Review: Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Title: Sloppy Firsts (Jessica Darling #1)
Author: Megan McCafferty
Release Date: August 28th, 2001
Publisher: Broadway Books
Page Count: 298
Source: Borrowed from the New York Public Library
Rating: Old school YA brillaince 

“My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Don’t they realize that Hope’s the only one who keeps me sane? . . . I don’t see how things could get any worse.”

When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?

A fresh, funny, utterly compelling fiction debut by first-time novelist Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts is an insightful, true-to-life look at Jessica’s predicament as she embarks on another year of teenage torment--from the dark days of Hope’s departure through her months as a type-A personality turned insomniac to her completely mixed-up feelings about Marcus Flutie, the intelligent and mysterious “Dreg” who works his way into her heart. Like a John Hughes for the twenty-first century, Megan McCafferty taps into the inherent humor and drama of the teen experience. This poignant, hilarious novel is sure to appeal to readers who are still going through it, as well as those who are grateful that they don’t have to go back and grow up all over again.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

Jessica's best friend moves away and, to say Jessica's totally depressed about this is such an understatement, I can't even tell you. Jessica tries to fake it until she makes it with just about everyone, including her parents, but she doesn't get very far. Then she meets Marcus Flutie and boy SHAKES. THINGS. UP.

Let's break this down:

I like Jessica. A lot. I really do. She's a PERSON. Like, she's angst-y and anguish-y at exactly the right proportions for a teen whose bestie's moved away. She's totally relatable and even though all of the things she does makes me all rage-y (STOP HATING THOSE ANNOYING GIRLS AND SEEKING THEIR APPROVAL ALL AT THE SAME TIME), it makes all kind of teenage sense. And I like teenage sense.

Okay, not only do I like Jessica, I also really like just about everyone in this book - even when I didn't (thanks Jessica's whole family - ESPECIALLY her older sister, ALL of her friends and even sometimes Marcus Flutie). I think that's a sign of a really good book, more than anything else. Like, can you make me care about a crazy overbearing father or a boy who's a pothead? Yeah? GOOD FREAKING JOB because those are usually the characters I'd be more than happy to kick to the curb. Although, I will say I'm not as crazy into Marcus Flutie as everyone else seems to be - at least, not yet. Maybe one day soon? I'm starting book 2 soon? DON'T HATE ME OKAY?

But yeah, I'm fairly sure my absolute favorite aspect of this book is the year it was published. I think it's pretty clear that I'm an "old soul" when it comes to YA. Yeah, there are A LOT of newer releases I love the pants of, but there's something about the YA books of 10 years ago from back when there wasn't a lot of YA and you didn't have to be super original and write about crazy things. Back when you could JUST write about true teenage angst and have that be enough.

Which is what this book is: True Teenage Angst and complete and utter Teenage Absurdity (re: constantly and casually getting cozier and cozier with the biggest pothead in school). It totally bleeds off the page and there's totally times when I wanted to shake Jessica, but at the same time you can understand. You can totally relate because it's a realistic situation that I'm sure a lot of readers have lived through themselves (if I made a checklist, I'd at least be able to mark off my sister getting married my junior year. But it was WAY less exciting than Bethany's wedding). I mean, I can't see you, but if you ever found yourself in a Jessica Darling situation in high school, raise your hand.

I feel like a bunch of you raised your hands. I just couldn't see it. But all I can say is that I hope you never had to deal with that Marcus Flutie in the nurse's office situation. That seems supremely sketch and unacceptable. But maybe that's just Sheltered Small Private High School Gaby talking (she does a lot of talking, even though she's technically Less Sheltered Private College Graduate Gaby now).

But I digress. Like big time. Which I think is the sign of a good book. If I can talk about a book and truly relate it to my like, like I can this one, then the author's done her job. And, just for the record, Teen Me (as described above) would have thoroughly enjoyed being Jessica's friend. If she'd have me, of course.

The long and short of it?

