The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things-- Carolyn Mackler

Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex. She lives on the Web, snarfs junk food, and follows the "Fat Girl Code of Conduct." Her stuttering best friend has just moved to Walla Walla (of all places). Her new companion, Froggy Welsh the Fourth (real name), has just succeeded in getting his hand up her shirt, and she lives in fear that he’ll look underneath. Then there are the other Shreves: Mom, the successful psychologist and exercise fiend; Dad, a top executive who ogles thin women on TV; and older siblings Anaïs and rugby god Byron, both of them slim and brilliant. Delete Virginia, and the Shreves would be a picture-perfect family. Or so she’s convinced. And then a shocking phone call changes everything.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit; although it was a bit slow at the beginning, the end made you want more. Immediately after reading this, i wanted there to be a sequal just so that i could follow the characters through more of their life.
4 stars!

age recommendation: 13+

The I Love Your Blog Award!

thanks to Liana, i won the I Love Your Blog Award! :] *cheer* so check out her blog as well: http://lainahastoomuchsparetime.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-love-your-blog-award.html

so here are my nominees: *drum roll please*
*Reading Keeps You Sane
http://readingkeepsyousane.blogspot.com/
*And Another Book Read...
http://andanotherbookread.blogspot.com/
*The Book Muncher
http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/
OK FINE. I CAN'T CHOOSE ANY OTHERS... I PICK EVERYBODY. I JUST LOVE THE DIVERSITY AND APPEARANCE OF ALL BLOGS. LOL

so yeah... i know it's dumb, but i really couldn't pick any more lol

now here are the next steps after receiving the award:
1) Add the logo of your award to your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5.) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

contest!! (no, not mine yet, sorry)

Hey! head on over to http://andanotherbookread.blogspot.com/ for an amazing contest to win Paper Towns by John Green! hurry, the contest ends Saturday! :]


and by the way guys, expect a review or two tonight and tomorrow! :]

Happy day after Turkey Day!

hey everybody! i know it's been a while, but i just wanted to say that i hope everyone had a really good Thanksgiving and all stuffed them selves with food (lol... i know i did) :]


i plan on updating with some cool new book reviews and maybe a surprise or two in the next couple of days (schoolwork has been absolutely insane and it's been keeping me from my lovely blog!)

thank you all for keeping up with my slow blog updates! :] lol

Anthem by Any Rand

from the back of the book:
Equality 7-2521 lives in the Dark Ages of the future, where all decisions are made by a committee, all people live in collectives, all traces of individualism have been wiped out. But the spark of individual thought and freedom still burns in Equality 7-2521, a passion which he has been taught to call sinful. in a purely egalitarian world,he dares to stand forth from the herd -- to think and choose for himself, to discover electricity, and to love the woman of his choice. Now he has been marked for death for committing the ultimate sin: in a world where the great "we" reign supreme, he has rediscovered the lost and holy word "I."

This is one o my all time favorite books. it's really short, but i absolutely loved it! it is so amazingly written and Ayn Rand has such a way with words. i was completely hooked from beginning to end. it is an amazing and deep book with a deep, powerful message
5+ stars!! :]

age recommendation: 15+

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Tyler Miller used to be just an average person, but ever since he got busted for spray painting the school, everyone knows his name. He has an overwhelming crush on Bethany Milbury, one of the most popular girls in school, who also happens to be a)the sister of his worst enemy and b)the daughter of his father's boss. Because of his mandatory hard labor over the summer, he starts to get attention from her. They start to talk and hangout and it all goes on from there...
i really liked this book... 5 stars! i have loved all of the books that i have read by Laurie Halse Anderson and i plan on reading all of her other books. i would definitely recommend this book :)

it's been a while...

i know it's been a while since i've done a review. i've been so crazy with school and such that i've had no time. the books are piling up to be reviewed, so you can expect at least 2 or 3 by tomorrow. (if i get all of my homework done in a timely fashion today, i'll have a few up tonight) :]

cool website

hey!
i just found this website: http://www.banned-books.com/ and i thought it was really interesting in case anyone was wondering abotu some of the books/authors that are banned and challenged/controversial. and since tomorrow's the last day of banned books week, i thought i'd post this! :]

it's the Tuesday of banned book week! w00

and i have a poll for you... i'm just curious...
so if you wish, either leave a comment here or e-mail me at thefoxreads@yahoo.com with your answers :]

1)How many banned books have you read over the course of your lifetime?
2)What are your views on banning books?
3)Have you or has anyone you know ever tried to have a book banned? if so, why/what book?
4)People often say that banning certain types of books is ok, but only if they're really bad (like how to build a bomb and kill your neighbors, etc. lol). do you agree or disagree with this and why?
and...
5)have you done anything to participate in banned book week? what?

