What I've Been Reading

Between kid's practices, a lot of doctor/ er visits, and my trip to Chicago, I've done a lot of reading lately.  Here's what I've read:

When his parents go missing, a young boy moves in w/ his aunt and uncle.  He discovers a wall of cupboards that someone had tried to cover up.  Eventually, he realizes that each cupboard is a portal to another world.  I got a little board and so I don't think I'll read the rest of the series. 3 stars

Cookie-cutter paranormal teen romance set in Victorian England.  It's the second in The Infernal Devices series and comes complete w/ demons, the end of the world, and of course, a love triangle.  This one is slightly more racy than the first one of the series, so read it first before handing it off to your young teen. 4 stars.
                        

I read the first 2 in this trilogy.  It's a cookie-cutter dystopian teen romance.  It is set in the future, where the leaders have decided that love is the root of all the world's problem. Upon turning 18, everyone has a surgery, which "cures" them from love.  It doesn't just cure romantic love, but even parental love.  However, people still get married and have children, which just wouldn't happen.  Would you sign up for morning sickness, potty training, stomach flu, back talking, school projects etc. if you didn't love your kids? Also not for young teens, there's quite a bit a swearing a little sex.  I give the Delirium 3 stars and Pandemonium 3 1/2- 4 stars.  

 I really loved this book.  Hollis Woods was abandoned at birth  wants nothing more than a family, but instead struggles at every foster home she is placed. A beautiful story about belonging.  4 1/2 stars.

 Another paranormal teen romance that tells the story of a war that is raging between angels and chimera (creatures that are part human and part animal).  It's the first in a series and I don't know if I'll read the rest.  It's pretty dark and just isn't as fun as other similar series- maybe b/c there isn't the token love triangle. 3 stars

 The story of a young Chinese immigrant growing up in NYC.  She faced extreme poverty and working conditions that are unbelievable for this country in modern times.  It was eye-opening to view the world through her and it would be great for book club discussion.  As I was reading, I thought it was going to be a shoe-in for 5 stars for sure, but the ending was very unsatisfying.  So just read it about 3/4 of the way and then I'll tell you how it should have ended.

A boy wakes up one morning to discover that he has disappeared. With the help of his parents and a blind girl he tries to come to grips w/ his new situation. It is the first in a series 4 stars 

Lucy Valentine is the heir to her family's matchmaking company, but unlucky in love herself.  She has the ability to see visions of lost things.  When she sees a lost wedding ring on the finger of a skeleton, she tries and solves the mystery of the death. Of course, she meets a hunky PI to help her along the way and keep things interesting. By no means, great literature, but a fun read for the beach or plane. 4 stars

The real housewives of Greenwich, CT have a monthly mystery book club.  When one of the members is found hanging from a tree in her front lawn, they all try and solve the murder.  2 1/2 stars

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