'Mistakes make us great.': MARKER by Anna King - REVIEW!

We've put away pencils,

We've put away books (well, SCHOOL books at least);

We've waved goodbye to teachers,

And changed up our looks (for summer!).

The summer holidays have arrived, and with it, the freedom that the months away from the hallowed halls of learning bring...BUT, that doesn't mean the learning ends, ESPECIALLY when you have such great "teachers" to get the point across.  SO, are YOU ready to see what's in store as the Teacher Supplies prep for the coming year?  Let's DO this!

Marker

by

Anna King

Illustrated by

Christopher Weyant

9781542039611

Two Lions

About the book....

Marker is one of the teacher’s go-to school supplies. Her work is tip-top, and she always makes a lasting impression. That is, until Pinking Shears, a.k.a. Pink, arrives and dazzles everyone with her sharp creations. No longer the star of the desk, Marker begins to make mistakes. The trouble is, they can’t just be erased; her work is permanent, and she’s not allowed to fail. Or so she thinks…until a realization helps her rediscover her Marker magic

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Meeting Marker and friends was darling.  I mean, I always wondered how the teacher got her stuff all prepped and ready to go for the new year, and, seriously, who DOESN'T love new school supplies?  Am I right?  I mean, every school year, I looked forward to getting just the right backpack, folders, binders, pens, pencils, markers... *sigh*...good memories.  Nowadays, I still look forward to that time of year...they're just OFFICE supplies instead of SCHOOL, but the learning never stops at any age, despite the setting.  Take this book...

It's a title that I'm well outside the target audience of, but the messages ring loud and clear as if I was just starting out.  The Classroom Rules that evolve throughout the course of the story... be respectful and kind...include others, don't exclude...listen...to name a few.  Spot on, and insightful.  The Failure Fun Day that's thrown for the supplies to try new things, make a mess, and make mistakes!  AS eraser so aptly says... Mistakes make us great.  (LOVE THAT ONE!)  

So you see, Picture Books can be enjoyable for readers just starting out to those seeing their golden years out, and leave just as memorable an impression.  Outside of the fun story, and memorable characters, the illustrations really tie this one all together.  The expressiveness of each supply, the happiness, the worries, and everything in between that you'd never expect to see is shown, and really brings you into their world, while still reminding you that the pearls of wisdom shared are equally as applicable in our every day lives.

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Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant are the creators of Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner You Are (Not) Small and five more books in that series, as well as Christopher Award winner Eraser, Hudson and Tallulah Take Sides, Can I Tell You a Secret?, and Will You Help Me Fall Asleep? Christopher’s work can also be seen in The New Yorker and the Boston Globe, and his cartoons are syndicated worldwide. This husband-and-wife team lives in New Jersey with their two daughters and their dog, Hudson. Visit them at www.annakang.com and www.christopherweyant.com.

Twitter: @annakang27 @ChristophWeyant

Instagram: annakangbooks; christopherweyant

Facebook: Anna Kang - Author; Christopher Weyant

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Special thanks to the dream team at Blue Slip Media for the chance to bring this title to you and to Two Lions for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  Keep an eye out for more celebrating the BOOK BIRTHDAY of this title throughout the blogosphere and social media!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Life Lessons from a Four-Legged Friend: Lola and Tattletale Zeke by Maria Goldman

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, I bid you to SIT and STAY because the title in the spotlight is going to make you want to BEG for more.  Don't worry, there IS more where this title came from as it's actually part of a growing series starring one ADORABLE fur-baby set on sharing little life lessons with her adoring fans.  Ladies and gents, feel free to turn a time or two to find your most comfortable position and prepare yourself for today's book of choice...

Lola and Tattletale Zeke

by

Marcia Goldman

9781939547163

Creston Books

 In this sequel to Lola Goes to Work (which I have not read but looks JUST as sweet!), Lola is a pup on a mission...to deal with her little brother Zeke.  Now, I know what your thinking, how does she have to "deal" with him?  Well you see, he has this incredibly bad habit of being a tattletale (hence the book's title) and it's not until the tables are turned on him by one tricky black kitty that he truly understands how his actions have affected his kid sister.  The next opportunity to tattle presents itself and Zeke...is there with a kind lick and a comforting paw.  Lesson learned!