so yeah. thanks :]
happy reading!<3

Happy Start of Banned Book Week!

well, as some of you may or may not know, today marked the start of banned book week. it runs from September 27 to October 4. My goal is to read at least 3 banned or challenged books throughout the week.

so check this website out!
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.cfm

Support Stephenie Meyer!

hey everyone,
well i have started a petition in order to gather Stephenie Meyer supporters! as a result of the recent Midnight Sun leak, we must come together as Twilighters and show our support for Stephenie! We love her so much and without her, there would be no Edward Cullen *gasp* and that wouldn't be cool. maybe we can even get some recognition and have Stephenie see it and know that we all love and support her! so sign the petition and spread the word! We <3 Stephenie!

the petition can be found at:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/support_SM

contest link

hey everyone, head on over to Kelsey's blog and enter her contest! it ends tonight, so hurry! :)

http://readingkeepsyousane.blogspot.com/2008/08/belated-100th-post-contest.html

Contest winner!

hey everyone!
thank you all for entering and after reviewing all of the entries,i've made my decision!
congratulations to..... *drum roll*

Kelsey!

i shall e-mail you shortly (probably tomorrow sometime) : )

well, congrats again and thank you!

Support Stephenie Meyer

as some of you may have noticed, at the bottom of my blog i have a new banner thing. if you click on it, so will be more informed.

but because of the Midnight Sun leak recently, we must come together as Twilighters more than ever! so click on the banner and read the post (from Twilight Teez) and show your support for our beloved author!

Contest ending tonight!

hey everyone,
my contest is ending tonight at 9PM EST, so for anyone else who wants to enter, do so asap!

i will look over the entries tonight and hopefully have the winner posted by tonight or tomorrow!

good luck to all! : )

Chick Lit Teens is having a contest!

hey everybody,
head on over to http://chicklitteens.blogspot.com/2008/08/monthly-giveaway.html to enter her contest to win Ally Carter's I'd Tell you I Love You, but then I'd Have to Kill You and a cool button!

ARC- Larry and the Meaning of Life by. Janet Tashjian

Josh Swenson (aka Larry) has fallen into a slump. He spends his days on the couch watching TV and he no longer has meaning in his life. he soon meets Gus, a man who claims to be a guru tit will help him find that meaning. after learning the Janine, his ex-girlfriend, is a part of the group, he decides to join. he must pay two thousand dollars to be a part of the group, and he soon learns no body else had to pay. From painting to Gandhi, Josh really feels as if he's getting better. between kidney transplants and land mines, it's been one heck of a journey. read the book to find out how it all turns out for Josh.
there are two other books before this one: The Gospel According to Larry and Vote For Larry
i got it as an ARC and it comes out in September, so check it out! : )

CONTEST!!!! : )

in honor of re-doing mt blog (yes, i know it's a little late), i'm going to have my very first contest!!

the contest is to create a banner for my heading.
all i definitely want it to include is "The Fox Reads" but other than that, you can pretty much go crazy. lol. just leave a comment or e-mail me (thefoxreads@yahoo.com) to enter and include a link to your blog and your e-mail address, please :]
the contest will end on Monday, September 1 at 9 PM, my time (est)

the prize:
a copy of Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard and some other cool book-ish things (maybe handmade bookmarks or something along those lines, perhaps?)

if you have any questions or anything, just e-mail me and let me know

NEW TWILIGHT MOVIE RELEASE DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THEY CHANGED THE RELEASE DATE OF THE TWILIGHT MOVIE TO NOVEMBER 21, 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THRILLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ))))))))))) I AM SO EXCITED, I CAN'T WAITTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

Sometimes you don't wake up. But if you happen to, you know things will never be the same.

Three lives, three different paths to the same destination: Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital for those who have attempted the ultimate act -- suicide.
Vanessa is beautiful and smart, but her secrets keep her answering the call of the blade.
Tony, after suffering a painful childhood, can only find peace through pills.
And Conner, outwardly, has the perfect life. But dig a little deeper and find a boy Who is in constant battle with his parents, his life, himself.
In one instant each of these young people decided enough was enough. They grabbed the blade, the bottle, the gun -- and tried to end it all. Now they have a second chance, and just maybe, with each other's help, they can find their way to a better life -- but only if they're strong and can fight the demons that brought them here in the first place.


This was a really eye opening book with an amazing story. it followed Vanessa, Tony and Conner through their lives after attempted suicide and how it brings them into each other's lives.
i would definitely recommend this book to basically anyone because it is so beautifully written. Impulse (like all of Ellen Hopkins' books) is written in verse and this book switches back and forth between the three character's points of view. Ellen Hopkins has some definite talent and i think that everyone should experience her style of writing.
i read this book basically in one sitting and i just couldn't put it down. it was really late at night and i kept telling myself, ok, after so-and-so's POV is done, I'll go to bed, but i just couldn't do it because i was so completely drawn in to the story. 5 stars!

