YA Contemporary YA Challenge 2011

Copied from official challenge page.

What is contemporary? It's the genre wherein the events can happen in real life at the present time. The characters in the novel can be present in real life.

Goal: To read a minimum of thirteen young adult contemporary novels published in 2011.

Rules:
- All contemporary books must be in the Young Adult genre
- Books have to be published in 2011
- Open to everybody. Please fill in the form to enter.
- You can join whenever you want
- If you want to enter with your blog link, you have to post about the challenge.
- Link your reviews of 2011 Contemporary books in the MisterLinky below.

SIGN UP HERE (FORM)

As an Australian resident, I may add or retract titles, based on their published Australian release dates. However, if I read a book that has been released in the US in 2011, it also counts towards the challenge.

What's on my radar? 
 ( ordered by release date--some may be incorrect.
Email me with any titles I may have missed, that I'd be interested in. ;) )

??/?? Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King
           Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
           Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe
           C-Side Tales by Tara Kelley

01/01 Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
           Trapped by Michael Northrop *
           See What I See by Gloria Whelan #
           Rhymes with Cupid by Anna Humphrey *

04/01 Darlings are Forever by Melissa Kantor *

          The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook

           Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors
06/01 XVI by Julia Karr *

11/01 Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal *
??/02 Being Here by Barry Jonsberg

08/02 Pink by Lili Wilkinson *

15/02 Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer *
22/02 Exposed by Kimberly Marcus *

01/03 Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler
           Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers #
           Entangled by Cat Clarke #
           The Espressologist by Kristina Springer #
           Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt *
           Illegal by Bettina Restrepo *
           The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker *

03/03 Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin *
08/03 Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard *

15/03 Subway Girl by P. J. Converse *

           Miles from Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams
01/04 Then I Met My Sister by Christine Hurley Deriso
           I'm Not Her (The Weight of Bones) by Janet Gurtler *
04/04 The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder *
05/04 Where She Went by Gayle Forman
19/04 Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz *
           Stay by Deb Caletti
26/04 Family by Micol Ostow
28/04 Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith
??/05 Saving June by Hannah Harrington *
01/05 Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson
           Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler #
03/05 Moonglass by Jessi Kirby *
           So Much Closer by Susanne Colasanti
08/05 Popular by Alissa Grosso *
           But I Love Him by Amanda Grace * (pseudonym for Mandy Hubbard)
10/05 The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Sheinmel *
           What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
           My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher
           Incredibly Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
24/05 Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

04/06 Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma *

09/06 Displacement by Thalia Chaltas
14/06 Dead End by Jason Myers
           All the Things You Are by Courtney Sheimmel
20/06 Watch Me by Lauren Barnholdt
??/07 Clean by Amy Reed
12/07 Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt
           Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia
19/07 Pearl by Jo Knowles
??/08 Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman *
29/08 Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
??/09 My Beating Teenage Heart by C.K. Kelly Martin
           Delinquents by Susanne Young
10/09 As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott
01/10 The History of Luck by Jandy Nelson

08/10 Don't Breath A Word by Holly Cupala
19/12 Broken Wings by Helen Landalf

* denotes a debut novel
# denotes Aussie release (date)

This is a very rough list, but it took a long time indeed. Hopefully this'll help y'all see how much of a contempo nut I am! And also to see that there are so many great titles and authors featured for 2011. :D

What I have read

As there is no way I'm going to be able to read all these great books, I will maintain an ongoing list. This will be updated on my challenges page, when I finally get around to fixing it up for all the challenges I'm parttaking in for 2011. Stay tuned, and happy weekend!

100 Books in a Year Challenge 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I hope you're all safe and didn't party too hardy last night. (Australasia)

So I didn't do anything elaborate to celebrate the beginning of a new decade, but I did get to watch the fireworks from the safety of my living room, in my sleep gear, ready to sleep after watching the spectacle. While everyone actually at the city had to make their own ways home, or spend their night at someone else's backyard or whatever. Thinking about it like that, I kind of got off lucky. :P

I've taken the plunge--100 books in one year! Last year I got up to 59, starting from May, which is fabulous. I can't wait to read even more this year. I definitely have my doubts, considering I'm starting university, and no doubt there's going to be a lot of hard work involved in that, but I'm feeling a bit daring.

