Review: Split by Swati Avasthi

Swati Avashti is hosting the Before the Split Tour this month to spotlight Domestic Violence Month and to help raise money for a worthy cause. You can read her guest post from yesterday HERE. If you haven't already please leave a comment at the end of her post. $1 for every comment left will go to the Family Violence Protection Fund. I will match every $1 up to $50.00.

As part of the tour and to help promote Swati's debut novel Split - I'm re-posting my review. It remains one of my favorite books this year.


16-year-old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father's fist), $3.84, and a secret. It is about what happens after. After you've said enough, after you've run, after you've made the split - how do you begin to live again? YA Fiction

Review:
Split tells the story of abuse from a unique perspective in YA literature today – the guys POV.

Because of this we are allowed to view a side of this topic that we don’t usually see. Christian and Jace are brothers and they both took beatings from their father to protect their mother. How they have dealt with that abuse emotionally couldn’t be more different from each other. Christian managed to escape years ago and made a life for himself but prefers to hide his past and avoid conflict. Jace was left behind to bear the brunt of their father’s beatings and he may be more like his father than he cares to admit. When he shows up on Christian’s doorstep asking for a place to stay, it forces the brothers to deal with issues they both would rather forget.

As Jace tries to escape and move on from his abusive father, there are many questions that still have to be answered.

After so many years of trying to live up to your father’s expectations, how do you avoid becoming him? Do you leave someone you love behind to save yourself? Do you deserve to have someone good in your life if you’ve done something bad?

I hate to say this is an “important” book because it brings to mind words like – boring – lecture – preachy, and this book is none of those things, but I do think it is an important story to read. Not much is written about boys who suffer from abuse and the effect that has on their relationships. The bad boy is often seen as someone who can be saved if you love him enough and are usually preferable to the good guy.

Avasthi doesn’t sugarcoat it but shows all sides of the subject through Jace’s relationships with the other characters.

There is Mirriam – Christian’s girlfriend who is a teacher and works with at risk children. She can be a little overbearing in her efforts to help but she means well and becomes an important influence in Jace's life.

Jace and Christian’s mom – this is a tough one, you are alternately angry at and sympathize with her. The scenes with her and the boys are the toughest to read.

Lauren – the girlfriend from Jace’s former life – theirs is a volatile relationship born from dysfunction but again the author doesn’t water it down to make it more palatable for the reader.

Then we have Dakota – the girl in Jace’s future (maybe). She represents something good, a healthy relationship for Jace if he can let go of his past.

There were a number of story lines and characters in this book, but for once I never felt like it was too much. It was just another piece to the unfolding story. I also laughed quite a bit throughout the book in spite of the subject matter.

Loved: The writing was top notch. Compelling and good pacing.

Nitpick: This is minor – but the cover and title don’t really pop. After reading the book it makes sense but I’m not sure I would have picked it up if wasn’t on my 2k10 list. (but I’m glad I did!)

Rating: 4 out of 4 Great book! Split is a riveting debut novel. Swati Avasthi has a lot of talent and I’m looking forward to what she writes next!

*Author's website: http://www.swatiavasthi.com/
*Buy The Book: Split
*Split is another book from the Class of 2k10. If you haven't checked out this group of debut YA and mid grade authors yet....get going!

*OK - I'm going to get a little preachy here. I looked up some statistics on children and violence after reading this book and the numbers are really shocking. I unfortunately have friends that were victims of child abuse and know the long lasting effects it can have on their self esteem and relationships. I really do think it's important (there's that word again....don't roll your eyes!) to be educated and try to put an end to the cycle of abuse. While the focus is primarily on the victims - mostly women - I believe we should put more effort into educating boys on how to handle their emotions, especially anger. Although I hate to say it, but I'm seeing more and more young women acting out violently these days too. Alright - I'm off my soapbox now!

(I've highlighted the statistics that I feel pertain to the book)

Statistics

 Between 3.3 million and 25 million children experience domestic violence in their homes each year. The number is greatly under-reported.
 Between 50% and 75% of male batterers also abuse their children.
 40% of suspected child abuse also includes a history of domestic violence.
 25% of victims of domestic violence are pregnant women.
 70% of the children in domestic violence shelters are physically abused or neglected.
 80% of runaways come from homes where domestic violence occurs.
 Young criminal offenders are four times more likely to come from abusive homes.
 63% of boys ages 11 to 20 arrested for homicide, have killed their mother’s assaulter.
 70% of men in court-ordered treatment for domestic violence witnessed it as a child.
 Girls from homes with domestic violence are 6.5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted, and more likely to become pregnant as a teen.
 Boys from homes with domestic violence are four times more likely to abuse in a dating relationship, 25 times more likely to commit rape as an adult, 6 times more likely to commit suicide, have a 74 percent greater chance of committing crimes against others, are 24 times more likely to commit a sexual assault as an adult, and 1000 times more likely to commit violent acts against an adult partner or their own children.

Statistics obtained from http://humanservices.ucdavis.edu/index.asp
Denial, Minimization, Externalization of Responsibility
By Alyce LaViolette CABIP Co-Chair, South
Alternatives to Violence Founder

Review: Party by Tom Leveen

It’s saturday night in Santa Barbara and school is done for the year. Everyone is headed to the same party. Or at least it seems that way. The place is packed. The beer is flowing. Simple, right? But for 11 different people the motives are way more complicated. As each character takes a turn and tells his or her story – one character per chapter – the eleven individuals intersect, and reconnect, collide, and combine in ways that none of them ever saw coming.
Examining friendship, dating, racism, sex, loss, and parents who truly don’t get it, PARTY invites you to join in the fun and drama of the biggest event of the year. Everyone’s invited. See you there! (YA)

Trailer:



Review:
I have to say I had next to zero interest in reading this book. The cover and blurb made it sound like I would be spending the day with a group of pretentious alcoholic brats. I am reading and reviewing all of the Class of 2k10 books however, and Party is part of that class so when Lena from http://addicted2novels.blogspot.com/    offered to let me read her copy I was thrilled because it meant I didn’t have to buy it. Harsh – I know. Well the joke is on me because I loved this book so much that I read it in four hours AND I’m going to go buy my own copy anyway!
Party follows the stories of 11 people whose lives intersect as they go to the big end of the school year party. Each chapter is written in a different POV which I thought would get annoying, but since they overlap at times you get a very good picture of what’s going on from all perspectives.
At the risk of dating myself – this reminded me of an updated version of The Breakfast Club. We have the geeky/shy girl, the skater boys, the jock, etc. People from all walks of life get together and see that their preconceived ideas and impressions of other people aren’t always correct. I’m sure there are more recent references but what can I say…I’m old.
I am finding that some of my favorite books this year are from the male POV. This has both girls and guys POV but my favorite chapters were from the guys as they tried to figure out what the heck makes girls tick. I’m curious about that myself at times. Not everyone is likeable and I’m sure some people won’t enjoy this book for that very reason. Ryan is a man-whore by his own admission, Josh although obviously one of the good guys has definite anger issues I think need to be explored. Morrigan is a bratty teenager looking for attention in all the wrong places, Beckett and Max’s story is by far the sweetest. There are also Tommy, Brent, Daniel, and Azize. Ashley is a common thread throughout all the stories.
Because it is told in 11 points of view you do miss some of the background story to the characters. You do have to take a leap of faith with some of the storylines and fill in the blanks for yourself but I didn’t mind.
I was laughing my ass off for most of the book and there were so many good lines to quote. I kept a list and my poor husband had to be subjected to hearing the whole list. Here's one of my favorites because it’s just so sweet and swoon worthy and in no way a spoiler. I won’t even say who it’s by - it speaks for itself even out of context….

“You are a weird, weird chick, I think. And I’d give anything, anything in this world to make you feel better. Or kiss you.”

My only quibble would be with Anthony’s storyline. He’s a star football player with a lot more going on than whether he makes it to the pros after high school. His storyline required a little more foundation than it was given and I felt he got off WAY to easy. I don’t think you can resolve his type of issues that quickly.
As a true testament of how much I loved this book it made it into my subconscious. When I really love a book I usually dream about it – alternate endings – bonus chapters (I know I'm a dork!)….and I did with this one. I imagined their first dates, all of them when their older and who they would end up with.
Loved: It made me laugh. Leveen could have easily added another 100 pages and I would have been a happy camper. Max + Beckett = sigh.
Nitpick: Didn’t love the Anthony storyline. Not that it wasn’t important because it was – it was too important to be handled so quickly. Some POV’s weren’t as interesting as others but all facilitated the story.

Rating 3.8 One of my favorite books this year! Very fast paced. Just the type of escapist fun summer reading I’ve been looking for!

Authors website: http://www.tomleveen.com/
Buy the book! Party

*Tom Leveen is a member of the Class of 2K10: http://www.classof2k10.com/  . Go check out what's coming up next! 

*check out all my Class of 2K10 book reviews on my sidebar under the "Class of 2k10 Debut Author Challenge Book Reviews & Interviews!" button.

Review: 13 to Life: A Werewolf's Tale by Shannon Delany

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early. YA, Paranormal (June 22. 2010)

Review:
I follow author Shannon Delany on twitter and I have to admit that I’ve become quite obsessed with reading 13 to Life and in particular Pietr just from her “tweet-cerpts”. So when I finally got my grubby paws on an ARC (I won it at a charity auction) along with some gorgeous 13 to Life wolfy swag! I wasn’t sure what to expect now that I had it!
The book opens with Jess still reeling from the sudden death of her mom in a horrible accident. Everyone around her believes she’s mentally unstable or even suicidal. She just wants to be alone and do well enough in school so she can leave her small home town behind. She does have the help of her best friends Amy & Sarah plus pining over her crush Derek to help her get through the days.
When Jess is assigned to show the new boy Pietr around school she tries to make the best of it but he just blows her off and acts arrogant. It doesn’t help that every girl in school is drooling over him – even her best friends, but Pietr doesn’t seem to notice anyone. Strange.
I have to say that the first half of 13 to Life left me a little confused. There are so many hints and literary references to a bigger story but without answers that I wasn’t sure who or what was important or not. I never understood why Jess was so self sacrificing in her relationship with Sarah or what her attraction to Derek was. Then at about the halfway point there were some big revelations and I had an “AHA!” moment when it all came together. My opinions of most of the characters changed and I can see a WHOLE lot of trouble in the future! This section was my favorite part of the book and had me flipping the pages at a frantic pace.
The relationship between Jess and Pietr is strained by his secrets and her need to sacrifice her happiness out of a sense of duty. There is a love triangle (and maybe a future quadrangle?) that leads to more secrets and betrayal - but not the typical one you might expect. Sometimes I didn’t understand why this all needed to be so complicated on Jess’s part. I wanted to yell – “Just listen to Amy!!”
Despite the title “13 to Life – A Werewolves Tale”, this is more of a story about finding and accepting ones self rather than a rip roaring werewolf tale. There is a beautiful and heartbreaking scene when Pietr reveals his true self to Jess. They were both so vulnerable at that moment. I liked how Pietr turned from arrogant and aloof into Jess’s protector and their relationship was very sweet.
The last third of the book really starts to delve into the wolf aspect and the Russian mafia connection. I liked Delany’s concept for the wolf lore. The ending was a little abrupt though and again left a whole lot of secrets in the balance so I’m left to wait for book two where we can focus more on the werewolves and find out if Jess and Pietr can survive under the pressure of all their lies and the growing danger.
“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive” by Sir Walter Scott is an apt quote for this first book in the series.
Liked: I really liked the side characters. They were more complex - almost more than Pietr and Jess. I’m looking forward to learning more about Sarah and Derek and I loved BFF Amy!
-My “AHA!” moment when it all came together. It was one of those things where you get nervous reading because you must know what happens!
Nitpick: A lot crammed into one book. I’m sure it all fits together in the end but it felt a little disjointed at times.
-More wolves please.
-Jess- please stop what your doing to Pietr!! You know what I mean :-)
 

Rating: 3 out of 4. The first half left me slightly lost but then it kicked in. It will be interesting to see how Shannon develops the wolf mythology in books two and three and joins the various plotlines together.

