Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Brooke and Kathryn used to be best friends, but now they're bitter rivals. Brooke is the all-powerful queen bee from a well-to-do family,  while Kathryn is the studious, hard-working wallflower from a more blue collar family. Both girls are star singers in the honors choir at their high school and often compete against each other for parts. But soon they will be competing against each other for something even bigger: a $25,000 prize at the prestigious Blackmore vocal competition. 

This novel is told in first-person point-of-view, alternating between Brooke and Kathryn. We start off the narrative during their senior year, with these two ladies already hating each other. The reader is left to puzzle the pieces together to figure out why they hate each other so intensely. While the novel ping-pongs back and forth between Brooke and Katrhyn as narrators, it also sections back and forth between junior and senior year so we can start to see the unraveling of their friendship and how they came to the point of contention. I especially loved that each section was met with a musical term that related to what was going to happen in that section such as dissonance, capriccioso, crescendo, etc. I thought that was a wonderful way to foreshadow for the reader what was coming up. 

I thought Rival was a perfectly addicting debut novel  with just the right amount of character development and plot excitement. I also enjoyed the "protagonist is also antagonist" approach Wealer took with the plot. As I continued to read, my opinion of each girl changed depending on who narrated.  I couldn't decide whose side I was on more: Brooke's or Kathryn's, which I'm sure is exactly how Wealer designed the novel. I loved that the prose read with such ease and facility, and kept you turning page and after page, convincing yourself, "Just one more chapter, then I'll go wash the dishes." This was especially true as you get to the part of the book where you finally figure out why Brooke hates Kathryn so intensely.

Lovers of classical music/opera will devour this book, along with those who eat up stories of catty girls. Though, I have to warn you, this book delves much deeper into the cattiness than just your normal fluff read.While this is Sara Bennett Wealer's first novel, I certainly hope it will not be her last!

Cover Comments: I like the striking red flower in the foreground with the piano keys behind it, but I almost wish the piano were a more prominent part of the cover. You almost have to be looking for the piano keys to know that's what they are - or be like me who played the piano for 13 years and can spot piano keys from a mile away. 

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer
Published: February 2011 by Harper Teen
Pages: 327
Genre: Realistic fiction
Audience: Young Adult

In My Mailbox (24)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.  The books you share do not have to be ones you actually received in the mail.  They can be ones you bought at the book store, checked out at the library, or downloaded to your e-reader.  The idea is just to share what's on your TBR pile for the upcoming week.

I got a great haul of books this week at my library's used book store. Most of them are for my classroom library, but some of them are just for me. 

Claiming Georgia Tate by Gigi Amateau
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Ranger's Apprentice 1: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
Ida B by Katherine Hannigan
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn
Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
Remnants 1: The Mayflower Project by K.A. Applegate
Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

This set of books from the used bookstore deserves its own picture:
 
How lucky am I that I scored the last four books of the Harry Potter series in one trip to the used book store?  And even better is that I already have the first three.  I just needed the last four. It's like they were waiting for me.


E-book purchase:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
This e-book is a GREAT deal right now at only $5!  I saw it on B&N and had to snag it for my classroom set of Nooks since I have a really hard time keeping this book on my bookshelf.  Now I can have at least 5 kids reading it at once. 

Library Loot:
 
Decoded by Jay-Z

 
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (audio book)

 
The Loud Book! by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Renata Liwska
The Quiet Book was one of the best picture books of 2010.  I'm looking forward to reading this follow up!


Press Here by Herve Tullet

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and is meant to showcase upcoming books that you can't wait to read.


My anxiously awaited title this week is:

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Publication Date: May 24, 2011 by Scholastic
Pages: 400
Audience: YA

From Goodreads:

From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island. 

Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to email. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.

This book sounds like it will be fiercely entertaining. Seems like everyone who's read an advanced copy has thoroughly enjoyed it.  Plus, John Green gives it high praise, and that says enough right there.  

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Covers You Wish You Could Redesign

This week's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is:

Top Ten Covers You Wish You Could Redesign

Once again, I wasn't able to come up with ten, so I only have six.

1. Wither by Lauren DeStafano
Don't get me wrong.  I think this cover is stunning.  I just think this book could appeal to both guys and girls if it were more gender neutral.  Most guys would not pick up a book that had a picture of a girl with a frilly dress on it.

