Brittany’s Comments (group member since Feb 21, 2013)

Brittany’s comments from the YAholics Anonymous! group.

In honor of Valentine's Day and the month of loooove, the theme for February is romance! Please note that this is a YA group, though, so don't nominate books with questionable material. So, erotica and the like are not eligible, but if it's a relatively tame NA book or maybe only has one scene in it or so, it'll pass. Just try to keep others in mind (particularly our younger members) when you nominate!

Let's get those nominations up and, as usual, I'll post the poll on the 15th! =)

Let's open the nominations for next month!

Since we now plan to have two Group Reads per month, we're going to have two different categories as well. So when you submit your nominations, be sure to include one book for each of the two categories:

1.) Dystopian/Paranormal/Otherworldly/ect.

And

2.) Contemporary/Real Life

Rules:
1.) Any YA novel is eligible.
2.) One nomination per person, per category.
3.) Nominations are open from the 1st until the 14th of the month, after that, I'll put all the nominated books in a poll until the 21st. I'll let you know which books won on the 22nd.
4.) Please don't nominate a book we have already read. Check our list a Group Reads to be sure it hasn't been read.
5.) Only nominate the first book in a series UNLESS we have already read #1. In this case, #2 is then eligible for nomination! Any stand alone novels are eligible.
6.) Please keep in mind that recently released books, while eligible, might make it more difficult for everyone to get a copy. It might not be available at libraries yet and not everyone is willing to shell out $20 for the hard-cover.

Happy Nominating! :D

Dystopian/Paranormal/Otherworldly/Ect

Contemporary

Please join us this month in reading Cynthia Hand by Unearthly!



Synopsis: In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

******

You don't have to participate in the Group Read - it's entirely up to you, but if you read the book along with us or have already read it, we would love to hear your comments, questions, thoughts, ect. That's what makes the Group Read fun! Please keep from posting too many spoilers early in the month, though, as people might still be reading it. If you feel that you might "spoil" a part of the book by commenting, be sure to put something like "***Spoiler Alert***" or something to let others know to read at their own risk! And make sure to have fun!

Please join us this month in reading A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray for our Themed "Historical" Group Read!



Synopsis: A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.

******

You don't have to participate in the Group Read - it's entirely up to you, but if you read the book along with us or have already read it, we would love to hear your comments, questions, thoughts, ect. That's what makes the Group Read fun! Please keep from posting too many spoilers early in the month, though, as people might still be reading it. If you feel that you might "spoil" a part of the book by commenting, be sure to put something like "***Spoiler Alert***" or something to let others know to read at their own risk! And make sure to have fun!

Please join us this month in reading 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?

******

You don't have to participate in the Group Read - it's entirely up to you, but if you read the book along with us or have already read it, we would love to hear your comments, questions, thoughts, ect. That's what makes the Group Read fun! Please keep from posting too many spoilers early in the month, though, as people might still be reading it. If you feel that you might "spoil" a part of the book by commenting, be sure to put something like "***Spoiler Alert***" or something to let others know to read at their own risk! And make sure to have fun!

Hey guys! Please update your bingos by the end of the night. I'll be messaging the person with the most Bingo rows to see what they want the Book of the Month to be!

I'm glad someone liked it! I tried starting it and just couldn't get into it. But I might give it another try sometime later...

We've actually got the Banner Challenge for 2014 already made, but I don't think you'll be disappointed. =)

Wow, way to go Shavony and Lauren!

I haven't gotten any Bingos yet, though I have plenty of spaces marked off. ^-^;;

It's nearly January, guys! Be sure to get those last few chapters read and update your Bingo cards!

I got a ton of books for Christmas! :D

Here's the list: The Lost Prince, The Program, Fifteen Minutes, Fathomless, Antigoddess, Crown of Midnight, Temptation, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Clockwork Angel, Plain Peace, A Simple Faith, and For Every Season.

Looks like I've got a lot of reading to do!

I hope everyone had exciting holidays with family and friends! Here's hoping for a awesome New Year!

Welcome all new members! I hope you enjoy yourselves here! :D

Sweeeet!

I actually just got Allegiant and I got it for $7, since the store was going out of business and selling everything half off.

I was spoiled not long after it came out, though, so I don't know if I'll read it or not. :( But at least I have it if I want to....

I looooove the Iron Fey Series. MASH all the wayyy!!

Well, I'm not very good at writing reviews, but I could definitely see about showing you a few of my favorite passages from books.

Do they have to be young adult, or any type of genre?

Finally got around to seeing the movie! I absolutely LOVED it! It was so true to the book!

I loved this book and the characters, but the ending annoyed me soooo much! Ugh!

Welcome, Bonnie! It's always great to have authors join us! Please make yourself at home on the forums. :)

Bought Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce and The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken today for my birthday! :D