FYA Book Club: February Recap

© Katie

It's a new year and a new start for Forever Young Adult Book Club!

Starting this year, I will try my best to do a recap of our book club meetups. As this is my first meetup for the year, I really didn't get to read any book nor the club... Regardless, for February’s meetup, we met up Saturday, Feb. 4th at Hollywood Vine on Hollywood BLVD. We've previously met there before as it's a nice environment to host a book club meeting. It's nice to hangout with fellow booknerds and just talk about upcoming YA books and well, wine. Who doesn't like wine?? Plus, there were book exchanges, we are always up for that! GIVE ME ALL THE BOOKS! Thanks, Aurora, for always getting us together.

Although no books were read at this meetup for discussion, we decided to pick a book that I've not read yet for next month. So March's book is....

Caraval

Caraval #1

Author: Stephanie Garber

Release Date: January 31st 2017

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Whatever you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or a performance. It's the closest you'll ever find to magic in this world . . .

Welcome, welcome to Caraval—Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

During my visit at ALA last year, I received a copy of this book. Since work has been keeping me extremely busy, with 12-15 hours a day, I haven't been able to read it. I am glad for March's pick and I cannot wait to read it.

So be sure to check back for our FYA Book Club March Recap at TY Park!

The REEL Book Club: Labor Day by Joyce Maynard Book Discussion

Hi everyone! Welcome to The REEL Book Club Labor Day Discussion.

You might recall that we did a couple post back in November for The Book Thief but we didn't have an official name for our book club yet. And now as you can see above, we are called The REEL Book Club. Do you get it? Reel for movie reel, since we are still going to be discussing books turned into movies. 

This meet up was all about LABOR DAY by Joyce Maynard. 

Labor Day written by Joyce Maynard was originally printed back in 2009. The movie-tie edition was released December 3rd 2013 from William Morrow Paperbacks. See below each cover. 

So on Sunday, January 26th we all met at my house once again to discuss the book and what we expect in the upcoming film.

Pictured here from left to right: Yara (Me), Jessica, Jennifer, Rachel, Heather, Dustie, Stephanie, Mary Alice, Trudy and Sheila D..

Pictured here from left to right: Sheila M., Jennifer (bottom), Jessica (top), Rachel, Heather, Dustie, Stephanie, Mary Alice, Trudy and Sheila D.

DISCUSSION:

How do you think the events of that Labor Day weekend change Henry? How might his life have gone if Frank had not shown up?

• Rachel: She said that Henry would have become a recluse in her opinion.
• Dustie: says it was for Henry's best which helped tremendously with his self-esteem.
• Heather: Learning to bake the pie changed his life for the best.
• Sheila M.: She felt that he learned to get along better with men and women because of that Labor Day weekend. 

Scenes we want to see in the film.

• Yara: I would like to see the part where Frank and Henry go outside and Frank teaches him how to play baseball. It's a very happy part for me in the book I'd like to see on the screen.
• Jennifer: Wants to see the pie making scene and when Frank approaches Henry in the store when they meet for the first time.
• Shelia D.: Would like to see when Henry tells Eleanor off.
• Trudy: The 2 scenes she would like to see are the pie making and store meet up also.
• Dustie: Wants to see when Frank shows Henry how to play baseball, it's the scene she considered the happiest in the book.
• Heather: Wants to see when they first meet in the store and when they go to capture Frank.

Reaction to movie trailers.

• Everyone as a group agrees the trailer looks like it will be more interesting and "normal" than the book.
• Kate Winslet actually looks terrified when she meets Frank "Vinny" at the store as opposed to how it's described in the book. 
• We did catch that Henry narrates as a grown man in the movie trailer. When we read the book, we felt as a whole that it was a child narrating the story. Main reason was the missing quotations and just certain areas that grossed us out as moms (lol). 
• The movie trailer looks as if the film is going to be romantic since we felt the book lacked romance for us. 

HOPES.

• Believable, emotional, romantic.

Random.

• The movie trailer helped a few of us read and finish the book.
• Stephanie: Says it wasn't the most comfortable scenes to read in a book but she has read worst before.
• Sheila M.: Says she feels the author wrote this book to show the story as "fated" to the reader. 
• Group hopes that the movie is less detailed in certain scenes that in the book that were a bit uncomfortable to read. (Out of all of us, I had the hardest time getting through the book - Yara)
• It was disturbing for most of us with sons to know how interested Henry was to listen to his mother have sexual relations with Frank. 
• Sheila M: She could not handle the constant turmoil in the book. 