2. The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex
I loved this book.  It is one of my favorite reads of the year so far.  I just don't think the cover is doing anything for making kids want to pick it up and read it.   In fact, I know this is the case because our school's librarian has said that she tries to get kids to read this one, but they judge it by its cover. 

3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
This cover does not do this book justice.  The only reason I read this book at all was because so many people were saying how amazing it was.  I never would have picked this book up on my own.  The cover does nothing for it at all.  I'm still waiting for this book to become a movie.  It must.  I could see the movie playing in my head as I was reading it.

4. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Both the hardcover and paperback do nothing for me - or the students I recommend this book to.  Often students turn their nose down at the covers because they don't compel them or do anything to make them want to read the book.  I had a group of girls read this book in a literature circle and they all agreed that something else needs to be on the cover of this book. They said that neither cover did Dashti any justice.  They were giving suggestions left and right for what would be a better cover than the two that have been created. They even suggested some of the illustrations inside the book would make a better cover than what is currently on it. 

5. Revolution is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine
This cover, while nice-looking, with bold colors that lure in a perspective reader, doesn't really seem to go with the grave, revolutionary theme of the book. The girl on the cover appears to be happy, which is certainly not the tone or mood of the story.

6. The Giver by Lois Lowry
So many students are turned off from this book based on the cover.  I honestly don't know what would be a better option, I just know that kids are not drawn to it on their own, unless they are forced to read it in school.

Shine by Lauren Myracle

When Cat discovers that her best friend Patrick has been the victim of a hate crime, she vows to find out who did it - especially given the apathy and unwillingness to investigate any leads by the sheriff department in her small town. As she continues to question those close to Patrick while he clings to life in a coma, Cat soon finds herself running into people who don't want her digging up dirt into Patrick's past and present. Does Patrick have something to hide? Or do the people close to him want to make sure Cat doesn't unearth something incriminating? 

Part social commentary, part mystery, Lauren Myracle manages to deal with the heavy subject matter of the plot with respect and dignity. The story grabs you from the very beginning and won't let you go, even long after reading the final page. I finished this book last night and actually found myself re-living the ending as I was driving home from work today and it was just as vivid as when I read it last night. This has been one of my favorite reads so far of 2011.  


Shine by Lauren Myracle
Publication date: May 1, 2011 by Amulet Books
Pages: 376
Genre: Mystery
Audience: Young Adult

*ARC provided through Netgalley

Fool For Books giveaway winner

Random.org number generator selected #13 out of 69 entries:

Congrats to Michele L. who was #13!  She wins a copy of David Sedaris's Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk.  Thanks to everyone who entered and to all of my followers - new and old!

Dream Big, Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi

From Goodreads:

Poppy has big dreams-lots of them! But following her dreams isn't as easy as it sounds. Poppy wants to be a ballerina, a singer, and a supermodel but people just keep telling her no!

It's a good thing Poppy's friends and family-who love her no matter what-encourage her to keep believing in herself and pursuing her dreams. Poppy achieves her dreams and will inspire readers to believe that they can too!

Kristi Yamaguchi has always been one of my favorite figure skaters. Not only is she talented at her sport, but she is gracious and humble and just an all-around nice person.

The projection of positive energy that she radiates has manifested into this adorable children's book about the importance of perseverance and finding your dreams.

At the risk of writing spoilers, this is not the story of a little pig who practices really hard and wins a gold medal in the Olympics (which is I'm sure what everyone assumes before they pick this book up and read it - I know I did). Instead, it's the story of setting goals and watching them come to fruition in other ways than just winning. It sends the message to kids to do what you love no matter if you win or not, regardless of what others tell you.  

This might be a tough message to buy from such a lavishly decorated Olympic athlete, but you get the sense from this book that she would have skated and continued to skate for many years, Olympic champion or not.  Her positive attitude and dedication to hard work is what makes people love and admire her, gold medal or not.  Michelle Kwan proved that you don't have to be an Olympic champion for people to love you.  You just have to work hard, be passionate, gracious, and humble.  Kristi is all of those things and more.  

Keep writing books Kristi!  Kids need more role models like you in this world.  There are far too many Kim Khardashians, Lindsay Lohans, Snooki Polizzis, and Paris Hiltons out there.  Kids need people worth emulating and there are far too many shameful people walking red carpets today disguised as role models. 

Dream Big, Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi, illustrated by Tim Bowers
Published: March 1, 2011 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Pages: 32
Genre: Picture book
Audience: Children