Jen’s Top 10 “How Have You NOT Read This” YA Books

It seems lately whenever I bring up one of my favorite books/series, people respond with a blank stare, a careless shrug, or, worst of all, an “I’ve never heard of it” type of comment. AHHH! So, I decided it’s time for me to give you the heads up on some books you MUST read if you haven’t.

Jen’s Top 10 “How Have You NOT Read This?” YA Books

1. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

On average, I read a book a week. AKA, I read a lot. However, no matter how many pages I turn, or how many stories I finish, Daughter of Smoke & Bone remains one of my favorites of all time. And it’s troubling how few people are even aware of it. No offense to Hunger Games or Twilight, or even Divergent, but I wish the mass population would revere this story. Simply put, it’s awesome. Daughter of Smoke & Bone has everything a reader craves: intrigue, romance, humor, and, of course, adventure.

So go read it! And be sure to spread the word how awesome it is.

Check out my full review here!

2. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Sighhhhh…Just…God, just go read this series, okay? I can’t even begin…I can’t even tell you…AHHH! Just read it. Goooo.

Check out my full review here!

3. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Believe it or not, there are still people in the world who haven’t read Harry Potter. *cue gasps* Every time I encounter one of these rare beings, they usually tell me, “Well, I tried watching the movies, but I just wasn’t into them.”

…That’s all I have to say about that.

*clears throat*

READ HARRY POTTER!

4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

When people ask me, “What’s your favorite book?” I first glare at them, and then I tell them I don’t have a favorite (what book nerd does?). Then, when they still won’t leave me alone, I spout off a handful of memorable titles. The Book Thief is always on the list. Always. And it should be on yours! I promise, it’s a tale you’ll never forget.

Check out my full review here!

5. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Barking spiders! You haven’t read the Leviathan series? Are you mad? What’s not to like? A round-the-world adventure? A would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne? A commoner girl disguised as a boy? Daring deeds? Fun? AMAZINGNESS!

Hey, all you sods, I can fly and you can’t! A natural airman, in case you haven’t noticed. And in conclusion, I’d like to add that I’m a girl and you can all get stuffed!

…Hmmm, I think even I need to go read this–again. So much fun!

Check out more about Leviathan here!

6. Legend by Marie Lu

Amongst all the dystopian books out there, Legend is my favorite. Think Les Miserables set in the future with a deadly virus, two badass protagonists, and lots of rip-roaring action.

In a nutshell, Legend is…

Confession: I love when books are made into movies

It’s true. I love it when a book gets adapted for the big screen. Gasp! Ugh! WHAT? Yeah, yeah. I know, I know! But, I’m sorry. I can’t help it. Whenever I find out one of my favorite novels has made it to Hollywood, my heart does a giddy leap and my feet do a happy dance.

Oh, and, er, I like Katy Perry, too…

*throat clear*

Yeah…Apparently, this is gonna be “one of those” confessions (brutally honest and slightly shameful). You better prepare yourselves…

On Sunday night, I watched the Golden Globe Awards (wow, two seconds in and already another confession: I love Awards Season; love the glitz and glam, the Red Carpets, the golden trophies, all of it!). Anyways, as I watched Sunday’s show, I realized how many of the films nominated this year are based off books (12 Years a Slave, Captain Phillips, Philomena, Labor Day). How cool is that? Well, it was cool enough to prompt me to write about this debatable topic.

The moment I hear one of my favorite books is going to be adapted to screen, I think, “Yes! At last, I get to see this awesome story brought to life!” Then I proceed to tell everyone in the world about it. Like, everyone. Example: When I discovered The Book Thief was going to be made into a movie, I almost peed my pants (almost!), and then I went on to blog and Tweet about it, and share the news on Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest…

I admit, I went a little crazy with the news. But, I couldn’t help it. The Book Thief is one of my favorite books of all time…Of course, it’s not the only book I’ve ever shouted, “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” for. I’ve done this with countless novels, including The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Beautiful Creatures, Catching Fire, Divergent, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Fault in Our Stars, The Help, If I Stay, The Maze Runner…Sheesh, there have been/will be a lot of quality books put on the big screen. And, yes, I plan on seeing them all (if I haven’t seen them already).

