh realities of life on her own? Penny’s choices lead her down a dangerous road and the secrets she’s keeping will change her world forever.

Top Ten Week: Top 10 Characters in 2011

Top Ten of 2011 hosted by Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic and Lisa from A Life Bound by Books. It's the fourth day of Top Ten Week! This time it's about Top 10 Characters. It can be any character in books (villains, heroines, etc.) Now in no particular order, here's my list:

Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)


Warner and Juliette (Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi) - Tahereh Mafi is so awesome in creating her characters. Warner is my favorite Villain of 2011 while Juliette is one of the top heroines I truly admire.

Flat-Out Love


Julie Seagal (Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park) - Julie is one of the most intelligent and hilarious female characters I know. Her Facebook statuses were way too fun to read I wish she was real.

Divergent (Divergent, #1)


Tris (Divergent by Veronica Roth) - I highly regard this girl's determination and resilience. From being weak, she transformed into a very strong character who stood up for what she believes in.

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey, #4)


Grimalkin (Iron fey by Julie Kagawa) - The cat who disappears during fights and appears when we least expect it to save everyone's butt. 

Between Shades of Gray


Lina (Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys) - From a naive fifteen year-old girl, Lina has grown up while living the life the hard way. Never once did she even consider of giving up.

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1)Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking, #3)


Manchee and Mayor Prentiss (Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness) - oh, Machee.. :'( I tear up a little whenever I see his name in reviews. Such a loyal dog. 
I hate Mayor Prentiss like I hate President Snow. He's malicious and awful to the core. 

City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4)




Magnus Bane (The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare) - I don't feel the need to explain why I love this Warlock.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz






Vera Dietz (Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King) - She's unique and peculiar and simply awesome. Like Charlie said, she's effortlessly classy.



Who are your favorite characters this year? 


Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Top Ten Week: Top 10 Book Boyfriends in 2011


Top Ten of 2011 hosted by Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic and Lisa from A Life Bound by Books. Today it's about my favorite list: Top 10 Book Boyfriends! Although this is quite another difficult one. There are gazillion gorgeous and amazing YA guys out there... how can I possibly just choose ten? So I decided to include an honorable mention list just so I wouldn't feel bad about not including some of my book boyfriends.  Again, In no particular order. 


Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)


\
Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs (Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare) - I know, I know I'm cheating again. But it doesn't seem right to list Will and not Jem. I loved them both (although I'm leaning more towards Will). These boys are captivating and I admire their loyalty towards each other. I even enjoy their bromance more so than their individual conversations with Tessa sometimes. I can't help but love both the emotionally broken and the physically broken Shadowhunters.



\
Adam Kent (Shatter Me by Tehereh Mafi) - oh, Juliette.. you lucky girl. He's immune to her lethal touch, but I don't know anyone who's immune to his charm and awesomeness.

The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms, #2)Divergent (Divergent, #1)




\
Han Alister (Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima) - From my review: "I know all fantasy heroes are supposed to be awesome, but Han Alister is more than that. He has changed so much from being a thief to a talented wizard. His passion, courage and determination made him my favorite character not only in the series but also in all YA Fantasy books."


Four (Divergent by Veronica Roth) - He's strong, compelling, mysterious, and definitely dauntless. He 
has the whole tough facade going on but deep inside he has a compassionate and loving heart. 

The Piper's SonHalf-Blood (Covenant, #1)


Tom Mackee (The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta) - I believe there are real-life Tom Mackees out there. He's complicated and broken and just different from the one I knew from Saving Francesca. Sure, he's flawed and he thinks he's a failure at age nineteen, but I'm glad his family and Tara got him back together.


Aiden (Covenant series by Jennifer Armentrout) - Cool, calm, and collected, Aiden reminds me of Dimitri from VA. But I swear I like Aiden more (being team Adrian and all). He's protective without being controlling, and he's one fine man. 

 The Iron Knight (Iron Fey, #4)Where She Went (If I Stay, #2)


Ash (Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa) - He was distant and cold sometimes, but I melt every time he gets all romantic and serious to Meghan. He's tough and brave and oh so hot.

Adam Wilde (Where She Went by Gayle Forman) - I love my heroes messed up and intense. I felt his pain over losing the only girl he loved and unhappiness over his rock star status. He writes music, so it was an auto-love for me... plus he's so swoon-worthy.

Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry, #2)Anna and the French Kiss

Fuentes Brothers (Perfect Chemistry series by Gayle Forman) - I've read all three books this year, and boy am I so glad I did. Alex, Carlos, and Luis are three smokin' brothers I just wish were real. And I love 'em all equally.

Etienne St. Claire (Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins) - Just thinking about his name makes me swoon. He has a British accent for Pete's sake! He's funny and sweet and just.. perfect. I can gush about him all day. 



Honorable Mentions


Vincent and Jules (Die for Me by Amy Plum)
Matt and Finn Watkins (Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park)

 Significance (Significance, #1)Going Too Far
Caleb Jacobson (Significance by Shelley Crane)
John After (Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols)



The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1)Saving June
Noah Shaw (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin)
Jacob Talon (Saving June by Hannah Harrington)

Who are your top book boyfriends this year? Tell me in the comments or leave a link to your own list!

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