I was recently vacationing in Crystal River, Florida, when I ran out of books. I know, the horror. So I asked some of th good ol' locals for a nicely stocked bookstore with plenty of Young Adult novels. They told me to visit 'Poe's House Books.' Poe's House Books is an amazing bookstore located in a beautiful old house. Every room is a different genre. They're Adult Fantasy selection was HUGE and filled with the classics! The YA and Children's room was crammed with books, mostly the old classics (which I have no problem with), but they did have some fairly new and popular books (YES! SALVATION!). The owner (I think it was the owner) was very kind and helpful and the books were good quality but CHEAP! So, I just wanted to say Thank you (Thank you!) and hopefully send some costomers thier way.

    I couldn't find a website, but this is them- http://www.abebooks.com/poe-house-books-crystal-river-fl/1256195/sf

Again, Awesome bookstore

    The Selection has begun. Thirty-five girls have been chosen to compete for Prince Maxon and the Crown.
    
    America is one of those lucky girls, but she doesn't care about the Prince or the title of Queen; America tries only for the weekly compensation her family recieves. America believes, at first, that Prince Maxon is just a stuck-up, idiotic jerk. Then, America becomes friends with Prince Maxon and they begin to meet regularly (they're secret signal to meet is tugging one's ear!). Week by week more girls are sent home devastated. Then, America's ex-secret-scandalous-boyfriend (whom is a caste below her, hence the scandalous part) shows up as her guard! America must choose between Prince Maxon, new love, and the chance of a lifetime, or Aspen, her long time love, and a life of hardships.
    
    I loved this book! The Selection was everything was everything you could want in a book: a glimmer of hope, heated romance, and an epic choice. Selection's world is so beautifully built with so much detail! I really enjoyed watching America's opinion of Prince Maxon slowly change.
    You have to read this book! Like, now!
10/10 stars, all ages,
Carissa Bookworm

     This book is a collection of 3 novels that revolve around two main topics; love/ romance and death/ deathbed. Not a very happy book. But still good.

     I usually write my own summaries, but I'm super busy and way behind on reviews, so y'all get the back cover.

 Saving Jessica Jessica McMillan and Jeremy Travino are a perfect couple. When they met in high school, Jessica's upbeat spirit helped Jeremy to see that there must be a reason he was spared in the car accident that killed his brother. But now Jessica has been diagnosed with kidney failure. Her only hope is a kidney transplant but no one in her family is a match. Jeremy can't watch another person he loves die. He believes that his life was spared so he could save Jessica by donating a kidney. But his parents are terrified of losing their only child. Will Jeremy go against his parents' wishes to do what he must to save Jessica?


    Telling Christina Goodbye
Trisha Thompson and her best friend, Christina, are having a great senior year. Trisha and her boyfriend are making plans to attend Indiana University, and Christina received a scholarship to the University of Vermont. Everything would be perfect if only Trisha got along with Christina's controlling boyfriend, Tucker, who is trying to convince Christina not to go away for college. Their lives are forever changed when one night Tucker drives them all home from a basketball game. He hits black ice and the car overturns. Tucker walks away with barely a scratch, but Trisha is injured, Cody is in a coma, and Christina is dead. Those that are left must learn to heal, in order for their lives to move on.

      Letting Go of Lisa
Nathan Malone has been home schooled his whole life. He hasn't spent much time with kids his own age, let alone dated. Now that his mother is busy with his new twin sisters, he must enroll at the local high school for his senior year. On the first day of school a girl catches his eye. Lisa is a loner and doesn't care what anybody thinks of her. Nathan is intrigued. When he and Lisa finally start spending time together, he is the happiest he's ever been. But Lisa has a tragic secret and when she decides to deal with it herself, Nathan has to make a choice. Can he ever let go of Lisa?

     This isn't the kind of book I usually read, but a friend suggested I read it. And I did. I cried during every single story, and I, Carissa Bookworm, never cries. The writing wasn't spectacular, but it was pretty good. 8/10 stars, 12+ (romance is a little steamy, but never goes there, and the drama is kind of heartbreaking/scary.)

I remain,
Carissa Bookworm 

    Delirium, by Lauren Oliver, is a dystopic (they are all these days!) novel. Threads of romance, adventure, and prosecution are elegantly woven together to form this classy book!
    Lena Haloway has a blemished history. Her mother fell in love (Oh no!), and had the cure three times, none of which worked. Then, she committed suicide. Lena's sister also fell in love, but, thankfully, the cure worked, relieving her of love.
    Lena has always believed in the goverment and the cure. Hana, her BFF, is the rebellious one, attending illegal concerts with forbidden music.
    She believes that the cure will make her happy...until Lena meets a boy named Alex. Lena has had zero boy experience, since Uncured boys and girls are seperated. Alex appears to be Cured, but he is not all he seems. Lena finds herself in love.
    