Thanks to Shannon for donating her very last ARC to "Do the write thing for Nashville" an online charity auction held to raise money for the TN flood victims - and for bringing my book, pins, and poster to BEA in NY so I could pick them up in person.....and for including me in the acknowledgements in the next book! That's going to be very surreal!!

*Author's website: Shannon Delany
*Follow Shannon on Twitter (which I highly recommend) @Shannon_Delany
*Buy the book! 13 to Life
*Shannon is a member of the Class of 2K10: http://www.classof2k10.com/. Go check out what's coming up next!
*check out all my Class of 2K10 book reviews on my sidebar under the "Class of 2k10 Debut Author Challenge Book Reviews & Interviews!" button.

Review: Mistwood by Leah Cypess

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood. But when she is needed she always comes.
 Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be or the powers she is supposed to have.
 Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.
 Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew. YA

Review:
I really loved Mistwood. It was the first book I’ve read in a long time that was fresh and original and where I felt that I was being swept into the world Cypess created. It was also one of the few books that I couldn’t see what was coming. I was surprised several times by plot twists.
This isn’t so much a paranormal book (even though it has a shifter as the MC) as a world with betrayals and poltical intrigue at every turn.
Isabel is the legendary Shifter sworn to protect kings. After she fails and the King and his family are murdered under her watch, she returns to the Mistwood, forgetting everything other than that she is the Shifter, until she is pulled back by duty by the Prince Rokan who needs her protection if he is to become the new king.
Rokan needs her help to fend off rivals during his transition to power but both are harboring secrets that could endanger the other.
This book is being promoted as a romance which is a little misleading. There aren’t a lot of grand romantic gestures but it makes the ones that are there all the more powerful in my opinion. The bond that Rokan and Isabel forge in spite of the odds is one built on mutual respect and understanding of each other’s circumstances. It’s a relationship that is put to the ultimate test and because of that it made it more believable.
He didn’t move, but there was something savage in the way he watched her. “I only knew the legend then. I didn’t know you.”

“I am the legend”

“No.” His eyes were like spear tips. Not quite able to reach her, but not for lack of trying. “No, you’re not. Legends don’t laugh, or argue, or make sly remarks. Legends don’t want and need and feel. Legends don’t betray”

There are some really beautiful passages that I found myself highlighting. Cypess’s writing style has a gentle, somewhat lyrical quality to me. It might turn some people off but I found it a refreshing change of pace. Her shifter is unlike any I have read about before and Rokan is a young man who would be king - struggling between power and humanity.
If I have one complaint it would be that I would have a liked a little more action, it’s not a very fast paced story but just as I was thinking that I realized I was near the end so it certainly didn’t deter me in any way.
I really hope this is the beginning of a series. I would love to see Rokan and Isabel working and ruling together and learn more about the Mistwood itself.
As for the ending. I have seen some complaints. It’s not a big sweeping ending but I really liked it and felt it stayed true to the subtle tone of the book.
Loved: Isabel was a really strong complex character as was Rokan. The supporting characters were nicely developed also - but to a lesser extent. I liked Isabel’s relationship with Rokan’s sister Clarisse, and the sorcerer Ven.
Nitpick: A little more action would have been nice.

Rating: 3.5 out of 4. A beautiful story!

Author's website: http://www.leahcypess.com/
Buy the book! Mistwood
Leah Cypess is a member of the Class of 2K10: http://www.classof2k10.com/.  Go check out what's coming up next!
*check out all my Class of 2K10 book reviews on my sidebar under the "Class of 2k10 Debut Author Challenge Book Reviews & Interviews!" button.

Review: Under My Skin by Judith Graves

All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life... Redgrave had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets, missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night.
 Wade, the police chief's son and Redgrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal. But she can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding--human Alec. And then her world falls apart.

A normal life? Now that's the real fairytale. YA, Paranormal

Review:
Under My Skin has all the elements of a good paranormal YA – werewolves, vampires, shamans and sprites. It has secrets, danger and of course a love triangle.
I really liked Grave’s spin on werewolves. There are Wolven who are born and werewolves which are made. Eryn is a half breed Wolven who has had her wolf kept in check by a drug her father has been giving her. When her parents go missing Eryn has to deal not only with their loss but also with her primal wolf impulses – impulses that may put her and those she loves in danger.
Eryn also works as a Hunter for The Council - a group that keeps paranormal creatures in check. The council has moved Eryn to Redgrave to keep her safe while they look for her missing parents. Despite her secrets she manages to make a friend in Brit the resident goth chick who warns her against taking up with Alec Delecroix whom she has encounter while running in the woods.
OK – I didn’t really get pulled into this book right away but once Alec entered the picture (it’s always about a boy…isn’t it??) I was hooked.