Unfortunately, not all book-to-film projects succeed. Far, far from it (don’t even get me started on Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief or Eragon). That’s why I always try and keep a level head when I enter a theater to watch these adapted films. As I sit down and dig into my popcorn and Peanut M&Ms, I give myself a firm mental slap and tell myself, “Jenna, this isn’t the book. It’s the movie version of the book. Things are going to be changed and slashed and rotated and implanted and screwed up! So don’t get your hopes up.” And, thanks to that personal pep talk, I’ve saved myself from innumerable broken hearts and shattered dreams.

Now, I know what many of you are thinking right: A bad movie means bad press for the book, which means the book will lose readers in the long run. On some level, I agree with you. If a movie bombs at the box office, there will surely be people–many people–who’ll never read its book. But, if you think about it, even if a movie does an amazing job, there’s a good chance people still won’t read its book. It’s sad, but there are (and probably always will be) more people in this world who’d rather watch a two-hour movie than read a 400-page book.

So sad. So disappointing…

Okay, let’s move away from the negative and look at these positive facts:

First, movies raise awareness. How many people would even know about certain books if they didn’t have a movie made for them? We’re not all book nerds. Heck, I AM a book nerd and even I don’t always get the memo, not even for big blockbusters like Harry Potter (yeah, go ahead and mark that down as shameful confession #500 in this post). Movies help draw attention to good (and not so good) books and promote them to the non-reading masses. And, more and more often, they seem to spark an interest in books, especially in younger audiences.

Second, movies can make books more likeable. I can’t tell you how many I’ve read that I just didn’t like and/or didn’t get.

Then I saw their movie version and was like, “Ohhh. Got it!”, followed by, “Ohhh, I like it!” Sometimes, you just need to “see” a plot unfold, or “watch” a character develop, or “hear” a story told. And thanks to movie magic, those things can happen and book epiphanies can take place. Stories that didn’t translate so well on paper can be appreciated on screen (same story, different format).

Look, there are plenty of reasons to love or hate Hollywood for adapting our favorite books. Perhaps you think movie versions discourage people from reading? Perhaps you think a book should be left in its purest, most natural form; it’s a piece of art that shouldn’t be tainted with brutal editing and iffy casting? Perhaps you just don’t like movies?

Or perhaps you’re like me and you think movies honor books? Perhaps you think they take the characters you loved so much on a black and white page and give them life–moving, breathing, colorful life? Perhaps you think movies are a celebration–a giant congratulatory pat on the back to the author who wrote a great book–a double thumbs up for a job well done?

Okay, go for it: tell me what you think. Are you pro-adaptations? Or do you think it’s a crime against nature when Hollywood gets their hands on your favorite book?

Don’t forget to “Like” Jen’s Pen Den on Facebook!

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Books into Movies: Everything You Need to Know (Almost). Part 1

Writing update with a side of Friday funny

Happy Friday! Hope you had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend. I know I am. My plans are pretty simple: Go see Catching Fire and then write, write, write! I plan on hitting the 50,000 NaNo word count later today or early tomorrow (YAY!), but I still have half a book to go, so my journey isn’t over yet.

Plus, as the month of December approaches, I have a couple of other projects I need to temporarily shift my focus to. One is a short story for an open call submission for an anthology about ghosts. This will be a challenge since I’ve never written a ghost story, but what the hey, right? A bigger challenge will be my second project: Writing/creating two children’s books for my nephews. Each Christmas, I write them a story based on their life and then manipulate real photos of them in Photoshop to use as illustrations (here is the one I created for my nephew Dane last year). Writing children’s stories doesn’t come naturally for me, and with all the Photoshopping and book designing involved, they take me FOREVER. But, they’re worth it when I see the reaction from my family on Christmas morning. And, more importantly, the reaction I hope to see from my nephews someday when they’re older and can look back at the colorful series about their lives.