The Book Muncher's contest!

hey everyone!
just wanted to tell you to check out The Book Muncher's blog to enter her contest to win Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen and When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

here is the link:
http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/2008/06/100th-post-contest.html

Benighted by Kit Whitfield

It is the world we know, with one deadly difference. Ninety-nine percent of the population are lycanthropic. When the full moon rises, they "fur up," transforming into lunes, bloodthirsty beasts that cannot be reasoned with or tamed. The few remaining people are born unable to change, locked forever inside their human skins. Insultingly known as barebacks, they live as victims of prejudice and oppression. And all too often, they are victims in another sense- targets of savage maulings and death at the hands of the lunes who break the law to roam free on full-moon nights. Twenty-something "bareback" Lola Galley is already a veteran of the Department for the Ongoing Regulation of Lycanthropic Activity. When her old friend loses a hand to a marauding lune, then is murdered before the attacker is brought to trial, Lola is desperate to see justice prevail. But the truth is seldom simple- and Lola many not like the shocking answers she uncovers.

I absolutely love reading books about werewolves so i was immediately drawn to this book. i loved how Kit Whitfield could go the entire book without using the word "werewolf" and you still knew that's what she was talking about. This book was very well written and i really enjoyed it.
This book made me laugh, cry, smile and just about every other emotion possible for a human being. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of this type of thing. 5 stars, no doubt about it, i love this book.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

This book is so hard to summarize because it is too good for words.
From the amazing author of the Twilight Saga, Stephenie Meyer, comes a novel of love, hate, transition, learning, compassion and much more. This book literally has it all... anything you could hope for and want in a book, here it is!

'The Host' follows Wanderer, a soul who has recently been implanted into her host body, Melanie. Usually the souls just take over the body as their own and go on with life. Melanie is different, she is still there, not only her body, but her mind. Wanderer can hear her and tries to block her out... at first. Melanie hates Wanderer and Wanderer isn't too fond of Melanie either at first. soon, Wanderer can't block her out no matter how hard she tries and she finds herself wanting and loving what Melanie wants and loves. As unexpected and unwilling allies, they find themselves on a search for those they both love.

i don't even think that summaries could do this book justice because it's so amazing, I think that everyone should read it because it is one of the best books out there. (no joke... none whatsoever... : ))

Tagged... again!

well, i got tagged again


Rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you've posted your three sentences.


in case you have not read Blue Is For Nightmares, be cautious, this does not in fact really give anything away, but i just wanted to say that

We talk about their conversations for a good hour. And at the end of it Drea seems, oddly enough, more relaxed, less jittery, I think, because I haven't said much more than uh huh and em hmm the whole time. But now my somewhat silence is bugging her because she's propped herself up on her elbows, awaiting my response.


ok, well i'll tag:
1) Ashley at stargirl reads
2) Amor y libros
3) Rachael at The Book Muncher
4) Book Novels & Stuff
5) Jen at YA Book Reviews

Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

Tracing back to the Mayflower, the history of the blue bloods (the elite group of vampires in NYC)tells of everything, from the pattern of blue veins that appear on Blue Blood's arms when they turn 15 to the cravings of raw meat.
The story follows Bliss, Schuyler, Mimi, Jack and many others through their experiences dealing with the new found information that they are, in fact, vampires and trying to figure out the mysterious death of one of their fellow Blue Bloods. for most, it all starts when they are invited to one of the famous, elite, committee meetings, and they learn all about what they are (and some of them need more convincing than others to believe what is true).
Unlikely friends are made, unlikely attraction is found and much much more. i'd give this book 5 stars!

for some reason, i had trouble figuring out how to write the summary of this book, so it's not so good...
but definitely check this book out, it was one of a kind and it was really interesting. Blue Bloods held my interest and is one of those books that you just don't want to put down.

In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

This book, written when the author was only 13, tells the story of a vampire named Risika. Hundreds of years prior, she was Rachel Weatere, a well-mannered, caring 17 year old girl who cared for her family, especially her twin brother, Alexander... and then she was changed. She woke up, scared, cold, alone and thirsting for blood. The story follows her through her transition from Rachel to Risika, from caring and kind to most to blood thirsting, caring for a select few and spiteful.
Throughout all of the good and bad of her being a vampire, she has showed compassion for Tora, a tiger in a zoo that she was become very attached to. She spends her days in her home in Concord, Massachusetts and her nights trying to avenge her brother's murder.
This book has so many twists and turns, suspense and also much to anticipate. it really makes you think because you want to find out how it all ends up and it seems as if you can't read it fast enough. In The Forests of the Night is a quick read and it is unbelievable. As you read, you can't believe that it was written by someone at the young age of 13. i would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys vampire fiction... 5 stars!