So that concludes are first meeting for Labor Day. Next we will go as a group and see the film then discuss our reactions after watching the movie. Labor Day was definitely a good book to have as part of a book club. There were moments of heated discussion regarding Henry and our own boys. It's definitely a book that moms of boys might be uncomfortable to read. But we do recommend that you do. 

Have you read Labor Day? What do you thins about what we mention in this post regarding the book and upcoming movie? What are you looking forward to seeing in the movie? Let us know in the comments. 

LABOR DAY - in theaters January 31st 2014.

“Labor Day” centers on 13-year-old Henry Wheeler, who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and his mother encounter Frank Chambers, a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home and later is revealed to be an escaped convict. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives.

Starring: Kate Winslet as Adele, Josh Brolin as Frank, Gattlin Griffith as young Henry and Tobey Maguire as adult Henry. 

Directed by Jason Reitman

Order your copy of Joyce Maynard's Labor Day today. 

Book Club: The Book Thief | Reflections of the Movie | Giveaway

Welcome back to part 2 of The Book Thief Book to Movie Club!

Back on November 8th we shared our meet up where we discussed the book before we saw the film. Well today we are sharing our reflections of what we thought of the film in comparison to the book itself. 

Here are a few pictures of our movie night group:

From left to right: Sheila D., Me, Trudy, Michelle, Rachel, Heather, Jessica, Lori, Sheila M. and Jennifer.

The Book Thief took a sometime to open in the greater Houston area (11/27). As a group we didn't see it till Sunday, 12/1. The movie theater was practically ours when we arrived, just before the movie started a handful of people arrived too.

We were all ready with our popcorn, soda and tissues.

Here is what a few of us had to say:

Me:

The Book Thief's adaptation had several parts omitted or changed throughout the full course of the film that if you did read the novel you would have caught and it might have bothered you some. But the film still entertained me for the most part. The ending of the film which was altered from the book was my favorite change from book to movie adaptation. This is the one time I was extremely happy they changed something from the book itself. The Book Thief is guaranteed to bring you joy, sadness and pain with a strong young character to carry the story on her shoulders. I really loved Ben Schnetzer's portray of Max, he really catered his part for me. And Nico Liersch as Rudy was just too adorable and sad at the same time, great job casting wise on both those characters. And let's not leave out Death, I was pleased how he presented himself in The Book Thief.

Michelle:

I personally enjoyed the film adaptation of best selling novel, The Book Thief. As in the book the story is narrated by Death and gives an account of the life of Liesel Meminger, a young orphaned girl growing up in Germany in the midst of WWII. I enjoyed the choice of actors especially the children who played Liesel (Sophie Nelisse) and her friend Rudy Steiner (Nico Liersch). I was a bit disappointed in how "tame" Rosa Hubermann (mamma) was portrayed, however Hans Hubermann (Papa) felt like an old friend. Liesel's relationship with Max and Rudy are told beautifully and felt genuine. I was touched by the way Liesel was passionate about reading, and words and how they can paint a picture. Although the movie felt bland at certain times it will appeal to both readers and non- readers alike. But be warned, this film comes across very monochrome throughout and is not a happily ever after. it is also quite lengthy.

Jennifer:

After reading the novel, The Book Thief, and then seeing the movie, I was disappointed that many of the important details that were present in the book but were missing from the movie - for example, we never saw the scene with Max walking to the camps, we never met the neighbor who spit on their front door, and Rudy and Leisel never stole the fruit. There were several things that were different from the book to the movie, such as Rudy being alive in the last scene, and we never learned that Rudy's father returned from the war alive... he just all of a sudden showed up working in his shop at the end!

I did like how the end of the movie told you a little more than the book about what happened to the characters. It was nice to hear that Max lived to a very old age. However, overall, I was disappointed in both the book and the movie. The book was difficult to read and keep track of because of how Death kept jumping around. The movie lacked details and was at times boring because there were a lot of things left out. I personally think that if more of the details were included, the movie might have moved at a better pace.