Plot: 100 percent believable.
World Building: Why yes, this IS how a teenager would behave and how a high school would work.
Character Development: By the end of Book 1, it's clear that Jessica's still a work in progress. And she IS making progress and there are 4 more books, so... SO.
Prose: This book is Jessica's voice and, as such, the prose couldn't be any truer to a teenage girl in crisis, which I love.
Would I Recommend This Book?: If you're looking to get back to the ABCs of YA (the contemporary ABCs to be more specific), this is one of the series you should definitely pick up!

Have you read Sloppy Firsts? What about Second Helpings or any of the other books in the series? Do you get the Marcus Flutie appeal? Or is it still a little bit of a mystery for you too? Make sure to make yourself heard in the comments below!

Veronica Mars Watch-Along Week 11

[Graphic designed by the lovely Judith of Paper Riot]

HEY GUYS. Just so you know, I'm on break this weekend. I'll be back NEXT weekend to recap THE END OF SEASON 1. In the meantime, Gillian from Writer of Wrongs (AKA one of my very favorite bloggers/people) is going to take care of you lovely readers. Based on the fact that I read this as I posted it, I'd say she did a PRETTY DAMN GOOD JOB.

Now. Onto the post.

In case you already know the basics and just forgot what episodes are up today, here's the list:

• "Hot Dogs"
• "M.A.D."

And, for NEXT WEEK, the LAST TWO EPISODES OF THE SEASON:

• "A Trip to the Dentist"
• "Leave it to Beaver"

"Hot Dogs"

"Hot Dogs" is one of my FAVORITE VMars episodes ever, becase a) PUPPIES b) LOGAN KISSES c) Weevil up to THINGS. Oh, glorious show, how I love you.

Now, what happens in this episode is-- Oh wait, hold on, something happened last week, didn't it?


*ngh*

So, lots of awesome things happen in this episode, such as--


That's it. That's all you need to know.

Okay, so Veronica does a lot of things this week, like figure out that there is a HEINOUS DOG-KNAPPING SCAM going on in Neptune, which is probably the most evil thing anyone in Neptune has ever done (and Neptune is literally filled with the worst people ever).

Things start out a little awkward with Logan, since of all the aforementioned KISSING, but obviously things warm up between them one Logan asks V for her help with his sister Trina's skeevy, abusive boyfriend. He's one of those grasping Hollywood types who's using Trina to get Aaron Echolls into his crappy little film. When Aaron does not oblige, he beats up Trina, because he's an absolute prince. Logan, obviously, is beyond incensed about this, and wants to track down Trina's bf and kill him.

For a few moments, it looks like Aaron's going to join the film, that he's not upset about this evil guy beating up his daughter. He invites the bf over for dinner at the Echolls mega mansion/ And then... AND THEN...


Duncan is still off in places unknown, Wallace continues to be awesome, Weevil breaks into Lilly Kane's bedroom and STEALS SOEMTHING... which V realizes is Lilly's secret message pen. So there was a message from Weevil in there that Weevil didn't want anybody else to see. DUN DUN DUNNNNN. (Also, don't forget that Weevil and Lilly were a thing. Suspicious factor is HIGH.)

It turns out Logan's mom updated her will before she died, cutting the cheating, abusive scumbag Aaron out of it completely and leaving everything to Logan and charities. Poor Trina was never even in it. And lastly, Keith steals a strand of Veronica's hair so he can... gulp... get a paternity test done. Also, Celeste is the worst, and Keith and Wallace's mom are still going strong.

In this episode, we also bid a fond farewell to our favorite deputy Leo, who is all things good and sweet and honorable, but the one thing he isn't is Logan, and so V is forced to crush his little heart. Don't feel too bad for him, though. I hear after leaving Neptune he buys a nice apartment in LA with his two best friends and a female roommate and lots of shenanigans ensue.


Notable quotables:

"One of the fundamentals of math? Always carry your writing utensil."-- Life lessons from V
 "Do I need to recap my concerned dad lectures? No running with scissors, no candy from strangers, no smartening up the local criminal element..." --Keith

Mandy: "You're Veronica Mars, right?"
V: "Sometimes."

