A Court of Thorns and Roses

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book 1)

By: Sarah J Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens/Bloomsbury YA

Publish Date: 2015

ISBN: 978-1619634442

Page #: 432 pages

Classifications: YA, Mature Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Fairy Tales

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Age Level: Depends on the maturity of the reader but generally, 9th & Up (Older Teens)

Series Titles: A Court of Thorns and Roses 

Subjects: Romance, Fantasy, Fractured Fairy Tales, Fairy Tales Retold

Reader's Annotation: I really enjoyed this book. Though I actually liked the second one better. (That's rare for me!) It is pretty advanced in its content, so I would recommend it for the more mature YA reader or adults. Personal take: it is a retelling, fractured fairy (faery) tale with elements taken from Beauty and the Beast, the Ballad of Tam Lin, and the myth of Persephone (esp. in the second title). Persephone is one of my all-time favorite myths so clearly, this is a fantasy I loved escaping into. I challenge the SJL review below by saying I did not find this title to be "a weak fantasy with strong romance elements." Well, the strong romance was there but, I have read weak YA, and this is not that. Might not be for everyone, especially those who enjoy realistic fiction. But, aside from that, it's one of the better ones. Again, the second one is better! So stick with it!

School Library Journal Review: When 19-year-old Feyre kills a wolf in the barren woods near her home in Prythian, she thinks it might be enough to help her family survive another long winter. Instead, a monstrous creature soon comes to the cottage, accusing Feyre of murder and demanding she return with him to the Fae realm as payment for the life she took. Feyre finds herself held on a lavish estate belonging to an elite Fae creature known as Tamlin. Over the course of her captivity, Feyre soon learns that life in the Fae realm can be as much of an opportunity as a punishment. When her feelings for Tamlin shift from loathing to lust, Feyre also realizes little will be able to keep them apart—not even the threat of evil lurking on the borders of the estate. Something that has cursed Tamlin for centuries may destroy him and his realm if Feyre can't find a way to stop it. Maas follows up her "Throne of Glass" novels (Bloomsbury) with this series opener. Readers will find the author's trademark blend of action, romance, and witty banter as well as a sexier, edgier tone. This retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" and "Tam Lin" (with elements from ancient Greek mythology thrown in) has a strong focus on Feyre's physical attraction to Tamlin, but characters lacking in dimension detract from Feyre's strengths as a capable but rash heroine. Uneven pacing includes a slow start followed by a game-changing information dump, and then a more action- and less romance-filled second half. VERDICT A weak fantasy with strong romance elements. Good for fans of Maas's previous books looking for a more mature read.—Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library

Other Titles in the Series: A Court of Mist and Fury (Book 2)
A Court of Wings and Ruin (Book 3)
A Court of Frost and Starlight (Novella/Bridge)
Untitled (Book 4) 

Stars: 4.5

Extras
Author Webpage: World of Sarah J Maas (Official) Link
Pronunciation Guide: Link 
Bookish Loot Collector's Edition: A Court of Thorns and Roses Collector’s Edition: Link

Coloring Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses Coloring Book Link
Etsy has you covered! Link
Litographs: Link
Redbubble: Link

Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0439023491

Series: The Hunger Games
Book 1: The Hunger Games
Book 2: Catching Fire
Book 3: Mockingjay Book 4: WARNING: SPOILERS ahead. Do not read on if you have not finished the first installment. Reader's Annotation: The long-awaited sequel to the stunning Hunger Games,

Catching Fires takes off where Katniss has won the Hunger Games against all odds.
Now, she and Peeta should be happy. But the Capitol isn't happy with what's happened at all, and they may not let it go.

From School Library Journal: Starred Review. Gr 7 Up--Every year in Panem, the dystopic

nation that exists where the U.S. used to be, the

Capitol holds a televised tournament in which two teen "tributes" from each of the surrounding districts fight a gruesome
battle to the death. In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the tributes from impoverished District Twelve, thwarted the Gamemakers, forcing them to let both teens survive. In this rabidly anticipated sequel, Katniss, again the
narrator, returns home to find herself more the center of attention than ever. The sinister President Snow surprises her with a visit, and
Katniss’s fear when Snow meets with her alone is both palpable and justified. Catching Fire is divided into three parts: Katniss and Peeta’s mandatory Victory Tour through the districts, preparations for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, and a truncated version of the Games
themselves. Slower paced than its predecessor, this sequel explores the nation of Panem: its power structure, rumors of a secret district, and a spreading rebellion, ignited by Katniss and Peeta’s subversive victory. Katniss also deepens as a character. Though initially bewildered by the attention paid to her, she comes almost to embrace her status as the rebels’ symbolic leader. Though more of the story
takes place outside the arena than within, this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly
unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Official Website: http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/