Trudy:

Went to the movie very intrigued as to how they would portrayed death as the narrator, was very disappointed. In the book death is a very important part, in the movie it was delegated to just small narrative pieces in the beginning, the middle and the end, not what I expected. Although from the previews I wasn't very impressed by the characters, seeing the movie changed my mind. Rudy was close to what I pictured from the book, same as Mama and Papa. The girl that acted as Liesel did a very good job on her role, but Max even as he grew on me, needed to be more frail and sickly. I would have included in the movie other parts from the book that were more important, as it is it felt incomplete. I did like the ending in the book better, it gave you a better outlook to what happened to Liesel's life after.

Jessica:

As with every book to movie we had a few discrepancies but overall the book & movie were just amazing. The story of a girl growing up and blossoming into something so amazing caught my attention. This story although fiction could have easily happened to any child growing up in Europe during the 1930's. Do yourself a favor and read the book. Watch the movie. And educate yourself on the atrocities of the holocaust. We shall never forget!!!

Sheila M:

The movie did a great job of showing closure at the end of the movie, while in contrast the book felt too open ended with too many different open ended situations. I also loved the actor who played Papa in the movie. I believed they did a great job casting him. There as there often are a lot of discrepancies between the book and the movie. The movie sugar coated the fact that she indeed stole more than just books and left out major events that were present in the book. I think there could have been more if the plot from the book brought into the movie and less quite drama that left people in the audience at times trying to stay awake. Overall, this is the kind of movie I would love to take a twelve year old to, that could open up lines and show what wars look like and areas of history.

Heather:

I really enjoyed both the book and the movie. I was a little apprehensive when I first started the book, with it being told from the perspective of death, however, it didn't take long to know that it couldn't be told from any other perspective. I liked how descriptive the book and movie both were with the events that took place. I have never cried while reading a book until this one! I would highly recommend both the book and movie!

Rachel:

I absolutely loved the book! There was so much emotion in Liesel's life for such a young girl. First, she lost her brother unexpectedly during a train ride that was taking her to a new family where her mother would leave her. Then, she built a beautiful friendship with someone, that she couldn't share with anyone for fear of getting in trouble, who left without saying goodbye.


Going into the movie, I expected much more emotion during those three moments, but there was almost none. If I hadn't read the book, I don't think I would have been as disappointed. There were many times that parts of the movie were so out of order from the book it was confusing for the reader.


I wish Death had more of a part in the movie as well. Many of the other members of the group didn't like death for his dry personality, but I think that's how he would have to be to do his job. He was so prominent in the book that you would think you would hear more from him in the movie.


Overall, the book, for me, was a million times better. The movie will be great for people who haven't read the book and hopefully keep the history of that era alive for the younger generations.

---

THE BOOK THIEF – now playing in select theaters

Based on the beloved bestselling book, The Book Thief tells the inspirational story of a spirited and courageous young girl who transforms the lives of everyone around her when she is sent to live with a new family in World War II Germany.

Starring Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, and Sophie Nélisse.

Directed by Brian Percival.

THE BOOK THIEF online: official website | Facebook | Twitter | #TheBookThief

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Club: The Book Thief | Markus Zusak | Book Discussion Meeting

Hey everyone! Welcome to THE BOOK THIEF Book to Movie Club!

Today, I'm excited to share with you all the first meet up in a recent book club I was asked to host. The book we would be discussing and dissecting would be Markus Zusak's THE BOOK THIEF. But that's not all because this isn't your typical book club. This club is really a book to movie club where first we met and discussed the book itself and what we expect and hope to see in the upcoming movie, then we meet again to go see the film as a group and end with a discussion about the film.

The Book Thief Book to Movie Participants:

In the first picture (left) is Jessica and Rachel. Jessica actually has a pretty awesome story, we got to hear a piece of it, Jessica is a second generation survivor. Her grandmother has actually shared her stories with her about that time.

Then next picture (center) are Sheila, Jennifer and Trudy (Trudy's my mom). So if you have read the book, then you'll know my mom shares her name with Trudy Hubermann from the story. I thought that was cool, to actually see my mom's nickname in the book. Her first name is actually Gertrudis, which I came to find out during this meet was also my great-great grandmother's first name, which my mom was named after. But that's not all, it turns out my great-great grandmother was also from Germany and migrated to Spain during that time period to avoid being sent to the concentration camps. So that was pretty amazing to learn about my family history.

Then in the last picture (right) you see Heather and I. We met at my house and sat inside my office/library area to discuss this book and so much more.