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

• Rules - Read 100 or more books in 2011

• All books can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• Only print books and ebooks count (no audiobooks).

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• At the beginning of Jan 2011, I will add a link so you can add your reviews but this is not obligatory.

• You don't have to have a blog to join in - for those without a blog just FILL IN THIS FORM and I will add you to the list - just join the discussion in the comments section to let us know when you've read a book and what you thought of it! :)

• You can also follow each other's progress and chat about the VC books you read on twitter too - just use #100BooksInAYear :)

FIVE Challenge: Most Anticipated

I've been wanting to do some sort of a wrap-up post with 2010, with regards to reading books and blogging. What better way to get started than through Persnickety Snark's challenge? Hope you're a part of this challenge too! If you are, go ahead--comment and link to your blog so I can check out what great reads you picked up in 2010!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

May 2011 be an even more prosperous year than this one was, and I wish you all a healthy and safe holiday. Thank you for visiting/following Words on Paper, and I will resume normal posting over the new year.

Today's 5 is for...

Most Anticipated

This one is difficult, but for different reasons than some of the others. I am anticipating so, so many great titles for 2011. I don't even know where to begin! And, I will be having many Honourable Mentions...because I need to include as many titles as I can!

First Books / Standalones

Entangled - Cat Clarke - January 2011

Rival - Sara Bennett Wealer - February 2011 *

Delirium - Lauren Oliver - February 2011 *

Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys - March 2011 *

Divergent - Veronica Roth - May 2011

Sequels

Beautiful Days - Bright Young Things #2 - Anna Godbersen - August 2011

All You Desire - The Eternal Ones #2 - Kirsten Miller - ?? 2011

Where She Went - If I Stay sequel - Gayle Forman - April 2011 *

From Bad to Cursed - Bad Girls Don't Die #2 - Katie Alender - June 2011

The Power of Six - I Am Number Four #2 - Pittacus Lore - June 2011

EDIT: How did I forget Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins?

Honourable Mentions

Clarity - Kim Harrington - March 2011

Like Mandarin - Kirsten Hubbard - March 2011

In the Shadow of the Lamp - Susanne Dunlap - April 2011 *

Future Imperfect - K. Ryer Breese - April 2011

Forgotten - Cat Patrick - June 2011

Asterisked (*) are books I have either pre-ordered, read or received an ARC for.

Check back tomorrow for my 5 Hopes for YA in 2011!

FIVE Challenge: Great Series

I've been wanting to do some sort of a wrap-up post with 2010, with regards to reading books and blogging. What better way to get started than through Persnickety Snark's challenge?

 

 

THIS IS A RE-POSTED POST, SINCE SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY DELETED THE ORIGINAL. :P I wonder who that was...

Great Series

Uh oh. I'm not good with series. This one is open for any series in which at least one of the installments was released in 2010.

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS

Sara Shepard
Book 1 Goodreads

Plus the extra four books. I'm not sure whether I'm even going to get past the 6th book!
I'm thinking I'll just buy the first four, because I really liked them.

KAILMEYRA

Elizabeth Isaacs
Book 1 Goodreads

Despite the lackluster covers, this fantasy series is actually really good. And this is coming from me, and I don't warm to fantasy novels or series that often.

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS

Anna Godbersen
Book 1 Goodreads

I loved Bright Young Things and only expect great things out of the next books in the series.

STORK

Wendy Delsol
Book 1 Goodreads

Just, sigh.

THE ETERNAL ONES 

Kirsten Miller
Book 1 Goodreads

Mystery mixed with romance and murder and tragedy and doubt and a seamless society, the Ouroboros Society, that rules over New York, both of present day and in past generations. A bit rocky, but definitely worth the read, and can't wait to keep reading!