Official Trailer:

The Sweet Far Thing, By Libba Bray

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 848 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440237777

Series Title: Gemma Doyle Trilogy

Book 1: A Great and Terrible Beauty

Book 2: Rebel Angels

Book 3: A Sweet Far Thing

Reader's Annotation: The Third book in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, the adventures of Miss Doyle culminate. She faces Circe while at the same time she faces her own history and the people in her life now. The battle must take place and Miss Doyle is forced to lead the way and save the day.

UnLibrarian Opinion: The final book in the trilogy is both "sweet" and a "far thing" in terms of what I expected. The ending left my wanting another tale and and a time machine. The book will not disappoint hardcore Gemma Fans...maybe. But let's face it guys, sometimes the book is better for not taking the easy way out. The same lush, magical details of the first and second book persist and the conflict between class, sexism, and the glorious victorian era are spot on! I loved all three of these books! This book is over 800 pages long so it's details can drag on not so fierce readers. Those who want the magic get bored with the balls and those wanting Victorian England get stuck in the realms for too long. But, for the most part, I felt that the fact that Ms. Bray didn't cut up her story to make it more accessible gives it an edge that not all YA books have and does the scope of the turn-of-the-century project justice. Anything less would have seemed to 21st Century to me even if at times we want some magic of our own to get through almost a thousand pages! ;)

Product Description via Amazon
* “A huge work of massive ambition.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred

It has been a year of change since Gemma Doyle arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy. Her mother murdered, her father alaudanum addict, Gemma has relied on an unsuspected strength and has discovered an ability to travel to an enchanted world called the realms, where dark magic runs wild. Despite certain peril, Gemma has bound the magic to herself and forged unlikely new alliances. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test these bonds.

The Order—the mysterious group her mother was once part of—is grappling for control of the realms, as is the Rakshana. Spence's burned East Wing is being rebuilt, but why now? Gemma and her friends see Pippa, but she is not the same. And their friendship faces its gravest trial as Gemma must decide once and for all what role she is meant for.

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A #1 Book Sense Bestseller
A New York Times Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
A USA Today Bestseller
A 2008 New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Notes:

FINALIST 2007 - Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year
WINNER 2008 - Amazon Best of the Year

Extras: Film for first book,A Great and Terrible Beauty, set to be released 2010.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0833962/

Official Trilogy Website:

http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/gemmadoyle/home.php

Official Trailer:

One of My Favorite Fan Trailers:

Kiss Me, Judas by Will Christopher Baer

Paperback: 330 pages
Publisher: MacAdam/Cage (June 20, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1596921862
ISBN-13: 978-1596921863
Age Level: Adult
Book Series: Phineas Poe: Kiss Me, Judas, Penny Dreadful, Hell's Half-Acre

Reader's Annotation: After being released from a psychiatric institution, Phineas Poe, an ex-cop, awakens on a bed of ice after a steamy night with a woman that he might very well have left with his heart as well as his kidney.


Synopsis: After being released from a psychiatric institution, Phineas meets a woman who charges for her services of love. As it turns out, money wasn't the only Jude, the surrealy beautiful woman takes from Phineas. After a stay in the hospital, and a run in with his old buddies from his cop days, Phineas sets off to do either of two things: get revenge or find the woman who stole his kidney and his heart. In this dark, thriller, the reader who loves noir, edgy writing, and quality dark humor, Baer delivers a wild ride that sucks you in and reminds you of your days hanging out with Palanuick or Tarantino. I think this book is not to be missed, so long as you have the stomach for the violence, sex, drugs, and an occasional kidney surgery.

Notes: Detailed sex, drugs, and violence make up the core of this book. Parental discretion is a must. If the bizarre is your taste, but in the style of pulp noir splashed and decorated with the drug induced haze of writers such as Hunter Thompson and Chuck Palahnuik, then you have found your next read! You will love it! Others: good luck. Ha Ha.

Extras:

Generation Dead, By Daniel Waters

By: Daniel Waters

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Publish Date: May 6, 2008

ISBN: 142310921X

Page #: 400 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Racism

Age Level: Older Teen

Series Titles: 

Generation Dead (Book 1)

Kiss of Life (Book 2) (Release Date of Sequel: May 12, 2009)

Subjects: Living Impaired, Zombies, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy

Reader's Annotation: Nobody is sure why dead teens are coming back, but scientists guess it may have something to do with a cross between raging teen hormones and too much preservatives from fast food. One thing is for sure, nothing will be the same for the living impaired Tommy, still living Pheobe, and the high school football team: ever heard of dead weight?