Brit: “He’s hot alright, but……..You don’t want to go there.”
 Eryn: “I don’t?” But the image of his long dark hair, broad shoulders, and powerful thighs had already registered on my but – I - really - think - I – do – want – to – go - there interest meter”

Alec and his brother Matt are also Hunter’s and Eryn joins with them to help fight the paranorms all while trying to keep her secret fearing Alec will reject her if he finds out.
Wade also enters the picture as the sexy son of the local police chief and this sets up a pretty good love triangle. I usually get stressed out over these, but I loved both guys and could see it going either way. I think Alec gets a little short changed once Wade enters the picture but Alec’s mom has a pretty ominous prediction about Alec and Eryn so this storyline is guaranteed to get more time in the next book.
There is quite a bit more going on in Under My Skin but I don’t want to reveal spoilers so I hope I’ve peaked your interest enough for you to check it out.
I did have a few issues. One was the aforementioned love triangle. As I said I loved both guys and Eryn is drawn to both for different reasons and it makes complete sense. But her response to both boys is pretty intense and gave me a case of whiplash at how fast she could go from guy to guy.
It seems that the book walked the line of YA and adult. The themes and romantic interactions bordered on more of an adult paranormal but then it would slip into more of a breezy high school vibe – lowering the intensity for me.
Under My Skin leaves a few things up in the air: Can the council be trusted? Is Wade evil? Is there more to Alec than meets the eye? How far will Eryn have to go to save the ones she loves? And what the heck does that vision mean??? I have my own thoughts on that last one but I will just have to wait and see…arghh – I’m not the most patient person!
Liked: The boys! Nice love triangle. Lays the foundation for a really good series.
Nitpick: There were illustrations throughout the book. They were very nice but took me out of the story and I prefer to have my own vision for what a character looks like. Not too distracting though. As with most first books in a series, it had a lot going on to lay the foundation for the future storylines.

Rating: 3 out of 4. I did wish it delved a little deeper into the Council or was a little (consistently) darker but it was still a fun read and I’ll be keeping my eye out for book two when it comes out next year.

Author's Website: http://judithgraves.com/
Buy the book! 
Amazon:Under My Skin
Leapbooks: http://www.leapbks.com/judithgraves.htm
Judith is a member of the Class of 2K10: www.classof2k10.com . Go check out what's coming up next!
*check out all my Class of 2K10 book reviews on my sidebar under the "Class of 2k10 Debut Author Challenge Book Reviews & Interviews!" button.

Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.



Review:
“The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends and where the other begins”
                                                                    -Edgar Allan Poe, “The Premature Burial”

That’s the paragraph that starts off Shade - and it is as good a description as any of what’s to come.
But I suppose you want to know more about what I think about plotlines and love triangles so here we go. Aura and anyone born after the “Shift” can see ghosts. Anyone older cannot. There are courts to help ghosts who are lingering in this world find justice so they can pass on. If they don’t, their bitterness can turn them into Shades – ghosts who are consumed by the darkness.
All of this becomes much too personal when Aura’s boyfriend Logan dies and is trapped in her world.
To be honest I had a little trouble getting into the story to begin with. There is a lot of talk about Irish music and drinking, astrological/metaphysical mumbo jumbo and I felt a little disoriented at first.
Then a funny thing happened…I got sucked in and I wanted to know all about the “astrological/metaphysical mumbo jumbo” and what it means for both the living and the dead. I’m usually drawn more to the characters than the world around them but I found myself fascinated by the moral, ethical and psychological dilemmas the Shift presented. What it must be like for people born before the Shift who can’t see ghosts. To know your loved one is dead, lost to you forever, but to also know that they are out there somewhere… still alive in a way but able to communicate only with those born after the Shift. How do you let go? Or how do you love a ghost that you can see but never touch? Is that really living – for either of you? Do you help them move on or find a way to make them stay?
What about the love triangle you ask? “It’s complicated.” Another line from the book that sums everything up. We have Logan – who’s vibrant, impulsive and egotistical – basically being your average 17 yr old boy, but also full of life (even in death) with an undying love & loyalty for Aura. Then there is Zachary – the very much alive and near perfect boy that helps ease Aura’s pain and may be the key to helping Aura unlock the secrets of the Shift. I have picked a “team” on this one (and Jeri – no I didn’t change my mind after reading…lol)….sadly I think I’m on the losing side of this one so I’m trying not to invest too much into that aspect *sniff* *sniff*. All three of them are written in such an honest way though. I both loved and got irritated with all three of them at different points. Particularly Aura and Logan who have a lot of maturing to do, but I believe that’s the point so I don’t mean that as a criticism but as a compliment to the writing of these complex characters.
There is SO much more to this story but I don’t want to give anything away so let me just say that despite the confusing start I finished it as I do all of Jeri’s books – in an emotional puddle of goo – Kleenex in hand! That ending!! OMG. I am already trying to restrain myself from thinking of all the possible angles of the next book, Shift.
Loved: The complexity of the world, the plot and characters. No easy choices here. The ending - WOW.
Nitpick: Not a big fan of Aura’s best friend Megan and I sometimes found it hard to believe the true love angle of Logan and Aura with the way she sometimes acted…but maybe that’s the point?? Hmmm

Rating: 3.8 out of 4! I cannot wait to get my hands on book two!

Be sure to read this great guest post by Jeri explaining how she came up with science behind the Shift. Really brilliant and it helps explain so much! Whatever blog

*Author's website: http://www.jerismithready.com/  or follow her on Twitter @jsmithready
*Playlist for Shade: Shade - music  Perfect!
*Buy the book! At amazon Shade , or get a signed copy from Constellation Books like I did!

*Jeri is a member of the Class of 2K10. A group of debut YA and mid grade authors. Check out my reviews of these fantastic books on my sidebar (look for the Class of 2K10 Debut Author challenge button) and go to their website at www.classof2K10.com  to see what's coming up next!

*Since this is probably the last chance I have to gush about Jeri Smith-Ready until Bring On the Night (WVMP, Book 3) comes out the end of July, I hope you will indulge me one more time. Did I mention that she’s my favorite??

This is Jeri’s third series and her first as a YA author. What amazes me about Jeri’s writing is that if you didn’t see her name on the book, you just might not even know she wrote it. Sure the quality of the writing is always there; the love of music….always, and the intelligent characters. But each world and story is so unique and so completely original, whether it is her first book Requiem for the Devil, or her Aspect of Crow trilogy, the WVMP Vampire series or now the Shade series.  I expected some similarities in Shade to her WVMP vampire series since both Logan & Shane are musicians and Aura/Ciara both have a bit of attitude and rebellion in them, but not at all!! The books couldn’t be more different from each other except that both stories use music as an emotional barometer throughout. Even in that they are different. The music here is a blend of contemporary and Irish punk/rock and in fact Shane just might die (again) if he had to listen to some of it!
While there is a comfort level in picking up a book by an author that has a tried and true formula, it is such a thrill to dive into a book and not know where the hell it’s going to take you…and each time get totally blown away. That pretty much sums up Jeri as an author to me.

