May 30, 2009

Charity Girl- Michael Lowenthal

Charity Girl- Michael Lowenthal


"Charity Girl" examines one of the darkest periods in our history, when patriotic fervor and fear led to devastating consequences. During World War I, the U.S. government went on a moral and medical campaign, quarantining and incarcerating young women who were thought to have venereal diseases. Most were called "charity girls", or working-class girls who happened to have had relationships with infected men. Through the eyes of one fictional charity girl, this novel explores an astonishing time.


Really great book, and the subject was very interesting especially since this actually happen to girls during World War I. I love fiction stories with a non-fiction subject matter. Frieda was naive to a fault, but then again her age played a part with that. The girls in the detention home felt real, and I could just imagine how wrong, and ugly these women were treated. To bad bra-burning didn't happen until decades later.



Product Details
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (January 3, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618546294
ISBN-13: 978-0618546299

May 23, 2009

YA Books and Laundry

I've currently been on a YA kick. Seems like I can't get enough of the fluff. I have a pile of Meg Cabot books I've been reading. Anyone have recommendations for YA books? Check out Meg Cabot's site


On another topic, I have loads and loads of laundry to do. I really need to get my laundry room more organized. I've already tried different hampers for whites, school clothes, work clothes, but that only last a couple of days before everyone just starts throwing clothes in the nearest hamper. Really, I'm just about fed up with washing clothes....it never ends!!!


Just heard the beeping of the drying, off to fold clothes.

I NEED A VACATION!!

May 11, 2009

Recently Read Young Adult Books


Perfect You- Elizabeth Scott
Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast.

Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate's invisible.

And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she's sure she's just his latest conquest.

Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen - but only if she lets them....


This is the second book I've read(Bloom the first) and I've come to the conclusion that I love her books. When Kate's father quits his job to sell Perfect You vitamins at the mall, and her best friend abandons her for the popular crowd Kate feels her life is over. Elizabeth knows how to write about teenage angst. The character of Kate seems accurate in its potrayal of a teen girl, and the awkwardness of the teenage romance between Kate and Will also seemed real. I found myself giggling like a school girl in some parts, which is great considering that I'm 30. Any book that can do that is a must read for me.

PRODUCT DETAILS



Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 25, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416953558


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The Book of Luke- Jenny O'Connell
Emily Abbott has always been considered the Girl Most Likely to Be Nice -- but lately being nice hasn't done her any good. Her parents have decided to move the family from Chicago back to their hometown of Boston in the middle of Emily's senior year. Only Emily's first real boyfriend, Sean, is in Chicago, and so is her shot at class valedictorian and early admission to the Ivy League. What's a nice girl to do?


Then Sean dumps Emily on moving day and her father announces he's staying behind in Chicago "to tie up loose ends," and Emily decides that what a nice girl needs to do is to stop being nice.


She reconnects with her best friends in Boston, Josie and Lucy, only to discover that they too have been on the receiving end of some glaring Guy Don'ts. So when the girls have to come up with something to put in the senior class time capsule, they know exactly what to do. They'll create a not-so-nice reference guide for future generations of guys -- an instruction book that teaches them the right way to treat girls.


But when her friends draft Emily to test out their tips on Luke Preston -- the hottest, most popular guy in school, who just broke up with Josie by email -- Emily soon finds that Luke is the trickiest of test subjects . . . and that even a nice girl like Emily has a few things to learn about love.


This book started off slow, but quickly picked up. Emily has always been nice, and after some things don't go as she would like, she decides enough is enough. The reference guide for guys starts off as a way for her and her friends to vent but quickly spirals out of control when they decide to test their guide on Mr. cute and popular, Luke. I liked this book, and look forward to reading more of Jenny O'connell's books.

Product Details

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: MTV (April 3, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416520406


May 8, 2009

April Book of the Month



The Graceling- Kristin Cashore


Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight; she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po. She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace--or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away. . .a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.




So refreshing that the heroine is not a helpless, pathetic girl. Katsa is a strong, independent female who is graced with a superhuman ability. She meets Po who is also been graced and together with the council they try to take down the bad guy. I liked that it was different, and fun.

May 4, 2009

Book Giveway Alert






Luxury Reading is having a Latin Book Month Giveaway. Check it out, they look like great books.

Link is below..

Luxury Reading: Latino Book Month Giveaway#comment-form