SnapShot Monday (On Wednesday)

Hey all this is late, but I was on Spring Break!

This post is inspired by the meme It's Monday. What are You Reading hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  The only real difference is I take a pic of my current read and post it - nothing more! 

Trying to keep it short and simple.  

That's my motto these days! 

Snapshot

First Line: It's harder to drive a polar bear into somebody's living room than you'd think.

Mega-Haul of Books at Goodwill!!!

So I went to Goodwill to look for hardcover books to use as decorations at my book-themed wedding coming up in May.  

Lo and behold one location had a ton of brand new looking hardcover YA books (and some MG)! 

Someone must have cleared their shelves.  So I bought and bought.  I got 28 books for just under $62!  Can't wait to share them with my students.

Here's a pic of the haul.

Review: The Farm by Emily McKay

Title: The Farm
Author: Emily McKay
Copy Obtained: Purchases


Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other…

And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race...

I'm really now sure what I think of this one.  I liked it, but there was so much going on it that sometimes it seemed a bit much.  It's told from three different perspectives - Lily, Mel and Carter. It was neat to hear what each was thinking, but it did add to everything that was happening.  To go with that you had all the people on The Farm to keep track of, the ticks and how they were formed, and the real vampires.  Plus there is what is happening with Lily according to Carter and it just seemed like a lot.  

Did I like it?  Yes I did.  It was interesting, and I did keep reading.  Mostly because I had a theory about what was happening, and I wanted to find out if my theory was right.  Plus it did have a lot of action, so that held my interest.  I love zombie books, and this one had a zombie feel to it.  The ticks act kind've like zombie in their actions, so there is that constant tension of needing to get away from them as they attack.  That was definitely well done.  I found myself holding my breath several times during those scenes.  

As for the characters - I liked them especially Mel.  Mel is autistic (Asbergers I think), and the chapters told from her point of view were very interesting.  And I just liked how she was because she was the most honest person in the book.  That alone made me like her a lot because everyone else has some secret they are keeping.  Lily was the typical fighter.  She was strong and I liked that.  She knew that trust put her and Mel at risk, so she was very cautious.  I got that, but sometimes I wanted her to just have some faith! I don't blame her for not though!  The relationship between Mel and Lily was great.  I haven't seen a twin relationship like it, so it was a nice twist in the book.

Final Thought: Good, but not sure if I'll pick up the sequel.
Best stick-with-you image: The stakes outside the Farm
Best for readers: Who are ok with vampires showing up in their dystopia story
Best for ages:  14+

For the Guys? I think guys could maybe get into this one.  Some of the chapters are told from Carter's perspective, so that's nice. 

Book Review: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Title: Going Vintage
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Copy Obtained: Netgalley


When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:
           1. Run for pep club secretary
           2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
           3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
           4. Find a steady
           5. Do something dangerous

But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

First you need to know that the thought of giving up my cell phone, laptop or notebook makes me start to shake! I am firmly attached to my electronics.  Sadly, so is my 5 year old! So when Mallory decides to give it all up, I felt my blood pressure going up.  There's no way I could do it I thought! Yes, yes I am that sad....

Ok now that I have that out - about the book.  I really enjoyed it.  It was a quick fun read.  I haven't read a realistic book in a bit, so it was a nice change of pace for me.  I normally stay clear of realistic fiction because I need to escape reality! And because so many times I find them unrealistic and that's all I can focus on.  Thankfully I didn't find that with Mallory and this book.

The story starts with Mallory breaking up with her boyfriend.  Does she go a bit overboard?  I didn't think so.  I think for a 16 year old girl she handled it very realistically.  I'm sitting in a room with 25 8th grade girls, and I can see them doing exactly what Mallory did!  Now it did take a twist when she gets so upset she swears off technology and declares it a huge part of the problem and decides to head back to 1962 - an easier time.  Now that was a bit overboard but not crazy so.  I could see some girls doing that.  And trust me there have been times I think my life would be easier if I could go "off the grid" more.  And I liked how it forced her to look at what was really important and focus on the here and now. 

Basically what this book boils down to is a girl figuring out how to trust herself and be ok with who she is.  I like that.  More girls need to do that.  And thankfully the ending stuck with that.  I can't tell you what happens (of course), but I was very pleased with the ending.  The choices Mallory makes and the lessons she learns gave me a soft spot for her.  And from not being so sure about how strong she is at the beginning of the book - I knew, by the end, she'd be just fine.

Ok I do have one issue.  I was often confused by the description of Oliver - a boy that helps her. He was suppose to be trendy but yet quirky and very much himself I believe.  But at times I had a hard time really visualizing him with the descriptions given.  Maybe it's because I'm old and not in high school.  This wasn't a big deal, but it did bug me a little.  

Over-all it was a good book with likable characters, and interesting concept and a nice little message about trusting yourself and your own instincts.  I would definitely hand it to my daughter to read.

Final Thought: Actually made me think about shutting down the electronics for awhile!
Best stick-with-you image: 
Best for readers: Who like to see a girl take control on her own life
Best for ages:  14+

For the Guys? Nope not at all.  Definately one for the girls!