Missing from the meet up were Meagan and Michelle, they both had medical issues they were dealing with that night that were unexpected. They will be at the movie night screening though. But Megan actually has her own story too. Her great-great grandfather also left Germany during those times in a bread crate on board a ship and was out at sea over 20+ days stuck inside the crate. He arrived in Galveston, Texas.

So as you can see even before I post about hints we discussed regarding The Book Thief, so much was learned that night about each other and how our own lives were affected by the Hitler years.

Discussion:

Each of us had never read The Book Thief before, so we were all very excited to join in the adventure together. Because reading books is definitely an adventure.

Death's P.O.V.:

• Sheila has no idea how it will be told in Death's point of View in the film.
• Trudy feels that Death is all over the place with the story.
• Rachel said Death is a bit A.D.D. in the book.

Yes this was the topic or being we would end up always talking about. The main concern from the group was, how will this film be told from Death's P.O.V. When we viewed the trailer together during the chat, we sort of think its told from Liesel's P.O.V. in the film, so we are even more curious now, if Death even makes some type of appearance.

What does Death's look like:

• Shelia pictured a Patrick Swayze 'Ghost" representation while she read the book.
• Jennifer pictured a normal looking person since he is able to pick up souls/bodies.
• Trudy didn't picture a solid entity, she pictured more of a soul/ghost.
• Heather pictured a transparent being.
• Rachel said to her he is that person everyone ignores, who no one pays attention too.
• I said when I figured it was Death telling the story, i immediately thought of Brad Pitt in 'Meet Joe Black' movie. That Death entered a human body like a possession. (maybe even good looking like Brad Pitt.)

Max:

• The group as a whole questions what happens to him and if he was who Liesel's married in the end. Will the movie version show us more at the end?
• Shelia is very pleased with whom is portraying Max in the film, because when she read the book she pictured someone who was malnourished and just skin and bones.

Rudy:

• We all love love love Rudy.
• One thing we noticed when we watched the book trailer concerning Rudy, was that in the book he never asked Liesel if she was hiding someone but in the film's trailer you can see when he does ask Liesel if she is.

Liesel:

• Heather says she was thrown off a bit about Liesel's description. In the book she is said to have brown eyes while the book movie-tie in edition show the actress playing Liesel and her eyes being blue in color. It was a little detail hat bugged her.
• The group also thought that Liesel look very well in the book trailer as opposed to how she is described in the book. We all wished our hair curled as pretty as hers, lol.

Ending:

• As a majority the group hopes that in the film we will see more closure in the end and not how it ended in the book.
• We all just agreed that Death was very descriptive in the beginning and when it came to the end, he just stop giving details.
• Sheila is dying to know how the end will be done, in the book its very choppy. So she hopes to see more of that last chapter play out.

Scene we want in the film:

• We all agreed and said we hope they show the part where Rudy portray Jessie Owens and paints himself black with charcoal and pretends to be running in the Olympics. The scene was awesome.
• Its not really something we want to see, but if they do show this scene, we know we will ugly cry. The part when the mother carries Liesel's deceased brother. Again, ugly cry if in the movie.

So there you have it folks, that's most of what we discussed. Like I mentioned earlier, Death was the hot topic. We just kept coming back to him or it. We are very excited that we get to see the film soon, on Sunday, November 17th. We will have boxes of tissue on hand.

This was definitely a great book to have this book to movie club for.

Have you read The Book Thief? What do you have to say about what we mentioned? What are you looking forward to seeing in the film? Let us know in the comments.

THE BOOK THIEF – in select theaters November 8

Based on the beloved bestselling book, THE BOOK THIEF tells the inspirational story of a spirited and courageous young girl who transforms the lives of everyone around her when she is sent to live with a new family in World War II Germany.

Starring Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, and Sophie Nélisse.

Directed by Brian Percival.

THE BOOK THIEF online: official website | Facebook | Twitter | #TheBookThief

The Forbidden Book Club: Looking for Alaska - Day 1 Discussion

January's Book: Looking for Alaska by John Green

January's Host:  Once Upon a Twilight (that's us)

January's Posts: Click Here

Hey everyone!!! So glad to be hosting this month's book club pick. We are reading Looking for Alaska by John Green. So let the discussing begin!

