Book Review 10 - Matched, by Ally Condie

Ah yes, another one of my infamous Christmas gift books.

I ADORE the cover. Maybe it's a
condition of super-hyped books, or
maybe of a book generally just not
being up my street, but they always
seem to have amazing covers.

Matched was waited with bated breath (haha, that rhymed! Oh, I am so distractable today...) by what feels like millions of people. When you hear good reviews or a general good vibe it's very hard to distinguish between the individual voices and what they actually might be saying. Like one of my reviews, for example, which always strive to give both positive and negative aspects of books, unless the thrill of reading them was overwhelmingly amazing and the faults will only be mentioned briefly. However, that is my personal choice, and I believe I've only ever given one near-perfect review (for Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly) and only because it's my favourite book ever.

But onto Matched.

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

First, let's talk about the setting. Matched is, as you've probably heard, a dystopian novel. However, the beginning of the book makes it sound much more like a utopia, and I loved this. You kind of know everything's going to fall apart, but the whole facade is so perfect for a while that you begin to become comfortable with it, and think, "Hey, this is okay! People are happy, they're fulfilled, Cassia's going to stay with her best friend turned sudden boyfriend forever and everything's going to be hunky dory!" but then, the cracks start to appear, in a very skilful way. I don't know how Ally Condie managed to make a perfect society where nothing ever happens so intriguing, but she does. From the beginning she pulls you into this world and keeps you interested. The Officals who represent the Society are horribly realistic and believable, even when Cassia is being warned very heavy for her insubordination to the society's propaganda.

Ally Condie ties a clean writing style into this sterile dystopia which builds on the naivete of its citizens. It's like the cover; simple but effective, and at times, strikingly beautiful. That is, it's not simplistic in a poorly written sense, as simplicity can so often be mistaken, it's simplistic in a stylistic sense. Cassia is an innocent, brainwashed, usually happy person, but she is also a teenager finding her way through life in a cool, calm, and suddenly shaken environment, and Ally's writing captures this brilliantly.

One of the main themes of the book was the love-triangle, or to be more specific, the subtle battle between the two heroes and the heroine. I like to think of it as Xader vs Ky; Conformity vs. Rebellion, Known vs. Unknown, Perfection vs. Imperfection, love that was dictated by Society vs. love that was dictated by oneself etc etc, but you get the gist. As character, they were both equally amazing. I loved Xnader from the very start! But Ky grew on me mas the novel progressed, especially his interest in forbidden poetry (!) but I think my heart still belongs to Xnader. Who knows, maybe I really am falling for the good boy this time... Another character I loved included Cassia's grandfather, but other than that I found many of the secondary characters to be too sketchy and vague. I couldn't see them in my mind, and it felt like they were purely instruments in the story, and instruments that didn't really progress the plot at that. This affected Cassia at times too, but I kept reading anyway.

And speaking of the plot; okay, so this was one of my major irritations. For a long time, it didn't really seem like there was any plot at all. Much as I appreciate the subplots and the realism, I wanted kickass action and lots of shooting/fighting/gouging/kicking well, more kickass action! That's the problem with Matched; it never really breaks out of its box. It barely even scratches the glass.

However, I doubt the depth I wanted and my other issues with plot and character will faze the intended audience. This isn't crossover fiction; it's pure YA. The book is and will remain popular in its genre. If you read YA commercial fiction, you don't want to miss this one - and hear this; it beats Divergent every time.

Writing: 5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Impact: 3.5/5
Re-readability: 3/5
Overall: 4/5
In less than five words: dystopian, utopian, thought-provoking (and yes, that counts as one word!), brilliantly written.

Allie (no, not Ally. I AM NOT ALLY CONIDE. As much as I would like to be.)

Right, Y'all. Have Some Unwanted Advice from a Jumped Up Fifteen Year Old.

It's up to you whether you read this or not. Today I was confronted with the question, "What do you centre your life around?" With a list of examples, such as "Friends, Relationships, School, Parents, Hobbies, Work, Stuff."

