Blog

Book Review, only the good spy young

Book Review: Only the Good Spy Young

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Only the Good Spy Young
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: June 2010
Pages: 265
Series: Gallagher Girls #4
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.Now the danger follows her everywhere, and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent, Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.
In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth.as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past.
My Thoughts:
Who can you trust? Who can you believe? It’s hard to share my thoughts without being a bit of a spoiler. So I’ll just keep it brief. 
The difference in this 4th book of the series compared to the other 3 is that it’s a story of Cammie’s need to survive. She is the one being chased and attacked. It’s suspenseful! I still love Zack, her romantic interest. He is frustrating though and secretive at times, but I can tell he cares so much for Cammie. So sweet!

Cammie finds some answers just to have more questions come up. Can’t wait to have all the questions answered, hopefully, in book 5. Out of Sight, Out of Time should come out March 2012. 

Preorder: Out of Sight, Out of Time

Favorite Line:
“I kissed him– longer and deeper than I ever had before. The school was not watching us this time. There was nothing playful in the tone. We were just two people kissing as if for the first time, as if it might be the last.”

Happy Reading!

Book Review, paranormalcy

Book Review: Paranormalcy

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: August 2010
Pages: 335
Series: Paranormalcy #1
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie’s dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

My Thoughts:
Evie is so fun, spunky, and cute. She’s really hard not to like. She has a hot pink taser she’s named Tasey which is used to stun paranormals. What’s not to love?! I love reading from first person point of view because you get to hear all the funny and crazy things she thinks about.

Evie tries so hard to be a normal teenager who watches tv while eating microwave dinners, but it’s just difficult when she lives in a paranormal world. Vampires, Hags, Werewolves, Shape-shifters, and Faeries are a few of the paranormal creatures that make an appearance in this book.

Some of my favorite parts of the book are when Evie ‘curses.’ Since this is a clean teen book blog let me explain. Evie’s best friend is a mermaid who’s voice has to be translated by a computer. Not only is her voice a robotic monotone, but anytime she swears the computer won’t translate so it comes out as ‘bleep.’ Evie picked up on this habit. Oh bleep, it’s hilarious!

Favorite Line:
“A small hallway led to a single door. I pulled out Tasey, walked forward, and kicked it open, striding into the room. The vamp I was following turned and looked at me; so did the twenty other vampires in there. ‘Oh, bleep,’ I whispered.”

Buy it!
Book Review, don't judge a girl by her cover

Book Review: Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Release Date: June 2009
Pages: 263
Series: Gallagher Girls #3
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
When Cammie “The Chameleon” Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she’s in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she’s there to watch Macey’s father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world’s best school (for spies), “exciting” and “deadly” are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers’ plot, with only their espionage skills to save them.

As her junior year begins, Cammie can’t shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn’t feel like the safe haven it once did. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion’s corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can the Gallagher Girls keep her safe?

Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey’s private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth….

My Thoughts:
Another fun and entertaining book in the Gallagher Girls series. This is my favorite book of the series so far. It’s more exciting since the stakes are higher with the kidnapping plot.

I guess I haven’t talked much about Cammie’s three best friends. In a few words, Macey is tough on the outside, soft on the inside. Liz is so smart it’s scary, and she’s a romantic. Bex is always ready to take down an opponent, fun, and unpredictable.

Not much else to say; it’s a great read with characters I love from the past 2 books. Without going into spoiler details let’s just say that Zach is my favorite. He’s very intriguing.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Favorite Line:
“‘Why aren’t you telling Bex to stay behind?’ Liz shot back, but we all knew the answer: the only way Bex would miss this would be if she were unconscious. And tied up. And locked in a concrete bunker. In Siberia.”

Happy Reading!

Book Review, matched

Book Review: Matched

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: November 2010
Pages: 366
Series: Matched #1
Source: Library
5 Stars: I Loved It!

From Goodreads.com:
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander’s face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham’s face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it’s a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she’s destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can’t stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society’s infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book! Wow! Why is a forbidden romance so intriguing?! I actually listened to this on cd for a trip; then finished listening at home. I prefer books because they’re easier to put down and find my place again when one of my kids runs into the room asking for breakfast in a very loud voice. 

The dystopian storyline and romance (1 girl with 2 boys to choose from) reminds me of other books, but that doesn’t bother me. It’s completely entertaining to me. I like that Cassia is smart and pretty quick to pick up on things. It’s always annoying when the main character can’t figure out the obvious for most of the book. Not so for this book, I didn’t see what was coming at all or only guessed shortly before Cassia figured it out. 

The 2 boys are Ky and Xander. Both amazing guys that happen to be very attractive. I won’t go into detail on how wonderful these guys are for Cassia; you can discover that for yourselves. 