"Push in on our hero. Natural light frames his handsome, weathered face as he passes sage advice to his doting daughter. The music swells. Important your family is."--Logan, being perfect and doing a perfect Yoda impression

"A tart from a tart... Oh look. There was a string attached to my poptart." --Logan

"Congratulations. You've been named the world's biggest cockroach. This award is given in recognition of your unparalleled lack of decency and humanity, bravo, you're gonna die friendless and alone." ---Veronica. BOOM.

"If someone is stealing dogs in Neptune, they need to be brought down. Hard. Then beaten with some sort of tire iron and dumped into the nearest body of water." --Veronica

"M.A.D."

This episode centers around THE WORST BOYFRIEND EVER. Tad doesn't want his girlfriend Carmen to leave him, so he blackmails her with a sex tape he made of her. As V would say, Klass with a Kapital K. Carmen asks for Veronica's help in getting that tape off his Tad's cell phone before it blows up the internet.

Other important things:



This episode also involves the ongoing mystery of Veronica's rape case. V recognizes the lanterns in the back of Carmen's sex tape, and realizes that she and Carmen can't remember the same night. That the night that tape was shot was also the night Veronica was raped.

Logan and Veronica continue to be mega cute and hot and heavy, and make a date to skip school and Friday and take a boat around the marina, and I DIE of adorableness.

MAC!! Man, I love Mac. She's awesome and tech-savvy and has the driest sense of humor.
 She, Carmen, Seth, the tremendously cool gay kid that Tad was a homophobic dick to, and Veronica come up with the best method of reverse-blackmailing Tad (to make sure he doesn't release Carmen's sex tape). Basically, they fake a website that makes it look like Tad and SETH are in love, which is not good news for Tad, since he's off to the Naval Academy in the fall (this was in the Don't Ask, Don't Tell days, remember?).

Tad sucks, though, and released the tape anyway. Carmen's awesome, though, and handles wit like a badass motherf*cker, and decides not to release the slanderous website in retaliation, because she's a good person.

V, however, readily admits she's not a good person, so delights in the fact that Weevil and the PCHers to truss him up to the flagpole naked before school. Veronica uses this prime opportunity to ask Tad where he got the roofies he slipped to his girlfriend Carmen the night of Veronica's rape. Turns out... it was LOGAN ECHOLLS. NOOOOOOOOOOOO!


Veronica is horrified and runs off. The last shot is of Logan, alone and waiting on the boat for Veronica, who is for sure never going to show up.

Other goings-on:

Clarence Wiedman shows Alicia, Wallace's mother, the bug that Veronica and Wallace planted in his office. He orders her to break up with Keith and threatens her job and it's BAAAAAD.

Keith starts running a missing person notice in the newspaper for Lianne Mars so that he can get a divorce. Veronica is devastated.

Dick and Beaver Casablancas! Also, Aaron says some nice things to Veronica as he drives her home. So maybe he's not such a bad guy? Okay, there was that one time it was implied he beat Logan with a belt... but last week he beat up a creeper to save  his daughter, right? And now he's saying super sweet things about how Veronica is good for Logan.

Duncan continues to be missing and he continues to be boring. Mac finds out that Duncan purchased an Argentinian passport. So Keith is one step closer to closing in on the missing Kane heir.

Notable quotables:

Dick Casablancas: "Uh oh. Someone's got her eye on that Miss White Trash title."
Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas: "You know, you got solid effort in the talent competition, but I'd like to see that car up on some cinderblocks."
Logan: "Guys, come on..."
Veronica: "I know. 'Guys, come on. The talent is making a grilled cheese sandwich on the engine block. Guys, come on. You can't put your car up on blocks in the yard if you don't have a yard.' You know, I think I can do both sides of this little act now."

Veronica: "Do you think this thing... will ever get more normal?"
Logan: "What, like, will we ever hang out at the mall, or hold hands and buy each other teddy bears with little hearts that say 'I wuv you beary much'?"
Veronica: "Yes. Exactly that. Except I want my bear won through some sort of demonstration of ring tossing ability."