Dog lover or not, I can't imagine how anyone could read this little gem and not fall in love with this pair.  Beyond the cuteness factor (because let's face it, these little Yorkies are ADORBS!), the humorous situations they get into will bring a smile to your face and the lessons imparted will carry it straight to your heart.  Though the words are limited, they marry well with the pictures so that even the youngest readers have something to cling to while the oldest among us revel in the same enjoyment.  If you have any doubts about how endearing this little pup is, check out the video starring the author and this wonderful little therapy dog below...

...need I say more?

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About the author...

Marcia Goldman has her Masters Degree in Special Education and has spent the last 25 years focusing on providing therapeutic-based programs for children with autism and their families. Visit her at marciagoldman.com

Lola is a five-pound Yorkshire Terrier and is a certified therapy dog who loves visiting classrooms and making people feel better.

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Review copy received courtesy of Chelsea at JKS Communications.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the series, the author, the publisher, or future promotions, please feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Creston Books (as well as a plush Lola!), so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing

Until next time...happy reading!

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY: Lily's Laces by Rebecca Perlman Coniglio, LCSW

Hi there!

Welcome back to the site that puts the “ish” in bookish…Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

It’s Tuesday…woo-hoo!  Why the party vibe?  Umm…it just felt like the right thing to do.  I mean really, why NOT celebrate the week one day at a time…especially if it’s a bookish celebration.  I say let’s make it the plan Stan (or insert your own name there if you don’t happen to be named Stan) because it’s the best cure to the otherwise mundane that can settle in if you’re not careful.  (Please, be careful!) So, grab your party hats and streamers, it’s time to celebrate another BOOK BIRTHDAY!  ~toots horn~

Today’s book star comes to us from a children’s author who aims to teach life’s many lessons through her works.  So far, so good!  This is a special edition to the growing series showcasing a foundation near and dear to the author’s heart as well as those that have and will benefit from it (or their local chapter) at some point in their lives.  Regardless of your beliefs, please open your hearts and your minds as we welcome today’s book of choice…

LILY’s LITTLE LIFE LESSONS:

LILY’S LACES

By

Rebecca Perlman Coniglio, LCSW

Illustrated by

Jen Mundy
ISBN:   9781620864081
Mascot Books

Little Lily is her mother’s and father’s little pearl, the apple of their eye, the best crayon in the box and any other analogy you can throw in there.  She’s sweet as can be, never hesitates to ask what’s on her mind and, as we find out here, more than happy to help others whenever she can.

In this story, Little Lily learns about a special race taking place in her neighborhood to benefit a foundation she is just learning of…the NJ Sharing Network.  It’s mission is to save and enhance lives through the miracles provided by organ and tissue donation…but that explanation while accurate is a bit too black and white for a six year old.  To bring things into the full color of here and now, she meets those running the race as well as the “cheerleaders” on the sidelines.  They are those “left behind” …by that I mean the friends and family of survivors who benefited from the kindness received as well as those who gave of their hearts in their own time of loss. 

It’s a hard concept to explore without getting too spiritual because I know some religions frown upon the entire concept but here, it is shown in a gentle light without passing any judgment.  Lily is exposed to new ideas, allowing her young mind to cultivate the information and see how she fits in.  Being the kind soul she is, her decision is a tad predictable but hey, can you fault her for wanting to help others?  No…you certainly can not.

Aside from sweet Lily and her loving parents, I gotta say I love how the “extra” characters are placed front and center.  When we meet Maddie’s friends, there to be the physical representation of their friend’s act of kindness, as well as Michael (or at least his presence), a recipient of someone else’s sharing, it’s a tender moment that makes it that much more real.  We see that it was something they felt blessed to be able to do and took great joy in the outcome so that despite their friend having passed on, their memory was not gone, and their energy helped another’s life force in need.

In conclusion, a heady topic to some degree…at least once you’re in the older set…but a kid friendly way to present the idea and gain a new audience for a foundation that touches the lives of many across these united states.  With the wonderful illustrations to accompany you on your journey of the heart, you can’t go wrong…at least not in my eyes.  A recommended read for those of all ages looking for a heart warming true-to-life story as well as a way to bridge the age gap on a concept not discussed often enough.

Review copy received courtesy of author Rebecca Perlman Coniglio.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as the author’s other works, be sure to search her out online.  This title as well as the complete series (thus far) can be found over at Mascot Books (www.mascotbooks.com) as well as at your favorite online and in-store retailers, so be on the lookout for it on your next book buying adventure (you know, in T-minus 3…2…1…  ^_^)

Until next time…happy reading!

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Mommy, Do You Really Love Me? by Sari Barel

Why hello there!

Welcome back to the bookish place that welcomes the young, the old, and the somewhere in-between...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're featuring the latest work from an author seen previously on the site (Truthy Ruthy anyone?) starring another little girl on a mission to get to the heart of the matter.  What matter?  Well it's a question that lots of kids ask themselves at some point or another, but this story tackles the "how" and the "why" with finesse and illustrations that will make you giggle.  Ready to meet our latest Children's Picture eBook adventure?  Let's!  Today's ebook of choice is....

Mommy, Do You Really Love Me?

by

Sari Barel

Illustrated by

Malgorzata Godzluk

The star of our story is Jessica.  She's a little gal just noticing all that life has to offer...and just old enough to notice the differences between how she is parented versus her friends.  When an accident happens at school with no injuries and ending in laughs, her mother doesn't fret and worry.  When she steps on a friends toes (so to speak), her mother doesn't jump in and set things straight for her.  When an assignment is tough, her mother doesn't do it for her.  No, Jessica's mother is more the advice type, offering sage wisdom to help her daughter as she grows.  Doesn't seem like enough?  Oh, really...

When Pappy the bunny escapes his cage at school one day, all the little ones begin to shout for their parents to save the say, noble but not always practical.  Jessica?  She remembers something her Mom taught her..."We don't need to cry.  We need to try!"...and that's just what she does.  She puts the lessons her Mom taught her to use, saves the day and realizes that YES, her mother LOVES her....just in her own way.  She trusts her to solve her problems.  She lets her grow in each exchange.  She allows her the chance to be her own hero, with guidance, back up and support along the way.

You see, this is one of those little ebook gems that teaches kids that every Mommy and Daddy loves their children in their own way.  Some are more take charge in every situation, others take a step back leaving them to find their own footing...but in the end, they ALL love their little ones.  It's not the size of the hug, it's the heart behind it.  Speaking of heart, once you reach book's end, there's another surprise....little printable inspirational cards for the kiddos to print and personalize!

So, in the end, we've got another winner from an author that is making life lessons easier to reach for the kiddos in your life, while giving adults a new perspective to view them from.  With words to build on and illustrations to smile at, the young and young at heart will be equally entertained and rewarded.  Ebook for review courtesy of author Sari Barel.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as her growing catalog of works, be sure to visit her on Facebook.  This title is available now on Amazon...AND TODAY through August 30th, it's available for a FREE DOWNLOAD as part of KDP SELEST!  So click on over, grab a copy to call your own and spread the word!

Until next time...happy reading!

Not three but the one and only...Billy the Goat by Dustin Ross

Hi guys! 

Welcome back to the place to be when the need to read hits you strong and the only thing that will satisfy your hunger is a tasty bookish bite....at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

Today, we're taking a bite, I mean a look at a Children's Picture Book from the ebook realm starring a horned little lad just itching with curiosity.  He's filled to the brim with childlike wonder and his first of many adventures takes him out of the house with dear old Dad, who's not as gruff as other fairy tales may lead you to believe.  (^_^) Today's ebook of choice is...

Billy the Goat,

 Helps His Father

by

Dustin Ross

I love how little Billy and his Mom and Dad are portrayed....even the fact that Mommy had a beard was addressed!  (Hey, it's totally normal, she IS a goat after all!) Billy is a curious little goat and right now, his interest is in what grown "people" do when they go to work.  Not interested in disappointing her boy, Mommy goat suggests talking to Daddy goat and thus a plan for his tagging along the very next day is made.  How exciting!  Remember those "take your child to work" days?  Always an adventure.  Anywho...

As it turns out, Billy's Dad is an electrician so not only does he get an idea about how homes are built, but he also gets a lesson in safety; a two fold win for readers!  We see first hand why listening to what our parents tell us to do and, perhaps more importantly, NOT do is not just for their peace of mind but for our own good.  Let's face it, no matter your age, there has been a time when the 'rents have told you one thing or another and you've done the opposite.  Oh you over there...stop fibbing!  Now think about the results of those choices.  They were our mistakes to make (depending on your age), yes....but more often than not, they were right weren't they?  Yup.  That's what experience will do for you.

So, kids and kiddos (ha, get it?  "Kids" as in baby goats? ^_^), ladies and gents, this is a simple Picture eBook for the little ones in your life, it's true, but it has a great message for all generations.  Mom and Dad...*gulp*...are usually right, or at the very least have our best interests at heart.  Join the fun with Billy the goat and enjoy the illustrations as he travels from home to the wide world and back....all in time for supper.

Ebook for review courtesy of author Dustin Ross.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well asonline, or like his Facebook page.  This title is available now at an ebook retailer near you...AND as of this post is FREE TO DOWNLOAD over on Amazon!  Grab it while it can...but hey, even if you miss the promotion, totally worth the purchase.
his other works, be sure to visit him

Until next time...happy reading!

Don't Laugh at Giraffe by Rebecca Bender

Hi there!

Welcome back to the weekend edition of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers... the place that doesn't care if you sleep in late or stay up all night, we'll be here whenever you're ready for a bookish break in your day.

Today, we're taking a look at a Pajama Press title that broaches the subject of tolerance, acceptance, and friendship...in a rather interesting way. It's a Children's picture book starring a duo of animal friends that... well perhaps friends is too strong a word here, because the looks they give each other combined with the tendency to be WAY way competitive lend more to frenemies, but I digress; allow me to properly introduce today's book of choice...

DON'T LAUGH AT GIRAFFE

BY

Rebecca Bender

Giraffe and Bird run with the same crowd, but a friendship it is not, or at least not quite yet and certainly not in the traditional sense of the word.  One way or another they manage to compete against each other for the title of "most obnoxious" throughout the course of any given day but just because they don't share each others clothes and gossip all the time, doesn't mean that they don't have mutual respect for one another. The truth of this matter is exposed when one average day at the watering hole turns into a moment of embarrassment that sends one slightly awkward friend away with his head hung low. What created this sad turn of events? The thoughtless words or rather giggles and guffaws of another... good thing he has someone willing to show his true colors in order to set things right.

I first referred to this as an unusual read.  The reason?  Simply because the behavior these two exhibit is much less than the usual friendship picture books tend to portray. Its not all hugs and smiles but it is all about respecting one another and not allowing mistreatment to befall them. You see a problem, you fix it; same applies here as well. You don't just idly stand by and watch bullying happen. You step in, in your own little way, to make sure the affected party is alright and try to bring a smile to their day. Combine the lessons with the adorable and hilarious illustrations and you'll be well on your way to appreciating those you call friend a whole lot more.

Recommended read for all ages as there's a little something in it to capture the hearts and minds of anyone able to appreciate the warmth of a friendship not made in a passing glance but heartily built. Not all friendships are emerge from an exact likeness to one another, some take time and the pursuit of common ground...BUT those differences we uncover in each other are something to be celebrated. So who will you be celebrating today? I choose all of you! :-)

Review copy received cosy courtesy of Pajama Press. (Thanks!) For more information on this title as well as their complete catalog, be sure to visit them online (http://www.pajamapress.ca). This book is available now

on a bookstore shelf near you, so be on the lookout!

Until next time... Happy reading!

Growing up is hard to do....

Hi!

Welcome back to the site that aims to please the reader in you….Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  So…how ya doin’?  Stupendous I hope….and if not, at least better than yesterday because really, you guys were in such a state of utter lurking!  No really…what’s with the lack of comments, hmm?  Don’t you want to turn my frown upside down?

Okay, okay…just kidding!

Though I do really love hearing from you guys, I totally understand.  Life gets in the way sometimes and just the fact that you swing by to even see little ole me is enough…but for children, that’s just one of many life lessons that can be hard to understand.  Good thing that in today’s world there are quite a few of books taking aim at making growing up just a bit easier…for both kids AND parents.  Take today’s featured titles from author Rebecca Perlman Coniglio for example…(and yes, I said titles as in plural, more than one, because this is a 2 for 1 post….you’ll see why in a moment)…

Lily’s Little Life Lessons, Book 1:

Lucky Lily and Lily’s Lucky Daddy

… introduces Lily and the gratitude she feels for the people in her life who are her greatest teachers. The second part…teaches a lesson, and in book one the lesson revolves around Lily’s lucky daddy.

Lily is this precocious, adorable little brown haired girl who loves bows in her hair, the color blue (today at least), laughing and learning….life in general.  She knows even at her young age that being loved and sharing that love with others are two of the best things life has to offer.  She shows that she is lucky not because of a four leaf clover or the oodles of presents she gets, but because she is well loved; a simple statement, yes….but oh-how-true. 

