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Sunday, March 28, 2010

Awards!

The Over the Top Award, Given by Lindsay at Crazy Books & Reviews

The rules are pretty simple. Answer the following questions with Single Word answers then pass this along to 5 other bloggers. Make sure you let them know about it though.




Your Cell Phone? Duh

Your Hair? Longish

Your Mother? open

Your Father? Busy

Your Favorite Food? Donuts

Your Dream Last Night? strange

Your Favorite Drink? Coke

Your Dream/Goal? Publishing

What Room Are You In? office

Your Hobby? Reading

Your Fear? heights

Where Do You Want To Be In Six Years? idk

Where Were You Last Night? mountains

Something That You Aren't? mean

Muffins?yummy

Wish List Item? books

Where Did You Grow Up? Colorado

Last Thing You Did? sleep

What Are You Wearing? pajamas

Your TV? on

Your Pets? 7

Friends? entertaining

Your Life? Good

Your Mood? sleepy

Missing Someone? no

Vehicle? wishing

Something You Aren't Wearing? Socks

Your Favorite Store? Borders

Your Favorite Color? Purple

When Was The Last Time You Laughed? recently

Last Time You Cried? earlier

Your Best Friend? interesting

One Place You Go To Over And Over Again? Bookstore

Facebook? nope

Favorite Place To Eat? anywhere



And the 5 blogger



1. Adrienne @ An Addicted Book Reader
2. Patty @ Yay!Reads
3. The Shady Glade
4. Good Golly Miss Holly
5. BASH

The Happy Award, given by Lindsay at Crazy Book & Reviews
Now here's what the blog award says:


Here are the rules it comes with:

List 10 things that make you happy.

Try and do at least one of them today.

Tag ten bloggers that brighten your day.

Link back to the person that tagged you.





Here's my happy list:
  1. My friends
  2. Reading
  3. Blogging
  4. My Dogs: Juneau, Duffy and Benny
  5. Music
  6. 10 Things I Hate About You (Both the movie and the TV series)
  7. snacks
  8. Cupcakes
  9. Green Tea
  10. Just being in any bookstore/Library
Now Here's the 10 People:
  1. Staysi @ Lost in Ink
  2. Corrine @ Lost for Words
The Beautiful Blogger Award Given by Eating YA Books

Here are the rules for the Beautiful Blogger Award:

1.Thank and link to the person that gave you the award.

2.Pass this award on to 15 bloggers you've recently discovered and whom you think are fantastic.

3.Contact said Blogs to let them know they've won

4.State 7 Things about yourself!

7 Things about me:
  1. 8 is my lucky number
  2. purple is my favorite color
  3. I don't like cats (sorry, I just don't)
  4. I don't like the quiet
  5. I use the word 'jazzy' to describe music a lot
  6. I watch too much tv
  7. I love horror movies
Now here's the bloggers list:
  1. Maire K. @ Monster of Books
  2. Ash Elizabeth @ Warning:


Saturday, March 27, 2010

IN My Mailbox (24)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren
Won:

Darklight by Lesley Livingston (Won from Kelsey at The Book Scout)
~Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom...or part them forever.




Borrowed:
Okay, I went over to my friends house this weekend and kind of raided her bookshelf. I took a lot of books. There was more that I still wanted to read, but I finally decided, enough was enough and that I'd come back and get those once I finished at least a few of the other ones.


Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott- Eighteen-year-old Dani grows weary of her life as a thief when she and her mother move to a town where Dani feels like she can put down roots. [close] Eighteen-year-old Dani grows weary of her life as a thief when she and her mother move to a town where Dani feels like she can put down roots.














Impossible by Nancy Werlin- When seventeen-year-old Lucy discovers her family is under an ancient curse by an evil Elfin Knight, she realizes to break the curse she must perform three impossible tasks before her daughter is born in order to save them both.
















The Book of Luke by Jenny O'Connell- Emily Abbott has always been considered the Girl Most Likely to Be Nice -- but lately being nice hasn't done her any good. Her parents have decided to move the family from Chicago back to their hometown of Boston in the middle of Emily's senior year. Only Emily's first real boyfriend, Sean, is in Chicago, and so is her shot at class valedictorian and early admission to the Ivy League. What's a nice girl to do?