Synopsis: In a literary world taken over by Twilight* and the undead, maybe it's time for a love interest who has one dead, dragging leg behind him instead of superhuman speed & strength. Perhaps the living impaired Tommy can become your anti-Edward. Pheobe, Generation Dead's main goth girl (who practices the irony of dressing up dead amongst dead people) has her eyes set on the wrong guy: Tommy. Tommy is a zombie. Excuse me, the politically correct term would be living impaired. I apologize for my insensitivity to the undead community. I did not mean any harm. At any rate, Pheobe has never been part of the "in" crowd, but Tommy's crowd is outside even the outside crowds. In fact, Oakvale High is aghast with disgust over Pheobe falling for the dead kid that heads the crowd that no one wants to talks to. The living impaired are ignored in every way possible in this school. Zombies are treated more like segregation in the south then kids who just don't fit in. But, Pheobe crosses the line that the other kids won't dare cross; And what happens when her living best-friend gets left in the dust? I couldn't help falling for her and her infatuation with the zombie Tommy. This is not a book to be missed. Generation dead is funny, witty, romatic, and resplite with gooey dead people! Just don't call 'em Zombies! 

*By the way, I enjoyed Twilight, but sometimes too much of a good thing can be a bit zombifying.

Notes: A great book to read for the zombie fan but also a fresh take on segregation.

Stars: 5 

Extras: Author Blog http://danielwaters.com/

Tommy's Undead Experiences Blog http://mysocalledundeath.blogspot.com/

Zombie rights march on Boing Boing http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/27/zombie-rights-march-.html

Brown v. Board of Education on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education

Clubbing, By Andi Watson & Josh Howard

By: Andi Watson & Josh Howard

Publisher: Minx Books

Publish Date: July 11, 2007

ISBN: 1401203701

Page #: 176

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Graphic Novels

Age Level: Older Teens

Series Titles: n/a

Subjects: Nightlife, Friendship, Mystery

Reader's Annotation: After getting caught with a fake I.D., Lottie is sent to her grandparents for a summer as punishment.

Synopsis: Lottie is spoiled and wild and lives for the London nightlife. But when she gets caught with a fake ID, her parents send her (as punishment) to her grandparents high-end resort club. Golf, ladies with tea, and the boring elite consume her rebellious spirit. But as a twist, a modern Nancy-Drew murder mystery change Lottie's summer experience into something more wild then her wild nights in London. Perhaps her boring summer punishment may turn out to be one very adventuresome summer! And, as much as she tries to avoid it, she may fall in love in the process.

One of the best parts of Clubbing is the never-ending British slang Lottie uses throughout the book. The back of the book provides a "Lottie's Lexicon" to help the reader decipher her tongue. But beware, you my start saying speaking in "Lottie."

Notes: CLUBBING is written by the Eisner- and Harvey-nominated indie sensation Andi Watson (Geisha, Paris, Skeleton Key) and illustrated by Josh Howard (Dead @ 17), Wizard magazine's pick as the #1 independent book to watch in 2005. 

Stars: 5

Extras: Free Preview Online http://www.dccomics.com/media/excerpts/7503_x.pdf

Author Website: http://www.andiwatson.biz/

Illustrator Website (Warning: Adult/Graphic Images): http://joshhoward.typepad.com/

Extras, By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publish Date: 2007

ISBN: 1416951172

Page #: 432

Reading Level: Young Adult

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Series Title: Uglies Series

Uglies 
Pretties 
Specials 
Extras 

Bogus to Bubbly (Companion)

Mind-Rain (Famous Authors Talk About the Uglies Series-June 2009)

Subjects: Dystopia, Friendship, Plastic Surgery, Fame, Romance

Reader's Annotation: Extras is the unexpected 4th book in the awesome Uglies "trilogy." In another city, also affected by the "Mind-Rain" Tally Youngblood (of the first three Uglies books) induced, Aya Fuse is at the center of a fame-centric universe and all she wants to do is not be an extra.