Part two goes on to explain how her Daddy is lucky, not in business or adventures but in his family life.  He has a little girl whom he adores and who adores him right back.  The special moments they share like shooting stars and playing ball only serve to strengthen their bond….but Lily is no fool.  She makes mention of the fact that sometimes Mommy and Daddy “yell and hiss” but that she knows they love each other and how lucky she is to have them.  It’s not often a children’s book makes mention of parents fighting (without turning into something much BIGGER) but the way it’s handled here makes it easier for little ones to digest the fact that even the most loving of parents are going to disagree from time to time; that doesn’t change how they feel about each other or them.  Moving on to book two….

Lily’s Little Life Lessons, Book 2:

The Luckiest Girl and Lily’s Lesson

… shares the daily fun she has with her Nama, and how Lily and Nama make her Mommy feel like the luckiest girl. Lily learns a lesson about divorce in the second part of the book as she hears why her Nama and Papa don’t live together.

I have to say had I known about this storybook a few weeks back, I ran into a customer that would have benefited from part one of this lesson.  They were looking for a book that explains the grandparent’s role in a grandchild’s life with regards to the boundaries set by the mother.  How do they all coincide without stepping on each other’s toes?  The first story here explains the loving relationship between the ladies in Lily’s life and the special time she gets to spend with her grandmother.  Lily’s mom has a chance to reflect on the time they share as well and sums it up rather nicely showing that not all families have that opportunity to see three generations together and to be grateful for their blessings. 

In part two, we’re shown another touchy subject…divorce.  The way the story is shared (through Lily’s grandparents marriage) is slightly removed from Lily’s here-and-now so it makes it less traumatic for both her and young readers while still getting to the heart of the matter.  It wasn’t a fun time to have to go through but in the end, things worked out for the better…and Lily’s mom even managed to keep both parents as a part of her life just as she’ll do for Lily.  You’ve gotta admit, this story was shared as much for children struggling with this concept as it was the parents going through it.  Making a go of it (even after the split) for the sake of the children if at all possible is definitely commendable. 

In short, two lovely books, many wonderful lessons, and a family that you’ll come to love.  Lily’s childish prose along with the lovely illustrations will keep young ones glued to the pages while adults get a helping hand in delivering messages that are somewhat of a gray area in the parenting handbook. 

Review copies received courtesy of Lynn at Smith Publicity, Inc.  (THANKS!)  For more information, please visit their official site.  To discover more of Lily’s world as created by author Rebecca Perlman Coniglio, LCSW, be sure to ‘like’ them on Facebook.  Both titles were released from Mascot Books, September 2011 and are available for the little ones in your life at any of these retailers…

Amazon    |     Barnes and Noble     |     Mascot Books

Until next time…happy reading!

Life Lessons Learned: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Hello, hello!  Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  Can you believe that it's already MARCH!  It seems like only yesterday February was upon us....oh, wait it was....okay, well, what I meant to say is that the year is just flying by for me so far...how about you?  With a new year, comes the promise of many good things.  The one in particular that gets straight to the heart of readers everyone is the anticipation of new books to read, talk about, blog about, etc.  The air is just pulsing with the anticipation...some of that will filter right into the book about to be revealed....

Today's post deals with the life of a teenager turned upside down, inside out, and left somewhere to be picked up later....well, if she has a later.  Let's get down to business, shall we?  Today's book of choice is....

Before I Fall
by
Lauren Oliver

Have you ever passed the proverbial train wreck and felt the guilty need to look keep on looking even as you pass by?  I mean, you know that things are not going to be pretty...heck more than likely are downright messy.....and yet you have this in-born desire to know, to see, to connect in some way with what you are witnessing?  It's human nature.  The curiosity that kil......well, you know.  Our questioning ways get the better of us from time to time and BOOM.....we do something that later is somewhat regrettable.  Or maybe we don't act on that draw, that feeling and something else all together and utterly different occurs....one just never knows.  Such is the case with life and with chance.  Life is full of chances.  Chances to do right and wrong.  Chances to raise our voice and to silently slip away.  The problem lies in knowing which option, which chance is the right one at the right time. 

Samantha, our main character and party girl extraordinaire, is living what should be the best day of her life…that is until a tragedy that is all too common occurs.  Partying, drinking, speeding, and driving….all elements combine into a life-altering event that sends our dearly departed Sam into the land of, well…the departed.  Or does it?  *BEEP*BEEP*BEEP* What is that annoying sound?  *BEEP*BEEP*BEEP*  An alarm clock?  That’s right.  You my friend have just entered the “Groundhog Day” zone (as in the movie).  For the next seven days, or rather 24 hour-type periods, Sam gets the joy of reliving her final hours all the while trying to figure out the what and why of her situation.  Seriously, would you really want a chance to redo a day in your life?  Absolutely!  But SEVEN times….there must be a reason for this or at least a way out!  From the everyday issues of fights with your best friends to boyfriend troubles, to the serious topics of suicide and mental stability, her story is filled with all the bumps in the road life can offer.  Can Sam find a way to break this cycle once and for all?  Does she even care enough to?  What other secrets might she uncover along the way?  You’ll have to read it to find out…. (Hehe…you didn’t think I’d ruin it for you now did you?)    

Author Lauren Oliver comes out strong with a concept I've yet to read in a YA novel (that's not to say that there isn't something out there that reflects some of the issues raised in this book....it's just that I have not read them myself).  From start to finish, you expect what the ending will be, but never in quite the way it ends up occurring. Samantha dies in the first chapter, it's no secret. ...I mean the synopsis says as much (not just mine, the actual book description). The way that the events play out though is an entirely different case.  This book is about the 7 times she relives the same day, the same events, but in a new way. You "live" through SEVEN different versions of it right along with her, albeit each version branches in another direction based upon the choices she makes. 

Now the significance of the 7 days reference makes me wonder whether or not the author  was going for an underlying religious aspect (the notion of how the world was created in 7 days, etc.....I'm not going to preach to you, but just in case you didn't know the reference I meant).  I mean, she has to live that same day 7 times in order to gain the insight, the knowledge, the level of understanding needed for her to be able to let go of the insignificant and make a permanent home in her heart for the things that really matter.  (See where my "wonder" came from?)  It's amazing the growth that can occur when one knows it is their last moment, last breath....last chance.  Despite this aspect, the message the book portrays is good for one and all, regardless of background, religious affiliation, etc, etc, etc.  (Hmm...starting to feel like Willy Wonka with all the etc's there....more Gene Wilder than Johnny Depp though) In the end, the message is clear. The most important thing of all is revealed and everything else is scattered to the wind.  (Now on to a few more personal thoughts on the matter….)

Initially, I wasn’t too keen on the book.  (Why?  I’m going to tell you…hang on….) The main focus in the first few lives….sex.  That’s right.  Who’s doing it with whom, why, how, and of course, one mustn’t die before getting the chance.  Yeah, it was definitely not getting high regards from moi.  Still, I had hope.  Hope for the story (as this was the first of its kind I’ve read), and hope for the character (there had to be some growth, I mean really).  Lucky for me, that hope was not misplaced.  The story line marches forward, even though the actual time in the book continues to loop.  All of the characters experience some growth, but Samantha most of all (as it should be really…she is the main focus, although not the only life that is prominent within the story).  We come to find out **POTENTIAL SPOILER** that Sam really isn’t as hard as her exterior makes one believe, nor are her friends as ill-intentioned as they come off.  We also discover the not-so-surprising truth behind the many faces of her boyfriend as well as the love-able hotness of her best guy friend that’s been left by the wayside for quite some time.  **END OF SPOILER**  The ending, although expected in many ways, is not what you believe it will be.  Suggestion?  Keep a box of tissues at the ready….you’ll need at least one or two (yep…the final pages definitely got to me).  The perfect song that came to mind (and ironically on the radio when I was thinking about this post) was Nickelback's, If Today Was Your Last Day.  It fits the story quite well indeed (hey, if it gets made into a movie like many of the others, maybe they'll include this one). 

In the end, I’m glad that I signed up to read this particular book.  Honestly, I can’t say if I would have picked it up on my own or not…I guess that’s one decision that’s not left to chance. Recommended for older teens and adults of the YA genre. I would caution some younger readers only due to the fact that there is quite a bit a time focused on sexual conquest...at least until the character gains a new prospective on the ways of the world. 

The scheduled release date (as of this posts creation) is set for March 2, 2010.  Special thanks to B&N First Look Book Club for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  Check out their site or follow them on Twitter to learn of new opportunities as they arise.  You never know just where your next favorite book will come from.  To find out more about this book as well as author Lauren Oliver, she has a great little site of her own as well, plus she's on Twitter (yep...another to add to your "following" list).

COMMENT CREATOR

The question is actually posed in the book, but I figured I’ll throw a version of it out here for curiosities’ sake.  If you had to relive one day of your life thus far, which one would you choose and why? 

Until next time….happy reading!