Then Sean dumps Emily on moving day and her father announces he's staying behind in Chicago "to tie up loose ends," and Emily decides that what a nice girl needs to do is to stop being nice.
She reconnects with her best friends in Boston, Josie and Lucy, only to discover that they too have been on the receiving end of some glaring Guy Don'ts. So when the girls have to come up with something to put in the senior class time capsule, they know exactly what to do. They'll create a not-so-nice reference guide for future generations of guys -- an instruction book that teaches them the right way to treat girls.
But when her friends draft Emily to test out their tips on Luke Preston -- the hottest, most popular guy in school, who just broke up with Josie by email -- Emily soon finds that Luke is the trickiest of test subjects . . . and that even a nice girl like Emily has a few things to learn about love.

The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti- Maybe it was wrong, or maybe impossible, but I wanted the truth to be one thing. One solid thing.

Quinn is surrounded by women who have had their hearts broken. Between her mother, her aunt, and her grandmother, Quinn hears nothing but cautionary tales. She tries to be an optimist -- after all, she's the dependable one, the girl who never makes foolish choices. But when she is abruptly and unceremoniously dumped, Quinn starts to think maybe there really are no good men.
It doesn't help that she's gingerly handling a renewed relationship with her formerly absent father. He's a little bit of a lot of things: charming, selfish, eccentric, lazy...but he's her dad, and Quinn's just happy to have him around again. Until she realizes how horribly he's treated the many women in his life, how he's stolen more than just their hearts. Determined to, for once, take action in her life, Quinn joins forces with the half sister she's never met and the little sister she'll do anything to protect. Together, they set out to right her father's wrongs...and in doing so, begin to uncover what they're really looking for: the truth.



Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt- There are two sides to every breakup. This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation. Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet. It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

Bought:

The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan-  Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves. 




Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger- When The Walker, a mysterious boy who walks constantly, intervenes in an argument between Sandpiper and a boy she used to see, their lives become entwined in ways that change them both.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Before I Fall

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
rating 10/10

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?



Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

Before I Fall was such a beautiful book, one of the better ones that I've read in a while. I loved how diferent it was. It wasn't the same story that you see over and over again. No, Before I Fall had a unique plot that I loved every minute of.


Sam grew up so much through the book. In the beggining, she was arogant and selfish. By the end, she had changed so much, and in a good way. She is one of those characters that you can't easily forget.

Before I Fall was such a fantastic book, and the ending left me breathless. I think everyone should read this amazing deut novel.

Princess for Hire

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
rating 8/10

When a well-dressed woman steps out of a bubble and wants to know if you'd like to become a substitute princess, do you



A) run


B) faint


C) say yes?

For Desi Bascomb, who's been longing for some glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C). Desi has a rare ability: with the help of "Royal Rouge," she can temporarily transform into the exact look-alike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?

Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras.... In this winning debut, one girl's dream of glamour transforms into the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.
 
I just did a short review for this one:
 
Princess for Hire was deffinatly a cute, lively read meant for younger readers. Desi was very real and relatable. Through the book she went through some crazy and exciting adventures.


This was so adorable, and I think younger readers would deffinatly love it.

Monday, March 22, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

So, I usually don't have internet on Mondays, (I get internet somewhere else only on the weekends) ut since I have it today I decided to try It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Now, I probably won't do these very often, but like I said, since I'm already on I should go ahead and try it.

Books reviewed last week:
Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

Books completed:
Lovesick by Jake Coburn
Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter
Fang by James Patterson

Currently Reading:
nothing. I'm still trying to decide.

Reading Next:
All Unquiet Things
Splendor Falls
Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor

I know what you're thinking. Slacker! I only read 3 books last week and reviewed 1! Oh well. It was a slow week for me. Hopefully I'll do better this week.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

In My Mailbox (23)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

ATW Tours:
Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter- It’s the summer before senior year and Polly Martin has sworn off boys. Who needs the hurt and confusion? Five recent breakups have left her with an unnatural knowledge of NASCAR, the ultimate hiker’s outfit, a student council position, the sixth highest score on the Donkey Kong machine at the mall, and a summer job at Wild Waves with ex #2 Sawyer Holmes.


Success seems a sure thing when Polly’s grandmother, the syndicated advice columnist, Miss Swoon, moves in for the summer. Polly almost doesn’t mind sharing a room with her little sister, Grace. Think of all the great advice she’ll get!

Everything is going according to plan except... Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy septuagenarian! And then there’s Xander Cooper. If only he wouldn’t keep showing up at Wild Waves with his adorable cousins every afternoon — and what is he writing in that little notebook?

No advice column in the world can prepare Polly for the lessons she learns when she goes on a group camping trip (with three too many ex-boyfriends). Polly is forced to see people for who they are — a blend of good and bad qualities that can’t be reduced to a list or a snappy answer in a Miss Swoon column.
 
