Chelsea W

• Rated 5 stars

“Mary Anning has been a unique girl ever since she survived being struck by lightning as a baby. She has a special knack for finding rare fossils of unknown creatures on the beaches near her home. Elizabeth Philpot is a young spinster when she meets Mary, instantly taking an interest in fossils herself. From this moment, we watch the friendship grow between these two different women as they navigate family, love, society, and the male dominated world of Fossils.

Chevalier has a uncommon ability to make people from a very specific time and place come alive once more. I had to pause a few times to remind myself that these characters lived long ago, as they felt so real and tangible to me. She has a writing style full of prose so beautiful and soft, it will make the vision at the edges of your sight blur until the only thing in focus is the page in front of you.

Unusual side effect: reading this book made me want to go scour the beaches for my own fossil finds! ”

Chelsea W wrote this review 7 days ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Ethan Wate lives in the boring county of Gaitlin, South Carolina, where everyone knows everyone and nothing has changed for decades. Then the arrival of Lena Ducchanes shakes up the sleepy town as she storms into Ethan's heart. From the day she starts school at Jackson High, she and Ethan realize there is more to their meeting than simple chance. Together, they set out to uncover hidden truths and mysteries of a centuries old story.

I did not really know what to expect from this one, and was surprised by the scope of the book. The thick Southern references to the Civil War were neat to see mixed with paranormal elements. The character names in the book were interesting too, especially where they overlapped To Kill A Mockingbird. Macon Ravenwood was uniquely fascinating - I would love to read a prequel about him!

An intriguing debut from Garcia and Stohl. ”

Chelsea W wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

0 of 3 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“Warning: do not read this book without reading The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl first.

GOTH GIRL RISING picks up the story right where it left off. At least for Kyra (AKA Goth Girl). Back from her time in the mental hospital and still dealing with her mother's death, she wants nothing more than to get re-connected with Fanboy and her previous life. Unfortunately, Fanboy is not the person he used to be...

My first thought when I started this book was that it felt so good to be back in Brookdale. It was great to see the same characters again, like The Spermling and Cal, and especially great to see the new Fanboy. It was also neat to see things from Kyra's perspective, and the close ties to Neil Gaiman's Sandman series is sure to please many comic book fans.

GOTH GIRL RISING brings a harsh and brutally honest voice from a confused girl. At times she is downright unlikeable, and yet readers will find themselves wanting good things to happen to her. Though this book deals with issues like suicide and the death of a parent, it is also about hope and overcoming the things that can sometimes hold you back. A top notch follow-up from Lyga, and I would love to see more from these characters! ”

Chelsea W wrote this review Thursday, November 5 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Journey back to Humble, Texas one last time! When we last saw Emmy Dane, she was reconciling with her best friend Charity Bloom. Now we get to see her on her own in EMMY'S EQUAL, the third book in the Texas Fortunes series.

Emmy is on a trip with her parents and Bertha Bloom to Carrizo Springs, Texas, and she is not happy about it one bit. Then she meets ranch foreman Diego Marcelo and things start to look up. Diego is trying to run the Twisted R Ranch, despite constant disagreements with John Rawson's son Cuddy and his own mother. Having the Blooms and Danes as guests is not making this task any easier for him. When an unexpected situation arises, Diego and Emmy will have to learn to work together, or risk losing the ones they love.

EMMY'S EQUAL is a great ending to this trilogy, seamlessly returning readers to scenes from the first book, reviewed here. Emmy was the most interesting character for me, as she was so tough and selfish. Gruver has a gentle yet powerful writing style that captures the richness and simplicity of the times, as well as the dangers and ruggedness of the unfamiliar terrain. ”

Chelsea W wrote this review Tuesday, October 27 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Warning: do not read this book without reading The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl first.

GOTH GIRL RISING picks up the story right where it left off. At least for Kyra (AKA Goth Girl). Back from her time in the mental hospital and still dealing with her mother's death, she wants nothing more than to get re-connected with Fanboy and her previous life. Unfortunately, Fanboy is not the person he used to be...

My first thought when I started this book was that it felt so good to be back in Brookdale. It was great to see the same characters again, like The Spermling and Cal, and especially great to see the new Fanboy. It was also neat to see things from Kyra's perspective, and the close ties to Neil Gaiman's Sandman series is sure to please many comic book fans.