Veronica: "How long does it take you to create a highly incriminating, thoroughly liable sexually expilicit website?"
Mac: "Uh, 45 minutes, give or take?"

Loretta: "I know what entrapment is!"
Cliff: "Actually, Loretta, I don't think you do."

So that's a wrap on my Veronica Mars Watch-Along post! Thanks, Gaby, for letting me do this, and thanks again for not murdering me because this was done so late. BEA messed with all our schedules, not to mention I had to fly there from California! But I will always force myself to make time for Veronica Mars.

Stacking the Shelves: BEA Edition (15)

"Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews

Last week was BEA. Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa. So many books. Now, because BEA's a big deal and because I like saying word "excited" on camera a lot, I recorded a vlog in which I highlight my very favorite BEA grabs. A video that still somehow managed to be almost 13 minutes long. Whatever. My life. Now, if you don't feel like listening to me talk for that long, you can just scroll down, past the video and check out the LIST OF ALL OF THE BOOKS. There are a lot of them. I'm not including the misc books I've bought right before and right after BEA (because OBVIOUSLY the 70-odd books I got for free just weren't enough). Perhaps I'll save those for next week/the next haul I do.

And that was a lot of rambling. But definitely note this part: If I got a book at BEA, it'll have a STAR (*) next to it. If I got it at Liza's Rooftop Party, it'll have a TILDE (~) next to it. If I got it through other channels (friends, Teen Author Carnival...), it will have NOTHING next to it.

Okay. Now you can go and either watch the video (WHICH HAS MORE THAN JUST BOOKS IN IT) or skim my lists.

BOOKS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO

Jessica Darling's It List #1 by Megan McCafferty - 9/3/13 (~)

Hidden by Marianne Curley - 6/25/13 (~)

Siege & Storm by Leigh Bardugo - Already in Stores!

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater - 9/17/13 (*)

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - 9/10/2013 (*)

Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund - 10/15/13 (*)
Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young - 8/27/13 (*)

Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud - 8/29/13 (*)

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider - 8/27/13 (*)

Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts - 9/17/13 (*)

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas - 9/17/13 (*)

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales - 9/17/13 (*)

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender - 9/24/13 (*)

Vicious by V.E. Schwab - 9/24/13 (*)

Scorched by Mari Macusi - 9/3/13

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein - 9/10/2013 (*)

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard - Already in Stores! (*)

A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard - WAIT! NOT August, but JULY! 7/23/13 (*)

Once We Were by Kat Zhang - 9/17/13 (*)

False Memory by Dan Krokos - Already in Stores!

False Sight by Dan Krokos - 8/13/13 (*)

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano - 10/1/13 (*)

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger - 11/5/13 (*)

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner - 12/10/2013 (*)

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill - 9/3/13

The Coldest Girl in Cold Town by Holly Black - 9/17/13 (*)

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas - 8/27/13 (*)

The Ward by Jordana Frankel - Already in Stores! (*)

Reboot by Amy Tintera - Already in Stores! (*)

You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle - Already in Stores! (*)

The Archived by Victora Schwab - Already in Stores! (~)

BOOKS NOT MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO BUT PICTURED ABOVE

Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando - 12/24/13 (*)

Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow - 10/29/13 (*)

Hero by Alethea Kontis - 10/1/13 (*)

Reclaimed by Sarah Guillory - 10/15/13 (~)

My Basmati Bat Mitzvah by Paula J. Freedman - 10/1/13 (*)

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia - 10/1/13 (~)

Relic by Heather Terrell - 10/29/13 (*)

Shadowlark by Meagan Spooner - 10/1/13 (*)

Pretenders by Lisi Harrison - 10/1/13 (*)

How to Love by Katie Cotugno - 10/1/13 (*)

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles - 9/24/13 (*)

Hostage Three by Nick Lake - 10/15/13 (*)

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman - 9/9/13 (*)

The Nazi Hunter by Neal Bascomb - 8/27/13 (*)