So, as you can see, even though NaNo is over for me, my weekends will continue to be mini writing marathons. But, I can’t complain. How can I? I LOVE writing!

Anyways, to send you off for your weekend, I thought I’d share one of my favorite How I Met Your Mother moments. It made me laugh this morning, so I thought it might make you laugh too.

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Have a great weekend!

“Shouldn’t you be Writing” (whitneydaniellewriting.wordpress.com)
In which I try to write a children’s book and am even more in awe of real children’s book authors (goodnightnoiseseverywhere.com)
NaNoWriMo – Into the jungle I go (jenspenden.wordpress.com)
Confession: I’m a book lover advocate (jenspenden.wordpress.com)

What is the best YA novel of all time? Round one

Go vote!

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Synopsis

“From the author of the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park.
A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .
But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?”

Jen’s Review

I loved Fangirl. It was better than great. It was fantastic and poignant. Endearing and smart. Touching and sweet. Fangirl tells a tale that most of us can relate to on some level (er, some of us more than others). Dealing with insecurities. Facing fears. Coping with disappointment. Escaping reality. Being used. Being abandoned. Being accepted. Being loved…Few books have touched my heart–my soul–the way Fangirl did. As I read it, I could feel Cath’s misery, her anxiety, her uncertainty. She was more than just a character on a piece of paper. She was a friend. She was a sister. She was me, back when I was an awkward freshman that felt lost and terrified of leaving my comfortable present for an unknown (and uncomfortable) future.

“It’s okay if you’re crazy,” he said softly.
“You don’t even know-“
“I don’t have to know,” he said. “I’m rooting for you.”

Of course I loved the entire Simon Snow aspect of the book, too. Not only did it add dimension to Cath’s story and make it even more endearing, but the excerpts themselves were genuinely entertaining. In fact, during the longer Simon and Baz snippets, I’d forget I was even reading Fangirl. I’d get so lost in Simon Snow’s Harry Potter-esque world, that it would take me a moment to re-acclimate to Cath’s less than fantastical reality (and I’m saying that in the most positive, I-love-this-book kind of way).

If you’re looking for a story that’s a perfect combination of funny and serious, and has a dash of fantasy to it, this is it!

“Don’t make me angry-kiss you.”
“Give me the laundry.”
“Tempers rising, faces flushed…This is how it happens.”

Jen’s Rating

To read more about Fangirl, click here!

Review: Fangirl (jyork1989.wordpress.com)
narfna’s #CBR5 Review #81: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (cannonballread5.wordpress.com)
Fangirling over Rainbow Rowell (michellewidmann.wordpress.com)

Hermione Wins

Good job everyone for voting for Hermione! My brother and sister-in-law are having a baby girl! Her name will be Rees (not Hermione ;-)).

As you can see, my entire family was shocked. We’d all truly expected to see blue cookies, not PINK. But pink is good–great–exciting! And we couldn’t feel more blessed.

Guess it’s time for teddy bear tea parties, Barbie dolls and dress up…Unless Rees ends up loving trains and planes like my nephews. But, whatever. I don’t care. I’ll love her no matter what!

Vote: Harry or Hermione (jenspenden.wordpress.com)
Gender Reveal Fun! (rubyleephotography.wordpress.com)
Pregnancy and Gender Reveal Parties (partymommies.com)

Last call for votes–Harry or Hermione

Tonight’s the big night! In just a few hours, I’ll find out if I’m going to have a niece or nephew come February. So, if you haven’t told me yet which gender you think I should vote for at the reveal party, do so now (or forever hold your peace and whatnot).

It’s been a bit of a landslide so far, but it isn’t too late. Which should I vote for?