If your interested in Jeri's other books and my summary/opinion of each click here

Review: The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter

Abbie Adams comes from a long line of witches, and she's having a tough time keeping it a secret from her best friend and the rest of her school. Especially the day her little brother morphs into a wolf and tries to eat his teacher:
That's also the day her father brings home a kitten. Abbie's been begging for a cat for months, and she falls in love with that fluffy fuzzball right away. But there's something peculiar about this kitten, and it just might take a witch like Abbie to figure it out what it is. Children, ages 9-12

REVIEW:
I was hooked at - “The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams”! How could you not want to read a book with that title??
Abbie is a fifth grader with all the usual problems…….a mean teacher, too much homework, a baby brother that she always has to get out of trouble. Except that she’s also a witch – and the trouble her baby brother (Munch) gets into is anything but normal. She actually had to freeze time to stop Munch from turning into a werewolf and bite his teacher for giving him a time out! Since she’s still learning her spells, sometimes they don’t turn out right and she gets in trouble…again…..plus she can’t tell her very best friend Callie about any of this. Sometimes being a witch can be lonely.
But never dull. When her dad brings home a kitten as a pet for Abbie, she sees there is more than meets the eye with this cute & exceptionally smart furball. Is a kitten supposed to read through all your science books faster than you?
It seems a powerful witch is messing with time itself and it’s up to Abbie and her family to find out who and solve the mystery of Tom the kitten and set things right.
Sound adorable? It is. Aside from the obvious cute factor, this is also a story with positive messages. Abbie makes mistakes and learns from them. She’s a great role model for young girls. I also liked the way Hayter portrayed the Abbie’s family. A little too idyllic to be sure, but still a nice change of pace.
Loved: I said it before but…it’s just adorable. I love animals and the story with Tom the kitten would have been a dream come true to me when I was a little girl!
Nitpick: It was a little slow to start and I think it would have been better if it was a tad shorter. I think this book should have a few more illustrations - maybe at each chapter title – depicting a scene.

Rating: 3 out of 4! Great book for kids and I really hope it becomes a series – I could imagine all the places Abbie will go

*Author's website: Rhonda Hayter
*Buy the book! The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams
*Rhonda is an author from the class of 2k10. Go check out the great YA and mid-grade books coming up   next! http://www.classof2k10.com/

Read my interview with Rhonda Hayter!! HERE

Review: The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman

From the book... “Maybe his invention would even make him popular, like Mitch. Eddy hoped not, because he wouldn’t like to have so many people around him all the time. He preferred to be by himself, or maybe with one or two other people, like Justin and Kip, or Terry. Otherwise, with too many people talking, Eddy had too many of those stupid, unwritten social rules to decipher at the same time.”
Meet Eddy
Eddy Thomas copes with the noise and crowds of Drayton Middle School by reciting the periodic table of elements, memorizing Morse code, and jumping on the trampoline in the gym teacher’s office. His mind stores thousands of facts and the scientific names of animals and plants, but cannot decode the meaning of the expressions on faces or the definition of a friend. When the local school crossing guard is laid off, Eddy can’t stop thinking about the dangerous intersection and the possibility that someone could get hurt there. Marshalling his talents as a scientist and inventor, he builds a traffic – calming device out of his collection of old machines. Could Eddy’s invention help with more than just the safety situation?
Meet Eddy’s friends
Eddy has known Mitch since preschool and Mitch talks to Eddy more than anyone else at school. That makes them friends, doesn’t it? Then a new kid invites Eddy to sit with him at lunch, and Eddy begins to take a closer look at how friendship really works. Eddy discovers that even the mechanics of friendship — trust, humor, and a willingness to help — can be learned. Mid-grade ages 9-12
(description copied from Jacqueline Houtman's website)

REVIEW:
The Reinvention of Edison Thomas is an original, and intelligent story that could be applied to any number of situations in a child's life. Edison (Eddy) is living with a condition similar to autism spectrum disorder (his condition is never given a specific name in the book) and he has problems interacting with other people.  Eddy sees things in black and white so he has problems reading into the subtleties of conversation that we all take for granted and often misinterprets peoples meanings. He gets overwhelmed by loud noises and crowds and finds solace in his basement working on his inventions.
Eddy believes that his only friend is Mitch, a boy he has known forever, but when bad things start happening to Eddy and he starts getting in trouble in school, he has to consider that Mitch may be the one behind it. As he tries to come to terms with finding out Mitch is not only not his friend but a bully, he also has to learn to make and trust new friends.
I loved how Houtman wrote Eddy. He could have come off as aloof or like an after school special where you feel pity for him, but you don't. He's just a boy going through the things that most of us do in middle school, albeit from a very different perspective.
Eddy thinks in RAM - random access memory. His brain is filled with random scientific facts that help him process the world around him. For example after a a drop of rain lands on his watch he thinks: "Fact number 212 from the Random Access Memory of Edison Thomas: Petricho, the distinctive smell of rain on dry ground, is caused by plant oils release into the air from clay-based rocks and soil. Conducting his experiments and making his inventions help to calm him and are much simpler than interacting with people.
These random thoughts are throughout the book and this is where book's strength lies - it doesn't talk down to its audience. It assumes that kids are curious and receptive to new information. I'm not the target audience for this book and I don't have children, but I would think this would be a great book to read with a child and have a set of encyclopedias nearby to further investigate all the things that are sure to peak their curiosity.
Reading The Reinvention of Edison Thomas with a child would also be a good way to bring up bullying and how to treat people who may act or look different than ourselves. There are some very positive messages in this book as Eddy learns to trust the right people and work with others towards a common goal.
I was never a strong science student either but this book introduces science in a fun way. The appendix is filled with "not so random numbers" 1.7kg = average weight of an adult male duck-billed platypus, 44 pounds = weight of the largest lobster on record, 73atm = minimum supercritical pressure of carbon dioxide (above 31.1C)
Loved: Very original story that was straight forward and not overly sentimental, also enjoyed his friends Justin, Terry and Kip
Nitpick: I felt it ended rather abrubptly. The story has a satisfying ending but I guess I wanted more detail. Maybe there will be more adventures for Eddy and friends?

Rating: 3.5 out of 4 Probably better for younger audiences (it is recomended for ages 9-12) Smart and filled with lessons kids won't even know their learning!

On a side note, I want to mention that this book is another from the Class of 2k10 (a group of mid-grade and YA debut authors - I know you've heard this many times already from me!)It's my goal to read and review all of the books on their list and I am pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of these stories. Island Sting by Bonnie Doerr and The Reinvention of Edison Thomas are particularly good for younger children. Both are smart and well written and make great starting points for discussions about science, the environment and navigating relationships. Consider getting them for a child in your life or like I am doing - donating my copies to the local library.

Author's website: www.jhoutman.com
Buy the book! The Reinvention of Edison Thomas
Jacqueline is a member of the Class of 2k10 - a group of mid grade and YA debut authors. Check out their website and trailer HERE

REVIEW: Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham

"Mama always said every quilt tells a story. Every piece of cloth, every stitch and every bit of cotton stuffed between the seams tells a secret about the one who made the quilt." - Ludelphia Bennett
Ludelphia Bennett may be blind in one eye, but that doesn't mean she can't put in a good stitch. In fact, Ludelphia sews all the time, especially when things are going wrong. But when Mama gets deathly ill, it doesn't seem like even quilting will help. Mama needs medicine badly - medicine that can only be found in Camden, over forty miles away. That's when Ludelphia decides to do something drastic - leave Gee's Bend.
Beyond the log cabins, orange dirt, and cotton fields of her small sharecropping community, Ludelphia discovers a world she could never have imagined. Fancy houses, cars, and even soda pop! But there's also danger lurking for a young girl on her own, and Ludelphia begins to wonder if she'll ever see Gee's Bend or her Mama again. Despite the twists and turns, Ludelphia weathers each challenge in a way that would make her mama proud, and may even save the day not just for Mama, but her entire town.
Set in 1932 and inspired by the rich quilting history of Gee's bend, Alabama, LEAVING GEE'S BEND is a heart-touching tale of a young girl's unexpected adventure. Midgrade - Ages 9-12

Review:
I have to be honest here, I had no interest in reading this book. I did however issue a challenge to myself to read and review all the books from the class of 2k10 so I downloaded Gee's Bend to my kindle and there it has sat - unread - since January. I usually don't like reading period books and I have next to no interest in sewing or quilting.
But that's the beauty of books, sometimes they take you somewhere you didn't even know you wanted to go.
10 year old Ludelphia embarks on a journey outside of Gee's Bend to find a doctor to save her mother after a difficult childbirth. She is a child of sharecroppers, only has one eye and has never seen anything outside her small community. She encounters automobiles, coca cola and white people for the very first time. Along the way she collects scraps of fabric to make into a quilt to bring her mother to tell the story of her adventure.
Again, this is not my typical type of story but I did find myself enjoying Ludelphia's discoveries, sometimes interpreting them as only a 10 year old child could. I kept thinking of Laura Ingalls Wilder while reading this. It's told with that type of childlike wonderment and practicality of people who don't have a lot but appreciate the things they do have.
The story also gave me a new appreciation for the quilts that my husband's grandmother made for all four of her grandchildren before she died. She had saved all the fabric from sheets, pajamas and other clothing from their childhood. I think I have a better of understanding of what making those quilts meant to her.
Loved: Ludelphia - she was simple and sweet and I couldn't help but root for her.
Nitpick: I think the story could have delved a little deeper in tone about racism, poverty and other issues for that period.

Rating: 3 out of 4. Sweet story. A nice introduction to history and quilting for children, although I wish it delved a little deeper into the issues of that era.


Author's website: Irene Latham
Follow Irene on Twitter @Irene_Latham
Buy the book: Leaving Gee's Bend
Irene is a member of the http://www.classof2k10.com/ a group of YA and Mid-Grade debut authors.

REVIEW: TAGGED by Mara Purnhagen

Kate is just as confused as her best friend, Lan, when she arrives at Cleary High to find the building's been "tagged" with a life-size gorilla graffiti mural. Could the culprit be one of their friends or classmates? And is the kind-of-amazing creation really vandalism, or a work of art? She's tempted to stay out of it--mostly because, as the police chief's daughter, she's worried about being labeled a snitch. But when the same mysterious graffiti starts appearing throughout the state, putting more pressure on the authorities to catch the vandal, her investigative instincts kick in.
Now Eli, Kate's favorite coworker at the local coffee shop, is MIA. With Lan preoccupied with her own boy troubles, Kate needs to figure out some things on her own. Like why she can't stop thinking about Eli. And what she will do when all the clues about the graffiti point to someone she's close to... YA Fiction

REVIEW:
Kate leads a very boring life and isn’t good at anything in particular unlike her friends and family, so she usually tries to blend into the background. When murals of six 4 foot, life like gorillas show up on the wall at school and then around town, she is reluctantly drawn into a heated debate in class as to whether this is art or vandalism. Should Kate give her opinion on the debate and risk embarrassment?
The upside of the gorilla controversy is that it gives Kate something to talk about to her secret crush, Eli, the boy she works with at the coffee shop Something Brewing. He seems interested in Kate’s opinions and she finds herself opening up to him. One thing I really liked about this book was the interactions between Kate and Eli at the coffee shop. Because the place was so small and quirky it put the characters in a lot of situations that they wouldn’t have been in otherwise, yet it never felt forced.
Yes, Eli is swoon worthy – even though he is a little misguided at times.
Tagged also touches on what it’s like trying to fit in with the rest of the crowd and trying to find your own sense of self. This short book (I finished it in about 3 hours) packs quite the punch and I recommend it if you’re looking for a fun read that also gets you thinking. I found myself going back and forth with my opinion about the great gorilla “Art vs. Vandalism” debate.
Loved: Kate and her best friend Lan. Kate’s relationship with her parents. The scenes in the coffee shop.
Nitpick: I would have liked to know a little more of Eli’s perspective

Rating: 3.8 out 4 A smart and fun book by this debut author! Go get Tagged!

Authors Website: Mara Purnhagen
Buy The Book: Tagged (Harlequin Teen)
TAGGED is a book from the Class Of 2k10. Visit their site HERE to find out more about the debut YA authors coming up!

REVIEW: Freaksville by Kitty Keswick

Every woman in the Maxwell family has the gift of sight. A talent sixteen year old Kasey would gladly give up. Until Kasey has a vision about Josh Johnstone, the foreign exchange student from England. The vision leads her into deep waters, a lead in a play, and into the arms of Josh. But Josh, too, has a secret. Something that could put them all in danger. To solve a mystery of a supernatural haunting, they must uncover the secrets of the haunted theater when they are trapped on the night of the full moon. YA Paranormal

REVIEW:
Kasey has the gift (or curse) of sight – whenever she touches someone she sees bits and pieces of their future and it’s not always a good one. She has to wear long gloves to school so she doesn’t accidentally touch someone. As you can imagine this doesn’t make her Miss Popularity in school. One day she touches Josh, the hottie British exchange student and her world spirals out of control. In her quest to save Josh from the future she saw in her vision, she finds herself in a world of murderous ghosts, werewolves and other supernatural beings.
The story is told as if Kasey is writing her blog. This style didn’t work for me. I don’t think anyone writes in that much detail on their blog (I could be wrong). Kasey wants to be a normal girl and hides her powers from everyone except those closest to her, so it was hard for me to believe that she would use real names and events online and risk exposing her secret. Having said that, it didn’t deter from the story. The comments after each post were a nice touch and sometimes revealing. Another thing that makes this book unique are the drawings throughout the book and a helpful glossary to understand Josh’s British slang.
What I really did like about this story were the supporting characters. I loved Kasey’s best friend Gillie. Gillie isn’t afraid to tell Kasey when she’s acting self absorbed. Their relationship changes throughout the book as secrets are revealed. I also liked Kasey’s parents. They were more complex than in most stories of this nature and they are central to the plot. Josh is cute and sweet and of course has his own secrets, but it’s his best friend Gunther who I adored.
Josh and Kasey make a cute couple but I’m not sure I believed that they were in “love” that fast with all that was going on around them. They're relationship will be put to the test by their growing powers and with the revelation that their families have been in involved in a 700 year long fued.
I would have liked Freaksville to delve a little deeper and be a little darker than it was but so many potentially game changing things are hinted at that I’m looking forward to the next book.
Liked: The supporting characters and the set up for the next book, FURRY AND FREAKED
Nitpick: Wasn’t a big fan of the blog format or the drawings but neither were a distraction to the story.

Rating: 2.8 out of 4 There are a lot of similar books out right now and I enjoyed this one but what I’m really looking forward to is FURRY AND FREAKED Book 2 of this series! Looks like it will be more of what I wanted in this one.

• Authors website: Kitty Keswick
• Buy the book! Freaksville or HERE at Leap Books
• Free Read "MY PROM DATES A VAMPIRE" a free story by Kitty Keswick at Leap Books Exclusives
• Kitty is also part of the Class of 2k10 debut YA authors! Check out who's coming up next!

REVIEW: Island Sting by Bonnie Doerr

Kenzie didn't expect her first summer in the Florida Keys to be murder. Or cute guys, awesome boats, endangered species, and gun-toting thugs... When city girl Kenzie Ryan moves to a Florida wildlife refuge, she plunges straight into an eco-mystery. Kenzie trades New York streets for Keys pollution cleanup, and now, instead of hailing cabs, she's tracking down a poacher of endangered Key deer. Her new home does have some benefits-mainly Angelo, an island native, who teams up with her to nab the culprit. But will they both survive when the killer turns from stalking deer to hunting humans? Island Sting includes notes on the endangered Florida Key Deer and the National Key Deer Refuge. YA (ages 9-12)


REVIEW:
Island Sting gets the action going right away with NY City transplant, Kenzie, diving into the canal to save a dog. A cute boy named Angelo comes to their rescue fishing them out. Kenzie finds out what she really jumped in after wasn’t a dog, but an endangered Key deer.
So begins Kenzie’s transformation from city slicker to amateur sleuth and budding environmentalist. Key Deer having been turning up dead around the island and Angelo believes that the deer he and Kenzie saved (now named Molly) was chased into the canal by a dog owned by a local vagrant named Jigs. He also believes that Jigs is trapping and killing the tiny deer in Big Pine Key.
They begin investigating but after a chance encounter with Jigs and his dog Robin, Kenzie is sure he isn’t the poacher.
The story has a nice narrative flow and juggles many issues impacting teens today. Doerr manages to tackle poaching, pollution, divorce, making new friends, and a touch of romance in a way that doesn’t come off as preachy or heavy handed. I also really liked the way she handled the character of Jigs. Because he is poor and eccentric people make assumptions about him, but Kenizie goes with her gut feelings and forms a friendship with him, showing how we shouldn’t judge people based on appearances.
One thing that I wasn't sure of was how old Kenzie was. What I mean by that is, at times she seemed about 10-12yrs old in her mannerisms and wording and at other times she was intelligent, independent and feeling all the emotions of a normal 16 year old hormonal teenager. I couldn’t quite get a handle on her age, but she is likeable.
I think this is a good book and I believe it’s one that parents could (and should) read with their kids. It would be a great starting point to discuss State Parks, the environment and how to get involved in the community more. Parents will also appreciate that this book is quite tame compared to a lot of the YA books that are out there now. Nothing supernatural, just a good mystery about real issues dealt with by real people.
Loved: Touched on a lot of issues with a light touch. Didn’t feel heavy handed.
Nitpick: I wish there was a little more about Kenzie's past life in NY to see how far she's come.