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson - 9/24/13 (*)

Game On by Melanie Spring - 9/13 (*)

Charming by Elliot James - 9/24/13 (*)

Ink by Amanda Sun - 6/25/13

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon - 8/20/13 (*)

Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald - Already in Stores! (~)

Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick - Already in Stores! (*)

Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green - Already in Stores! (~)
Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington - Already in Stores! (~)
Shadowcry by Jenna Burtenshaw - Already in Stores! (*)
Splintered by A.G. Howard - Already in Stores! (*)
Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova - Already in Stores! (~)
A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa M. Basso - Already in Stores! (*)
Fury by Elizabeth Miles - Already in Stores! (~)
Envy by Elizabeth Miles - Already in Stores! (~)
Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison - Already in Stores! (~)
The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson - Already in Stores! (*)

**ONE MORE THING!**

There was a giveaway at Liza's party for a signed copy of Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola and another book. Katie won the set but, well, she has no use for a children's book and she didn't read this one as a kid. I, however, read and loved Strega Nona as a wee one so, since I was standing next to her and expressed envy at her win, Katie graciously gave it to me. And now I will treasure it forever. (My mom suggested giving it to my niece. I reflexively hugged the book to my chest and yelled "NO!" My niece is 5. She would destroy the pretty!)

PS: In case you're wondering, this book features a magical pot that instantly makes enormous amounts of pasta when the right spell is cast. The title of this book might as well be GABY LOVES PASTA.

THIS POST WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Alexa from Alexa Loves Books
Aubry & Margot from Epic Reads

Gillian from Writer of Wrongs

Christina from Reader of Fictions

Steph from the Cuddlebuggery

Liza from WhoRuBlog

Lili from Lili's Reflections

Katie from Katie's Book Blog

Amy from Reading Teen created the wreath/wall art of Delirum. HERE is the link to her art (Wicked Bookcraft!)

MISC OTHER BLOGGERS MENTIONED

Elena from Novel Sounds 

BEA Blogger Slam Book

So last week was BEA WEEK. I have yet to record a vlog containing the ARCs I'm really pleased about snagging along with a list of the rest of the books I managed to grab. I also need to do a general recap. But Alexa emailed me at the beginning of the week and asked me if I wanted to fill out a SLAM BOOK for BEA (ala what Epic Reads sometimes does with authors). Obviously I said yes, which explains the image below.

NOTEWORTHY: I feel like I should have given briefer answers but I'm the girl who had to draw boxes around my answers on exams in high school because I write entirely too much in response to all questions. Because I'm thorough? Because I'm excitable? Because I can't stop talking? I suppose you guys (especially those of you who met me last week) get to decide!

Aubry from Epic Reads, Steph from the CuddleBuggery - and OH! Christina from A Reader of Fictions also helped me get Perfect Ruin! I love these ladies. So much. ALSO in number 9 I write "book" when I clearly mean "books"

Other Slam Book participants are Kelly, Betty, Elena, Rachel and Alexa herself. Be sure to go check those out too!

Remember, sports (errr BOOK) fans, stay tuned for MORE BEA deets, as I'll be posting them SOON. Soon. Also, if you went to BEA and want to answer these questions yourself, you should do that in the comments below!

Waiting On: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West (25)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Release Date: July 2nd, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

 This sounds like your typical rich meets poor story but those last paragraph over there does A WHOLE LOT to make me interested. So does the cover. LOOK AT THAT COVER. I really like how the title of the book is The Distance Between Us and the two characters are standing so close together and holding hands on the cover. very telling, story. Very telling.

Have you guys heard of this one? Better yet, have you read PIVOT POINT, the Kasie West book that came out earlier this year? I haven't, but I hear GREAT THINGS about it, which gets me all excited to read both books! Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Top Ten Travel/Quest Books (25)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week The Broke and the Bookish have commanded me to make a list of my Top Ten Travel Books. Since I love contemporary and fantasy equally, I decided I would throw the word QUEST into the mix. Y'know those epic journeys on horseback where the fantasy hero/heroine does great things and kicks butt? Yeah. I'm throwing that kind of travel into the mix. SO ENJOY THAT. Or, um, this...

1. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
Everything from the cover of this book to its contents is just SO FREAKING CUTE. I'm pretty sure I would have loved it even if there was no travel aspect, but I loved it all the more for the trip to London!

2. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
How many lists do you think this book ended up on this week? Truth? I'm not even sorry. I read this book on my first trip to Paris this past March. I didn't finish it while I was there, but I think that's fitting because Allyson doesn't really finish her journey in Paris, does she? For her, it's just kind of the beginning. (My Review)

3. Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
I would say the majority of this book took place on an airplane. When I read the summary and realized that would be the case, I was a little hesitant but I totally loved it in the end! Such a sad, angst book that's somehow cute and meaningful and amazing all at once. (My Review)

4. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Okay, this book doesn't revolve around travel as much as the others I've already listed, but Taylor and Jonah DO go on trains and road trips together and as such I would like to add this one to my list. Because I love this book so much and I want to continue finding clever ways to push it on all of you. (My Review)

5. The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna
This one's also a little bit of a stretch since it's not so much travel as it is running? Or maybe it is travel. Either way this book is made of amazing. I promise the only reason it's not a 5 star book for me is because of the open ending. JUST GIVE ME A SEQUEL, SANGU MANDANNA. JUST A LITTLE SEQUEL. (My Review)

6. Ferryman by Claire McFall
I loved, loved, loved this book when I read it a few months back. And it's got this epic journey during which GREAT THINGS HAPPEN and Dylan and Tristan and kissing and uuuuuuggggh. Yeah. It's a kissing journey book - AKA one of my favorite things ever. Oh. ALSO, Dylan starts the book on a train. So: LESS CHEATING! (My Review)

7. Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo
There's a lot of traveling/running away in this one! Totally! Yeah! I'm not even pushing the limits here by throwing this one on my list! QUESTION ME NOT, FRIENDS. (My Review)

8. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa and Po do all kinds of EPIC QUESTING in this book, so I think this fits in my modified Top Ten Tuesday Topic. I just love it. So much. I love it, I love Katsa, I love Po, I love Katsa and Po... I just can't help myself. (My Review)

9. Old Magic by Marianne Curley
This book's summary doesn't make the travel/questing quite so obvious but it's THERE and it's ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Every time I think of this book for a TTT list (which I do every now and again), I remember how much I REALLY MUST RE-READ. Soon, pretty book. Soon.
PS: The cover art on this one's the same image as the Australian edition of Where She Went by Gayle Forman just with their faces closer together on Where She Went. Sorry. That's been on my mind for a while and this felt like a good time to mention it. Probably because I LOVE BOTH BOOKS.

10. Under the Never Sky/Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
Talk about journeys! Perry, Aria and Roar all do a whole lot of traveling throughout the course of these books and I love every single second of it, even if a lot of said seconds are truly heartbreaking. (My Review of Under the Never Sky)

So that's my slightly cheating list. But, well, I DO modify these lists every now and again, don't I? Do you guys have any airplane/bus/car/train travel books that do it for you? How about quest books? Tell me all about it in the comments below!

PierceFest: The Immortals Kick-Off

WELCOME BACK TO PIERCE FEST MY DARLINGS! 

It's time for THE IMMORTALS!

I'm so sorry this kick off post is a bit late, but BEA kind of got in the way of my WHOLE ENITRE LIFE, so I was only able to type this up just recently. 

Now that I've gotten the excuses out of the way, there's one more thing I have to do before breaking down the books in this portion of Pierce Fest. And that is to ask you all if you've already been to Gillian's blog for the Alanna (aka first) portion of the event. You don't HAVE to read the Alanna series in order to read the Daine series or even to take part in Pierce Fest, but since Alanna is CRAZY KICK ASS, I have to speak up on the matter. 

Okay. So. Now that you've either gone back for an Alanna recap or you've made the conscious, voluntary decision to skip it (WHY?), we can now move on to The Immortals series. 