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. Its everything she ever wanted.
But beneath all the fun--the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom--is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.
Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she know and fighting for her life--because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.



I really enjoyed this book (and Uglies...the first book). It is such a good concept for a book that it is instantly attention grabbing.
Pretties is the second book in the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld.
In a futuristic world in which at 16, everyone goes through an operation to make them "pretty", things can and do still go wrong. Tally Youngblood, the protagonist of the story, has become pretty, but she is on a mission that she does not remember. That is until one day when someone from her past comes and puts her to the test. What will happen? will she follow through or just try to ignore the past that is slowly coming back to her...

read to find out!
These books are a must read, they are so good! I think that anyone who enjoys YA would like it. It has everything, from romance to adventure to suspense. (something for everyone)

The Realm of Possibility

Here's what i know about the realm of possibility--
it is always expanding, it is never what you think
it is. Everything around us was once deemed
impossible. From the airplane overhead to
the phones in our pockets to the choir girl
putting her arm around the metalhead.
As hard as it is for us th see sometimes, we all exist
within the realm of possibility. Most of the limits
are of our on word's devising. And yet,
every day we each do so many things
that were once impossible to us
One school. Twenty Voices.
Endless possibilities.
There's the girl who is in love with Holden Caulfield. The boy who wants to be strong who falls for the girl who's convinced she needs to be weak. The girl who writes love songs for the girl she can't have. The two boys teetering on the brink of their first anniversary. And everyone in between.


This book is written sort of in verse, so it was a pretty fast read. it was definitely a good book and i think that anyone would enjoy it; It has something for everyone. I read this book on the car ride on my way to vacation and it was very enjoyable. It was very cleverly written and i think that David Levathin has written something that anyone who enjoys YA literature and also that some adults would like.

Before I Die by. Jenny Downham

It's really going to happen.They said it would, but this is quicker than anyone thought.

Everyone has to die. We all know it.
With only a few months of life left, sixteen-year-old Tessa knows it better than most.
She's made a list, though -- ten things she wants to do before she dies. Number one is sex. Starting tonight.
But getting what you want isn't easy. And getting what you want doesn't aways give you what you need. And sometimes that more unexpected things become important.
Uplifting, life-affirming, joyous -- this extraordinary novel celebrates what it is to be alive by confronting what it's really like to die.

I finally got around to reading this book and i am so glad that i did. This book has it all: romance, suspense, humor, sadness and so much more. Before I Die is one of those books that I will never forget and that I will probably recommend to others. It is definitely not for everyone, though. It touches upon subjects that probably are not appropriate for certain people, but I would say definitely read it if you don't mind some somewhat awkward scenes. But overall, this book has a good story that really touches the heart and makes you think about life itself.

Night Road by. A.M. Jenkins

For Cole, life is a tightrope existence in which sunlight is his deadly enemy and one mistake could trap him underground, staring at the inside of a coffin lid, for eternity....


This is the story of Cole, an "18" year old "heme", his journey, and what happens when he suddenly is asked to help teach and guide a newly created heme in the right direction.

I got this book as an ARC and really enjoyed it. Night Road is definitely a book that anyone who is a fan of vampire literature would like. I was completely hooked from beginning to end and as I turned the last page, I wished there was more. A.M. Jenkins has definitely written a wonderful book that many will enjoy.

This book comes out in May, so I'd suggest checking it out!

Six Random Things... I got tagged

Well, it looks like I got tagged (thanks Kelsey)

The Rules For The Meme:
1. You link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your entry.
5. Let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs.



well, here goes nothing:
1. I am an animal activist. I do all I can to stand up for animal rights and to fight animal cruelty.
2. I tend to talk a lot. I am somewhat loud and obnoxious when I am with my friends (well, we are all like that, so it's fun)
3. I have very curly hair that is sometimes unruly. i like my hair when it cooperates, but when it gets frizzy and annoying, i can't stand it.
4. I hate science. It is my worst and least favorite subject. ( i like it even less than math) i have chemistry this year and i hate it.
5. i like to write poetry and draw/paint/do artistic things, but personally don't think that i am that good.
6. If i could bring one character from a book to life, it would be either Edward or Alice Cullen. Edward Cullen because who wouldn't want to meet him?! and Alice because she seems like she would be a really cool person to know.

well, there you go, now you know a bunch of random (mostly useless information) about me! (just what you've always wanted *sarcasm*)


well, i have to tag 6 people now? i don't know who... it looks like everyone has been tagged already, so i guess I'm off the hook in the having to tag people department?