In My Mailbox {72}

I only picked up one new book this week.  I've got lots to tide me over for a few weeks - especially with all those preorders that just came in!  This book though, I had been meaning to read for awhile now & thought it would be a great transition from all those heavy (yet so unbelievably good) contemps I've been reading lately.  Plus I got some other bookish goodies in the mail this week, too. Check it out!

Purchased from B&N for my nook:

Hourglass (Hourglass, #1) by Myra McEntire

The lovely Melissa Buell attended the Summer Lovin' Tour in California recently & snagged these wonderful goodies for me!! THANK YOU MELISSA!!!! <3

- Signed bookplates from: Jessi Kirby & Morgan Matson

- Cute bottlecap key chain from Jessi Kirby

- Bookmarks for Melissa Buell's book, The Seventh Blessing

What's in YOUR mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

In My Mailbox {70}

I got two special books in my mailbox this week.  Both of which I've read, but since their paperback releases were this week - well I just had to buy them!  I am IN LOVE with the paperback edition of Moonglass. Seriously. That sunset is gorgeous & the scene fits the book so perfectly.  When Jenny Han announced there would be bonus CONRAD material in the paperback of We'll Always Have Summer, well there was no question there.. of course I needed this book!!!

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

We'll Always Have Summer (Summer, #3) by Jenny Han

The bonus material inside We'll Always Have Summer are the letters Conrad wrote to Belly. I won't tell you when or why he wrote them (it may be spoilery), but I seriously screamed out loud when I saw this in one of the letters - CHRISTMAS BEACH COUCH!!!!!!!! If you know me, then you know it's my favorite scene in the whole series (it's in book 2).  I even got Jenny Han to sign my book with it :) Oh Conrad... *sigh*

What's in YOUR mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

(I choose to not comment publicly about the plagiarism controversy that came to light this week in the book blogging community. I will state that I do not condone those actions; however, I do support weekly features that bring books to people's attention & encourages them to read.)

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

In Honor by Jessi Kirby
Published: May 8, 2012 by Simon & Schuster
Received: ARC from the publisher - thank you S&S!

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn's celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn's last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn's best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn't seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences? {goodreads.com}

I first fell in love with Jessi Kirby's writing in her debut novel, Moonglass.  Her ability to create a story centered around a character's personal growth really hit home with me.  In both novels, grief plays a heavy role.  What I adore so much about Jessi Kirby's story-telling is that she does not focus on the death per-say, but rather the life that still needs to be lived. 

The main character Honor has just be given the news that her brother has been killed while serving the military in Iraq.  What we soon learn is that her brother is (was) the closest living relative to Honor.  The brother-sister duo have grown up relying on each other ever since their parents passed away when they were young children.  Honor has always looked up to her brother for guidance and reassurance.  She never quite understood his reasons for joining the military and leaving her behind.  In the wake of his death, Honor discovers a letter that he had written to her months before.  In this letter are tickets to a concert 3 states away and one last request of fulfilling a dream.  With her college plans about to unfold, Honor makes a split decision to road trip it to California, per her dead brother's request.  On the day her journey is to begin, she runs in to Rusty - her brother's best friend, who's been absent from their lives for quite some time.

As these two characters agree to drive out of Texas and in to the barren desert together, it's obvious this journey is much more than just complying with her brother's letter, and more about self discovery and moving on.  Immediately I was drawn in to the physical landscape of where this road took them.  Jessi Kirby does an amazing job of describing scenery in her stories, so much that I can feel the hot sun beating down on me, and the dry sand circling around in my hair.  There is a particular scene in this book that takes place at a majestic watering hole in the middle of the desert.  I was in awe of the beauty being described, but it was the emotion of that particular scene which left me breathless.  Hand over my heart, sighing a heavy sigh of, wow that is some damn good writing.

This review would not be complete without the mention of the unbearable, yet so so satisfying tension between Honor and Rusty.  It's obvious these two characters have a past as childhood friends.  Now that they've matured and have become seasoned souls, it's their experiences through laughter, wit, sarcasm, and the joint love for Honor's brother for which pull them together and facilitate this story forward.  As the final chapter ended my initial thought was: MORE! I want more!  When a book leaves you wanting more from the characters, the story, the adventure, that is always a good sign.  I adore Jessi Kirby, as she is now becoming one of my favorite YA contemporary writers.  I will pretty much read anything with her name on it :)

I realize I have written this review insanely early from it's publication date, but it's THAT good I had to share my thoughts immediately about it.  In the mean time, if you have not already, check out Jessi Kirby's debut novel, Moonglass.

Just Contemporary: Tough Stuff

November is Just Contemporary month, hosted by Basically Amazing Books and Chick Loves Lit.  If you follow my blog, then you know my true love for YA falls with the contemps.  So when I found out about this month long feature I knew I had to participate.

Each week different topics will be discussed among the blogs in regards to contemporary YA.  The beauty of this genre is it reaches many different outlets.  While one book might leave you breathless from laughing so hard, another may have you clutching it in tears.  My reasons for reading YA contemps are based on that reaction alone.