In Tamora Pierce's second quartet set in Tortall we meet Daine, a girl who can speak to ANIMALS. She's amazing and different and headstrong and brave and I could try and characterize her/summarize the books, but instead I'll let Goodreads do the job for me (because I don't think this sentence can stand another 'and').

Young Daine's knack with horses gets her a job helping the royal horsemistress drive a herd of ponies to Tortall. Soon it becomes clear that Daine's talent, as much as she struggles to hide it, is downright magical. Horses and other animals not only obey, but listen to her words. Daine, though, will have to learn to trust humans before she can come to terms with her powers, her past, and herself.

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When humans start cutting down trees and digging holes in peaceful Dunlath Valley, the wolves know that something is wrong. They send a messenger to the only human who will listen -- Daine, a fourteen-year-old girl with the unpredictable power of wild magic. Daine and her closest companions heed the wolves' cry for help. But the challenge they are about to face in the valley is greater than they can possibly imagine...

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Sent to Carthak as part of the Tortallan peace delegation, Daine finds herself in the middle of a sticky political situation. She doesn't like the Carthaki practice of keeping slaves, but it's not her place to say anything -- she's just there to heal the emperor's birds. It's extremely frustrating! What's more, her power has grown in a mysterious way. As the peace talks stall, Daine puzzles over Carthak's two-faced Emperor Ozorne. How can he be so caring with his birds and so cruel to his people? Daine is sure he's planning something. Daine must fight the powerful Emperor Mage, knowing that the safety and peace of the realm depend on stopping Ozorne's power-hungry schemes.

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During a dire battle against the fearsome Skinners, Daine and her mage teacher Numair are swept into the Divine Realms. Though happy to be alive, they are not where they want to be. They are desperately needed back home, where their old enemy, Ozorne, and his army of strange creatures are waging war against Tortall. Trapped in the mystical realms Daine discovers her mysterious parentage. And as these secrets of her past are revealed so is the treacherous way back to Tortall. So they embark on an extraordinary journey home, where the fate of all Tortall rests with Daine and her wild magic.

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I don't think I could ever truly express my love for all things Tamora Pierce (and Tortall in particular), but I think it has something to do with the way she just makes me believe these characters in her FANTASY NOVELS are really people living a real place who I'd honestly want to surround myself with. I believe the magic is real and I buy the mythical creatures. The set up is just wonderful and the the wit, relationships and kissing are all spot on. Tamora Pierce also has this way of making me not feel squicky about age inappropriate characters ending up together - because that's something that WOULD gross me out. 

But beyond everything listed above, I love Tamora Pierce books because the way they make me feel. Intellectually I know these books have feminist undertones but I don't see me reading them as a feminist thing. It's just an empowerment thing. Tamora Pierce makes me feel happy in my own skin - even as a t(w)een - which isn't something I can say about most books, or even situations I dealt with as a kid. So, Tamora Pierce, I forever thank you for granting me that rare moment of t(w)eeny peace. And please know if I ever meet you I will look something like this:

And OF COURSE, the girls (Gillian, Alexa and Rachel) had to offer up a Giveaway for this momentous event, so don't forget to enter!

THE PRIZE:

1 set of any Tamora Pierce series (which is, at max, FOUR books)

THE RULES:

1. The giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY, as long as Book Depository ships to you.
2. All entries will be verified, so please do not forget to include the correct information.
3. Winner will be contacted as soon as they are chosen. They will have 48 hours to respond with the pertinent information, or their win will be forfeit and another will be chosen.
4. The bloggers will not be held responsible for condition or timeliness of the book shipment, as they are being shipped by a third party organization. Please note that we will try to keep you informed of the status of your prize.

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ARE YOU JOINING ME ON THIS QUEST? ARE YOU EXCITED? DO YOU HAVE WORDS TO EXPRESS YOURSELF? ARE YOU ALL IN CAPS LOCK RIGHT NOW LIKE I AM? Be sure to sound off in the comments below if any of that resonates with you in any way ^_^