This discussion concentrates up until the we reach the part that says "One Hundred Twenty-Six Days Before."  I am reading a hardcover and that part is on pg. 29. So before I get deep into the book, I just want to say I had never heard of this book before until now. So this means I enter it with a clean slate. Our last book we knew tons about it before we even began reading it. So I'm excited to discuss a book that is new to me in all its essence.

Summary: It rare that a book in the first 20-30 pages will give enough content that you are stoked for it. That being said Looking for Alaska starts off introducing the BEFORE gray page at the beginning. This has me curious already, because its before what?? What are we now counting down too. I have no clue, is it the destruction of the character or is the world ending? I guess as we continue to read we will begin to get a clue maybe?

We meet Miles Halter, who later a few pages in will become "Pudge" (<~~~ Not a fan of that name BTW). Miles is your less than ordinary student in high school about to begin his junior year. Miles has decided he wants to go to boarding school in Alabama away from his public school life in Florida. How do I feel bout Miles already, well I think he is a bit depressed and running from something? maybe. The fact that his parents threw him a going away party and no body really showed up, this just makes me think, that Miles might be a bit emo? I remember high school ad yes their are clicks you belong too. You have jocks, nerds, drama and rockers. Those were some of the groups in my school long time ago (I'm not saying how long ago, lol). Even though if you belong to the lowest of the low in terms of popularity. You have friends within your groups. So the nerd can have friends, so the fact that Miles had none, it makes me wonder what is really up with him. Even though he says its because of what he read in a book that he is leaving, I want to peel away more layers because something else feels like the motive.

Speaking of books, miles tells his dad he is choosing to leave to boarding school because of a line he read in a famous book. Miles only reads biographies and loves to memorizes the final words of that author or famous person. Creepy? I think just a tad. So Miles reads to his family that line from the book "I go to seek a Great Perhaps." from poet "Francois Rabelais". I do like that line from the poet's biography, but I still stay their is more to Miles leaving that that line.

Finally Miles has made it to the boarding school in Alabama, and its probably as hot or hotter than Florida. OK I'm from Florida and I think Florida had to be hotter than Alabama, just saying! Miles folks help him move in and his dad even brought some biographies for Miles so he could read while in school. They finally leave and Miles is finally all alone. He now has to wait for his roommate to arrive. Which when he does Miles meets him in a towel after coming out of the shower. Cracks me up every time Miles is describing his showers. I don't know what it feels like to be 6 feet tall but its sounds uncomfortable. So we finally meet all 5 feet of stocky Chip Martin aka "Colonel". Why does this paring sound like a really bad idea. You have the short cocky guy and the emo tall guy and together, not sure what kind of mix it will make. So when Miles begins to follow Chip's lead, I'm not surprise. Smoking, I'm not a smoker and so I'm not a fan of it. The fact that kids always end up smoking, doesn't make sense. Why would you like something burning your throat that smells bad and makes your teeth turn yellow then in the long run gives you cancer? anyone? Buehler? OK back to the story so "Colonel" and "Pudge" go and see Alaska. Miles is completely dumb struck with her beauty. Alaska also sounds like their is something hiding inside, waiting to leap out. She sounds fun and wild and she is the one who sells the cigarettes on campus. They seems to get along OK the 3 of them.

Let me tell you I'm was laughing at the whole part of Miles and the "befriedo" experience which is describe as a culinary orgasm. After reading all that was said about the befriedo, tell me you don't want to eat one, i know I did. So from Befriedo we jump to Miles getting kidnapped out of his room in the middle of the night in his boxers by 3 people. Colonel says to go with it and Miles does, he is assuming its some kind of prank for being new. Well that prank escalates into getting tied up with duct tape all over his body like a mummy, then being thrown into the lake. We know that Kevin tells Miles he shouldn't hang with the Colonel and that's why this is happening to him. So OK, I started freaking out at this point going, is this kid going to die, I know nothing of this book to even figure it out. Of course since Miles is the main character, he can't die. Miles is able to somehow float and swim to shore all tied up like he is. OK anyone else sees this a bit impossible? I don't float when I'm in the water. Haven't since I was a little kid. So if this was me in the lake all tied up with duct tape, I would be dead at the bottom. So Miles visits Alaska after the prank and she basically shrugs him off and he gets pissed and goes back to his room and wakes up Colonel in the process. Colonel gets mad when he finds out it was more than the usual prank of just throwing someone in the water in their underwear. He says they will get back at them. Th one rule though that Miles must follow is never, no matter what can you rat someone out. that is the one code everyone at the school lives by.