Honourable Mentions:

MINDER by Kate Kaynak

I told you that series wasn't my area of expertise. There are so many series I haven't started yet. I pretty much listed all the series I've read with releases in 2010.

Aussie YA Challenge 2011

 

 

Isn't that koala adorable? No, living in Australia doesn't automatically make me able to see these everyday. I've actually only ever seen them in a zoo.

The Aussie YA Reading Challenge 2011 is hosted by Nic at Irresistable Reads and Nomes at Ink Crush. These are two amazing bloggers and people, and I'm glad that they've taken the time to organise this challenge, because I need this. Maybe listing all my Aussie YA TBR will help me get some of them to read. Maybe then I can actually call myself a "true" Aussie blogger. If you've been watching my blog, you'll know that pretty much none of my reviews are of Australian books, and I wish to assauge that.

For the challenge, Aussies are to read at least 12 Aussie YA novels. Here's my list for now:

My To-Be Read Aussie Books

* own

1. On the Jellicoe Road - Melina Marchetta *
2. Stolen - Lucy Christopher
3. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
4. Graffiti Moon - Cath Crowley
5. Raw Blue - Kirsty Eager
6. Beatle meets Destiny - Gabrielle Williams
7. Good Oil - Laura Buzo
8. Six Impossible Things - Fiona Wood
9. This is Shyness - Leanne Hall
10. Everything Beautiful - Simmone Howell
11. Ballads of Suburbia - Stephanie Kuehnert
12. Beautiful Malice - Rebecca James
13. A Little wanting Song - Cath Crowley
14. John Belushi Is Dead - Kathy Charles
15. Guitar Highway Rose - Brigid Lowry
16. Girl Saves Boy - Steph Bowe
17. Enticed (The Violet Eden Chapters #2) - Jessica Shirvington
18. Mercy - Rebecca Lim *

 

I am terrible at adhering to the exact limit, but the more variety allows for flexibility.

 

I am especially excited to read Good Oil, This is Shyness, A Little Wanting Song, Guitar Highway Rose, Girl Saves Boy and Mercy. A lot of those are Nomes' and Nic's recommendations. ;) Trying to find them will be easy. Off to the library!

 

 

Not Aussie? International readers have to read at least 6 Aussie YA books. There will also be contests, interviews and guest posts of Australian featured authors throughout next year. :D

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO OVER TO IRRESISTIBLE READS

YA Historical Fiction Challenge

Historical fiction: tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional. Writers of stories in this genre, while penning fiction, attempt to capture the spirit, manners, and social conditions of the persons or time(s) presented in the story, with due attention paid to period detail and fidelity. (Wikipedia)

 There are three levels for this challenge:

Level 1: 5 YA HF books in 2011

Level 2: 10 YA HF books in 2011

Level 3: 15 YA HF books in 2011

For now, I'll stick with 5 YA HF books--if and when I reach that, I'll level up. ;)

Here's my list:

1. Deadly - Julie Chibbaro
2. In the Shadow of the Lamp - Susanne Dunlap
3. Between Shades of Grey - Ruta Sepetys
4. The Lost Crown: A Novel of Romanov Russia - Sarah Miller
5. A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1) - Libba Bray
6. The Season - Sarah MacLean
7. Beautiful Days (Bright Young Things, #2) - Anna Godbersen
8. 
   

If you want to join the challenge too, click the banner to read more info and to sign up!!

Contest Craze Mini Challenge #1: Top 5 Books of 2011

Okay, so I may not be from the US, but I have my ways, and gosh darnit, I'm entering every contest of Cindy's Contest Craze!

