Stacking The Shelves and Weekly Wrap #024

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online bookshops, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks. Hosted by Tyngas Reviews.

Professor Birdbrain: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Professor Birdbrain is making another appearance, this time to review the final installment in the Across The Universe trilogy, Shades of Earth.
 
Contains spoilers for books one and two
Shades Of Earth (Across The Universe: Book Three)
Written by Beth Revis
Published January 2013
369 Pages
Add to Goodreads
Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh, to build a home on Centauri Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled twenty five trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant Pterodactyl like birds, purple flowers with mind numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who, or what else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed, friends, family, life on Earth, will have been for nothing.

Author on the Grill: Clare Strahan - Cracked

Clare Strahan is a first time author, she created an modern day Aussie contemporary about family, friends, finding yourself and standing up for what you believe is right. I wanted to ask Clare about her inspiration behind her first novel. Thanks to the lovely Lara at Allen and Unwin, and the fabulous Clare.  Cracked is due for release in Australia in June.
A wonderful debut novel that captures the essence of real, messy teenage lives: of action and consequence, of poor choices and fragile friendships, of standing up for what is right, and the attempt to make sense of a world when everything feels like it's falling apart.

At fifteen, Clover is finding the going tougher than she expected. Her life is close to being derailed on the rocky terrain of family, friendship, first love, acts of defiance and a planet on the brink of environmental disaster. So when Keek breaks his promise to her, and school sucks, and her mother is impossible, and her beloved old dog is dying, and her dad is in the wind, and the girls at school are awful and the footy boys are bullies and she's arrested for vandalism. well, what else can she be but a little bit broken? Can Clover pull herself together - or will she spiral further out of control?

When life feels like it's fracturing, how do you find a way to feel whole?

Rebel by Amy Tintera Review and Giveaway

Contains spoilers for book one, Reboot
Rebel (Reboot: Book Two)
Written by Amy Tintera
Published June 1st 2014
352 Pages
Thank you to Allen and Unwin
Wren and Callum finally reach the Reboot Reservation, a safe haven from HARC, which controls the cities. But it isn't the paradise they'd hoped for. As they learn more about Micah, the bloodthirsty Reboot who runs it, they discover that he's been creating an army with one goal in mind: To kill the humans in the cities... ALL of them.

Wren's first instinct is to head out for new territory, but Callum can't stand by and let his human family and everyone else be hunted down. With HARC on one side and Micah on the other, saving the innocent and forging a lasting peace between humans and Reboots is a nearly impossible task. But Wren and Callum have never let that stop them before.

The Notebook Sisters Wonderland Tag Party

Happy blog birthday to those Smushy Notebookers. It's been three years since they started blogging about the Jabberwocky poem, super snarky reviews and changing book covers in order to educate the masses. Little do many know, I'm an honorary Smushy Sister. The older, less funny one. To celebrate their cake infested Wonderland party, they've come up with their own book tag. Head over to their post and join in on the festivities.

Professor Birdbrain: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Professor Birdbrain is back, and after a short hiatus after finishing Across The Universe, he's moved onto A Million Suns. Professor Birdbrain is what I call my husband, he's a cross between Phil Dunphy, the One Man Wolfpack and a walking Big Bang Theory episode, hence the name. So with a little help, he's ditched the Xbox and composed his second review.

May contain spoilers for Across The Universe.
A Million Suns (Across The Universe: Book Two)
Written by Beth Revis
Published January 2012
386 Pages
Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. 

It’s been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. Everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to act on his vision, no more Phydus, no more lies. But when Elder learns shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a mystery that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier. Their success, or failure, will determine the fate of the 2,298 passengers aboard Godspeed. But with each step, the journey becomes more perilous, the ship more chaotic, and the love between them more impossible to fight.

Beth Revis catapulted readers into the far reaches of space with her New York Times bestselling debut, Across the Universe. In A Million Suns, Beth deepens the mystery with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

Stacking The Shelves and Weekly Wrap #23

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online bookshops, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks. Hosted by Tyngas Reviews.

News


●  Still have two giveaways running here and here.
●  Even thought I haven't reviewed much this week, I've read a few awesome books that'll be posted upon release, might be yet another giveaway, or six coming up soon.
●  Fear not international booknerds, your time is coming up in the next two weeks to win.

The Chocolate Book Tag

With thanks to the lovely Dre at Sporadic Reads, I've been tagged in the Chocolate Book Tag. So without delay...