I was absolutely baffled. I couldn't think. Friends? Was it? No, I didn't think so. I hardly spent all my time on my friends, or edited my self to fit their mould. That don't mean they ain't important to me. So, not that.

Neither is it relationships. I have a boyfriend . I've been with him for 6 months (and I still haven't gotten used to the idea!) , I see him during school sometimes and we meet up every few weeks. I certainly talk to him alot. But I realized fast that wasn't because I centre my life around him, but because first and foremost, he is a great friend. (Side note: I could never get those relationships based entirely on attraction. ) So check off that.

Parents? Nope. I don't consider my parents in every decision I make. I respect their opinion and always ask them, but I downright contradicted my mother when she insisted I take Art, but I chose Music instead.

School. Pffft. You kid me? Too young for work, and I'm not that dedicated to any hobbies. Certainly not blogging. *guilty look*

Thing is... I have no frickin' idea! Or, wait, I do. I don't centre my life around any single things. Everything plays its role with me. Suddenly! I had discovered the cause of my feeling so broad, stretched thin and no direction.

The questioner went on to suggest you centre your life around the principles you most value instead of material things. These commonly include Honesty, Fairness, Equality, Hard Work... ect, ect, I'm sure you know them all. It seems a pretty good solution. *smile* I'mma try. I also vow to post on the blog... more... with more cr- uh, rubbish you don't want.

For now, have a pretty addictive song. The lyrics are hard to make out unless they're in front of you, so here they are: http://www.metrolyrics.com/burning-in-the-skies-lyrics-linkin-park.html

And then I found this lyric video. Don't get distracted from the song, but the animation is pretty damn awesome. It's also now my official theme song for my character Nate.

Love, Tora.

Hang On In There!

I know right? I actually have something worth saying! *major shocker* It's an idea of two that Allie and I coined a little while ago, but not wanting to put it off, without futher ado, I now introduce...

The 30 Musicals Challenge!

It's a meme. And I know we could probably have come up with a more inventive title for it, but in a nutshell:

Me and Allie have challenged ourselves, to between us, watch and document here on the Blog, 30 musicals before the year is out. That's 15 each. Now I know this might take a bit of shoving to get going, because the summer and easter are going to be a veryyy busy time, school and exam wise. But we hope to be able to complete it.

Just to add something of a new structure to this Blog. Mucho fun,

Tora. :D

Waiting On Wednesday #9 - The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

Waiting on Wednesday meme borrowed from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Very much reminiscent of kids'
 book covers, but I love the colours.

Today's Book: The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova
Release date: May 12, 2012

Summary from Goodreads: Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king.

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all.

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

This book almost sounds like Percy Jackson (for the mythical action adventure) - if he'd been a playboy - crossed with Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood-Brown (for the vicious mermaids) and of course, your classic American high school YA fluff  (and y'know, there's nothing wrong with a setting like that, or fluff for that matter, as long as there is at least some substance to accompany it). (Which...technically makes it not fluff....But I digress.) Anyone who likes some good ol' bad guys versus good guys, characters that could even be your next door neighbour, or plain and simple action stories will like this. Looks like it's one for the boys, too!


Allie

Yeah, Cause I Actually /Can't/ Come Up With Any Reasons Why I Havn't Been Posting That Will Ensure I Won't Be Pelted With Rotten Tomatoes.

Hiya, Guys. I hoped you all enjoyed the tremendous amount of work Allie has been putting into the Blog book-wise. She has requested I come along and write some random, sane-less rants to give the appearance of breaking up these lovely reviews and er, stuff, but I know you'll just glaaaaaaze over them. So, here we are.

IT'S MONDAY. In Blog speak, that means MUSICS. Yeah. And, much to my surprise, Allie has not scheduled a Music Monday post for today! *major gaspeth* But, she has, about.... *counts* 9 or 10 others. Including... *ninja jumps out of nowhere and tackles Tora to the floor before she can say anymore*

A happy and a sad from Maria Mena. Both quite lovely.

