Review INVISIBILITY by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan @PenguinTeen @andreacremer @loversdiction

Book Description

Release date: May 7, 2013

A magical romance between a boy cursed with invisibility and the one girl who can see him, by New York Times bestselling authors Andrea Cremer and David Levithan.


Stephen is used to invisibility. He was born that way. Invisible. Cursed.

Elizabeth sometimes wishes for invisibility. When you’re invisible, no one can hurt you. So when her mother decides to move the family to New York City, Elizabeth is thrilled. It’s easy to blend in there.

Then Stephen and Elizabeth meet. To Stephen’s amazement, she can see him. And to Elizabeth’s amazement, she wants him to be able to see her—all of her. But as the two become closer, an invisible world gets in their way—a world of grudges and misfortunes, spells and curses. And once they’re thrust into this world, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how deep they’re going to go—because the answer could mean the difference between love and death.

From the critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Andrea Cremer, who wrote the Nigthshade series, and David Levithan, who wrote Every Day and co-wrote Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist with Rachel Cohen and Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green, as well as many other novels, comes a remarkable story about the unseen elements of attraction, the mortal risks of making yourself known, and the invisible desires that live within us all.

About the Authors

Andrea Cremer and David Levithan met each other in Washington, DC, even though that’s not where they live. Andrea was pretty certain she wasn’t invisible, but David confirmed that fact by introducing her to some other writers, who were all able to see her.

Andrea’s novels include Nightshade, Wolfsbane, Bloodrose, Rift, and Rise. You can visit her at www.andreacremer.com and follow her on Twitter @andreacremer. She lives in New York City, quite visibly.

Before writing with Andrea, David had never written a novel with a one-word title. His novels include Every Day, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (written with Rachel Cohn), and Will Grayson, Will Grayson (written with John Green). You can visit David at www.davidlevithan.com and follow his lover’s dictionary on Twitter @loversdiction. He lives just outside New York City.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS


MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Stephen has lived his whole being invisible to every one without knowing exactly why.  When he is a young teen, his mother dies and he exists in New York City, the perfect place to be unseen.  That is until a new girl moves into his apartment building and shocks him to his very core.  Elizabeth can see him and although she has major family and attitude issues, Stephen starts to fall for her.  As the pair become closer and closer, Elizabeth realizes that something is not quite right with her new boyfriend.  When he finally confesses that no one else can see him, she does what any loving girlfriend would do:  she breaks up with him.

It is so lucky that if Stephen really tries, he can be heard, so when he reveals himself to her brother,  Laurie, he convinces Elizabeth that she should not abandon him because of his uniqueness. Elizabeth isn't one to back down from a fight which is exactly what landed the family in New York after her brother comes out in their small town in the Mid-West.  So, with something new to fight for, Elizabeth decides to find out how he became invisible and fix it.  Or at least learn to live with it.  It seems that Stephen has been cursed by his grandfather and there the story really takes off in a break neck pace.

Winding though New York's Central Park and other landmarks, the trio track down a lady who can see spells and Elizabeth is gifted in this manner, thus explaining why she is the only one who can see him.  One major highlight for me is there is a dachshund named Tigger - sorry, you have to read the story to find the dog.  I really enjoyed this tale quite a bit and would love to follow up on Elizabeth and Stephen to see if the pair continue on in any new adventures.  Parents:  this is best suited for mature  teens because of implied sexual situations handled with taste and some language.

BookHounds Review EVERY YOU, EVERY ME by DAVID LEVITHAN

Book Description

Release date: September 13, 2011

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan, Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.



About the Author
David Levithan has taken at least one photograph every day for the past ten years. However, he is much better known for his novels, which include Boy Meets Boy, The Realm of Possibility, Are We There Yet?, Wide Awake, Love is the Higher Law, and (with John Green) Will Grayson, Will Grayson. He’s written three books with Rachel Cohn as well: Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, and Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares. In truth, though, he probably spends more time wandering around with his camera than he does sitting at his computer writing. He particularly loves taking pictures of passersby, and New York City is perfect for that. He met Jonathan Farmer because of Jonathan’s likeness to a young Walt Whitman.

SOURCE:  AMAZON VINE

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Ariel is mysterious gone from Evan's life and in her place are random photographs left behind for Evan. Except the photos are not so random since they seem to be taken at the same spot Evan is standing when he finds them. Each picture is a clue to help Evan unravel the mystery of Ariel's disappearance. The photographs seem to follow Evan, know exactly where he is going and seem to be placed in just the spots his eyes rest. Evan teams up with Jack, the only other person to know Ariel as well as Evan. This is one story that you must read THROUGH the line as well as between them, since there are strike outs of several words and lines which is Evan's subconscious speaking out to the reader. These well place clues will have you emotionally attached to Evan as he seeks the truth about his friend. The pictures that appear seem to point Evan in the direction of truth as well.

This unusual mystery directed at teens should thrill adults as well. As the story of what happened to Ariel unfolds, you feel like you are being followed and stalked by the photographer as well. It is seriously creepy. I have mixed feelings about this book. While at times I was intrigued by the method of the storytelling, I did become a bit disenchanted by the strikeouts since it was hard to read. I think I may have to go back and read this one again to understand all of the elements a better.

Book Trailer EVERY DAY by David Levithan @loversdiction @randomhousekids

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2012

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl. 

Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

About the Author

DAVID LEVITHAN is a children's book editor in New York City, and the author of several books for young adults, including Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (co-authored with Rachel Cohn); Will Grayson, Will Grayson (co-authored with John Green); and Every You, Every Me (with photographs from Jonathan Farmer). He lives in Hoboken, New Jersey. 

Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (August 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307931889
• ISBN-13: 978-0307931887

Book Review EVERY DAY by David Levithan @loversdiction @randomhousekids

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2012

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl. 

Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

About the Author

DAVID LEVITHAN is a children's book editor in New York City, and the author of several books for young adults, including Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (co-authored with Rachel Cohn); Will Grayson, Will Grayson (co-authored with John Green); and Every You, Every Me (with photographs from Jonathan Farmer). He lives in Hoboken, New Jersey. 

SOURCE:  AMAZON VINE

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

++++slight spoilers++++

Just for the sake of clarity, I am using the the masculine pronouns for A, even though there is no gender assigned to this character. 

Twilight Zone Worthy.

A wakes up in a different body every day and this is the way it has been since he can first remember.   It can be female or male, a different ethnicity, size or shape.  Each life is unique and A just exists, moving day to day through someone else's life, accessing that person's memories, just enough to survive.   And that is all A is doing, not living, just surviving.  Until he meets Rhiannon and falls in love.  He wants what he cannot have and pines for the common and daily routines most people have.  Rhiannon develops feelings for him as well even though she knows that it can't work out.  They manage to meet and connect even though A morphs into a new body daily.  Some appearances are more successful than others with Rhiannon and A tries to leave each body as he finds.

A craves what each of us takes for granted -- continuity.  Those little things that you can count on daily like a school routine, the same friends, making plans for the weekend.  He tries to create this a bit for himself by creating an email account to remind him about things he likes, music and books he enjoys.  He knows what it is like to be physically disabled, to have empathy for the kid with a rough home life.  Even though he can't change a life, he does manage to save one of a severely depressed girl by giving her diary to her father and asking for help.   So as A becomes more in love with Rhiannon and begins to depend on her for his own continuity, he starts to slip up, creating havoc in the life of one guy's life he takes over and leaves a few memories and his body in the wrong place.  

I am in awe of this story. The imagination of the author that plays out through this book is just amazing.  I know that all teens wish they could change lives and/or bodies and even some adults wish that they could just toss everything aside even for a day, but to be forced to change that much on daily basis would be overwhelming.  Levithan does a credible job all the way through this book conveying the angst and wishing for normalcy that A craves.     I really hope that there is another book to tie up the few loose ends and questions that this book left me with.  

Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (August 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307931889
• ISBN-13: 978-0307931887

Waiting on Wednesday: Every You, Every Me by David Levithan & Jonathan Farmer

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Description

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan, Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.

About the Author

David Levithan has taken at least one photograph every day for the past ten years. However, he is much better known for his novels, which include Boy Meets Boy, The Realm of Possibility, Are We There Yet?, Wide Awake, Love is the Higher Law, and (with John Green) Will Grayson, Will Grayson. He’s written three books with Rachel Cohn as well: Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, and Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares. In truth, though, he probably spends more time wandering around with his camera than he does sitting at his computer writing. He particularly loves taking pictures of passersby, and New York City is perfect for that. He met Jonathan Farmer because of Jonathan’s likeness to a young Walt Whitman.

Jonathan Farmer, to this very day, has not, cannot, and may never decide just what it is he wants to be when he grows up. Once, he thought he had found the perfect descriptor—"Naturalist"—but David said that just made him sound like a botanist . . . or a nudist. Since then, Jonathan has narrowed it down to: photographer, performer, writer, director, and teacher. He spent his early years exploring the mysterious forests of New Hampshire. But now, since moving to Brooklyn, NY, Jonathan has been growing to love the hustle and bustle of the city. From time to time, though, you might catch him longing for the sweet smell of the pines. Visit Jonathan at jwfarmer.com.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (September 13, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375860983
• ISBN-13: 978-0375860980

AND THE WINNER IS: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

1-Mockingbird- Suzanne Collins
2-Nightshade-Andrea Cremer
3-Anna and the French Kiss-Stephanie Perkins
4-Matched- Ally Condie
5-Jane- April Lindner

bookworm1494

Be sure to visit the BOOK BLOG EXPERIENCE HERE

I agreed with everything on this list.  I just need to read Matched and Anna and the French Kiss!


An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam).  The winner(s)  has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks to all who entered.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

Didn't win?  Order your copy from my Amazon link:

CONTEST CRAZE GIVEAWAY! Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Princess Bookie asked me to host a mini challenge, so here it is!  

Check out her other contests HERE

This one is different from my normal giveaways since this is a challenge and not a general giveaway.  

To Enter:

All you have to do is post the five best books you read in the last year.  

The books can be released in any year and in any order.

If you post this to a blog, facebook page, my space, twitter and link back to me, you get 3 extra entries.

You don't need to justify your choices, just let everyone know what you think is the best!

Open worldwide, you just have to have reliable mail service or be in an area that the Book Depository ships.

Ends on 3.21.11 and the winner will be chosen by ME on 3.22.11

You can win:

Description

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

About the Author

Rachel Cohn & David Levithan have written three books together. Their first, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, was made into a movie starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings, directed by Peter Sollett. Their second, Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. For their third book, Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares, David wrote Dash’s chapters and Rachel wrote Lily’s. Although they did not pass the chapters back and forth in a red Moleskine notebook, they did email them to each other without planning anything out beforehand. That’s the way they work.

Rachel’s previous books include Gingerbread, Shrimp, Cupcake, You Know Where to Find Me, and Very LeFreak. David’s previous books include Boy Meets Boy, The Realm of Possibility, Are We There Yet?, Wide Awake, Love Is the Higher Law, and How They Met, and Other Stories.

For more information about Rachel and David, you can find them at RachelCohn.com and DavidLevithan.com, respectively. You may also catch them in the aisles at the Strand.

REVIEW: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Description

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

About the Author

Rachel Cohn & David Levithan have written three books together. Their first, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, was made into a movie starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings, directed by Peter Sollett. Their second, Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. For their third book, Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares, David wrote Dash’s chapters and Rachel wrote Lily’s. Although they did not pass the chapters back and forth in a red Moleskine notebook, they did email them to each other without planning anything out beforehand. That’s the way they work.

Rachel’s previous books include Gingerbread, Shrimp, Cupcake, You Know Where to Find Me, and Very LeFreak. David’s previous books include Boy Meets Boy, The Realm of Possibility, Are We There Yet?, Wide Awake, Love Is the Higher Law, and How They Met, and Other Stories.

For more information about Rachel and David, you can find them at RachelCohn.com and DavidLevithan.com, respectively. You may also catch them in the aisles at the Strand.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375866590
• ISBN-13: 978-0375866593

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS:
LOVED IT

**SPOILER ALERT**  Don't read the second paragraph!

If you are looking for the holiday romance book of the season, this is it! I haven't read a more perfectly put together romance like this in a long time.  The story mostly takes place at the Strand, the famous NYC bookstore.  Lily's brother pretty much tells her she is a loser and when her parents and grandfather take off over the winter break, she finds herself truly alone.  Her brother hits on the idea that she should leave a book of dares stashed on the shelf at the Strand.  Dash discovers the book and he starts to communicate with Lily through the journal.

After several madcap adventures and quips traded back and forth in the journal, Lily finally meets Dash face to face.  There are several difficult moments with lots of character growth.  This one will make you go "awwww" quite a few times and there is enough action to keep the plot moving.  There is some alluded to sex mentioned and an instance of alcohol, but overall not much to worry about.