This week's topic: Tough Stuff

Some people read to escape the hard edges of reality, so they may steer clear of the grittier and more challenging topics in books.  For me though, I welcome it with open arms.  I'm more apt to pick up a book that deals with the "tough stuff" than I am to read a light & fluffy book.  When it comes to contemps, I think some of the most well written books in YA are the ones who dig deep and portray the not so pretty side of life.  The most rewarding feeling you can get from a book is when a character has walked in your shoes, and you're able to identify with them.  It's almost as though that author took bits of your story, and put them on paper.

Death is always a hard pill to swallow in any story.  It's so final.  I know a few readers stay away from books that involve such a heavy topic and I completely understand why.  Death and dying is never an easy thing to read about.  The first 22 years of my life, I was one of those people.  Why would I want to read about someone else's pain?  But then something happened, and my views on death drastically changed.  It was no longer this part of the world that I had heard of; it was now something sitting in my home, obvious in everything I looked at, spoke about, and thought of.  Due to my experience with losing my mother at a fairly young age (I was 22), I have a different approach to death in stories.  When a character explains the ugly process of what one feels like after losing someone, I get it.  I'm right there, in that moment with them.  It's an even more beautiful thing when a character goes through the motions of grieving, breaks down a few hundred times, but eventually knows how to pick themselves back up.  I get that, too.

A few YA contemps I've read dealing with death that stick out in my mind are: Moonglass by Jessi Kirby, The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle, Saving June by Hannah Harrington, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson, If I Stay by Gayle Forman, and The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.

Each of these stories approach death from a different angle, yet I found something common with them all: the capacity to accept, deal, and move forward.  Its a hard lesson to learn in life.  A lesson I wish I never knew.  But that's the irony of life, we never know what cards we'll be dealt.  You just have to play them, good or bad.  If you're on the fence about reading a YA contemp that deals with death, I encourage you to read any of these that I mentioned.  Sometimes the "tough stuff" are the most rewarding stuff ;-)

Waiting On: In Honor

In Honor by Jessi Kirby
To be published: May 8, 2012

Honor receives her brother's last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn's celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn's last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn's best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn't seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn't. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences? {taken from goodreads.com}

This book is definitely high up on my list of must-read YA contemps for 2012!  Jessi Kirby blew me away with her sensational novel Moonglass, so much that I'll probably read anything this woman writes.  This story in particular holds my interest for this simple line: "Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn't." I have a soft spot for road trip books that hold a purpose greater than the characters first thought.  Be sure to mark your calendars for this book's release date just before summer.  I bet it will be a HOT one not to miss.


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I receive a small commission from books purchased through the Amazon links provided.

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Published: May 3, 2011 by Simon & Schuster

Received: bought from Barnes & Noble

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.
While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever. {taken from goodreads.com}

The first Tuesday in May packed a pretty big punch of new YA releases.  Moonglass happened to be one of them.  I saw the book being mentioned through out the blogosphere & twitter, but never took the time to really read what is was about.  Then while perusing the new releases on that day, I came across it.  Life at the beach? Family drama? A hot boy? What is this you speak of??  Oh I must want to read this book!  And that is exactly what I did.  Thank you Barnes & Noble for supplying this member with your speedy 2 day delivery (free of charge!).

The story starts out following Anna as she has to leave the comfort of her So-Cal home, embarking on a new adventure in the small beachy town of Crystal Cove.  Immediately I was swept up in the scenery.  The descriptions of the beach side cottages, nestled among the boardwalks & shops, with miles of golden sand stretched out to an endless ocean appealed to me.  I love the beach, after all.  I would be there every day if I could.  So why not visit it through a book?

Anna's father has uprooted her to the same small town that he once inhabited with Anna's mother.  Unfortunately, Anna is not so welcoming of the new digs because it is a constant reminder of one less person that is not around anymore.  Her mother.  This story touches on the concept of what it's like to lose a parent.  The unspoken words between Anna and her father are heartbreaking.  What's left of their little family is hanging on by the fringes; in fear of sharing what really happened and letting it all unravel bit by bit.

Anna relies on the beach, as her true solace from the grief she refuses to deal with.  But even here she is reminded of her mother in the pieces of sea glass that she finds on the sandy shores.  It's the sea glass that remains a constant symbol in Anna's life.  Representing her mother, but also showing that she can deal with the truth of what happened and learn to let go.  As the story unfolds, Anna meets Tyler the cute lifeguard for which her father is reluctant on her getting to know.  Their chemistry was spot on & immediately you knew that Tyler would lend a helping hand in Anna's discovery of finding peace with the death of her mother.

Jessi Kirby's writing made this book difficult to put down.  Her attention to detail kept me intrigued and I enjoyed the fact that she did not let on to the story's plot until later on in the text.  I find it more enjoyable when I don't always know, or expect, what may be coming next.  She also has the ability of creating characters with depth and purpose.  I really enjoyed the relationship between Anna and her father.  The awkwardness of a father not knowing how to handle a grieving teenager came across very real to me.  Though I always like a story with more romance, I was still satisfied with the relationship between Anna and Tyler.  The focus of this story was not on them, and I was glad to see the author remember that.

I recommend this book if you like stories set in beach side towns.  I also recommend this book to those who can appreciate a well written novel when it comes to the loss of a parent.