Update: May 2012
I just finished reading this book for the first time since last time I listened to the audio book. I fell in love all over again! Ally Condie is an amazing writer. The words were so smooth and beautiful, like poetry. I love revisiting books. It was so fun to go back into the world of Matched. I recommend this book to everyone!

Have you read it? What did you think?

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing )
Language: none
Violence: none

Buy it!

review 1
Reviewed by Kathryn Cooper
Creator of Clean Teen Fiction

Book Review, cross my heart and hope to spy

Book Review: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: October 2007
Pages: 236
Series: Gallagher Girls #2
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
Cammie Morgan is back, and it’s clear that her life hasn’t calmed down since the events of I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You. At first, giddy anticipation is in the air. Gallagher Academy, Cammie’s elite spy school, is hosting a visit from the Ethan Frome Academy, a covert training center for boys. Soon after the boys’ arrival, though, everything goes dangerously awry when a series of security breaches are discovered at the academy. Worse yet, teenage agent-in-training Cammie is being blamed for the penetration. With the school’s top-secret status at risk, the Gallagher Girls have to work quickly to save their beloved school. Girl sleuths with nice asides on youthful crushes.

My Thoughts:
Wow! I guess I read that in a day! You’re getting a lot of Ally Carter reviews in a row because I’m trying to review books as soon as I read them. I’m on a spy kick at the moment and loving it.

Cammie is just too cool, what else can I say? I want to be like her and take a defense class or something. I have to say the boy interest in this book is more intriguing to me than the first one. Zach is at least as strong as her and mysterious. I wanted to trust him from the start but couldn’t decide if he was trustworthy, just like Cammie.

Again, I was laughing out loud! It was a flirty, funny, and exciting read!

Favorite Line:
“But helicopters were completely new territory! Was there going to be jumping? Or rappelling? (Hello–our uniforms have skirts.)”

Happy Reading!

Book Review, but then i'd have to kill you, i'd tell you i love you

Book Review: I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You

Kathryn Cooper

Title: I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: August 2009
Pages: 284
Series: Gallagher Girls #1
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women lives up to its name. Not only does this exclusive boarding school teach advanced language skills and correct deportment; its students also master the arts of tapping phones, hacking into computers, and spying in public places. At school, second-generation Gallagher Girl Cammie Morgan has impeccable credentials: She is fluent in 14 languages and able to kill an assailant in seven different ways. But recently life has dealt Cammie a card that she never anticipated: She has fallen in love with an ordinary boy who knows nothing about her exotic double life. A truly covert romance.
My Thoughts:
Another sneaky read by Ally Carter. Reading it made me wish I had gone to spy school. Cammie and her friends are tough, strong, and so funny. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed out loud so often while reading. My husband eventually got used to my sudden outbursts of laughter during our 4 hour road trip this weekend. 

I don’t think a teenage boy would want to read this book though. It’s in first person from Cammie’s point of view; some guys might not want to know what girls think about, like PMS and how dreamy their new teacher is. Just a warning. 

Favorite Line:
“Can I just say that it is such a good thing that there was an entire diner full of witnesses, because I’m fairly certain I could have killed her with a bottle of ketchup.”

Happy Reading!
Book Review, heist society

Book Review: Heist Society

Kathryn Cooper

Title: Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books
Released Date: February 2010
Pages: 287
Series: Heist Society #1
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads:
When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.
Soon, Kat’s friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster’s art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.
For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history—and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.
My Thoughts:
Kat is a powerful character. I can just picture this petite girl standing up to big nasty thugs. It was a fun read. I started yesterday morning and finished a little after midnight. With 3 young kids I normally don’t stay up that late, but the story hooked me. I had to know how it all turned out. 
Of course there’s a fun flirty relationship as a side story. I just wished there was a little more, but that’s just me. I’ll have to get the 2nd book, Uncommon Criminals, very soon.
Happy Reading! 
Uncategorized

Giveaways!

Kathryn Cooper

I did some research and found some book giveaways happening on other book blogs. Click on my new ‘Giveaways’ tab to find the links. Check back often for new giveaways I hear about, and recruit more followers so I can have a 100 followers giveaway on this blog. So exciting! I love free books! I think I’m a book hoarder.

Book Review, the healer's apprentice

Book Review: The Healer’s Apprentice

Kathryn Cooper

Title: The Healer’s Apprentice 
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Publisher: Zondervan
Release Date: September 2010
Pages: 261
Series: none
4 STARS: I Really Liked It

From Goodreads.com:
Two Hearts. One Hope.
Rose has been appointed as a healer’s apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter’s daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her—a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill.
When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she’s never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose’s life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.
My Thoughts:
This is such a sweet love story. A forbidden love is always lots of fun to read. It’s been a few months since I read this so I can’t remember many details. I guess that means I can have fun reading it again!  
Happy Reading!