Teaser Tuesdays

The rules are:

1. Get the book you are currently reading.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

____________________________________

Today's teaser is from Schooled by Anisha Lakhani page 36:

"Impulsively, I took a piece of chalk and wrote MS. TAGGERT in cursive writing with big, sweeping strokes. Even the smell of chalk was thrilling."

Giveaway!

This week's giveaway is an ARC of the young adult novel - Guardian by Julius Lester.

From the Publisher: When one teenage boy chooses not to tell the truth, an innocent man is lynched, and the boy must bear the burden of shame and suffer the pain of losing a friendship.

Not since To Kill A Mockingbird has there been a more haunting and poignant novel about what happens when a group of people deny human rights to others.

Leave a comment to enter. I will choose the winner on Saturday, September 27th.

Good Luck!

Winner!

Congratulations Gwendolyn - you are the winner!

Creepers

Creepers

by

Joanne Dahme

3/5 Stars

From the Publisher: From moving to a new house to making new friends and preparing for high school, life for the new girl in town can be unsettling. But thirteen year-old Courtney is unprepared for how creepy life in Murmur, Massachusetts turns out to be. Her ivy-covered house overlooking the antiquated cemetery next door is one thing, but Courtney finds herself thrust into a full-fledged haunted adventure after meeting Christian and Margaret Geyer, a strange father and daughter with unfinished family business. The body of their ancestor, Prudence, has gone missing from beneath her ivy-carved tombstone and must be returned to its final resting place in order to break the spell that looms over Courtney’s house. To add to the suspense and help solve the mystery, authentic documents and photographs are set at the beginning of each chapter pertaining to Murmur, Courtney’s house, and the infamous cemetery. Will Courtney uncover the secret lurking within the dark, dank underbelly of her ivy-covered basement?

I found this book book to be a quick and, only somewhat, enjoyable read. Throughout the first half of the book, the plot was interesting and well-developed. I was disappointed in the end of the novel, as many of the plot elements were not sufficiently 'tied-up' - too many loose ends.

Courtney, the main character was authentic and believable. The characters that surround her, however, seemed a bit flat and undeveloped. I understood where Dahme was going with the characters of Christian and Margaret - they just weren't interesting.

I love a good ghost story, but I expect to be captivated and intrigued. After reading Creepers, I was left wanting more - more insight, more suspense, and more satisfaction.

The Boy From the Basement

The Boy From the Basement
by
Susan Shaw
4/5 Stars

From the Publisher: For Charlie, the basement is home. He's being punished. He doesn't mean to leave - Father wouldn't allow it - but when Charlie is accidentally thrust outside, he awakens to the alien surroundings of a world to which he's never been exposed. Though haunted by hallucinations and fear of the basement and his father's rage, Charlie embarks on a journey toward recovery that blossoms when he finally finds unconditional love.

This book as marketed as young adult - although the subject matter may be a little too sensitive for some.

In the novel, we see the world through Charlie's eyes - those of a severely neglected and abused young boy. We travel with him as he realizes he has missed out on the simple joys of life - rain, sunshine, and love. Charlie must confront his fears along the way, but he is guided by new friends, a loving foster mother, and a strong zest for life.

If you are looking for an attention-grabber for your older teen, this may just be it!

Wordless Wednesday

Thanks to Lezlie for sending this to me!

We Have a Winner!

The winner of Suicide Notes is - robin_titan!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and be sure to check out my new giveaway!

Giveaway!

This week's giveaway is - my ARC of Something Wickedly Weird - The Icy Hand.

Read my review, and sign up by leaving a comment. I will pick the winner on September 20th.

Good Luck!

Firefighter Saves Cat with Mouth-to-Mouth

I am not a fan of cats, but I am a fan of firefighters. I'm sure this cat and her owner are too!

Giveaway!

Wells, it's time to clean out my bookshelves. In the next few weeks, I will be giving away some of my ARCs. The first to go is - Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford.

I enjoyed this YA novel - you can find my review here.

Please leave a comment here if you are interested. I will randomly choose a winner on Saturday, September 13.

Rookie the Golden Retriever

The Burn Journals

The Burn Journals
by
Brent Runyon
4.5/5 Stars

From the Publisher: In 1991, fourteen-year old Brent Runyon came home from school, doused his bathrobe in gasoline, put it on, and lit a match.

He suffered third-degree burns over 85 percent of his body and spent the next year recovering in hospitals and rehab facilities. During that year of physical recovery, Runyon began to question what he'd done, undertaking the complicated journey from near-death back to high school, and from suicide back to the emotional mainstream of life.

There were times that this book was difficult to read, simply because I have a fifteen-year old son. The teenage years are tough - I've been there. But, I hate to think that anyone could feel as hopeless as Brent Runyon did on that February afternoon.

After the debrieding treatments, skin grafts, and surgeries, Runyon begins healing emotionally. When he is asked why he attempted suicide, he answers honestly, "I don't remember anything about myself back then." It's heartbreaking to think that those feelings that drove him to hurt himself were so transitory.

Eventually Runyon makes it through rehab, the treatment center, and to high school. Once there, his friends welcome him with open arms. At this point, any thoughts of suicide seem far away. However, Runyon points out that the depression that haunted him as a fourteen-year old does return. As an adult, he realizes that he must ask for help. He is now in therapy, taking medication, and living a productive life.

Runyon's voice come through very clearly in this memoir - one of the main reason I enjoyed this book so much. His style is clear, honest, and no-nonsense. He tackles the difficult topics of self-worth, sexual activity, pain, and uncertainty - all without playing the victim.

I would highly recommend this book for older teens. The lessons Runyon has to teach are vital - and often not discussed.

Saturday Silliness

Be sure to check out my latest post at Saturday Silliness - My Son, The Non-Reader.

Teaser Tuesdays

The rules are:

1. Get the book you are currently reading.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

____________________________________

Today's teaser is from The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon page 17:

"I fall down. I'm going to die."

30 Books in 30 Days

A Peek at my Bookshelf is hosting a great giveaway -- Head on over to check it out!

Ghost in the Mirror

Ghost in the Mirror: Real Cases of Spirit Encounters
by
Leslie Rule
3.5/5

From the Publisher: When you gaze into your mirror, you don't expect to see anything other than your reflection. However, you may be surprised to learn that this ubiquitous sheet of glass is really a doorway to another realm. Thousands of witnesses have stepped forward to admit that they have seen apparitions in mirrors. In fact, the mirror is one of the most common places where ghosts appear.

I have always been a fan of ghost stories. I don't like to admit it, but I actually watch A Haunting - it's a guilty pleasure. Needless to say, I was very excited to receive this book.

Rule does an admirable job with several stories in this book. They are well researched, well written, and not a little creepy. The majority of the tales, however, read like newspaper copy. Most are less than a page, and relate minimal information. Rule does include addresses of locations where the stories take place -- just in case the reader may want to do their own investigating.

Overall, I enjoyed Ghosts in the Mirror. Many of the stories were new to me, and encouraged some internet searches. My reason for the lower rating -- I would have preferred fewer, but more in-depth, stories.

Read other reivews on Library Thing.