Synopsis: Aya is a nothing. Her feed shows her fame status at a very high, high level. But high is not good. Your stats are better as you get lower because they signify your level of fame: 1 being the most famous person in the world. Any level of fame Aya has is due to her paparazzi like brother who manufactures fame in a Perez Hilton manner at the expense of others. But suddenly Aya has a chance to be outrageously famous and she plans on doing anything possible to kick her own story, even at the expense of others. But when Aya meets her new love interest and begins to find out more about her feed, things get increasingly dangerous and twisted. Is fame worth all that?

Notes: Another provocative take on a socially conscious issue, Westerfeld makes everybody reflect on the world we live in now. This story could stand alone, but I think it delivers much better having read the Uglies first. A new cast of characters leave you wondering what happened to Tally Youngblood, and when we finally find out it ends to fast. But Westerfeld is the master of topic not the master of giving you what you want, which makes me love him even more. 

Stars: 5

Extras: 

The Westerblog: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/

Scott Talks Extras:

 

Fan Made Video:

The Host, By Stephenie Meyer

By: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little Brown
Publish Date: 2007
ISBN: 0316068047
Page #: 624
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Science-Fiction

Age Level: Adult
Series Titles: No sequel has yet to be published, alhtough Meyer has said she intends to release it as a trilogy.
Subjects: Romance

Reader's Annotation: Earth has been taken over by an alien race of parasite's called Souls who implant themselves in their hosts. A small group of human's fight back but are faced with a runaway host who has taken over the body of one of their own.

Synopsis: The famed author of the Twilight Series introduces herself to the adult market with her first novel. Like twilight it revolves around a grand quartet of love and temptation, death and life. For Melanie Stryder, the world is an evil, apocalyptic place taken over by something unthinkable. To her, her boyfriend Jared, and her younger brother Jaime, life is only about survival. But when she suspects that another of her family may be alive, she leaves Jared and Jaime to find her. She never makes it having instead been captured by the Souls and used as a host. When the host is placed inside her the Soul called Wanderer is astounded to find that Melanie's voice not silenced. She see her memories and images of Jared and Jaime. Instead of taking the normal path a Soul takes on Earth (living a violence free, happy pseudo-life) she sets out to see if they are still alive. But when she finds them, she quickly realizes that they want her dead, not knowing that inside her Melanie still lives.

Notes: Although directed to adults, the story line is generally harmless. Small amounts of sex and violence do exist, but for the most part it echoes the feel of Twilight's innocent nature even with war, beatings, love, and loss. Ok, for teens.

Stars: 4

Extras: Official Book Trailer from Little Brown here: The Host's Website http://thehostnovel.com/

(I think mine is better, laugh out loud.)

Author Website http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/thehost.html

Extra's: Book Trailer (Made by Courtney)

Fruits Basket, Vol. 1 By, Natsuki Takaya

Title: Fruits Basket

Title in Japanese: フルーツバスケット Furūtsu Basuketto

By: Natsuki Takaya

Publisher: Tokyo Pop

Publish Date: 

ISBN: 1591826039

Page #: 216

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Manga, Fantasy, Shojo

Age Level: Teen

Series Titles:

23 volumes in total

22 currently published

23rd to be released on July 6, 2009 pre-order here

Subjects: Romance, Love-Triangle, Chinese Zodiac

Reader's Annotation: Tohru Honda is alone in the world. The orphan's world changes when she meets a mystical family that represents each animal of the Chinese Zodiac.

Synopsis: After Tohru Honda's mother dies she is sent to live with her grandfather. Feeling like a burden while he gets his home renovated she pretends to have somewhere else to go. Unfortunately Tohru doesn't have a place to go. She ends up sleeping in tent in the wilderness with only a few things, herself, and a picture of her mother. Despite the situation, Tohru remains spirited, goes to school, and about her daily life as best she can. One day she is found in her tent and to her dismay she learns that she has been sleeping on someone's land. That someone happens to be a quiet boy she recognizes from school and his older cousin. The Shoma boys, Yuki and Shigure, take Tohru in and give her a place to live in return for her doing some cleaning. Tohru, who clearly has an innocent crush on Yuki, the younger of the two, hugs him which in turns lets out the secret that nobody else knows: The Sohma family are the incarnations of the Chinese Zodiac. Entrusted with the family secret Tohru becomes part of their lives and their secret. As is well until things get turned upside down when the cat comes to stay. There is no cat in the Chinese Zodiac, right? Or is their? And even though Tohru is becoming more and more connected to Yuki, she always wished there was a Cat in the Zodiac.