Something slightly... out of what I usually listen to, but I kinda like this song. A lot. The story of the lyrics holds a morbid attraction. Can you figure out what it's about? (Heh. That rhymes...)

And, a heads up all you Hunger Gamers, a tribute to Katniss in "Mockingjay", the Knitted Jellyfishs' cover of the "Hanging Tree".

Till, next time!

Tora.

Book Review 9 - Divergent by Veronica Roth

Amazing cover, isn't it?

OK, so this one is a bit late in coming! I got Divergent as a Christmas present but only recently got around to finishing it because I've been so busy. I'm also a little late in joining the bandwagon (which is practically overflowing by now) but I prefer to think of it as waiting for all the  kerfuffle to die down so I can write an objective, decisive and detailed review based on my own opinion and enjoyment, not the hype crated by others.

In a future Chicago (Read: virtually unrecognisable, probably even if you live there right now) 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions (or groups of people centred around standard values: bravery, intelligence, honesty, kindness and selflessness. Once you have chosen one of these virtues as the most important in your life, you are placed into a community of like-minded individuals who will then become your only friends, peers, colleagues and the pool from which you will select your husband/wife) to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

The book is out-and-out, general YA market dystopian. And why I add the 'general' bit is because for the first half of the book, there is no great tragedy or violence, save for the niggling thought that 'hey, these people really should be able to choose their own lifestyle, lifepath and other stuff!' However, don't get me wrong; there is a rush you get when reading the second half of the book that most people haven’t had since Katniss entered the Hunger Games and turned our worlds inside out! The characters, setting, plot, pace and narrative were well blended to produce a highly action packed novel that I’m sure will captivate a huge audience. It already has.

Tris' unsuitability even for the faction she grew up in proves threatening for those controlling this perfect society because as a Divergent, she can’t easily be manipulated. What comes next is a continuous reveal of hidden agendas and power plays. I loved to see how Tris evolved in the story. In the beginning, we get hints of her courage and intuition, but sickeningly, it has to stay hidden, and I hated that, because there’s nothing I love more than female characters that can kick some serious ass! But I digress. I loved many of the characters; her brother Caleb tore my heart out in such a lovely way at the beginning, and Four...well, there aren't really any words to describe him. *swoons*

However, there were some serious faults with this book. I almost wish I hadn't received it and had waited to get it at the library instead. That's the thing, when you become so swayed by the trends and the buzz; you forget your own personal preferences. I have never been a huge dystopian fan. It gave me apocalyptic  nightmares. The Hunger Games was a haunting turning point, but Divergent isn't the Hunger Games, and it's not nearly as gripping, thrilling, or heart-wrenching. That is why I try to stay neutral when I recommend books I have only read a small portion of, in case I pass that pain onto others. It's not fair to impose your own opinion on someone else unless they ask for it, and I think this is important to bear in mind if you're considering buying Divergent. You really need to ignore the cover, the title, the author's name, the hype, in order to get a true sense of the story and its flaws as well as its positive features.

For example, I love teen books with just a little smattering of romance mixed in with the other plot points. Divergent appears to have this, but hello?! - you don't kiss when you are bleeding all over and about to be executed. That is not normal human reaction. There is no way a boy you barely know's kiss can erase that fear! And much as I loved him, I just wanted Tris to turn back into that brave, but not emotionless, girl she was, and what happened throughout the book was that she was either too much of one or too little of the other, and I didn't quite believe her. I also think that despite the fact I loved the first few chapters, after that I started to get bored. The book is drawn out (about 500 pages of drawn out, to be exact), and though I adore detail I really wish there had been some more action early on in the book. Scatter the history here and there if you must, but at least do it in a way that advances the future of the story, not drags us back so you can't get interested in what's happening right at that moment.