Stacking The Shelves and Weekly Wrap #22

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online bookshops, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks. Hosted by Tyngas Reviews.

News


●  I'm currently holding several giveaways, and my very first Retweet to win. Check out my Tweet and image in the side bar to your right, retweet and a winner will be chosen at random. Please note, it's only open to Australian entrants.
●  If twitter isn't your thing, I'm giving away a bonus two copies of The Year of The Rat by Clare Furniss on my blog. Check out the giveaway Here. Sadly, it's only open to Aussies again.
●  I'm also giving away a copy of Alexander Altmann A10567 Here. This book is brilliant and based on a true story. An emotional contemporary in which Aussies have a chance to win a copy. I may even throw in an extra new book as well. I'll surprise the winner.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz


Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Written by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Published April 1st 2014
359 Pages
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia
Add to Goodreads
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship, the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

#ThatRatBook Giveaway

Check out my review for Year of The Rat by Clare Furniss. 
Look out for my Twitter Retweet to win a copy on Twitter.
I always thought you'd know, somehow, if something terrible was going to happen. I thought you'd sense it, like when the air goes damp and heavy before a storm and you know you'd better hide yourself away somewhere safe until it all blows over.

But it turns out it's not like that at all. There's no scary music playing in the background like in films. No warning signs. Not even a lonely magpie. One for sorrow, Mum used to say. Quick, look for another.

The world can tip at any moment… A fact that fifteen year old Pearl is all too aware of when her mum dies after giving birth to her baby sister. Told across the year following her mother's death, Pearl's story is full of bittersweet humour and heartbreaking honesty about how you deal with grief that cuts you to the bone, as she tries not only to come to terms with losing her mum, but also the fact that her sister, The Rat,  is a constant reminder of why her mum is no longer around…
With thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia, I'm giving away two copies of this brilliant new contemporary by first time author Clare Furniss. Described as Poignant and thought provoking, it tells the emotional story of teen Pearl and how she copes with a new sibling while dealing with the death of her mother. To enter, simply follow the prompts below. To join the growing Twitter discussion, use the hashtag #ThatRatBook and join thousands of readers that have already discovered the brilliance that is Year of The Rat.

The One by Kiera Cass

Review contains spoilers for book one and two in the series.
The One (The Selection: Book Three)
Written by Kiera Cass
Published in Australia May 2014
336 Pages
Thank you to Harper Collins
The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown, or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose, and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

Stacking The Shelves and Weekly Wrap #21

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online bookshops, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks. Hosted by Tyngas Reviews.

Year of The Rat by Clare Furniss

Year of The Rat
Written by Clare Furniss
Published in Australia May 2014
320 Pages
Grappling with grief is hard enough without repeat visits from the deceased. Pearl deals with death, life, and family in this haunting, humorous, and poignant debut. The world can tip at any moment… A fact that fifteen year old Pearl is all too aware of when her mom dies after giving birth to her baby sister, Rose.

Rose, who looks exactly like a baby rat, all pink, wrinkled, and writhing. This little Rat has destroyed everything, even ruined the wonderful relationship that Pearl had with her stepfather, the Rat’s biological father.

Mom, though… Mom’s dead but she can’t seem to leave. She keeps visiting Pearl. Smoking, cursing, guiding.

Told across the year following her mother’s death, Pearl’s story is full of bittersweet humor and heartbreaking honesty about how you deal with grief that cuts you to the bone, as she tries not only to come to terms with losing her mother, but also the fact that her sister, The Rat, is a constant reminder of why her mom is no longer around.

On My Soapbox: The Book Bloggers Pledge

We book bloggers are a strange bunch, we come in all sorts and flavours. We all have an incline towards a genre, an author, or at times just a pretty cover may be all it takes to pique our interest. I tend to enjoy books that no one else has and I've never met a dystopian I haven't enjoyed on some level. But for all our differences, I had always thought I was part of a community that is supportive of it's bloggers and willing to lend a much needed hand to the new and confused. The short answer? Yes, we're mostly all awesome. The long and complicated answer? No, we're certainly not.