    Delirium is Amazing! You have to read this book! Can't wait to read (and review) Pandemonium and Requiem!
<3,
Carissa Bookworm

    I have mixed feelings about this novel written about Kathryn White...On one hand, White took the "bad life, suddenly mega-star" cliche and made it really unique and original. On the other hand, Behind the Scenes is an indie novel, so naturally, its going to have some grammatical and spelling errors. There wasn't enough to be distracting in Behind the Scenes, though! *cheer*
    Caitlin is a few months away from getting married, at age 18, to Johnny, who ridicules her acting. "It's stupid!" he complains about Caitlin's audition for a new role in the hit TV series, Angel Street.
    Caitlin's mother left years ago and bestselling author dad abandened her as a baby. Caitlin lives in a trailer, only by the kindness of her fiancee's parents (the trailer park owners). Then, Johnny dies abrubtly.
     While lost in grief, Caitlin recieves a call that changes her (and her life!) forever; she got the part as Daisy in Angel Street.
    Caitlin is reunited with her father and sister and relearns something of her past, while puzzling over the pompus director.
    OK, I have to say, I really enjoyed this book!
8/10 stars, Ages-13 and up
~Carissa Bookworm
Also, Thank you to Kathryn White for the free review copy!

    Orgin by Jessica Khoury is...undescribable.
    Pia is perfect. She is the single immortal homo sapien. Her sole purpose is to start a new race of perfect, immortal people. She lives in New Cambridge (or New Cam as the residents call it) with the group of scientist that bred her plus staff. Pia's only dream is to make her Mr. Perfect and be on the Immortis team. But on her 17th birthday, Pia sneaks outside the fence. *gasp*  She meets a boy from the local tribe named Eio. They continually meet and Pia begins to love him and his village. Then Pia discovers the final ingredient to Immortis and it changes everything. 
    Wow. This book is everything: unique, memorable, well-written. I could not put this book down! I love the ending, but, woah, very unexpected! 
    I did a little research and *drumroll, please* her new book, Vitro comes out in January 2014! All her life, Sophie Crue has wondered about the secret research her mother conducts for the enigmantic company called Corpus, deep in the South Pacific. At last, she has her chance to find out--but every secret comes at a cost...
    Apparently, Khoury is Syrian and Scottish! Cool combo!
~Carissa Bookworm
P.S. Here's her website:http://www.jessicakhoury.com/#!

    Fat Cat, by Robin Brande, follows Cat, an (how do I say this politely!?) obese math and science nerd. Cat is taking the infamous Research Science class with Mr. Fizer. If she aces this class, getting into college will be a breeze. Itty bitty problem. The year long research project must be related to a random picture. Cat draws hers and finds homo erectus (primitive humans) which are completly unrelated to Cat's scientific field. Cat bases her project off whether homo sapiens could benefit from returning to their natural roots; no technology, no junk food, and no modern convienences (within reason). Cat loses the weight while refurbishing a vegetarian resturant, dealing with a traitorous ex best friend, and dating guys whom her BF, Amanda, continually sets her up with.
    I loved this book!!! I could not put it down!!! Ages 12 and up, and 10/10 stars!!

                        ~Carissa Bookworm

    YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!!
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is a unique book that emerges from a delightful world; Middle Earth. The Hobbit is the prelude to infamous Lord of the Rings Trilogy...most authors begin with a prologue, but Tolkien went the extra mile and made the prelude a book. Wow. This book leads you into the land of elves, dwarves, humans, wizards, and (duh) hobbits (in case you didn't know are short, un-adventerous people with hairy feet.) The main character, Bilbo Baggins really doesn't care about anything outside of his hobbit world, The Shire. Yet, he is still pulled into an adventure. Bilbo's dream was to be a nice, normal hobbit, not trouping around on a most unseemly adventure! Or, worse still, to help stinky dwarves! All Ages in appropiatness, but it is a hard read...10/10!!!
        
    Now a major motion picture (dunno why movies are called that)!
Review on the movie (special case)- REALLY! A three hour movie, and doesn't even reach the climax! You have got to be kidding me! OK, rant over. I loved it...

    The main character in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy is Bilbo's nephew (?) Frodo Baggins. So that's how the books tie together.
    
    Sorry this review has been such a ramble. :)

With assistance from Ruth Reader,
Carissa Bookworm

    An original story, Cinder follows a young Cyborg, living with her step-mother and step-sisters in New Bejiing. To earn her keep, Cinder uses her unique mechanical abilities to fix cyborg limbs, droids, etc. When the heir to the throne, Prince Kai, practically begs her to fix an old android for her, Cinder discover's vital information about the Lunar's (people of the moon) that might just save Kai's life.
Cinder by Marissa Meyers is truly amazing and definitely wins a spot on "Carissa's Favorite Book List!" along with a million other books. :)  Filled with a bunch of twists and turns, Cinder will keep you jumping! Must read for teens and kids 8+, 10/10 stars.
Bye,
Carissa Bookworm

    A Tale Dark & Grimm is an odd collection of stories that follows Hansel and Gretel through various (fairytale) adventures. Adam Gidwitz adds these humorous little sidenotes in bold. He continually warns the reader to send the youngsters to bed and "hurry up and get a babysitter" because the stories get quite gruesome the further into the book you read.
    10/10! Umm...you parents out there:  definitely read this before giving it to your child!!! (it won't take long)

L8r Alligator,
Carissa Bookworm