Don't get me wrong, the writing was amazing, considering how young Veronica Roth is and how it was written in the present tense. That was one almighty challenge for her to set herself - and that, I think, is the motto of this story. The bar was set too high and the fall was way too hard. Still, it was an impressive debut and I will tentatively be trying to find Insurgent when it appears so I can see if anything improves.

Writing: 4.5/5
Characters: 3/5/5
Plot: 4/5
Impact: -3.5/5 (i.e. it impacted on me negatively.)
Re-readability: 2.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
In less than five words: dystopian, well-written, detailed, slightly violent

You know, I'm not even fussed about getting an excerpt of this or anything. :(

Allie

The statistical probability of me actually completing one of the many drafts I started in the post list ...

They include:

"Why I can recite the name of all the main Lord of the Rings characters (and their actors in the movies)..."

"Wherefore art thou, Romeo? HE'S DEAD. AND HE NEEDS TO STAY THERE."

"Well. That was a post full of sunshine and daises, wasn't it?"

"Warning: you are about to enter the realm they call Pessimism Overload." (No surprise there, really, is there?)

"Resisting temptation/Best Writing Music - Ever!" 9UGH. IT SOUNDS SO DECIDEDLY CHIRPY.)

"If I had a million dollars, I'd build a tree fort in our yard...Maybe we could put like a little tiny fridge in there somewhere..."

"WARNING: This is a major rant."

So. Maybe I'll get around to finishing some of those.

Maybe.

(Read: the real chances? 500/1, at best. It's either going to make you one of you readers, very, very rich, or me totally, clinically insane, in a bad way.)

I've written a  few (and may I say, excellent) reviews, and many book-ish posts, but the thing is, they're so much easier to write than interesting outpourings about non-book related subjects. It is our other, more elusive blog contributor who has good things to say that are worth listening to about all things real world.

Does anyone even care about what I have to say about stuff like that up there, anyway?

Allie

Tora, you're going to have to post something soon or the blog will be devoid of any cheerful insanity...

February Release - Trafficked by Kim Purcell

I hope you're not getting bored of these and they are actually helping you find new books to read. If you're like me and you don't always get new releases the moment they come out, at least you can add them to your TBR list! (Mine is so long right now I don't think I'm ever going to get through it....)

Such a gritty, realistic cover!

My Pick: Trafficked, By Kim Purcell
Release Date: February 16th

Hannah believes she's being brought from Moldova to Los Angeles to become a nanny for a Russian family, but her American dream quickly spirals into a nightmare. 

The Platonovs force Hannah to work sixteen-hour days, won't let her leave the house, and seem to have a lot of secrets - from Hannah and from each other.

Stranded in a foreign land with false documents, no money, and nobody who can help her, Hannah must find a way to save herself from her new status as a modern-day slave or risk losing the one thing she has left: her life.


 This is going to be so exciting! From the first moment I heard about it I knew I'd want to read it. It's sort of the perfect anti-Valentine's Day book, so if you're sick of all the loveydoveyness this week you should definitely stock up on books like this! It tackles a topic ripped straight from the headlines, bringing real-life horror to its pages and readers in a way that is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

The cast of character look set to strike us at our very core - the villains, particularly Paavo and Lillian, represent evil at its purest; Hannah is a believable and sympathetic protagonist, but she is also strong-willed and determined to escape her dire situation. And just to make it reach out to you even more, there is even a nice boy for you to fall for. However, he's not the typical drop-dead gorgeous, save-the-day YA hero - of course he isn't, in a book like this, and before you start getting ideas, no, he's not the bad-boy turned good who could be Hannah's risky way out. Colin is a normal American teenager who has problems and insecurities of his own. His frustrations with his parents contrasts with Hannah's constant struggle to keep her mind and body intact. He provides secret friendship and romance, but as the plot thickens and the tension heightens you know love isn't going to make everything okay for Hannah.

I'd watch out for this one, guys!

Allie

NB: this book is definitely not be appropriate for younger teens, as it contains themes of human trafficking and modern slavery, scenes in brothels and of abuse, and general other content that should only be read by the over-15 age group or very mature readers.