Harry or Hermione? (Boy or girl)?

harry_potter_grows_01 Question_mark_(black_on_white) Hermione-Granger-hermione-granger-20053436-936-1197

Vote: Harry or Hermione

Tomorrow night my family is hosting a gender reveal party for my brother and sister-in-law’s first child. For those of you who don’t know what a gender reveal party is, it’s basically a special way for expecting parents and their friends and family to discover together what the sex of their child is going to be. The way it usually works is this: To-be parents get their ultrasound in a sealed envelope and take it to a baker or tight-lipped friend to make a cake. Then at the party, the parents cut into the cake and pull out a slice that’s either pink (for girl) or blue (for boy).

One of my good friends had her own reveal party last April. And it was so exciting to watch her and her husband find out what they were going to have. Side note: My friend’s daughter was born in August and she was named Gemma after Gemma Doyle from A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. Yes, my friend ROCKS!

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Before the big reveal happens, however, everyone at the party usually has to guess what the baby’s gender is going to be. Boy or girl? Harry or Hermione? (My brother and sister-in-law are not using those names. But I am until I know what the name is going to be. It’s better than saying “It” or “Him” or “Her”.)

So, help me out, here. Who should I cast my vote for tomorrow night? Harry or Hermione? I’ll take the majority and go with it, because I honestly have no idea! In the past, I would’ve gone with “Hermione” automatically. I’m a girly girl, so it just makes sense to want a niece to play dress up with, throw tea parties and paint each other’s nails. But then my older sister went and had two boys, and I realized playing trains, roaring like a T-Rex, and flying around like an airplane is super fun too.

harry_potter_grows_01 Question_mark_(black_on_white) Hermione-Granger-hermione-granger-20053436-936-1197

Ah! Help! Which should I pick? Boy or girl? Harry or Hermione?

Why I’ve always wanted to be Hermione Granger. (akettlefullofteenageangst.wordpress.com)
Day 9 of the 30 Day Book Challenge (crobertsblog.com)
It’s A…Gender Reveal Party! (thatssojenn.com)

Jen’s Top 5 Underdogs

This weekend, there’s a little annual event called the Rocky Mountain Showdown. Now, many of you probably have no idea what that is, so I’ll tell you. The Rocky Mountain Showdown is one of the fiercest, meanest, most nail-biting college sports events of the year in Colorado, when the CSU Rams (woo, woo!) take on the CU Buffs (boo, hiss!).

Yes, I will be cheering for the Colorado State Rams this weekend. For three reasons:

I went to CSU.
I’ve despised CU since the 7th grade when a CU fan spit on me and “accidentally” spilled his beer in my hair for wearing the wrong jersey.
I always cheer for the underdog. And CSU is definitely the underdog in this matchup. Since 1893, our team has only won 21 times. Did you hear that? 21! CU fans never waste a second to point out that lopsided stat whenever the smack talking begins. But you know what my response to them is?

“Never rule out the power of the underdog.”

Underdogs are the slyest, wiliest and most audacious characters around. They seize the day and sneak in the back door to steal the show. Nobody expects them to win. Nobody. That’s why I love them–both on the football field and in books. When the underdog triumphs, the victory feels like the Fourth of July and a midnight Harry Potter book release party rolled into one. It’s the first day of summer and the last day of a job you hated. It’s melting ice cream cones and purple sunsets. Fluffy beds and See’s Chocolates. When the underdog wins, it’s spectacular!

So, in celebration of this weekend and the hope that the CSU Underdogs–I mean, Rams–will defeat the CU Jerks–I mean, Buffs–I’ve come up with a list of my Top 5 Favorite Underdogs. The ones that came from behind, proved their enemies wrong, and made me go, “Woo, woo!”.

1. Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter

“I’ll join you when hell freezes over! Dumbledore’s Army!” Through seven books, we agonizingly watched Harry’s fellow Gryffindor get mocked, ridiculed and called a Squib. We winced, we laughed and, best of all, we incredulously witnessed Neville Longbottom transform from a clumsy, stuttering child…

into a rebellious, dauntless young man that defies Lord Voldemort and proves Harry isn’t the only badass in town.

2. Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings

“Let us be rid of it–once and for all. Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can’t carry it for you…But I can carry you.” Oh, little Hobbits. So cute. So small. So insignificant…NOT! Especially Samwise Gamgee.

He may have started out as Frodo’s food-lovin’, plain speakin’ gardener, but Sam quickly proved that the little guy can win. Without him, the One Ring would’ve slipped back on Sauron’s finger and all of Middle-Earth would’ve gone up in smoke.

Poof!

3. Elizabeth Bennet, Pride & Prejudice

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.” Society–Schmiety. Elizabeth Bennet may not be the prettiest or wealthiest girl in town, but that doesn’t stop her from keeping her chin up and fighting for what she believes in: true love.

She stands up to her own mother, evades Mr. Collins and his precious Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and even admits she, herself, can be wrong.

Her reward?

Oh, yeahhh…

4. Peeta Melark, The Hunger Games

“Yes, frosting. The final defense of the dying.” The boy with the bread. The boy with the sweet heart. The boy that nobody, not even his own mother, believed could make it through the Games.

But he did. Against all odds–which were never in his favor–Peeta Mellark of District 12 survives the arenas, the Capitol’s tortures, and the rebellion.

And, let’s just say it, he survives Katniss Everdeen, too.

5. Minny Jackson, The Help

“I say ‘ That good vanilla from Mexico’ and then I go head. I tell her what else I put in that pie for her.” Minny’s “terrible awful” thing is the strongest piece of evidence that an underdog should never be mocked, discounted or disrespected.

Not unless you wanna a dash of poo in your chocolate pie.

That’s right. Chow down, Hilly Holbrook!

Underdogs. So many times they are the heartbeat of a story. They are the ones that get you to whoop and cheer inside a quiet coffee shop. The ones you run and tell your friends about. The ones you look up to. The ones you always remember.

Now, this list obviously didn’t cover all the awesome underdogs out there. In fact, my original list had 12 (and that wasn’t even thinking about it too hard). A few of those included Jack from The Pillars of the Earth, Aria from Under the Never Sky, and Beatrice “Tris” Prior from Divergent.

Okay, game time! Don’t forget to root on the underdog in the Rocky Mountain Showdown this weekend, the CSU Rams! If they win, the scene could very well look like this.

CU vs. CSU – Who Is Going To Win The 2013 Rocky Mountain Showdown? [POLL] (k99.com)
For Love Of Peeta: The New Catching Fire Trailer Is Here (refinery29.com)
Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters (jessicacrawford28.wordpress.com)
Jen’s Movie Review: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (jenspenden.wordpress.com)

Jen’s Top 10 YA Series

My sister is a high school teacher and she tends to sucker me into helping her chaperone field trips for her FBLA and DECA students. Well, during one of these field trips, I found myself in a conversation with two girls who loved to read, but had only read the big, popular, everyone-and-their-brother-has-read-these-books series. Like, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Twilight.

I tried not to show my horror and started recommending a few–well, a lot–of YA series that I thought they’d enjoy. When I hit the tenth series, I stopped and told them I’d give them a written list instead. Well, that list turned out to be ginormous too, so I told them to start at the top. Those were the big ones they HAD to read.

So, in a nutshell, here’s my Top Ten list of must-read YA series. Whether you’re a teen or an adult, you’re sure to enjoy them!

1. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini TaylorBizarre, addicting and wonderful! I loved the author’s premise, wit and style. Really, it doesn’t even matter that I haven’t read the third and final book in the series, Dreams of Gods & Monsters (set to be published on April 1st, 2014). This is absolutely my favorite YA series! Karou’s blue hair and all!

2. The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

This prequel series to Clare’s Mortal Instruments shares the same fun, rip-roaring action and smart humor, but it feels richer and more endearing. By the last page, I was crying (and I’m not a crier) and wishing a thousand times it wasn’t over. I guess I’ll just have to re-read it someday!

Lately, rumors have been swirling around that this could make it to the silver screen. Fingers crossed!

3. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

The concept alone for this series is a reason to pick it up. Love is a disease, deliria, and a cure has been created to eradicate it. But, not everyone wants to be cured and an uprising begins…Now, although the series had its up’s and down’s, overall, I found it to be intriguing and addicting. Plus, it nearly became a TV series, so it definitely has mass appeal. Check it out.

Oh, and I know I’m in the minority on this, but I’m totally Team Julian. Sorry, Alex!

4. Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

A surprisingly enjoyable dystopian novel where the future meets the past. We’re transported from Aria’s underground world of technology and bliss, to up above, to Perry’s savage, poisoned reality “under the never sky”. The love-hate relationship between Aria and Perry is amusing and endearing to read, and has you cheering them on from beginning to end. Into the Still Blue, the third in the series, is set to be released on January 28th, 2014.

5. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Author of the well-known Uglies series, Westerfield takes readers on an around-the-world adventure with would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Prince Aleksander, and commoner girl-disguised-as-boy, Deryn Sharp. The story is exciting, sweet and completely entertaining. Trust me, you’ll be saying “barking spiders” for weeks!

6. Maze Runner by James Dashner

It’s fun, it’s intriguing, and it leaves you wondering “what the heck is going to happen next?”. The Maze Runner is vaguely reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, but with a maze, a couple of girls, and oozing, creeping creatures that attack in the night! Oh, and there’s a tiny world-wide plague that gives people zombie-like symptoms. Make sure you read all three in the series before you see it in theaters February 14th, 2014!

7. Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

When it comes to books, I tend to be one of those “judge a book by its cover” kind of gals. That’s how I came to pick up The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. I just loved, loved, loved the cover. And it was worth it! This haunting story makes you question the protagonist’s sanity the entire time and…well, I don’t want to spoil it for you, so I’ll just leave it at that. You can read the next book in the Mara Dyer series, The Retribution of Mara Dyer, on June 3rd, 2014.

8. Legend by Marie Lu

Lu came up with the plot for Legend when she was watching Les Miserables on TV and thought a teenaged version of the criminal vs. detective storyline would be interesting. And she was right! Hopping back and forth between the two protagonists–June, the military prodigy, and Day, the country’s most wanted criminal–this dystopian tale will have you flipping to the next page again and again. Get the final book in the series, Champion, on November 5th, 2013!

9. Shades of London by Maureen Johnson

A thriller that has you both scared and laughing throughout it. After a near-death experience, Rory Deveaux begins seeing ghosts, one in particular that has been wreaking havoc on London lately: Jack the Ripper. I loved the premise, the dialogue and, more than anything, the protagonist. Simply put, Rory was one of the most amusing character’s I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to read the next in the series, The Shadow Cabinet, set for a 2014 release.

10. Lux by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This last one was a bit of a toss up. I almost went with Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, but I figured I’d already covered the angels genre with Daughter of Smoke & Bone. So, I’m using this final slot for a silly and frivolous book that was too entertaining to omit. It has aliens (dun, dun, dun!) and a sizzling hot boy. How can you beat that?

Counting down the days for the 4th book’s release. Origin will hit shelves on August 27th, 2013.

Now, I know some of you may be thinking, “uh, where’s Divergent? They’re making it into a movie, after all!”. Well, to be completely honest, I loved Divergent, but I was let down by its sequel, Insurgent. It’s difficult for me to say this because I genuinely enjoy Veronica Roth’s style and imagination. Even so, I’m waiting to read Allegiant, the final book in the series due out October 22nd, before I decide my overall feelings for this particular YA series.

Be sure to check out Goodreads for full synopses and reviews of these and so, so, so many other wonderful YA series!

Summer Reads – Part 1 (jenspenden.wordpress.com)
Clockwork Angel (Written by Cassandra Claire) (bestbooksyouwilleverfind.wordpress.com)
Legend by Marie Lu REVIEW (teenagebookcritic.com)
Top Ten YA Books I’ve Read This Year (katewrites2.wordpress.com)

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