GOTH GIRL RISING brings a harsh and brutally honest voice from a confused girl. At times she is downright unlikeable, and yet readers will find themselves wanting good things to happen to her. Though this book deals with issues like suicide and the death of a parent, it is also about hope and overcoming the things that can sometimes hold you back. A top notch follow-up from Lyga, and I would love to see more from these characters!”

Chelsea W wrote this review Wednesday, October 14 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Annie Talbot is on the run from an evil, terrifying man. With no one else to turn to, she goes home to her father's ranch and finds it in ruins. Elijah Walker swears never to trust women again after the last one left an enormous hurt in his life. But when he meets Annie, he knows she needs him in her life. Which she indeed does, if she wants to survive her past.

COWBOY CHRISTMAS has one of the scariest pursuits from villains as I've ever seen in a Christian fiction novel. Connealy continually surprises me with her intensely graphic scenes. They blend so seamlessly with her incredibly tender moments that reader's will find themselves feeling the gambit of emotions.

Connealy's stories demand your complete attention until the last page is turned. A welcome book for the upcoming holiday season. ”

Chelsea W wrote this review Friday, October 2 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I am a HUGE fan of Scott Westerfeld. His worlds are fantastically imagined, his writing style doesn't talk down to you, and his stories stay in my head long after I've finished the book.

This latest book is set in a World War I alternate history, with fantasy that is not too complicated to get into. Prince Alek has lived his whole life in a Clanker society, where giant machines give man incredible fighting strength and power. After receiving awful news of his parents, he flees his country and tries to find safety amid a brewing war. Deryn Sharp longs to be an airshipman for the Darwinists, scientists who have altered the genes of wildlife to create extreme ships for transportation. The only problem is, she's a girl. When both of these brilliant kids meet aboard the Leviathan, they realize they are caught in the middle of something that is much bigger than they first thought.

LEVIATHAN is packed with action for boys and girls alike. Detailed drawings throughout re-inforce just how complete the world has been created. It will also be good for bringing up discussions about the battle between animal technology and steam-powered machines. This book is bound to be a heavy hitter as the steampunk genre rises in popularity.

This is the first in a planned four-book series, and I can't wait for the next one! ”

Chelsea W wrote this review Sunday, September 20 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Kaye Dacus takes us back to Benneterre, this time with characters more interesting than the first book, STAND-IN GROOM. Meredith pledges that this year will finally be the year she gets a man in her life. However, when not one but TWO guys come knocking, it doesn't feel right. The only person who could possibly understand her busy lifestyle is Major O'Hara, the sweetest guy ever. (And a world-class chef!) Though there could not possibly be a couple better suited for each other, it is entertaining to watch these two come to grips with their mutual feelings.

One of the pleasures of reading this series is that it deals with real people, real jobs, and real life concerns. Readers from all walks of life will be able to identify with loving someone close to you and/or dealing with a family secret. Her writing style is easy and lightweight.

I am looking forward to the third book, where we finally get to learn more about Forbes! ”

Chelsea W wrote this review Tuesday, September 15 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Micah is a liar. She tells you that on the first page. But not anymore. She wants to tell you the truth about what happened to her friend Zach. As an investigation progresses, Micah navigates the rumors and harsh High School teenagers, while mourning her loss on her own terms. However, all is not as it seems.

Switching from Before to After the death makes for very tense reading, with details coming out slowly. It is cliche to hear that the story will keep you guessing right up until the last page, but LIAR takes it to the next level and makes you wonder if what you read was really there at all. The reader will find themselves in an unusual place - unsure whether the narrator is reliable.

This is an absolutely fantastic book that will make you want to tell all your friends about it, to get their opinion, to discuss with them the events and circumstances. Larbalestier has proven once again to be a top-notch writer for young adults.”

Chelsea W wrote this review Thursday, September 3 2009. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“Percy Parker has been treated differently since the day she was born. With her ghostly white skin and curious ability to speak all languages, others around her are typically frightened. Until she enrolled at Athens Academy, where she was introduced to Professor Alexi Rychman. He accepts her for who she is and encourages her to blossom into her talents. Which may be needed, as unknown dark forces are on the rise.

This book is a haunting, gothic tale with gorgeous, atmospheric writing. Hieber knows how to tell a tantalizing story- letting the plot unwrap itself in a cinematic fashion, and giving the reader slightly more knowledge than the main characters to keep the tension high.

A sequel is already scheduled for future release, and I look forward to furthering this adventure. Other members of the Guard who would thrive in a book for themselves, especially artist Josephine and Headmistress Rebecca Thompson. ”

Chelsea W wrote this review Wednesday, August 19 2009. ( reply | permalink )