Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt

Mia always looks for signs from the universe. But she never saw a sign that said cancer. Now that she has it, she is intent on keeping it a secret so she is not labeled "cancer girl." That is turning out to be more difficult than she thought.

First thing, back in 2009 Maureen Johnson did a project called Blog Everyday in August (BEDA). I participated and it was fun. Part of that was that we were assigned BEDA buddies so we would be guaranteed to have someone read our blog posts. Tiffany was one of my BEDA buddies so I've "known" her for a while now and I was really happy for her when her first book was published.

Second thing, I don't read "cancer books." Nor do I read books where the dog dies in the end. Sensing a pattern? It's not usually my thing. But having known Tiffany for a few years I thought I'd give it a try. It turns out that this is less of a cancer book and more of a book about a girl with cancer. I started this on Friday afternoon, picked it up again Saturday evening and finished it that night. I haven't read a book straight through in a long time. It is that good.

Mia is a frustrating girl trying to hide her cancer from her friends. I wouldn't think that was possible but with a lot of lying and a willingness to almost completely alienate your friends, it turns out to be achievable. A lot of the blame for that could be laid at the feet of Mia's mother but Mia is the one who carries it out. Speaking of Mia's mother, she is something else. I can't even think about how I would react to one of my children getting cancer but I would hope it would be with my grace and selflessness than Mia's mom lacks.

I wasn't a fan either of Mia's friends but I think Mia really does them a disservice. She underestimates them and it really takes her far too long to tell them. Part of the reason I finished it in one night was I needed to see what happened when she finally tells her friends. I liked Mia's best friend Gyver. He is a great guy and very clearly one of the love interests. The other guy Ryan is a good guy too. I hate when the other guy is turned into a villain to make way for the resolution, but this was avoided in a sweet way.

And so I learned that not every book about cancer can be painted with the Lurlene McDaniel brush. I also learned that I can't wait for Tiffany's next book.

Weekly Round-Up 5/13

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

This week I'm reading Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt and listening to Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, read by Katherine Kellgren.

I didn't post any reviews last week. I should have a couple up this week though.

Weekly Round-Up 5/6

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

This week I'm reading Because It is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin and listening to Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, read by Katherine Kellgren.

I reviewed Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, read by Ed Westwick and Heather Lind.

 
Enchanted (Woodcutter Sisters #1) by Alethea Kontis, read by Katherine Kellgren

It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices #2)

The search for the Magister is becoming more desperate as Bendick Lightwood seeks to take the Institute from Charlotte. The Branwells are given two weeks to find the Magister. Meanwhile, Will finds that he cannot get over his love for Tessa and Tessa finds her feelings for Jem are growing even as she can't help loving Will.

I couldn't remember the first book, Clockwork Angel, so when I looked at my review for it I wasn't surprised to find I hadn't been impressed. But still I didn't hate it, just felt neutral on it so I decided to go ahead and continue on with the series. I liked this one. It was really good and I think the narration helped with that. So maybe this is one of those series that works better for me on audio than reading it. It's happened before.

In this one we find out Will's secret, the reason he pushes Tessa Gray (and everyone one else) away. It's a valid reason but I must say the resolution of it was a bit of a disappointment and it came about really easily. I guess having a warlock for a "friend" comes in handy. A large portion of this book is devoted to the love triangle between Will, Tess, and Jem. I think Jem is pretty unaware that he is involved in a love triangle. It gets a little too angsty for my taste though it does have some pretty awesome kissing scenes.

The other plot is trying to find Mortmain and dealing with his minions. Less time is devoted to this. Consequently I don't feel like Mortmain is much of a threat. Probably because I already have assumed the ending. The love story is the real driving force in this series.

Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl) and Heather Lind narrated this story. Lind does the majority of the narration with Westwick always reading the quotations and the beginning of the chapters. I'm not sure where the division came in. I guess Lind read most of the Tess parts and, if the story focused more on Will, Westwick read that bit. It worked out. I enjoyed both their readings. Lind seems to have a better time with voices although Westwick's American voice is really good (it would have to be after all the time on Gossip Girl) he doesn't do girl voices quite right. So it was a nice mixture if a little odd.

15.5 hours

The Infernal Devices
Clockwork Angel