Alexander Altmann A10567 by Suzy Zail

Alexander Altmann A10567
Written by Suzy Zail
Published May 1st 2014
352 Pages
★★★★
Fourteen year old Alexander Altmann doesn't need to look at the number tattooed on his arm. A10567: he knows it by heart. He also knows that to survive Auschwitz, he has to toughen up. When he is given the job of breaking in the commander's new horse, their survival becomes intertwined. Alexander knows the animal is scared and damaged, but he must win its trust. If he fails, they will both be killed.
In Birkenau, you're simply a number. It's been weeks since Alexander Altmann has seen his mother and sister, separated by prison camps where the Jewish family is now at the mercy of the German soldiers. Each day, Alexander sees men whipped, shot and abused and then prays that he isn't next. There's no bathing within the camp and being sent to the showers means something entirely different. They are left to sleep on wooden pallets, with only the clothes on their backs. A meal is a stale piece of bread and prisoners are left to fight over the peel of a piece of fruit, often to the death. If the prison camp has taught Alexander one thing, it's to keep his head down, his mouth shut and pray to a god that he no longer believes in.

When Alexander is chosen to work the stables at Auschwitz, along with several other men, he will be made to care for the horses the Nazi officers ride. The rules are simple, keep your assigned horse well fed, healthy and in peak physical condition or you'll become another lifeless body being carried out and replaced. But when Alexander is given the Commander's horse to care for, he's acutely aware the fine line he treads between life and death should he step out of line. With the memory of his horse back home, he befriends Serafin, the stunning Arabic horse and Isidor, a fellow stable hand. Before long, Alexander is assigned the role to tame the new wild stallion brought to the barracks, affectionately named Midnight. Midnight is frightened and doesn't trust Alexander, which makes the three weeks he has to train the horse that much more difficult.

While he struggles to tame the horse, Alexander finds himself caring for the animal even though becoming soft may just end his life. Midnight represents freedom and an unbridled hope that he may just survive the camp after all. But as the war burns closer, Alexander's dream of freedom and preservation may just burn with it.

Kelly's Thoughts

Alexander Altmann wasn't what I had expected. I assumed from the synopsis that the storyline was about being imprisoned by the Germans and concentrated on the appalling and cruel conditions. But I was pleasantly surprised. Alexander Altmann represents hope even in the darkest of conditions and the fight for life. Alexander's story was nothing short of heartbreaking, at only fourteen, he is taken into the adult male camp and kept in inhumane conditions. Men dying is a part of everyday life, and I use the term life loosely, as the prisoners are only barely existing. Alexander has been through more in his short life, than any of us would in a lifetime, he has no idea where his family is, but knows if he has any chance of surviving, he needs to remain hardened. He won't allow himself to make friends, with men dying all around him, he figures there's no point. I can't even begin to imagine being only fourteen and thrown into a terrifying world that no child or adult should experience. It was horrific.

Based on a true story, it is said that Suzy Zail was visiting the Holocaust Centre in Melbourne when Alexander Altmann begun to materialise. She was listening to a guest speaker in which an elderly man participated from the audience, uzy sought the man out after lecture and heard his story. Fred Steiner is Alexander Altmann with a fictional blend. He survived, migrated to Australia where he married and had children of his own, in a country that prides itself on freedom for all and continues to speak at the Holocaust Centre in Melbourne. Through the pen of Suzy Zail, I'm incredibly humbled and grateful to have read his story.

The Treatment by Suzanne Young

The Treatment 
The Program: Book Two
Written by Suzanne Young
Published April 29th 2014
352 Pages
How do you stop an epidemic?

Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go.

Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment, a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose.

Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?

The Book Blogger Test

Welcome to The Book Blogger Test. With thanks to Gina from Behind The Pages for tagging me.
The rules are simple: Answer the questions truthfully and then tag five other bloggers.

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Curse
The Winner's Curse: Book One
Written by Marie Rutkoski
Fantasy, Dystopian
Published March 4th 2014
368 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia via Netgalley
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: She can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him, with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.
But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart
.

Stacking The Shelves and Weekly Wrap #020

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online bookshops, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks. Hosted by Tyngas Reviews.

News


I want to start by apologising to everyone who's commented, read and emailed over the past fortnight, I haven't been online much and with good reason. After three years of failed garden attempts, we've finally landscaped something that resembles a backyard. Hooray! Now that the main bulk of our project is done, I'll be able to start visiting blogs again.


The Taking by Kimberly Derting

The Taking
Written by Kimberly Derting
Published April 29th 2014
320 Pages
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Teen
When sixteen year old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed... Yet she hasn’t aged a day.

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken... And returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

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