Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen

Title: Little Black Lies
Author: Tish Cohen
Age Group: Teens
# of Pages: 320
My Rating: 4/5

Going into Anton High is like going to Harvard, except it is a public high school that does not accept you if you do not get in the first year. Unless you are Sara Black, who's father received a janitor position within this prestigious school.

When she first arrives, she has no plan on lying about where she is from. She is from Lundon, but of Massachusetts, not England. At that point on, little white lies start slipping out and she has a hard time stopping herself. Especially when she is in the presence of Carling, one of the popular girls around. Before she knows it, almost everything everyone within Anton knows of her is not true.

It's not that bad, right? As long as no one finds out?

I found Little Black Lies to be quite a refreshing read. The protagonist's home life is not at all grand and dandy. Her father has OCD and her mother left them for Sara's science teacher. She unfortunately is the product of her parents' quick fun time in high school. So with a semi-messed up life like that, she couldn't help but fib... and fib some more.

In the beginning of the novel, I wasn't into it yet since it was not that eventful. Once I was about midway into the story, it started to pique my interest. Sara understood what she was doing was wrong but the web of lies spun out of control because they built upon each other. There were times where I pitied her and other times where I looked down upon what she did. I personally would never befriend her because of her past actions, making me doubt if I could trust her. Though I would not hate her for what she did because as a person, there is always a second chance to fix past mistakes and move on.

I was surprised that the romantic content was not as focused on as much as I thought it would be. Most of the time in realistic novels, there would be quite a bit about the main girl and her crush or whatnot. I found it fresh how the author wanted to focus upon Sara and how she learns more about herself with every action she executes.

I recommend Little Black Lies to those who like the concept of the protagonist trying to adapt by lying her way into a crowd and with interesting ending results.

Review copy provided by EgmontUSA.

Author Interview: Stephanie Kuehnert

Known for her emotional and raw stories, Stephanie Kuehnert, author of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone and Ballads of Suburbia, have stopped by for a quick interview!

She is extremely talented and I definitely recommend that you pick up one of her books to read! If you would like, feel free to visit her site to learn more about her at: http://www.stephaniekuehnert.com/.

Music plays a huge role in your life and you incorporate it into all of your novels. Do you have any bands or singers that had a huge impact on you at any point in your life?

I have quite a few. Kurt Cobain/Nirvana being the first. I discovered his music when I was a misfit 12 year old and it gave me a voice. It inspired me to write, to find my own voice because if Kurt could be heard by the masses maybe someday so could I. Courtney Love/Hole was really empowering to me as a teenage girl. Rancid and Social Distortion were also huge for me as a teenager. I strayed away from punk for awhile and the band that brought me back was The Distillers so they had a huge influence. Currently Civet, Rise Against, and Gaslight Anthem are having the biggest influence on me and my writing.

Is there a chance where one of your future novels will not include music?

I suppose anything is possible, but right now every idea I have involves music in some way. I can't imagine life without music, so I guess I have a hard time imagining fictional stories without it.

Have you thought about possibly expanding your writing genre from contemporary realism to lets say, paranormal?

Yes, in fact I'm working on something right now that has paranormal elements, more of an urban fantasy feel, based in mythology. I've always loved mythology so it's fun to explore that. However, I will always write contemporary realistic fiction too. I'd like to do both. Paranormal is a new challenge, but I love contemporary realistic. I probably read 50/50 between contemporary and genre fiction so why not write that way too!

Do you have any authors that you were influenced by?

Tons. My earliest influence was Laura Ingalls Wilder. I also love John Steinbeck, Irvine Welsh, Joe Meno, and my biggest YA influence is probably Francesca Lia Block (see why I need to write with some magical element!)

What is the most difficult aspect in writing for you? And the easiest?

That's hard because it varies from book to book. Usually the hardest part is nailing down the first draft, hammering out the structure and the plot. Outlining. I hate outlining but I need to do it. Revising is usually easier for me. I get into a good groove. The groundwork is laid and I'm ready to flesh things out. But sometimes, like with Ballads, revising is hard too.

Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

I'm working on a couple things. They are both in such early stages that I don't want to jinx them or really feel comfortable saying much because who knows what direction they'll take. I have one book under consideration by my editor now that is about a girl whose bartender/alcoholic mom dragged her around the country for most of her life and at 17, the girl finally puts her foot down and says she wants to stay where they are. It's about them trying to figure out how to make a functional life for themselves and the other quirky characters in the book and trying to grow up because the mom is emotionally still a teenager herself.

The second is the mythology-based story that I mentioned above. Keeping that tightly under wraps for now.

Lastly, give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many know of!

These questions are always hard for me because I feel like I'm an over-sharer and tell everyone everything about myself. Hmm okay, well I talk about my tattoos quite a bit, but not my piercings. I have 10 holes in my left ear and 3 in my right, adding up to my lucky 13 (my wedding date was also 10/3 to add up to my lucky 13). I've always wanted to get a lip ring or maybe an eyebrow ring, but haven't. Is 30 too old for a lip ring?

Trailer Tuesday: Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser

Title: Wish You Were Dead
Author: Todd Strasser
Description: The day after an anonymous blogger wishes the popular girl would die, Lucy vanishes. The students of Soundview High are scared and worried. Especially frightened and wracked with guilt is Madison Archer, Lucys friend and the last person to see her the night she disappeared.


It sounds like a great novel! I love the whole suspense and thriller theme within teen novels.

Catwalk: Strike a Pose by Deborah Gregory

Title: Catwalk: Strike a Pose
Author: Deborah Gregory
Age Group: Teens
# of Pages: 293
My Rating: 2.5/5

Creator of the Cheetah Girls, Deborah Gregory gives you the second instalment of her teen series Catwalk. In Catwalk: Strike a Pose, Pashmina Purrstein is a teen who goes to Fashion International High School at The Big Apple. Aspiring model and future entrepreneur, she is in the Catwalk Competition where her house must compete other houses using their fashion knowledge and turn them into reality. The prize? The winning team will receive a sum of money to start their own label and is going travel overseas to stage their show in Italy among with other goodies! Not to mention, all contestants are filmed for a fashion reality network that follows their every move.

During the competition, Pashmina receives a computer virus that totalled her computer; which means someone is out there trying to take her down so she wouldn't win the competition! Wary about who to trust, Pashmina won't let anything get to her as she strive to win!

I actually have never read the first novel in the series, giving me a disadvantage when it came to reviewing it. I think the cover is pretty awesome but that is as far as my interest for this novel is. The biggest barrier for me to enjoy this novel is the language used. Most of the characters used words that were related or incorporated cats in almost every other sentence, such as "meowverlous" or "purr-worthy". People talking like that constantly made it a little unbelievable for me. There were a lot of metaphors making sentences related to fashion or what have you. I got lost the moment I started reading because it made me feel I was reading Shakespeare all over again, except with more sassiness. You could understand it but if you want to understand it fully, you have to literally sit there and decipher the words slowly or else flying by will just get you confused! Unfortunately, there was so much dialogue that all I would see is the catvocab! It would have been much better if there was more action and less talking.

I do like the idea of the story and how the author tries to bring out more diversity within fashion by bringing out names of black designers and such. It is nice to see a little more ethnicity within YA novels and Gregory definitely makes sure to have a lot of it in her book.

I recommend Catwalk: Strike a Pose to those who are really into fashion and would like to see some diversity in YA fiction. Though I recommend reading Catwalk first. If you however think the language would trip you up like it did to me, then you might not enjoy it so much.

Review copy provided by Book Divas.

In My Mailbox - XLVII

To do your own In My Mailbox, please check out how to at The Story Siren!

The Borrowed

None

The Bought

None

The Received

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Call Me Mimi by Francis Chalifour
Yokaiden vol. 2 by Nina Matsumoto
Cindy Pon's bookplate & bookmark (Thanks Cindy!)

Quick thanks to Dahlia from Dahlia's Eclectic Mind for the Proximade Award, Kreativ Blogger, and The Zombie Chicken Award and Chioma from Black and Blue Ink for the Honest Scrap award. I'm don't have time to give out 10 honest facts about myself, maybe later.

This commercial was made for the 2009 LG Mobile Fame Us! Contest and got first place! The film maker is totally genius and you should check out more videos here!

Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin

Title: Cycler
Author: Lauren McLaughlin
Age Group: Older Teens
# of Pages: 256
My Rating: 4/5

Having a period can be a pain for girls but for Jill, it is much worse. Once every month, she will become a male and stay as is for the duration of her menstrual period. With this unusual phenomenon that no scientist could figure out, Jill always stay home for those four days when she becomes "Jack". Jill just wants a normal life and go to prom but something as simple as that is impossible for her.

Jack is frustrated. Ever since Jill came of age, he had been cooped up in Jill's room with no contact with the outside world. When he finally decides to break free of this ridiculous routine, his parents take the matter into their own hands and lock him up!

Not exactly a girl, not exactly a boy, Jack and Jill try their best to cope. Except, life is full of surprises when they both get tangled up in hilarious and complicated problems!

This definitely one of most original and strangest plot in terms of the realistic genre within YA fiction out there. At the same time, it is quite entertaining to read about a character who is made up of both genders.

Jill dominates her life for the most part. Every time she has to change into Jack, she pretends that she needs blood transfusions and stays indoors. She meditates right after she becomes female again to erase Jack's existence from her reality. I found it amusing and desperate when she attempted to woo Tommy Knutson, a guy she likes at school, so they could go to prom together. She did things like, becoming "unattainable" by being stuck-up and cold. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her antics in attempting to ensnare Tommy but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

Jack would have to be my favourite character. He is totally guy. It was hilarious when he talked about porn and how he needed more. I was glad that the author didn't censor things like that because in all truth, guys think and are dirty once they hit their teen years. The things he did once he got out of the house, pretty epic I have to say.

I do keep wondering about their condition though. Is it more of two different people within one body? Or more of one person with two different minds? It's quite debatable and I'm not sure which side I would land on.

Cycler takes Freaky Friday to a whole new level and gives the audience great fun! I recommend it to those who want a bit of comedy in their reading!

Copy provided by Random Buzz.

R.I.P. Catherine Tran (12/11/09)

Friday the 13th. We all say that is the day of bad luck but nothing ever happens. That is, until today.

I arrived to my high school, Woodbridge College, at my usual time around 8:30 AM. I was a little nervous about the chemistry quiz I would have last period and needed to find my friend to tell her that I could pick her up tomorrow morning to go to a business competition. Except none of it matters the moment I stepped into the school building.

With a heavy and sad atmosphere, students still with their jackets on were crowding in the lobby. Not a single giggle or happy chatter could be heard. Everyone was exchanging low murmurs. I could feel the weight of the air around me, draining out my energy.

I was confused when I saw a man from CTV News holding a camera, filming a table that held a candle upon it. I saw two of my friends, silently talking to each other. I approached them and asked what was going on.

“Didn’t you hear?”

I gave my friend of over five years a blank look and shook my head.

“A girl got killed yesterday by a bus.”

When I passed by the table, I took a quick glance to see who the girl was, since she was not in my grade. I recognized the picture that was displayed in memory of her. I had always seen her around the school. Except now, I’d never see her again.

~~~

In first period class, my math teacher decided the lesson of the day was best to be taught on Monday. He gave us questions to work on and handed us back our report cards. I saw the ugly average that slapped me across the face and immediately tucked it away. From what I heard later on, the girl was a great academic student who excelled in all of her classes.

As I tried to understand how angles and radians worked, I could hear sobs of a female from outside the door. I guessed it was the girl’s cousin, whose locker was nearby. I felt bad for her loss and then tried to immerse myself into the world of logic and numbers.

~~~

When Canadian and World Issues rolled by, it was announced that Monday’s test was moved to Wednesday. For the rest of the period, the class watched Beyond the Borders starring Angelina Jolie. The movie was about a woman in the 80s, trying to help those in need within Africa. Images of bones and skins that belonged to children were too disturbing to watch. The reality of people dying across the globe because of something as simple as starvation was too much to bear. The idea of unexpectedly losing your life was much too sad. I pulled out my math from last class and used it as a distraction from all the problems in the world.

~~~

When lunch finally came, half of the school was already gone. No one dared to smile. No one dared to laugh.

Whispers trailed through the hallways. So young. Poor girl. Poor friends and family.

I was in the computer room, where a Yearbook meeting was supposed to take place. Barely any of the members showed up since all announcements were cancelled earlier. It was only my group of friends and three other classmates who occupied the room.

During the time, I checked my blog as it was a habit for me to do so every time there was a computer with internet connection in sight. I realized something as simple as going on the web, she would never do again.

A classmate called the whole gang over, saying that the accident made it to the news. We huddled into a semi-circle, watching a two minute clip on the computer as it reported this gut-wrenching story.

She was run over and pinned down by the transit bus. She was still alive. She felt intense pain as she cried for help. Witnesses couldn’t do anything because there was no way to remove her until emergency help arrived. I imagined what that was like to be in that position and it only made the knot inside my stomach worse as tears threatened to fall.

~~~

During the time I relaxed in the library for my spare, I learned that four teachers cried for her. Not only was she a smart young woman, but she was active in sport teams and had a great group of friends. She was loved by all who knew her.

Only at fifteen, her life was instantly gone in a flash. She only lived a decade and a half. There were so many more years ahead of her. So many more things she had yet to do.

I envied her. I pitied her. But deep down, I was glad I was not her.

~~~

When school finally ended with an invisible cloud hanging above it, I watched the houses and streets passed by as my father drove me home. It was a gorgeous day, but a day she never lived to see.

I was still breathing. I was still living. Everyone I love was still alive. I mentally thanked whatever ultimate force was up there for sparing my life and my loved ones.

~~~

When I ran for my daily exercise on the treadmill, I wondered: How did her parents find out? Were her last days happy ones? Would she have lived if she didn’t cross the street at that exact moment?

Questions filled my mind but it was too depressing to explore the idea of death any further. I pushed it to the back of my brain and moved my legs as fast as I could.

~~~

Let this be a lesson for us all: Don’t take life for granted. Create happy memories. Let go of grudges. Live every day like it is your last.

R.I.P. Catherine Tran (12/11/09)

To see the full report and watch the news, go to: http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091112/fatals_gta_091112/20091112/?hub=TorontoNewHome