Let me tell you, going through all the YA 2011 books that I have added in Goodreads . . . choosing only 5 really is a challenge! Gosh, this is really difficult when some of them don't have covers!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver {gr}
There was no way I couldn't include this in my top 5 books. I love Before I Fall way too much to betray Oliver like that. :P Anyway, this one sounds fabulous: controlling society (Matched), dystopic world, love is a "poison" of sorts to which there is now a cure for . . . a promised forbidden romance, or at least a difficult and tribulating one.
While I'm not exactly used to the new cover just yet, the ARC cover is just WOW. Wish I had a copy... 

 The Locket by Stacey Jay {gr}

Can you say COVER LOVE? I also really like the premise of this one: "What if you got a second chance to fix your worst mistake? . . . What if you found out that sometimes, miracles are curses in disguise" Plus, there aren't many books that feature a piece of jewellery as a main motif and driver of the narrative. Can't wait to see how this one WOWs me. :)

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer {gr}
Love the cover, love the title, love the storyline. Being a sort of music lover, I'm sure I'll enjoy this one! Plus, Sara is such a sweet person. If you comment her on her LJ, she'll reply back, and she's definitely one of those authors you can just approach. Wish I had an ARC of this one: already asked . . . no dice. :'( Curse my Australian residency!

Where She Went (If I Stay, #2) by Gayle Forman {gr}
This one should be my #1 book, but anyway...
I loved If I Stay, so there was no way I was going to skip out on reading the sequel! Whoever hasn't read IIS already is NUTS. Gayle's characters are beautiful and realistic and likeable; her storytelling: phenomenal. Mia's story is unforgettable, and I can't wait to see what reading in Adam's POV will do for the "continuance" of the story.
Beautiful cover, do I even need to say it? *swoon*

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard {gr}
Having just finished reading You Wish (and loving it), I'm hoping for a completely different story in Ripple, and am looking forward to seeing how Mandy Hubbard allures me in this title.
This one has the makings of a huge success! 






Now, since it's too painful to part with just 5 titles, I've got a list of books that are definitely note-worthy. I couldn't just NOT mention them:


Unearthly by Cynthia Hand {gr}
Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard {gr}
Entwined by Heather Dixon {gr}
Falling Under by Gwen Hayes {gr}
Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys {gr}
From Bad to Cursed (Bad Girls Don't Die, #2) by Katie Alender {gr}
Divergent by Veronica Roth {gr}
Lost Voices (Lost Voices, #1) by Sarah Porter {gr}
Hourglass by Myra McEntire {gr}
Across the Universe by Beth Revis {gr} (already own an ARC)

SUZANNE COLLINS LOVE, in giveaway fashion & A new book challenge!

Part 1: Suzanne Collins Love (contest!)

Okay, so I'm extremely slow in the way of reading great big books. I have not read any of The Hunger Games just yet. However, lucky me (maybe lucky you), Note to  Shelf is hosting a massive Suzanne Collins giveaway! 1 winner will win the whole series in HARDBACK. 2 winners will receive a brand spankin' new copy of Mockingjay. That is one great giveaway!

---

Part 2: New book challenge, 5 books in a month!

The season of SPRING is among us, or at least, us who live in Australia. I couldn't be happier. Winter has been nothing but cold weather and I'm truly sick of it, to be honest. Anyway, to welcome the month of September, I have decided to accept a book challenge. :D

This is a book challenge hosted at The Thought of a Book Junky, while the spelling of "junky" urks me (haha), the sound of the book challenge sounds great!

• It is from September 1st all through to September 30th.
• 5 books ("one book a week") -- ANY you want! At the end of that week you will post your review on your blog and add your link to the Mr. Linky at the page.
• There will be a giveaway at the end of each week. Extra entries apply when posting the button on your sidebar!
• These giveaways are open internationally!

Okay, so this challenge is sounding like a done deal, right? Here are the five books I vow to read for September, and hopefully I'll be able to get through some more than this.

  

 

Enter too!

In other news: I will have a review up later today, for Bad Girls Don't Die. I'm moving on to Manifest by Artist Arthur, which released early this month.