My Life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald

For Review: Amulet Books (Abrams) Published September 1st 2010

From Goodreads: Twelve-year-old Lucy Desberg is a natural problem solver. After the local homecoming queen shows up at her family’s struggling drugstore with a beauty disaster that Lucy helps to fix, Lucy has a long line of makeover customers for every school dance and bat mitzvah. But all the makeup tips in the world won’t help save the pharmacy. If only she could find a way to make the pharmacy the center of town again—a place where people want to spend time, like in the old days. Lucy dreams up a solution that could resuscitate the family business and help the environment, too. But will Lucy’s family stop fighting long enough to listen to a seventh-grader? This book is a funny and sweet debut featuring an unforgettable narrator who knows what she wants, whether it’s great makeup, a killer business plan, or a better world.

This is such a cute and enjoyable book. Straight away I found myself rooting for Lucy - she is such a sweet a character and found myself easily swept up in her story. She has such a great spirit and is very likable as a result.

There are many thinks going on in the book. Lucy is made aware that the pharmacy her family own - a place she thinks of as a second home - is struggling and may close. She desperately doesn't want this to happen so she comes up with various ideas to help. Add to this friend issues, an after school green club and a couple of boy crushes and we have a very enjoyable story.

I loved Lucy's family and really enjoyed their dynamic. Her mother is somewhat scatty but in a funny way. Her Gran is caring but obviously under a great deal of pressure. I also loved how close Lucy is to her sister Claudia - and that she still played a large part in the story even though she was away at college.

I also really enjoyed the focus on green issues. I thought it was a great way to bring it to people's attention without being too preachy. It's something Lucy becomes passionate about and as a reader I found myself interested too.

Although this is aimed more at tweens than teens I think older readers would enjoy it too. Lucy comes across as older than her depicted age and many of the storylines would appeal just as much to older readers as they would to younger ones. I really enjoyed reading about Sunny and Lucy's first crushes. Who doesn't remember their first crush? Both storylines were dealt with in a really honest and gentle way and I couldn't help but love it.

I'm really looking forward to reading Greenwald's next book 'Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes' when it's published in November.

Book Trailer of the Month (August)

Okay, so I'm cheating as this is really a film trailer but it certainly sells the book too. I love this series by John Marsden (check out my review) and DESPERATELY want to see this film! Please, please. please be released in the UK.



The books are not currently published in the UK but are available online. And they are sooo good! After watching this I just want to re-read them all!

Cover to Covet (3)

I LOVE book covers. Love, love love them. So I decided to make it a regular post - each post featuring a cover I love.


Clarity by kim Harrington

I love how intense this cover is - there is just something about her eyes! I really believe she can see my secrets - which, by the way, is a fantastic (and very intriguing) tag line!

From Goodreads:
Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch an object and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case — but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother — who has supernatural gifts of his own — becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Loving Spirit by Linda Chapman

For Review: Puffin. Published 5 August 2010
From Puffin: Now Ellie's found him, she'll never let go...

Elli has lost her parents, her home in New Zealand and everything she knows. Now she must live in England with family who are more like strangers.

Life on her Uncle Len's horse farm seems so lonely - until Ellie meets Spirit. She's never seen the grey horse before, but she has the strangest feeling they've always known each other.

Like Ellie, Spirit is alone in the world, and they form an intense bond. And as the weeks go by, Spirit helps Ellie to discover an incredible talent that changes both their lives forever..

I have never read a 'horse' book before so I was dying to give this one a go. I was also very intrigued by the fact this is Linda Chapman's first book for 9-12 year olds after writing many books for a younger audience. And I have to say it completely took me my surprise. In a very good way!

I picked this one up just meaning to read the first couple a chapters, but a few hours later I had finished the whole book! It was very easy to read and I found myself really engrossed in the story. I have to say this is not just a book for horse lovers - the character relationships really made the story work for me - especially the relationship between Ellie and Joe.

We meet Ellie just after her parents have been killed in a car accident and she is force to move to England to stay with her Uncle. He is very stern and strict - but Ellie stands up to him when she first arrives. She also bonds with her cousin Joe after an incident involving some kittens. Now I have to say I could have REALLY done without that part of the story but it does provide a great basis for her relationship with Joe and her distrust of Luke and her Uncle Len.

Once we meet Spirit I loved the direction the story took. I don't want to say too much because it was a surprise for me and I love that the book's synopsis hints at a connection between Ellie and Spirit but leaves the best for you to discover as you read the book.

I'm glad this is part of a series. I am looking forward to the next one to see what happens next. I want to see if Uncle Len is a 'bad' as he initially seems or whether Ellie's presence will mellow him. Luke promises to be an interesting character I think so I am intrigued by how he will progress and I can't wait to see what happens next between Ellie and Joe. They have such a great friendship that I'm excited to see what direction Chapman decides to take it.

I want to read that...

Rosebush by Michele Jaffe

From Goodreads:

See Jane run. See Jane die.

Instead of celebrating Memorial Day weekend on the Jersey shore, Jane is in the hospital surrounded by teddy bears, trying to piece together what happened last night. One minute she was at a party, wearing fairy wings and cuddling with her boyfriend. The next, she was lying near-dead in a rosebush after a hit and run.

Everyone thinks it was an accident, despite the phone threats Jane swears were real. But the truth is a thorny thing. As Jane's boyfriend, friends, and admirers come to visit, more memories surface--not just from the party, but from deeper in her past...including the night her best friend Bonnie died.

With nearly everyone in her life a suspect now, Jane must unravel the mystery before her killer attacks again. Along the way, she is forced to examine the consequences of her life choices in this compulsively readable thriller.

I'm loving the sound of this one! It's published in December 2010 (US) and March 2011 (UK)