Paperback Swap:
Lovesick by Jake Coburn- After an accident seems to end his college and athletic dreams, Ted is offered a second chance at school if he agrees to spy on a classmate and help her father monitor her bulimia.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bought:
Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson- Being a kid with wings--constantly on the run--has never been easy, and Max and her flock are getting tenser than ever. First, on a trip to Africa, they meet a mysterious billionaire whose intense scrutiny of the Flock makes her fear the worst. Then, a cryptic message from a young girl arrives, warning them "The sky will fall." And as if an impending apocalypse weren't bad enough, canny birdkid Angel makes a dire prophecy about Max's soul mate: Fang will be the first to die. Max's desperate desire to protect Fang brings the two closer than ever. But can the team weather the storm, or will the turmoil rip them apart for the last time?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Swoon at Your Own Risk

Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter
rating 8/10

It’s the summer before senior year and Polly Martin has sworn off boys. Who needs the hurt and confusion? Five recent breakups have left her with an unnatural knowledge of NASCAR, the ultimate hiker’s outfit, a student council position, the sixth highest score on the Donkey Kong machine at the mall, and a summer job at Wild Waves with ex #2 Sawyer Holmes.



Success seems a sure thing when Polly’s grandmother, the syndicated advice columnist, Miss Swoon, moves in for the summer. Polly almost doesn’t mind sharing a room with her little sister, Grace. Think of all the great advice she’ll get!


Everything is going according to plan except... Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy septuagenarian! And then there’s Xander Cooper. If only he wouldn’t keep showing up at Wild Waves with his adorable cousins every afternoon — and what is he writing in that little notebook?


No advice column in the world can prepare Polly for the lessons she learns when she goes on a group camping trip (with three too many ex-boyfriends). Polly is forced to see people for who they are — a blend of good and bad qualities that can’t be reduced to a list or a snappy answer in a Miss Swoon column.
 
Swoon at Your Own Risk was a cute and fun read. I really loved the story line, but unfortunatley did not feel the same about the main character, Polly. It's not that I didn't like her, it's just that there was just something about her that I didn't connect with. She was just too needy at times and a little foolish. Even though I wasn't really attached to Polly I was still rooting for her through the book. Polly wasn't my favorite, but I loved Xander. He was just so cute and sweet!


The writing was adorable ad capitvating. This was a real charming, relatable story (I mean, who hasn't had a crazy ex situation once or twice before, right?) and an enjoyable read.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

In My Mailbox (22)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Library:

The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore- Sylvie Davis is a ballerina who can’t dance. A broken leg ended her career, but Sylvie’s pain runs deeper. What broke her heart was her father’s death, and what’s breaking her spirit is her mother’s remarriage—a union that’s only driven an even deeper wedge into their already tenuous relationship.


Uprooting her from her Manhattan apartment and shipping her to Alabama is her mother’s solution for Sylvie’s unhappiness. Her father’s cousin is restoring a family home in a town rich with her family’s history. And that’s where things start to get shady. As it turns out, her family has a lot more history than Sylvie ever knew. More unnerving, though, are the two guys that she can’t stop thinking about. Shawn Maddox, the resident golden boy, seems to be perfect in every way. But Rhys—a handsome, mysterious foreign guest of her cousin’s—has a hold on her that she doesn’t quite understand.

Then she starts seeing things. Sylvie’s lost nearly everything—is she starting to lose her mind as well?

The Real Real by Emma Mclaughlin & Nicola Kraus- Imagine there was never a Laguna Beach, a Newport Harbor, the shimmering Hills. Imagine that your hometown—your school—is the first place XTV descends to set up cameras.


Now imagine they've trained them on you.

When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast.

As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.

The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor- [close] Before he died, Melissa’s father told her about stars. He told her that the brightest stars weren’t always the most beautiful—that if people took the time to look at the smaller stars, if they looked with a telescope at the true essence of the star, they would find real beauty. But even though Melissa knows that beauty isn’t only skin deep, the people around her don’t seem to feel that way. There’s her gorgeous sister Ashley who will barely acknowledge Melissa at school, there's her best friend Ryan, who may be falling in love with the sophisticated Courtney, and there’s Melissa’s mother who’s dating someone new, someone who Melissa knows will never be able to replace her father.


To make sure she doesn’t lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and completing a journal her father began—one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present, as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn't mean you can't be beautiful on the inside.

Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling- Claire Voyante has been having strange visions ever since she can remember. But the similarity between her name and her talents is purely coincidental. The name is French and unlike the psychics on TV, she can’t solve crimes or talk to the dead.


