Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Clara and her family move to Wyoming so she can fulfill her Purpose as an angel.

I will admit I was a little reluctant to pick up this book. The cover made it look a little silly and like just another paranormal romance. However, I was quickly proved wrong by Cynthia Hand's addictive, engrossing story.

I will say a couple things about the story, but I'm going to keep it to a minimum because I don't want to give too much away:

I love Tucker. I don't think I've had a crush on a fictional guy since Holden Caulfield during my freshman year of high school. He is completely perfect and I am super happy that Clara chose to save him, even if it might mean trouble later on.

I also have a prediction for the anxiously-awaited sequel: I think Angela is a Blackwing. It specifically says in the book that Blackwings can make their wings look however they want. Angela can make her wings look all scaley, and although her wings are white like Clara's, I wonder if she can make them change color as well.

This book is an excellent, must-read addition to the emerging angel trend in young adult literature.

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

*RELEASE DATE: 1/12

After the death of her father, Jill's mother decides to adopt a baby.

1. The cover is not incredibly relevant to the book and looks kind of corny, in my opinion.

2. "How to Save a Life" is a cheesy title that many people will associate with the song by the Fray. To be honest, every time I looked at or picked up the book, all I could hear was that song.

3. The only book of Sara Zarr's that's really worth reading is Story of a Girl. I've read all of her other books in the hope that one might be as good as that one, but to no avail.

4. What kind of names are Jill and Mandy? Have you ever met a teenager in 2000s with the name Jill? I guess Mandy is appropriate because the character is kind of odd and ditzy, but really? Or maybe I have a subconscious personal vendetta against the name Mandy...

Also try:

Other books by Sara Zarr

Someone Like You by Sara Dessen (also a book about teenage pregnancy, but much better/more interesting.)

Soundtrack:

How to Save a Life - The Fray (haha)

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Princess Azalea and her eleven sisters discover a magic passage in their bedroom.

I'd say this book was cute, but not too much else. Though it is marketed as a young adult novel, it seems more appropriate for preteens or little girls who have the kind of wonderful parents who read aloud to them.

Also try:

Wildwood Dancing (a more grown-up version of Entwined) and its sequel, Cybele's Secret by Juliette Marillier

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

When Mikey's sister is sexually assaulted by Ellie's brother, he vows to get revenge. But as he gets to know Ellie, everything changes...

Truth be told, I was not such a big fan of Before I Die, Downham's debut that got so much attention. However, this book sounded really good so I gave it a chance anyway, and I am quite glad I did. For this book, I recommend setting a block of time aside for yourself to read it, as there are really no good stopping points because the mixture of romance and revenge always has you on the edge of your seat. Good going, Jenny Downham!

Soundtrack:

Be Be Your Love - Rachael Yamagata

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay is a book about loss, love, and music.

I really only read this book because of all the hype about it and its recently-released sequel,Where She Went. This book was indeed quite good, and I simply cannot understand why one version of the cover shows a quote stating "Fans of Twilight will love this book." A) it's not supernatural, B) More importantly, this book is better than Twilight in every single freaking way, most noticeably in the quality of writing, and C) Adam is sooooooooooo much better than Edward.

Also, this is not about the book specifically, but as a musician I think it should be addressed: I for one am sick of reading books about musicians who aspire to go to Julliard. I'm sure it's a great school, but there are many other music schools that are just as good or better than Julliard, such as Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Oberlin Conservatory. I suppose authors use it because it's more widely known, but still, BE ORIGINAL.

However, I do have to say I loved all of the musical metaphors, and how Adam told Mia to "play him like a cello" and then played her like a guitar. Most romantic scene in a book ever.

*possible spoiler alert* I do not think Mia will stay with Adam. I really, really want her to, but I don't think she will. I think she'll live and play cello again, but I think she'll go to Julliard instead of staying with him.

Other than that, pretty good book.

UP SOON -------------------> Where She Went, the sequel, written from Adam's very hot perspective...

Also try:

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

NOTE: includes loss, a lot of love, and clarinet

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

A brother and sister turn traditional ideas of forbidden love upside down in this novel.

Between the beautiful prose and, shall we say, unusual romance, this edgy book is not to be missed! The definition of a page-turner!

Soundtrack:

Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri

Also try:

Her and Me and You by Lauren Strasnick

Her and Me and Youby Laura Streisnick

Is Alex dating one twin...or two?

This book was off to a good start. I was very interested to know more about the freaky, creepy relationship between the twins, particularly Adina. I personally love

books with characters who have some sort of mental illness, and I was quite curious as to what Adina's problems were.

However, I really only liked this book while I was reading it, due to the ending, which I will discuss later. I feel like Fred was a pretty bland character. I think Alex as a narrator was unnecessary, and that the author could have written a much more interesting book if it had just been about the twins. Alex and Fred's relationship never went anywhere. Throughout the book, people keep telling Alex about how something Adina did caused Fred's ex to leave the school, yet we never find out what that was and Alex doesn't bother to investigate. I didn't find Alex and Evie's friendship problems particularly i

nteresting. I feel that since the book was written about the twins, it should have been narrated by one or both of them, or just in third person. Alex's story was distracting and unoriginal.

The main thing that I disliked about the book was the ending. I literally looked to see if there were torn out pages because it was truly that abrupt. The author leaves us with no answers. The enigmatic ex remains a mystery, and we never find out what is up with the twins' weird and seemingly incestual relationship, and nothing happens between Fred and Alex that makes that part of the story worth writing or reading.

Sometimes, ending a book with unanswered questions is okay and makes it all the more interesting, but the author has to give the readers enough to be satisfied. All in all, I think the writer needs to learn a little more about the craft so

she can create more dynamic characters and how to end a book mysteriously but not abruptly.