So that's were we reach the end of the first section we read. I'm super curious about this story, I will try and read the section mentioned each time. Not like I read Forbidden in one sitting. Let me know if I discussed to much or what I should mentioned more or less of. I'm trying hard to follow in the awesome Andye's footsteps.

Next meet up will be on Friday January 20th right back here. I will have the post scheduled and ready since Friday I leave to Dallas for ALA midwinter. We will be reading up until the section "FIFTY-TWO DAYS BEFORE" (Pg. 80 hardcover). Make sure you don't skip ahead and make notes so you remember what to discuss. Remember on twitter we are using the hashtag #ForbiddenBookClub for all things mentions or discussions on twitter. Then on Reading Teen, you can find the post that contains buttons and the sign up for the yahoo email group by clicking HERE.

Buy the Book

The Forbidden Book Club: January Book Pick - Looking for Alaska by John Green

January's Book: Looking For Alaska by John Green

January's Host: Once Upon a Twilight (that's us)

A few of you are familiar with this book club we started all because we wanted to read Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. Well it went so well that we all decided to keep doing it for other books on a monthly basis with different blogs hosting it. This month's book was chosen by a poll that was done over at Reading Teen's blog and Looking for Alaska was picked. So this month we are hosting the tour here.

We decided to keep the name "Forbidden Book Club" to honor the first book we started with and its a great name also. If you are interested in hosting one of the book club stops then hop over to Reading Teen's page where you can sign up, pick next's month book or sign up for the yahoo group HERE.

So with all that being said, now you know which book we will start. You have starting today until January 11th to BUY, borrow or check out the book and then read the first 5 chapters to begin. So go out and get the book. Remember come back on Monday January 16th to discuss the first 5 chapters here.

If you'd like to join us, just make a blog post, announcing that you'll be participating. Encourage your followers to join us too! The more the merrier! If you don't have a blog, but would still like to participate, just add a link to any of your social media sites. I'm really excited about this!! I had SO much fun reading and discussing our first book together! Follow The Forbidden Book Club on Twitter using the hashtag #ForbiddenBookClub. The Forbidden Book Club was started by Reading Teen, Once Upon a Twilight, Katie's Book Blog, and Books Over Boys.

Summary: (from Amazon) Miles "Pudge" Halter is abandoning his safe-okay, boring-life. Fascinated by the last words of famous people, Pudge leaves for boarding school to seek what a dying Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Pudge becomes encircled by friends whose lives are everything but safe and boring. Their nucleus is razor-sharp, sexy, and self-destructive Alaska, who has perfected the arts of pranking and evading school rules. Pudge falls impossibly in love. When tragedy strikes the close-knit group, it is only in coming face-to-face with death that Pudge discovers the value of living and loving unconditionally.
John Green's stunning debut marks the arrival of a stand-out new voice in young adult fiction.

A Forbidden Book Club - Day One!

Today begin the first day of A Forbidden Book Club. You still have time to sign up over at Reading Teen's blog. Click HERE to hop to their site and sign up. 

I'm super excited to be doing this with the rest of the bloggers who have signed up. I've never been part of a book club before. So we begin today with reading 5 chapters and then on Mondays we will post our thoughts. I'm looking forward to when we do live chats and we can ll talk about our progress. 

Again anyone can join at any time, even if you have already read Forbidden. 

Order the book online here  or for your Kindle.

A Forbidden Book Club!

For some time now I have been wanting to read Forbidden ever since Ana read and reviewed it here on the blog. Since we had a review already posted I didn't see a rush in reading it and well its been sitting there looking at me while I read review books. Well the time has arrived and thanks to a group of us (@ReadingTeen, @The_BookishType, @katiesbookblog, and @BooksOverBoys) that we decided let's read Forbidden together. 

The book club is starting next Wednesday 12/7/11. So if you don't have a copy yet and want to join us in reading, you have time to buy it, check it out from library or download. The plan is to read 5 chapters at a time and discuss. You can read more details over at Reading Teen's blog where you can add your name to the sign up link. 

Its going to be great and I've only heard amazing comments about Forbidden. 

Order the book online here  or for your Kindle.

Summary: (from goodreads) Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.