Rating: 3 out of 4 - for me. I think this book is aimed at and would appeal more to a younger audience and to parents.
Second Opinion: A friends 10 year old daughter gave it a 3.5 star review and liked the environmental theme. She was a little upset by the Key Deer deaths. It also made her want to learn about the Manatees when she visits FL. 

Authors's website: Bonnie Doerr
Buy: Island Sting
Island Sting is a book from the Class Of 2k10. Visit their site HERE to find out more about the debut YA authors coming up!

REVIEW: The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?  YA Fiction

REVIEW:
I was hooked from the first page of this book.
Colt is from the poor side of town with junk cars littering his front yard, while Julia lived up on Black Mountain Road in a house with an alarm system and servants.
After meeting one night on the riverbank, they start a secret relationship in spite of - or because of - their differences. Julia already has a boyfriend, Austin. Even though she seems unhappy with him she would rather keep up the charade and keep seeing Colt on the side. At first Colt is ok with the arrangement. He has no desire to go to country club parties or hang out with her rich, snobby friends but there are times he wishes he could at least acknowledge knowing her in public.

"When she passed me in the halls, her eyes would glide over me like I was part of the walls. That turned me cold. I liked to break that glide, to catch and hold her eyes."

When Julia is killed in a car accident, Colt has no one he can talk to, no way to say goodbye to her. He goes to her funeral but only as a fellow student and has to watch as Austin plays the part of the grieving boyfriend.
Soon after her death, Julia's brother gives Colt a notebook of letters that she had written to him over the past year but had never shown him. Through this notebook he tries to relive their relationship trying to find out what it meant to her and try to find a way to grieve and move past the loss of her.
Jennifer's writing style is simple, beautiful and raw. The story is told from Colt's perspective as he reads Julia's notebook, but at times I felt I was reading Colt's diary, and that I shouldn't be, it felt so personal. Or like I was a fly on the wall, watching him as he struggles to let Julia go and start new relationships.
I didn't always understand or even like Julia but I could see why these two got together. I also liked getting a guy's perspective in a story for once.
The book is primarily about Colt and Julia, but it touches on so many things. Class issues, friendships, families, teen sex but it's all part of the story and never feels overdone.
It's not always an easy read emotionally, but it's well worth it. I read it in about 5 hours. Like I said, I was hooked - only putting it down to feed my dogs and to get the mail!
Loved: The writing style. That it was from a guys perspective. Original and uncompromising.
Nitpick: Don't have one. Ok Maybe one - I loved Colt's brother Tom and would have liked to hear his story too....but that's not really a nitpick, more of a wish for another book from his POV.


Rating: 4 out of 4! ( the first perfect rating for the blog!)
 
Buy here The Secret Year
Jennifer R. Hubbard blog http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/
This book is part of the class of 2k10

Next up! A review of another 2k10 book - "Leaving Gee's Bend" by Irene Latham
I'm hoping to read & review them all!

REVIEW: Of All The Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz

When a rumor starts circulating that Tara’s boyfriend has been with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn’t just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for three lifelong friends.

 Tara’s training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment from her father.

Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave her looking for her own value in the wrong places.


And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mama she’s never stopped missing.


Then the new girl arrives in school and Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt for before for a girl. Can the girls’ friendship survive when all the rules have changed? YA Fiction

REVIEW:
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this book a few months ago during Jeri Smith-Ready's Blogtoberfest.

The book is told from the alternating points of view of three best friends.

It started strong from Tara's POV. I was drawn into her relationship with Brent and with her friends Whitney Blaire and Pinkie. So I found it a little jarring that just when Tara's world is coming down around her we shifted to Whitney Blaire's POV, then Pinkie's.

Having said that ...once I got used to the three girls' very different personalities I enjoyed going back and forth between them. At one point in the book an event occurs and is told from Tara and then Whitney Blair's POV. It was interesting that they could see the same event so differently.

Although Tara's is the main story, Whitney Blaire and Pinkie each have story lines that help explain their actions and reactions to Tara's growing relationship with Riley, the new girl at school.

The girls personalities and experiences are different enough that I think that everyone will be able to have someone to relate to.

There are sexual situations in the book but they are not exploitive and are handled honestly.

Loved: Tara's inner strength and ability to accept herself and her choices even if it meant losing her friends. All three girls had well developed story lines that intersected nicely at the end.
The Cover is beautiful!

Nitpick: It takes a little while to get used to the very different personalties of the 3 girls. I wanted to know more about David (a friend of the girls and potential love interest for Whitney Blaire) and even Brent. I can't blame Alexandra Diaz for that one though - I don't think there would be room for anymore perspectives!

I give it a rating of 3.5 out 4. Definitely read it!

Alexandra Diaz is Part of the Class of 2K10. A group of debut authors of Middle Grade and YA fiction. Check out the rest of the group and release dates here: http://www.classof2k10.com/

Alexandra's website: http://www.alexandra-diaz.com/
Buy the book: Of All the Stupid Things

Class Of 2K10: Reviews & Interviews!

Reviews of Class of 2K10 books:

*Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz
*The Secret Year by Jennifer R Hubbard
*Island Sting by Bonnie Doerr
*Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
*Tagged by Mara Purnhagen
*Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham
*The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman
*Split by Swati Avasthi
*The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter
*Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
*Under My Skin by Judith Graves
*Mistwood by Leah Cypess
*13 to Life by Shannon Delany
*Faithful by Janet Fox
Change of Heart by Shari Mauer
Interviews and other posts with the authors from the Class of 2K10:

*Guest post by Mara Purnhagen - Author of Tagged
*Interview with Rhonda Hayter - Author of The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams
*Interview with Jeri Smith-Ready - Author of Shade and other romance/UF series including the WVMP vampire radio series