Notes: It was made into an anime series as well in 2001. [Worth noting is that that the Anime ends at half way through one of the eighth volume of the manga. Several plot lines are left unfinished and not all members of the Sohma family cursed by the zodiac are revealed.] Source: wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruits_Basket

Stars: 5

Awards: 

• The Fruits Basket manga received the 2001 Kodansha Manga Award in the shōjo manga category 
• The "Best Manga" award at the 2007 American Anime Awards.
  
• In 2001, the Fruits Basket anime won a Animage Anime Grand Prix award.
  

Extras:  

• Tokyopop's Fruits Basket Link: http://www.tokyopop.com/product/1194
  
• Fruits Basket was introduced in 1999 the magazine Hana to Yume 花とゆめ
  
• The Fruits Basket is in itself a phenomenon.  It is called "Faruba Fever" in Japan. 
  

Romeo & Juliet (Film), Directed By Baz Luhrmann

By: Baz Luhrmann

Tagline: My only love sprung from my only hate.

Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: 1996

DVD Release Date: March 12, 2002
ASIN: B000060OFT
Length: 120 minutes
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Drama, Musical
Age Level: PG-13
Series Title: Part of the Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy (Strictly Ballroom / Romeo + Juliet / Moulin Rouge)
Subjects: Shakespeare, Books-to-Films, Romance, Tragedy, Violence, Family Feud, Musicals

Reader's Annotation: A modern take on Shakespeare's classic love story, Baz Lurhmann delivers stunning modern music and visuals while keeping the original Shakespearian text in tact. 

Synopsis: Romeo is smoking hot. Juliet is a stunning babe. Together they make a beautiful dead couple. Romeo and Juliet as a couple are unquestionably time's most beloved (yet tragic) teen couple. Furthermore, it is one of the most classic love stories ever written (if not the most classic love story). Romeo + Juliet has inspired everything from West Side Story to Twilight. With this in mind, the dream-like director Baz Luhrmann presents his vision of Romeo + Juliet. The appeal to a younger audience is apparent with costumes, music, violence and feuding families (kind of what it may look like if Wallmart CEO's daughter fell for Target's CEO's Son). Rather then butchering Shakespeare Luhrmann presents a window into the depth, poetry, & pertinence of Shakespeare that can rivet even the most reluctant Shakespearian student. 

Notes: Violence, drugs, and sexual references are used throughout the film despite the PG-13 rating. Parental discretion is advised. Foul language is encapsulated by Shakespearian tongue: only English sleuths will catch them. 

Stars: 5

Awards: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117509/awards
Extras:  Official Movie Website http://www.romeoandjuliet.com/

Read Romeo + Juliet for free online: http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/Romeo_and_Juliet/index.html

Wikipedia on Romeo and Juliet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet 

Romeo + Juliet IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117509/

Juno, By Jason Reitman, Written By Diablo Cody

Directed By: Jason Reitman

Original Screenplay By: Diablo Cody
Company: Fox Searchlight
Publish Date: 2007

Length: 96 minutes
Classification: Non-Fiction
Genre: Dark Comedy
Age Level: PG-13 Older Teen
Series Title: n/a
Subjects: Teen Pregnancy, Growing Up, Adoption

Tag Line: "A comedy about growing up... and the bumps along the way."

Annotation: A smart and quirky young girl has an awkward sexual moment that turns into an awkward nine months.

Synopsis: I am sure that a semi-large group of people may have missed the subtle reference to Goddess Juno (who reigned over fertility), but that wouldn't have gotten by Juno. Juno is a clever, teen girl who has a sexual experience with a geeky boy who likes to run a lot. Although a truly likable character, Juno doesn't consider him to be her boyfriend, and even if she did the world that Juno lives is doesn't want a baby. She considers abortion but ends up finding a seemingly perfect couple who can't have children to adopt her baby. Over the next nine months the baby within her isn't the only things the grows and transform. Juno begins to see her life differently, the boy with the sperm differently, and even the perfect family she chose to adopt her child. This is not only a comedy about teen pregnancy, but a comedy that explores growing up, family, and harsh realities. Juno does all this with a laugh through its witty writing and genuinely enchanting cast. 

Notes: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language.

It has been received with mixed reviews from the conservative side due to it's laissez faire attitude about sex and teen pregnancy, but at the same time it explores options other abortion. 

Without an R rating, it is acceptable for older teens to watch, and may even spark some healthy dialogue about pregnancy, sex, and family.

Stars: 5

Awards: 1 Oscar Win, Diablo Cody, for Best Original Screenplay

Extras: Movie Site http://www.foxsearchlight.com/juno/

Trailer: