Posts Tagged: Harper Teen

The Selection Series by Kiera Cass – Content Reviews

17 Sep, 2013 by in The Selection Series, ya 3 comments

Over the past week I read the entire Selection Series by Kiera Cass. Harper Collins was kind enough to send me The Elite,  and since I never read book one, it was off to the library I went. I’ve heard these titles shelved in YA dystopian or fantasy, but I don’t think they really fit neatly into either category… you tell me what you think.

Here’s the brief low down on what I though of all three and the parental content warnings.

The Selection
Hardcover, 327 pages
Published April 24th 2012 
by HarperTeen
ISBN 0062059939
Source: Library

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.


Breview: If you are a fan of the TV series Bachelorette this has the same feeling to it. There are some light dystopian vibes as this is a futuristic society based on a tight caste system where the mates are selected for the prince.  The main man, Prince Maxon and some stilted and formal lines. I think was meant to be that way, but at times I still had trouble connecting to his way of talking. 

I really struggled with Aspen and America’s relationship. He’s a creep! And the ending felt totally out of character for him.

There some great scenes of “ear tugging” conversations and sweet dates between Maxon and America Singer, the voice and MC of the book. 

Content: I was bothered by the content in book one wouldn’t let my daughters read it. Highlight below with your cursor to reveal content.

Content: Youth sneaking out, heavy making out, talk of being a virgin, some chauvinistic views of women and iea they could be taken advantage of. Too much sexual content for my taste. Drinking.

The Prince (The Selection #0.5)
by Kiera Cass 
ebook, 64 pages
Published March 5th 2013
 by HarperTeen
ISBN 0062248162
Source: Bought on Amazon
Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection . . .
Before Aspen broke America’s heart . . .
There was another girl in Prince Maxon’s life. . . .
Don’t miss this thrilling 64-page digital original novella set in the world of the New York Times bestselling novel The Selection. Also features a teaser to The Elite, Kiera Cass’s hotly anticipated sequel to The Selection.
Breview: I really enjoyed hearing things from Maxon’s point of view, since both books one and two are written in America’s voice. And we learn more about the behind the scenes of why each girl was chosen as well as a glimpse of the King and Queen’s personalities.
 I wish the novella were a bit longer, it seemed super short. But there are sneak peek pages in the back for The Elite
Content: clean

The Elite (The Selection, #2)
Hardcover, 323 pages
Published April 23rd 2013 
by HarperTeen
ISBN 0062059963 
Source: Publisher

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.
America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Click here for teasers from The Elite.

Breview: AAARRRRG. The back and forth in The Elite killed me. It got really annoying to have America flip flop over and over again. Make up your mind sister! And please be honest with the one being left in the dark.  Book two has more violence and dystopian elements, so overall a darker tone. Chapter ten is where it really starts to turn violent for a heads up. Definite love triangle tangle going. Without spoiling, I was disappointed by Maxon’s explanation for his behavior, when he’s been such a gentleman with America. 

Highlight the next sentence with cursor for content: heavy violence, child abuse, underage drinking, heavy petting in a bedroom, making out / cheating used as a way “to relieve stress” , mention of teenage pregnancy. one swear word.

In a Nutshell: This is a very popular series based on the waiting list at the library for book one. I have to admit, I enjoyed it enough to buy the novella and read book two, but I wouldn’t pass it on to my own tweens. I’m truly hoping the love triangle gets resolved ASAP because to me the choice is obvious…Maxon, would be my selection.


Learn More on Goodreads/ Author’s website

About the author: 100 things she loves… Being married. Cake. The smell of Autumn. Motherhood. Books. Elephants. Back rubs. On demand movies. Actually going out to movies. Faith. Cinnamon rolls. My family. Butterflies. When my kitchen is clean. Crayons. Pink. Tote bags. Dancing. Organizing via color coordination. That my wedding dress was tea length, not floor. Baking. My house. Writing utensils. Paper. India. The sound of water. Making videos. Buttons. The word Episcopalian. Making people laugh. Layering clothes. British accents. Pinterest. Animation. Fireworks. The smell of the Ocean. My wedding rings. Aprons. Reasons to get dressed up. Sex. Pop music. Stars. Taking walks. Daydreaming. Stickers. School Spirit. My friends. Living in a small town. Japan. Singing. Painting my toenails. Pranks/ practical jokes. Painting. Stretch canvas. Costumes. Dipping my fingers in melted wax. Style. Soda. Spending an hour typing at a coffee shop. Musicals. Back to school season. Mopeds. Good hair days. Naps. Not walking up but looking at a beautiful staircase. Driving alone. My ankles. Playlists. Spending entire days in pajamas. Holidays. Telling stories. Spontaneity. Theme parks. Bookshelves. The word copacetic. Boxes. Empty journals. Surprises. Doing things in groups. Doing things alone. Getting real mail. Decorating. Small forks. A good hug. Gift cards. New Years Goals. Going out to dinner. When someone else remembers some great story about me/us that I’ve forgotten. Toy stores. Fireplaces. Breakfast foods. Journaling. Crying for a good reason. Doorbells. Pointless adventures. Voting. My birthday. Reasons to make wishes. Recycling

Purchase the series: 

 

YA Ebook Deals From HarperTeen- Epic Deals

03 Sep, 2013 by in YA fiction Leave a comment

Epic Reads has four Young Adult lit ebook deals going on right now as part of their Teen Ebook Deals campaign. 
All four titles are just $2.99 each.
Click on the title or cover image below to learn more, to purchase from Amazon.
Get them before they are gone!

In My Mailbox This Week

04 Jun, 2013 by in stacking shelves 1 comment

I just retruned from BEA (working on my post and photos as we speak) and when I got home there were two packages from HarperCollins sitting on the doorstep. I am SOOOO excited about this bunch of books! 
Here’s what is new in my mailbox this week.

Which should I read first?

YA Content Review- The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

15 Oct, 2012 by in Pittacus Lore, The Power of Six 1 comment

The Power of Six
By Pittacus Lore
Paper Back 406 Pages 
Published August 23, 2011
By HarperCollins
ISBN: 0061974550
Book Source: Bought
5 Stars  

 I’ve seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he’s a mystery. But to me . . . he’s one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We’re hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we’ll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I’ve been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I’m ready to fight.


Alacia’s Review: Marina is Number Seven. She lives in a convent and orphanage in Spain with her protector, Adelina. Marina has heard about John Smith from Ohio on the news and is certain he is one of the Legacies. She is ready to learn how to fight so she can go help John, but each time she approaches Adelina about it, she is told it is nonsense and not to worry, as she has come to believe the teachings of the convent and lost her faith in Lorien. A frustrated Marina starts to train on her own, developing her legacies such as breathing underwater and telekinesis. When a new orphan, Ella, arrives at the convent Marina and her quickly become close and Marina enlists her help in finding her Lorien chest which Adelina will not tell her where it is. As Marina continues to learn, she runs into a man in town that she is certain is a Mogadorien. She is dismissed again when she tells Adelina but things begin to change when the convent is indeed attacked by the Mogs. Adelina quickly snaps out of her stupor and begins to help Marina fight to save the convent and those inside. During the fight, the man from town appears and Marina is surprised to find out that he and Ella are not what they seem but are Lorien as well.  As the fight against the Mogs continue, everyone is astonished when Six shows up and helps them get out of there. As they flee the convent, Six fills them in on John and Sam and it is determined that they must get to the United States as fast as they can in order to save themselves. 

This book was just as good as the first one! Again I could not put it down! The story jumps back and forth between John, Sam, Six, and what is going on with Marina and Ella in Spain. Marina’s story fits in perfectly and you get a real sense of her frustration as she is trying to learn with out any guidance from Adelina. The book moves at a fast pace and is super easy to read. The story of the Lorien Legacies keeps getting more intricate and you learn more and more about why they are here and how important it is that they make it back to Lorien. 

Content: Mild language and a few violent scenes 

Alacia

About the Author: Piccatus Lore is the Ruling Elder of Lorien, the planet from which the characters from I Am Number Four hail. He has written two more books, about Numbers Six and Nine. He is here preparing Earth for the battle with the Mogadoriens. No one knows his current location.

Help Chat With Ingrid Paulson Author of Valkyrie Rising

03 Oct, 2012 by in Valkyrie Rising Leave a comment

Hey Fire and Ice readers, we have a chance at an awesome giveaway to pass on! Just head on over to post some questions for Ingrid Paulson, author of Valkyrie Rising in the Epic Reads forum. She’ll be joining ER next month and they need questions. Follow this link to the forum and post one for your chance to win her book! Good luck!

About Valkyrie Rising: Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect that something powerful and ancient will awaken in her and that strange whispers will urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, suddenly there’s a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring, Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.
Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly epic coming-of-age.
Find out more about the book on Goodreads.

Erasing Time Blog Tour Kick Off, Guest Post and Giveaway

01 Oct, 2012 by in book giveaway 27 comments

Fire and Ice is pleased to announce we will be hosting the official blog tour for Erasing Time by C.J. Hill!
We have an exclusive guest post below with the author about her “playlist” for the book.

Erasing Time Playlist–or lack thereof


“Some authors listen to playlists while they write their books. I envy those writers because apparently they can multi task so well they’re able to hum along to music and write at the same time.

This is the typical thing I hear while I’m writing:

Knock sounds on my door, reminding me that I’m not really 400 years in the future with a hot guy being chased by mob assassins. I am, instead, a mother of teenagers.

Son: (whining) The computer is locked!

Me: That’s because you need to do your jobs.

Son: But I did my jobs.

Me: No you didn’t. You’ve got dishes this week and the sink is over flowing.

Thirty seconds later

Son: Can you unlock the computer now?

Me: There is no possible way you did the dishes in thirty seconds. Go finish them.

Thirty seconds later

Son: Can you unlock the computer now?

Me: AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Let me write!!!


So yeah, I don’t listen to a lot of music while I write. However, since MC Hammer’s song Can’t Touch this did help inspire Erasing Time, it really should have playlist status. You may wonder—and you should—how a song MC Hammer wrote about how awesome MC Hammer is, helped inspire a time traveling dystopian romance novel. I’ll explain. (If you’ve never heard the song, you can check out the official video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otCpCn0l4Wo)

When the song Can’t Touch This first came out 1990, I had never heard the phrase “Can’t touch this”. I had no idea what it meant. In fact, even though MC Hammer was singing in English I had no idea what any of the song’s lyrics meant. Take this part:

Yeah… can’t touch this

Look, man can’t touch this

You better get hype, boy, because you know you can’t touch this

Ring the bell, school’s back in. Can’t touch this

I didn’t know whether “Can’t touch this” was a good thing, a bad thing, or perhaps a threat. I had to ask my younger and much cooler nephew to decipher the song for me. It made me think about how much slang we use, and how English doesn’t make much sense if you don’t know the slang. Really, I pity the poor immigrants who come to this country and are confronted by phrases like: “Has the cat got your tongue?” Or “Hold your horses.”

Immigrants must all wonder what we do in our free time.

Anyway, I started thinking about time travel and how you couldn’t go very far in either direction before English became undecipherable. Don’t believe it? Go watch a Shakespeare play. Chances are, unless you already know the story or you studied Shakespearean English in school, you’ll be completely lost.

Writers who write historical or time travel novels know this, of course. Usually we give a flavor or hint of the old language without being true to it. For Erasing Time I wanted to use the language shift as part of the plot. When Sheridan and Taylor are sucked into the future, historian wordsmiths are appointed to translate and interpret for them. (One of whom is a hot guy.) The only way Sheridan and Taylor can communicate secretly is to speak in slang. Which works quite well. You can cover just about any topic using slang, including escaping from mad scientists in a dystopian government.

And MC Hammer would have had no problem getting things by future scientists. Therefore, he is a play list unto himself.”
Thanks to C. J for choosing Fire and Ice to host her tour and for the fun guest post!

Follow all of the blog tour schedule for your chance to win a copy of the book on each stop.

October 1- Fire and Ice

October 2- Ravenous Readr
October 3- Fiktshun
October 8- LDSWBR
October 9- PageTurners Blog
October 10- Reading Teen
October 11- YA Bliss
October 12- Wastepaper Prose
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published August 28th 2012
by Katherine Tegen Books
ISBN 0062123920
Book Summary From Harper Collins: When twins Sheridan and Taylor wake up 400 years in the future, they find a changed world: domed cities, no animals, and a language that’s so different, it barely sounds like English. And the worst news: They can’t go back home.

The twenty-fifth-century government transported the girls to their city hoping to find a famous scientist to help perfect a devastating new weapon. The same government has implanted tracking devices in the citizens, limiting and examining everything they do. Taylor and Sheridan have to find a way out of the city before the government discovers their secrets. To complicate matters, the moblike Dakine has interest in getting hold of them too. The only way for the girls to elude their pursuers is to put their trust in Echo, a guy with secrets of his own. The trio must put their faith in the unknown to make a harrowing escape into the wilds beyond the city.

Full of adrenaline-injected chases and heartbreaking confessions, Erasing Time explores the strength of the bonds between twins, the risks and rewards of trust, and the hard road to finding the courage to fight for what you believe in.
About the Author:  C. J. Hill is the mother of twins. They aren’t identical, but this doesn’t mean she always calls them by the right name. In fact, she occasionally calls all her children by the wrong names (she has five) and has even been known to throw the dog’s name into the mix. Laugh now, but you’ll do the same thing when you have kids.
If C. J. had a time machine and could visit another century, she would probably go to the Regency era instead of the future. According to all the novels she’s read, the past was filled with a multitude of dashing lords and viscounts who were always on the lookout for damsels in distress, whereas the future is populated by scary dystopian societies.
Find out more on her site 

The Giveaway: We have one copy of Erasing Time to give away to our U. S. readers courtesy of the author and Harper Teen. Choose your own entries on the rafflecopter form below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Announcing The Erasing Time by C.J. Hill Blog Tour

19 Sep, 2012 by in fire and ice Leave a comment

Fire and Ice is pleased to announce we will be hosting the official blog tour for Erasing Time by C.J. Hill! Follow all of the blog tour schedule for your chance to win a hardback copy on each stop. Special thanks to Rachel at Fiktshun for making our banner.
October 1- Fire and Ice
October 2- Ravenous Readr
October 3- Fiktshun
October 4- I’m A Reader Not A Writer
October 5- Books Complete Me
October 6- The Mod Podge Bookshelf
October 7- Portrait of a Book
October 8- LDSWBR
October 9- PageTurners Blog
October 10- Reading Teen
October 11- YA Bliss
October 12- Wastepaper Prose

Hardcover, 368 pages
Published August 28th 2012
by Katherine Tegen Books
ISBN0062123920
Book Summary From Harper Collins: When twins Sheridan and Taylor wake up 400 years in the future, they find a changed world: domed cities, no animals, and a language that’s so different, it barely sounds like English. And the worst news: They can’t go back home.

The twenty-fifth-century government transported the girls to their city hoping to find a famous scientist to help perfect a devastating new weapon. The same government has implanted tracking devices in the citizens, limiting and examining everything they do. Taylor and Sheridan have to find a way out of the city before the government discovers their secrets. To complicate matters, the moblike Dakine has interest in getting hold of them too. The only way for the girls to elude their pursuers is to put their trust in Echo, a guy with secrets of his own. The trio must put their faith in the unknown to make a harrowing escape into the wilds beyond the city.

Full of adrenaline-injected chases and heartbreaking confessions, Erasing Time explores the strength of the bonds between twins, the risks and rewards of trust, and the hard road to finding the courage to fight for what you believe in.
About the Author:  C. J. Hill is the mother of twins. They aren’t identical, but this doesn’t mean she always calls them by the right name. In fact, she occasionally calls all her children by the wrong names (she has five) and has even been known to throw the dog’s name into the mix. Laugh now, but you’ll do the same thing when you have kids.
If C. J. had a time machine and could visit another century, she would probably go to the Regency era instead of the future. According to all the novels she’s read, the past was filled with a multitude of dashing lords and viscounts who were always on the lookout for damsels in distress, whereas the future is populated by scary dystopian societies.

Find out more on her site 

Breathe Author Video With Sarah Crossan

06 Sep, 2012 by in sarah crossen Leave a comment

In a world without air, what would you do to breathe?
Sarah Crossan’s debut novel, BREATHE, follows three teens dealing with that dilemma when they leave everything they know behind. In a barren land, a shimmering glass dome houses the survivors of the Switch, the period when oxygen levels plunged and the green world withered.
A state lottery meant a lucky few won safety, while the rest suffocated in the thin air. And now Alina, Quinn, and Bea—an unlikely trio, each with their own agendas, their own longings and fears—walk straight into the heart of danger. With two days’ worth of oxygen in their tanks, they leave the dome. Thebook goes on sale on 10/2, but just for you blog readers, Sarah Crossan recorded THIS video, in which she discusses her writing process.

Be sure to pre-order your copy today!

Book Birthday- Browse Inside Erasing Time by C. J. Hill

28 Aug, 2012 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Happy Book Birthday to Erasing Time by one of our favorite authors C.J. Hill

Book Summary From Harper Collins: When twins Sheridan and Taylor wake up 400 years in the future, they find a changed world: domed cities, no animals, and a language that’s so different, it barely sounds like English. And the worst news: They can’t go back home.

The twenty-fifth-century government transported the girls to their city hoping to find a famous scientist to help perfect a devastating new weapon. The same government has implanted tracking devices in the citizens, limiting and examining everything they do. Taylor and Sheridan have to find a way out of the city before the government discovers their secrets. To complicate matters, the moblike Dakine has interest in getting hold of them too. The only way for the girls to elude their pursuers is to put their trust in Echo, a guy with secrets of his own. The trio must put their faith in the unknown to make a harrowing escape into the wilds beyond the city.
Full of adrenaline-injected chases and heartbreaking confessions, Erasing Time explores the strength of the bonds between twins, the risks and rewards of trust, and the hard road to finding the courage to fight for what you believe in.
About the Author:  C. J. Hill is the mother of twins. They aren’t identical, but this doesn’t mean she always calls them by the right name. In fact, she occasionally calls all her children by the wrong names (she has five) and has even been known to throw the dog’s name into the mix. Laugh now, but you’ll do the same thing when you have kids.
If C. J. had a time machine and could visit another century, she would probably go to the Regency era instead of the future. According to all the novels she’s read, the past was filled with a multitude of dashing lords and viscounts who were always on the lookout for damsels in distress, whereas the future is populated by scary dystopian societies. Find out more on her site and be sure to comment there for a chance to win your own copy!
order your copy: