I'm hoping this will tie over those fans that are patiently waiting for March to get here quickly. Till then, enjoy the videos and keep and eye out for book reviews and more exciting stuff about "Divergent"!
"Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.Title: Shades of Earth
But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.
Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.
FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME." - Goodreads
Series: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: February 15th 2013
Finished Reading: July 16th, 2013
Format: eBook
Pages: 359
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Other Titles in the Series: Across the Universe & A Million Suns
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Where to Buy: Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository
Shades of Earth picks up when Amy and Elder make the final decision about Centuri-Earth. Do they go or do they stay on Godspeed? That question is answered very much at the end of A Million Suns and in the beginning of Shades of Earth as well.
This book left me gasping and truly intrigued from beginning to the very end. Beth Revis hits this one out of the park. I'm still left with a few questions, ones that I'll never get answers from, just like the show LOST, what was that smoke creature on that show??? lol
Anyway… this novel had some serious twist and turns. The characters had to explore not only the planet, but what they were truly made of in situations that pushed them over the edge. It was a live or die kind of world they were thrust into when it came to the ship borns and the earth borns. This was due to the fact that it was a complete mystery what Centuri-Earth had in store for Amy, Elder, and everyone else.
Orion was still playing games with the both characters. He left clues in a book and pointed them in directions on how to know what dangers were ahead. the very last clue was found by Elder and it painted a picture of WHY Eldest and those before didn't want to deal with Centuri-Earth and the FRX. One of the most pivotal and climatic moments in the story. This was one of the answers I received when reading this book that made sense about everything from the first two books.
Amy and Elder's relationship was also put to the test, not only by the elements of the new planet, but by her own parents! Yes I said her parents. That's one of the very few spoilers I can give away. But it was also inevitable that they would show up soon in the series. Amy's father especially plays an important factor in all of this. And so does the character named Chris, who is a new character. I also just want to say that I'd like to punch Chris for his actions, choices, and lack of communication in general. If you haven't read the book yet, I can't say why because it revels the biggest secret of all! He's important to how the story is shaped and the outcome in the end.
I'm sad about who died in this story. It broke my heart and so much more. It's been awhile since my heart strings were tugged by fictional characters. I wanted to save them, I wanted to save them all! But just reading it and picturing those moments in my mind… its' too much even now. Ugh! Beth Revis, WHY???? You did it again! It's rare for an author to do this to me.
I'm also sad to say goodbye to this world, these characters, and the journey they are going to have even after all this is over. It was truly an amazing time to be invested in such a trilogy and worth every moment that came with it. I wouldn't trade it one bit.
This is a series I would recommend to anyone who loves science fiction, a little romance, mystery, and the boundless world of space. It's everything a reader could want and more.
Below I've also added the covers to the foreign titles of the same book. Some of these are pretty awesome looking!
SYNC YA Literature into Your Earphones
2 Free Audiobook Downloads Each Week
May 30 - August 15, 2013
Teens and other readers of Young Adult Literature will have the opportunity to listen to bestselling titles and required reading classics this summer. Each week from May 30 - August 15, 2013, SYNC will offer two free audiobook downloads.
The audiobook pairings will include a popular young adult (YA) title and a classic that connects with the YA title's theme and is likely to show up on a student's summer reading lists. For example, Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys (Scholastic Audiobooks), the first book in a bestselling series about a group of teenagers search for the supernatural ley lines, will be paired with the Latino classic of magical realism, Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima (Recorded Books).
To find out when you can download titles to listen to on the run this summer, visit www.AudiobookSync.com or text syncya to 25827.
SYNC Titles
Summer 2013
May 30 - June 5, 2013
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, read by Rebecca Gibel (AudioGO)
The Tempest by William Shakespeare, read by a Full Cast (AudioGO)
June 6 - June 12, 2013
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, read by Katherine Kellgren (HarperAudio)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, read by Wanda McCaddon (Tantor Audio)
June 13 - June 19, 2013
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, read by Will Patton (Scholastic Audiobooks)
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, read by Robert Ramirez (Recorded Books)
June 20 - June 26, 2013
Once by Morris Gleitzman, read by Morris Gleitzman (Bolinda Audio)
Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr., read by Dion Graham (christianaudio)
June 27 - July 3, 2013
Rotters by Daniel Kraus, read by Kirby Heyborne (Listening Library)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, read by Jim Weiss (Listening Library)
July 4 - July 10, 2013
Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford, read by Nick Podehl (Brilliance Audio)
She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, read by a Full Cast (L.A. Theatre Works)
July 11 - July 17, 2013
The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann, read by Peter Altschuler (HarperAudio)
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, read by Simon Vance (Tantor Audio)
July 18 - July 24, 2013
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, read by Erin Moon (Recorded Books)
Hamlet by William Shakespeare, read by a Full Cast (L.A. Theatre Works)
July 25 - July 31, 2013
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, read by Charlie McWade (Scholastic Audiobooks)
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, read by Steve West (Blackstone Audio)
Aug 1 - Aug 7, 2013
Death Cloud by Andrew Lane, read by Dan Weyman (Macmillan Audio)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, read by Ralph Cosham (Blackstone Audio)
Aug 8 - Aug 14, 2013
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, read by Katherine Kellgren (Brilliance Audio)
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, read by Miriam Margolyes (Bolinda Audio)
Aug 15 - Aug 21, 2013
Sold by Patricia McCormick, read by Justine Eyre (Tantor Audio)
Let Me Stand Alone by Rachel Corrie, read by Tavia Gilbert (Blackstone Audio)
So BookExpo America (BEA), the main event for all bloggers, librarians, authors, publishers, publicists, and everyone else is waiting for this! Having experienced it last year for the first time, I can say it was AWESOME! I did attend solo, which might not be for everyone, but I made it there alive and back.
So what advice would I give to those that haven't attended but are thinking this is the year, the first year to attend? I've got a few things to check off that list that might help.
1) Make sure to pack everything you need the night before. This is one of the things I learned as a kid attending sleep away camp, always back the night before because it's painfully annoying having to rush around that morning finding everything you need and more! So packing the night before causes less stress and easier time to get to the Javitis Center.
2) Eat a well balance breakfast. Why? Well I learned last year that even if you are just taking the train in, you might forget to chomp down on some good ol' fashion nutrients to get you through the first 2-3 hours of BEA. You'll also want to pack maybe a few snack bars or something not sticky, this way you'll avoid getting books sticky, especially since it gets very hot by the afternoon (lots of people, very little space!)3) Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Being it'll be at the end of May this year, it'll still be warm. So make sure to either bring a water bottle with you or have some money put aside for refreshments. And if you need to run and grab something to drink, there will probably be someone nice on line that won't mind holding your spot.
4) Save the tourist stuff for before BEA and after BEA. if you're not native to this part of New York or haven't been there yet, don't stop to look at everything. I know that it's amazing and you want to soak it all in, but NY'ers don't give two cents about it or not. I've been traveling to Manhattan (ie - NYC) since I was 5 years old. I'm now 25. And I've seen how tourists are and with Time Square being so busy on weekends, you'll get trampled if you stop to see it all! So save it for when you have free time while staying in Manhattan. This way you look less touristy and also have a safer time. People get pick pocketed more if they carry suitcases and luggage with them.
5) Comfy shoes are a must! I wore boots last year, nothing with a heel, but by the end of the second day, I never wanted to wear boots again! Make sure if you are going to wear something with a heel, that you get comfy insoles or something gel like that'll make it easier to walk around in. You'll thank yourself later for staying on top of this!
7) Business Cards. I didn't have time last year to buy any, so I felt weird going and not having any way to share my blog with people or let them remember me. This year I'm going to be on top of that. My blog is like a business and how I present it is key to making it look good. So by having business cards, I'm making it look awesome lol plus never fear about having left overs. I've heard people do that all the time or run out! So make sure to have extras too!
8) Catalogs. Oh yes, there are catalogs there that show you what the publishing company is set out to publish and what is already available. I actually picked up a few to take home for friends with kids or to have an idea of what books to buy in the future. Also comes in handy if you know anyone that is a teacher or a librarian, but couldn't attend. So don't be afraid to pick up one while you are there from the stacks.
9) Browsing and Walking. Don't stop in the middle of an aisle! I had such a bad time getting around because people would literally stop dead in their tracks to either chat with someone or figure out where to go. Best thing to do? Go to the side or near the entrance if you can! It's VERY crowded at this event and more so the very first day. You'll get your feet stepped on, knocked into with bags, and much more! So it'll happen more if you stop walking.
And lastly...
10) Book Drops. This is one of more popular things that book bloggers love! The book drops are fun to find and tend to involve either popular future releases or books that not well known yet. A lot of Young Adult titles were dropped last year. A good way to find out about some of the more secret ones is to know if any of your blogger friends heard or seen any. This can be done through social media too. Twitter, Instagram, even Facebook will help you know! So make sure that your phone is fully charged as well.
So I'm hoping to be attending this year and if I do, don't forget to look me up and say "Hello!", either in person, by social media, or commenting on my blog somewhere! I'll be more than glad to chat with you, especially at BEA!