No way is this post going to be riding along with that commercialised Valentine's Day bandwagon.

Oh,who am I kidding? I can't help but get involved in these money-making scams they call feat days and whatnot. Not only is Valentine's Day completely overrated, it's also unnecessary, pointless and sets a really bad example to guys (a note to any of our male readers: you ever want a girlfriend for any serious amount of time, you better show your love for her more than once a year, idiots).

Dayum. That totally makes me sound like a bitter old maid, doesn't it?

Anyway. Before I get to the real purpose of this post, let's update you on the history of St. Valentine's Day, shall we? First of all, it doesn't celebrate or honour just one person or god. The Valentines the day remembers are Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni, two religious martyrs dating back centuries; Valentine of Terni became bishop of Terni about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Aurelian. Valentine of Rome was a priest who became a martyr almost 60 years later. The flower crowned skull of the second St Valentine can be seen in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Rome (just in case all your heartfelt romantics thought there was nothing remotely sinister or gory about the day).

("Hey honey, I'm taking you to Rome to see part of the history of St. Valentine's Day!"
"Ooh, what is it? One of those fountains of love? A carriage ride around the romantic city so we can see all the famous places to do with it?"
"No, it's the skull of one of the murdered saints from nearly a thousand years ago! Isn't that just so darn sweet?!")

Aaaanyway. Evidence shows that no romantic elements were present in the original early medieval biographies of either of these martyrs. By the time a Saint Valentine became linked to romance in the 14th century, distinctions between Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni were lost, and they became, essentially, one person.

*imagines Voldemort and Professor Quirrell from Harry Potter*

*imagines Voldemort and Professor Quirrell from A Very Potter Musical*

*is ROFL*

But I digress.

So there could be influences from ancient Roman festivals (For example, in the ancient Athenian calendar part of January and February was the month of Gamelion, dedicated to the sacred marriage of Zeus and Hera) poetry, ("For this was on Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate," Chaucer) medieval times (a "High Court of Love" was established in Paris on Valentine's Day in 1400!!), the Renaissance and of course modern day (or fairly recent, at least) ideals and traditions, the fact remains that even if the core themes of love and courtship are celebrated, no one seems to really care about the history of the day, or even anything to dio with it that doesn't involve shopping or fancy restaurants. Not that I don't like giving gifts or receiving gifts or eating nice food. It's just...y'know.

All right, rant over. You can now consider yourself briefly educated in all things the history of Valentine's Day (though it should really be 'Valentines' Day').

And now for the most important (and least torturous) thing. Music.

Colbie Caillat's music is always so cheerful. This one ('I Do') just makes me smile!

Aww, this one's so beautiful 'Some Surprise' by Lisa Hannigan and Gary Lightbody! An incredible duet, and it was part of a charity album, too.

My personal favourite: a cover of the song 'Lovecats' by the Cure, performed by Katie Melua (meh) and Jamie Cullum (AMAZING.) Though the two together make a pretty good combination.

Anyway. I was going to do some depressing songs for all you Anti-Valentine-rs, but that would just bring down the mood again after listening to such wonderful music.

This is one bitter, twisted, pessimistic Allie signing out, albeit it with even more tuneful ears than usual.

Waiting On Wednesday #8 - Above by Leah Bobet

'Waiting On' Wednesday is a meme borrowed from Jill at Breaking the Spine.

All I can say is: SPEECHLESS.
Simple, and stunning. I especially
love the golden colour...*sigh*

Today's book: Above by Leah Bobet
Publication date: April 1st, 2012  (Finally, one we don't have to wait too long for!)

Sumary from Goodreads: Matthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her bee's wings falling away. They live in Safe, an underground refuge for those fleeing the city Above--like Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingers.
But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. As Matthew unravels the mystery of Safe's history and the shadows' attack, he realizes he must find a way to remake his home--not just for himself, but for Ariel, who needs him more than ever before.

