Word Out 2011

Blog down your fines posts! See what other teens are reading.

Earn $2 in library bucks towards your fines when you share your favourite reads.

Ateeqa reviewed Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

I know people say, "Don't judge a book by its cover," but I've inevitably found that some of the best books have really good covers. Cry Wolf is one such book, the first in a relatively new series called Alpha and Omega (only two books are out, and a third is on the way) and it's already been turned into a graphic novel. It's a spin-off of Patricia Briggs' most popular series, Mercedes Thompson, but you don't need to read those to understand what's going on. However, you do need to read the story in the anthology On the Prowln as it's the direct prequel to what happens in the first book. In the prequel, we find out about Anna, a relatively ordinary young woman who was cut off from her life when she was forcibly changed into a werewolf. She contacts the Marrok (the North American head of the werewolves) to talk about the experiments her alpha has been doing, who sends his son, Charles, the Marrok's executioner, to investigate. Charles finds out about how she was changed, and how violent things are in the pack and immediately starts to investigate. During the investigation, Charles and Anna become mates, and she finds out that she's an Omega, a rare type of werewolf that's outside the pack structure (doesn't have to listen to the commands of those more dominant than her), and is essentially a healer of the soul.
Cry Wolf starts off with Anna deciding to move to Montana with Charles, to live with the Marrok's pack. But something wrong is in the mountains, possibly killing people, and the Marrok sends Charles and Anna to investigate. Other members of the Marrok's pack get involved, and it turns out that black magic is targeting the werewolves.
This series is really interesting in the character development it shows not only in the main character, but also in the side characters. You see Anna eventually overcoming the emotional obstacles set up from her traumatic experience in her previous pack, to becoming a tough female that defends her mate, and you see Charles, someone used to being isolated as the pack's executioner, have to deal with unknown emotions and having to open up and rely on someone. You also see the calming influence Anna has to those werewolves with violent pasts.
All in all, this is a very good start to a new series, and Patricia Briggs hasn't disappointed me yet.

Gail reviewed Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Wolfsbane is the sequel to the first book in the series, Nightshade.  In Wolfsbane, Calla and Shay allign with the Searchers and attempt to get back Calla's pack. Of course, things don't always turn out the way it's suppose to be.  Because of Calla's choice and actions, the Banes took over the Nightshade pack and Calla's mother is executed. As well, Calla's brother was made an example, what happened i'll let you find out.  When the searchers and Calla finally find where her pack is, somethings happen that are completely unexpected.  New alliances are formed throughout the story and there's always surprises in every couple chapters.
Wolfsbane was more of the explanatory book to me.  Much of the history of the Scion and the previous Guardian revolt is revealed, as well as some hidden secrets.  Calla and Shay are also developing more of a romantic relationship which I was not happy to read about because i was completely for Calla and Ren but i guess after Ren's choice and actions in this book, I can be on Team Shay for a while…until the third book comes out then i'll decide again. That's one of the reasons why i like this book, i never really figuered out who the main character, as an alpha wolf, would pick as her mate.  I guess that is made more clear in this book.  Andrea Cremer does an amazing job keeping you hooked in to this book.  I remember reading it and there would be some parts that were utterly boring to read but then soon after, something exciting.  Sort of a pattern, boring, exciting, boring, exciting.  The cover for Wolfsbane is also really pretty.  The publishing group had redone the covers for the entire Nightshade series.  For Wolfsbane, there's Calla on the cover crouched in an animalistic way.  Almost like she's about to shift and lunge at you.  It's a very powerful image in my opinion.  This series is amazing and if you like to read books about action, fantasy, and very powerful women, this is definitely one for you.

Suad reviewed Fortune by Megan Cole

The story fortune takes you into the very different lives of Sapphire, Madison and Simonette. Sapphire is from London and has brown hair and has a natural beauty. She is kind and loving in nature aand sometimes Overly dramatic. Madison Is from New York and is a blonde spoiled rich girl. She is smarter than she looks and in this book plays to be Sapphires tormentor alot. She can very mean to get what she wants and is VERY manipulative, She has a natural beauty but prefers to use alot of makeup to make her feel powerful and beautiful. Simonette is from Italt ( Roma) and is a mmodel, she is poised and feels she is above everyone. She is very smart and buisness savy. Simonette has alot of natural beauty with her dark raven locks but uses makeup to enhace her beauty.She always appears bored and tricky. She usually helps Madison with her devious plans since she doesn't consider her a threat. The story starts with Brad Masters inviting Them all to his 50to his 50th birthday party. After they figure out that theyre aren't any other guests they figure out that there are only the guests.  Soon he breaks the news to them that he is thier father! they all got angry and went to confirm this to thier mothers. Turns out they are half sisters. Soon  Brad tells them that he wants to give his inheritane to one of them. Sapphire doesn't want the money but Simonette and Madison do. They try and sabotage Sapphire because it looks like her and Brad have some stuff in common. Sapphire wants to go home after Simonette and Madison keep on harassing her and framing her for everything. Also the hired boy who is also a
musician constantly gets mad at her because of his attitude. Things start to get crazy as Sisters hate eachother and a celebrity guest shows up !

I <3 this book and i strongly recommend it to Everyone ages 13
or 12 and up!!!

Ateeqa reviewed Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Everytime I see someone that I know reads, I recommend the Fever series. It is a great introduction to the urban fantasy genre, phenomenally written (and I don't use that word lightly), and you see her writing improve with every new novel in the series. It's just hard to describe how good it is. But I'll try.
The first book (in comparison with the rest) is very tame. You're introduced to Mac (short for MacKayla), an carefree optimistic blonde with a love for tanning and the colour pink . Very generic, right? That's when it gets interesting. When she finds out that her sister, who travelled to Dublin to study, was murdered (literally ripped to pieces), she boards the first plane there and starts demanding answers. Her sister left a message telling her to look for the Shi-sadu (a powerful fae book). In her investigation, Mac stumbles into a bookstore in the middle of nowhere and meets Barrons, a completely domineering and first-rate jerk. When he hears what she's looking for, her coerces her into telling him everything she knows, because it just so happens that he's looking for the same thing. Mac eventually realizes that she's not an ordinary human she can see fae, and can locate the Shi-sadu, which makes her extremely valuable to Barrons, who, in turn, is valuable to her for the knowledge that he possesses. And a tumultuous partnership is formed.
In this series, there is an incredible amount of character development. Mac turns from being a shallow blonde obsessed with pastel colours to a cynical black-haired side-seer willing to do everything it takes (and I mean everything) to find out who killed her sister and get vengeance, although always trying to survive by an extremely narrow margin.
And Barrons doesn't magically turn nice by the end of the series. He stays the arrogant, domineering person that he always was, but somehow you grow to like him (although I would not be able to stand him in reality).
Here's an excerpt of the writing:
I am a kite in a tornado, but I have a long string. There is tension in my line. Somewhere, someone is holding on to the other end, and, although it cannot spare me this storm, it will not let me be lost while I regain my strength.
It is enough.
I will survive.