But that all changes on Claire’s 15th birthday, when her grandmother gives her something a little more extraordinary than one of her old cocktail dresses: a strange black-and-white onyx cameo on a gold chain. It’s not long before Claire’s world becomes a whole lot clearer. And a whole lot more dangerous.



Bought:

Hourglass by Claudia Gray- After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, the elite group of vampire hunters led by Lucas’s stepfather. When Bianca’s close friend—the vampire Balthazar—is captured by Black Cross, Bianca knows she has to do whatever it takes to save him. But at what cost?


Hourglass, the third book in this gripping vampire series by the author of the New York Times bestseller Stargazer, has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s books runaway successes.




Around the World Tours:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver- What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined

The Beautiful Between

The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
rating 9/10
Release Date: May 11, 2010

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.



If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

This book is all around beautiful. It's deffinately one of the better books that I've read in a while.


I was sucked in from the first page. The writing was well-formed and wonderful. It was a real emotional read, for sure. Most the book had a heartbreaking, intense tone to it, which only added to the tear-jerking story.

All the characters in this book were very lovable and relatable. I'd have to say my favorite character was Kate. She was so sweet and genial. She's what brings Connelly and Jeremy together, as well as the story.

The Beautiful Between was a truly inspiration story, one that I highly reccomend.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren

For Review:

The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel- If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.


If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

Bought:

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab- Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.


Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.

Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.
 
 
Barrowed:
Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines- It’s a fight to the death—on live TV—when a gladiator’s daughter steps into the arena


Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine.




Swapped:
Read My Lips by Teri Brown- Popularity is as easy as a good secret.


Serena just wants to fly under the radar at her new school. But Serena is deaf, and she can read lips really well-even across the busy cafeteria. So when the popular girls discover her talent, there's no turning back.

From skater chick to cookie-cutter prep, Serena's identity has done a 180...almost. She still wants to date Miller, the school rebel, and she's not ready to trade her hoodies for pink tees just yet. But she is rising through the ranks in the school's most exclusive clique.

With each new secret she uncovers, Serena feels pressure to find out more. Reading lips has always been her greatest talent, but now Serena just feels like a gigantic snoop...

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Contest Winner!

So the winner of my 50 followers contest is Lili!

Congratulations! I just emailed you! You'll have 48 hours to reply then I'll have to choose a new winner.

I also just wanted to  say a huge thank you to everyone who entered my contest and all my follwers! Thanks a lot, you guys are great!

Keep an eye out, I should be having another contest faily soon.

The Secret Year

The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
rating 9/10

Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend.When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal she left behind. But he is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept.

The Secret Year was an emotional roller coaster taht hooked you from the first sentence.


The writing was incredible. It brought the already heartbreaking tale of the secret relationship to a whole new level. I really felt for Colt, and what he was going through with being with someone for so long but not being able to greive Julia's death because it was all a secret.

I really adored the astounding novel. All the characters were very really, along the Julie, even though we only knew her after she died and from her journals.

Dirty Little Secrets

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu
rating 8/10

Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others.



For sixteen years, Lucy has kept her mother's hoarding a secret. She's had to -- nobody would understand the stacks of newspapers and mounds of garbage so high they touch the ceiling and the rotting smell that she's always worried would follow her out the house. After years of keeping people at a distance, she finally has a best friend and maybe even a boyfriend if she can play it right. As long as she can make them think she's normal.


When Lucy arrives home from a sleepover to find her mother dead under a stack of National Geographics, she starts to dial 911 in a panic, but pauses before she can connect. She barely notices the filth and trash anymore, but she knows the paramedics will. First the fire trucks, and then news cameras that will surely follow. No longer will they be remembered as the nice oncology nurse with the lovely children -- they'll turn into that garbage-hoarding freak family on Collier Avenue.


With a normal life finally within reach, Lucy has only minutes to make a critical decision. How far will she go to keep the family secrets safe?

Dirty Little Secrets was such a good, sad story about a girl living with her hoarder mom. I've always been intrigued by mental illnesses like this, and jumped at the chance to read it. All I can say is that really did live up to my expectations.


This story really showed what it was like to live with a hoarder. Every time Lucy tried to clean anything up, her mom would get mad at her and wouldn't let her. The hoarding quickly took over both their lives, and it's what killed Lucy's mom. After living in garbage for most her life, for the first time Lucy can actually break free from this and start over.

It was easy to sympathize with Lucy from the beginning. She was justa regular girl with a not so good home life. She was easy to relate to and really sweet.