OK, you might not have heard too much about this one. But Waiting On Wednesday isn't just about those books that have been outrageously hyped and are walking that fine line between being totally unbelievable in a good way, and being totally unbelievable in a very, very bad way. I bet I'm not the only one but there who misses the days when discovering a new book that you hadn't heard of before that turned out to be incredible (as happened to me with Revolution, which quickly became and remains my favourite book ever). Maybe 'Above' can be the next one of those books....(except of course you ha a leetle bit of warning from me. But only so you can save up your money to buy it, of course.)

'Above' is gorgeously imagined -- the story of an underground community where a man with electricity in his fingertips or a girl who can shapeshift into a bee, can hide away, and what happens when those people are forced into the world, our world, Above. It has real things to say about insiders vs. outsiders, safety vs. risk, and how much we can be responsible for one another. And the romance between Matthew and Airel looks set to be gentle, slow, and beautiful - just the kind of break you might need from the undoubtedly amazing but slightly fast-paced romances that grace many YA novels right - while being surrounded by the gut-wrenching exit from Safe and the terror and adrenaline that comes with it for these misfits, these freaks that have been exiled from the only place they knew that held refuge for them.

I for one will be adding this to my TBR pile at the first opportunity!

Allie

February Release - The Girls of No Return by Erin Saldin

I've actually started to really enjoy hearing about these new books! I hope you have, too.

Hmm, I have mixed feelings about
the cover, but it's very intriguing.

My Pick: The Girls of No Return by Erin Saldin
Release Date: February 1st

Erin Saldin's The Girls of No Return is a lacerating young adult debut about girls, knives, and redemption.

The Alice Marshall School, set within a glorious 2-million acre wilderness area, is a place where teenage girls are sent to escape their histories and themselves. 

Lida Wallace has tried to negate herself in every way possible. At Alice Marshall, she meets Elsa Boone, Jules, and Gia Longchamps, whose glamour entrances the entire camp. As the girls prepare for a wilderness trek, Lida is both thrilled and terrified to be chosen as Gia's friend. Everyone has their secrets – the “Things” they try to protect; and when those come out, the knives do as well.


This book is by a new author, but seems like a book that could have been written by someone with many published books behind her belt. This novel's main plot concerns the implications, complications, and intricacies of friendship, while the story itself is a very real glimpse into what many teens face, the feeling of being abandoned, un-loved, alone, broken and hurting are (unfortunately) common realities. It's nice to see that romance takes a back seat (in fact, it barely appears at all) so that the real people and their problems can get some limelight for a change.

The premise is very unique, and while I myself have a few qualms (the main character's name for instance, but that's just personal preference, and since I have very little knowledge of care systems in America I'm hoping the reasons why places such as Alice Marshall are set up and used will be explained) but in terms of characters, all the usual suspects are there: the lost and misunderstood main character, the tough girl, the girl that wants to be everyone's friend and the girl that is so cool that you know she's bad news. If it lives up to expectations, it's going mto be gripping, thrilling, and utterly engrossing.

Allie

NB: this book contains themes of self-harm, abandonment, teen angst and criminality, so readers should take care when deciding if they will be able to handle the content or not.

February Releases!!

All right, here's a random post from me - another New Releases batch, but this time for February! Special picks to come :)

The Girls Of No Return by Erin Saldin - February 1

The Boy On Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone - February 1

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale - February 2

Beneath A Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson - February 2

This One Time With Julia by David Lampson - February 2

The Rivals by Daisy Whitney - February 6

DJ Rising by Love Maia - February 6

The Miseducation Of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth - February 7

Dead To You by Lisa McMann - February 7

Two Truths And A Lie by Sara Shepard - February 7

The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols - February 7

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace - February 8

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley - February 14

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour - February 16

The Fine Art Of Truth Or Dare by Melissa Jensen - February 16

Trafficked by Kim Purcell - February 16

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby - February 28