Monday, February 20, 2012

My Fictional Crushes

People will often ask me who I like; it's a long-standing tradition of junior high to know EVERYONE'S personal lives. Every time, I would give a different answer, because I have multiple crushes. ALOT of them, actually. And they are all fictional! Some of the YA guys I really wish were real, so that I could be a shrieking fangirl when I meet them. Unfortunately, that is not the case, but I will tell you about them anyways.









  • Four/Tobias - Divergent by Veronica Roth. HOLY SMOKES. At the beginning, he's harsh, strong, and strict. But love softens him up, and he becomes just as vulnerable as Tris. Their relation is so subtly romantic, and he is hot
  • Akiva - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. He's described as the most gorgeous creature to walk the streets of Prague. And he's an angel. What more could you ask for? 
  • Leo - The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. Okay... I admit it. I like Leo. Probably more than any of the other Heroes of Olympus characters, besides for Percy. Why? Because Leo always lightens the mood, and he's so funny! 
  • Howl - Howl's Moving Castle (both the book and the movie) by Dian Wynne Jones. I love his changing hair, his heart of a child, his dedication to Sophie, and his slimy tantrums. You also have to watch the movie to understand how cute he is physically. 
  • Simon - Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare. He's sarcastic, witty, and nerdy in a cool way. Yes, I have a thing for nerdy guys... (shhhhh). I can just imagine Simon's crooked smile, his spiky brown hair, and the way that he confessed his love for Clary. No wonder Isabelle and Maia both like him, too!
  • Ethan - Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. He has to be the most understandable male character I have ever read about in YA fiction. Especially since the Beautiful Creatures series (Caster Chronicles) is told in Ethan's first person. He's sweet, and kind, and extremely dedicated to his loves no matter what the troubles they cause him. The end of Beautiful Chaos depressed me so much...
  • Alex - Delirium by Lauren Oliver. I fell in love with him the moment that Lena did. He went to such far lengths to protect Lena, and his past is particularly intriguing. I am dying to read Pandemonium, because I need to know what happens to Alex!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

The 2012 Book Challenge!

Well I feel late! I can't believe it's already February of 2012 :D
In honor of the new-ish (not really) year, my friends and I have decided to commence a reading challenge! We've hand picked a list of 100 YA books and series that we must read by the end of the year. WWhy? To make us a better writer, create ideas for fanfiction, and because we're completely obsessed with YA novels in general. The novels are all new, 2011 and 2012 releases. As of today, February 9th, I am working on my twelfth book. Since there are eight of us who are doing the challenge so far, there's quite a range as to the number of books read. One of my friends is reading her fourth... another is on her thirtieth. WHOA! If you want to borrow our list for any purposes, go ahead! We're going to read other books in the year, of course, but these are books that we have to ;)

  1. Divergent - Veronica Roth
  2. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
  3. Delirium - Lauren Oliver
  4. Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver
  5. City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
  6. City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
  7. City of Glass - Cassandra Clare
  8. City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare
  9. City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare
  10. Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
  11. Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick
  12. Silence - Becca Fitzpatrick
  13. Finale - Becca Fitzpatrick
  14. Die for Me - Amy Plum
  15. Until I Die - Amy Plum
  16. Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi
  17. Legend - Marie Lu
  18. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
  19. Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
  20. Specials - Scott Westerfeld
  21. Extras - Scott Westerfeld
  22. Touch of Power - Maria V. Snyder
  23. Matched - Ally Condie
  24. Crossed - Ally Condie
  25. Eden - Keary Taylor
  26. Goddess Test - Aimee Carter
  27. Goddess Interrupted - Aimee Carter
  28. Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare
  29. Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare
  30. Clockwork Princess - Cassandra Clare
  31. Iron King - Julie Kagawa
  32. Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa
  33. Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa
  34. Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa
  35. Tangled Tides - Karen Amanda Hooper
  36. Everneath - Brodi Ashton
  37. Incarnate - Jodi Meadows
  38. Twilight - Stephanie Meyer
  39. New Moon - Stephanie Meyer
  40. Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer
  41. Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer
  42. Mark of Athena - Rick Riordan
  43. Rae of Hope - W. J. May
  44. Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater
  45. Linger - Maggie Stiefvater
  46. Forever - Maggie Stiefvater
  47. Fractured Light - Rachel McClellan
  48. Tempest - Julie Cross
  49. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
  50. Above - Leah Bobet
  51. The Selection - Kiera Cass
  52. Struck - Jennifer Bosworth
  53. Unraveling - Elizabeth Norris
  54. Across the Universe - Beth Revis
  55. A Million Suns - Beth Revis
  56. The Warrior Heir - Cinda Williams Chima
  57. The Wizard Heir - Cinda Williams Chima
  58. The Dragon Heir - Cinda Williams Chima
  59. Forgive My Fins - Terra Lynn Childs
  60. Fins Are Forever - Terra Lynn Childs
  61. Just For Fins - Terra Lynn Childs
  62. Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins
  63. Demonglass - Rachel Hawkins
  64. Spell Bound - Rachel Hawkins
  65. Cry Wolf - Patricia Briggs
  66. Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs
  67. Fair Game - Patricia Briggs
  68. Glitch - Heather Anastasiu
  69. Hemlock - Kathleen Peacock
  70. Slide - Jill Hathaway
  71. Touched - Cyn Balog
  72. Shattered Souls - Marie Lindsay
  73. Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor
  74. Days of Blood and Starlight - Laini Taylor
  75. Wings - Aprilynne Pike
  76. Spells - Aprilynne Pike
  77. Illusions - Aprilynne Pike
  78. Destined - Aprilynne Pike
  79. Fated - Sarah Alderson
  80. Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi
  81. The Body Finder - Kimberly Derting
  82. Desires of the Dead - Kimberly Derting
  83. The Last Echo - Kimberly Derting
  84. Fracture - Megan Miranda
  85. Falling Under - Gwen Hayes
  86. Dreaming Awake - Gwen Hayes
  87. Unearthly - Cynthia Hand
  88. Hallowed - Cynthia Hand
  89. The Secret Hour - Scott Westerfeld
  90. Touching Darkness - Scott Westerfeld
  91. Blue Noon - Scott Westerfeld
  92. Gone - Michael Grant
  93. Hunger - Michael Grant
  94. Lies - Michael Grant
  95. Plague - Michael Grant
  96. Fear - Michael Grant
  97. Glow - Amy Kathleen Ryan
  98. Spark - Amy Kathleen Ryan
  99. Inside Out - Maria V. Snyder
  100. Outside In - Maria V. Snyder