As I Wake - Elizabeth Scott

Young Adult
Pages: 224
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: September 15, 2011

Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

It was very unsettling for me to struggle with this book. I'm an Elizabeth Scott fan as a rule and I was shocked and awed by this cover since I first saw it. It was the first book I grabbed out of my ALA pile (even before Lola!!) so my expectations were as high as they go. And I'm sad to say, it was very weird. I never felt the characters or empathized with them in any level. I had trouble believing and picturing the alternate universe that builds the story. I was very confused throughout the whole book, and upon finishing it, I just had this puzzled fog in my mind as to what exactly I had just read.

I would categorize it as somewhat science fiction, since it has no supernatural elements, or at least I don't consider the alternate realities as such. You are pulled right in to the middle of the story and given bits and pieces taunting the reader to want to know more. And I normally love this technique! In realistic fiction this is generally done very well. (i.e. one of my favorite books that does this extremely well is Cracked Up To Be) But in this sci-fi reality and with so little character depth, I just didn't get it. I felt uninterested.

I never felt the need to put it down though, which was weird. I guess maybe in part because it was such a short book and in part because I was still hoping that I would reach a whoa moment when everything clicked together and made sense.

The writing of course was impeccable, and by no means will I ever stop reading Elizabeth Scott because she is a genius. I just think this story was not her strong point.

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Between Here and Forever - Elizabeth Scott

Young Adult
Pages: 256
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 24, 2011

Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.

Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen.

Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

Elizabeth Scott is one of my favorite writers. To me at least, she's like one of the huge authors in YA. Every time she has a new book, I'm desperate to get it. This was no exception. I love her writing. She has this particular way of making you feel and see, instead of just reading. She creates down to earth and shaking stories that reach the hearts of readers.

Between Here and Forever, has a slow start. To me it felt a bit repetitive at the beginning, when the reader is just getting involved with the character, Abby's low self esteem is being repeated over and over in several ways. It probably just felt that way since I get annoyed at people who show so much self pity, but that's how it felt to me. I wanted to slap Abby or close the book. But then it gets to a point where suddenly everything is awesome and Scott's magic began to blossom. Eli was... something else. I wanted to hug him and take care of him. I seriously loved his character.

Overall, it was just such a cute read, and like I said the male protagonist provoked tenderness in me instead of.. well, hot melting feelings, so it just felt to me a bit more MG than YA. Which is, of course, not a bad thing at all, but it was one of the main things I thought as soon as I closed the book. The fact that she included Bloom's characters as the parents was a bonus that I sadly figured out after reading it, so I'm committed to read it again and savor that bit.

I loved the setting, I loved the story, I loved the message. I love Elizabeth Scott and everything she writes. 

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Grace - Elizabeth Scott

Young Adult
Pages: 208
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: September 16, 2010

Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

Told in spare, powerful prose, this tale of a dystopian near future will haunt readers long after they've reached the final page.

This book was shocking. I already knew Scott could rock dark/scary type of reading from Living Dead Girl, but this was a different kind of scary. A horrifying, painful kind of scary. She deals with stuff we don't even want to imagine. Terrorism, viewed from the terrorist's POV. Actually, from a teen female suicide bomber's POV. Hit some buttons there? Yep, try to swallow that! She efficiently plays with our concepts of reality from an imaginary dystopian world. She questions and makes us realize the fact that we are a sum of what we learn from what is taught to us, plus our experiences. Nothing more.

The premise was terrifyingly original and trapping. Grace's world was a well constructed totalitarian society facing terrorist threats on daily basis. Grace is a trained killer with her mind carefully manipulated pro-cause and against her enemy. So my only complaint will be, that I expected to be more sickened and more nauseated. I know that sounds terrible, but as a dark realistic and dystopian lover, I felt this doesn't offer the emotional earthquake that a premise like this was supposed to bring. Everything happened too quickly. I probably needed a longer book. But still, I felt that Scott's wonderful talent to use words to steer up your insides so you literally feel the book, was not at the best with this one.

The writing was great, of course. The world, like I said, was very well constructed, so much so that I wanted to know more. This was definitely a very different side of Elizabeth Scott, and I sure cannot wait to read more from her. If you're like me and enjoy disturbing books this should be at the top of your list.

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The Unwritten Rule - Elizabeth Scott

Young Adult
Pages: 224
Simon Pulse
Release Date: April 6, 2010

Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like your best friend's boyfriend.

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.

Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.

Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...

I just love her writing! It inspires me so much because she makes you really feel everything, it's like you momentarily vanish form your body into the character's skin! This was such a sweet book and such a nice topic to explore because, even though it's sort of cliche, it keeps on happening often. And I don't think it will ever stop happening. The way Scott writes about it though, is about much more than just falling for your best-friends boy. The Unwritten Rule is also about family, parents, true friends and many issues. A very short and light read but filled with numerous types of emotions.

The characters were incredibly real, I loved Sarah! The cover is beyond gorgeous, I fell in love with it from the first time I saw it, which was weird since I don't find feet appealing at all, but the sweetness and the purple background makes it irresistible to watch. Its one of those covers that when you see it in the shelf, you just have to pick it up. If you like sweet love stories, if you're a contemporary or Dessen fan, or if you've enjoyed Scott's books, you will love this one too!

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Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott

Young Adult
Pages: 176 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: September 2, 2008

Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.

Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.

Once upon a time, I didn't know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends — her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.

Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.

This is Alice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

This story was utterly disturbing; so powerful and so horrible at the same time. A moving story about a kidnapped girl who has been living with her captor for five years. It's painful to picture this, to acknowledge how unfair life is for some people. It was really hard for me to get through the pages, so helpless to do anything, just keep reading. Scott's incredible writing steals you away into this girls life, to her terror, it let you in in her fear.

The cover is just as disturbing as the book. I loved it. How messed up can a human being be? How can awful experiences change you, shape you? This book is for strong heart-ed people, but I dont have enough words to praise this book, it's just unbelievably amazing. I don't think you'll ever read anything so unforgettable. Definitely a must-read.

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Waiting on Wednesday (6)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

I liked him first, but it doesn't matter.

I still like him.

That doesn't matter either.

Or at least, it's not supposed to.


Release date: April 6, 2010

Isn't it just the prettiest cover??

Goodreads / Amazon

Something, Maybe - Elizabeth Scott

Young Adult
Pages: 224
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release date: March 24, 2009

Everyone thinks their parents are embarrassing, but Hannah knows she's got them all beat. Her dad made a fortune showcasing photos of pretty girls and his party lifestyle all over the Internet, and her mom was once one of her dad's girlfriends and is now the star of her own website. After getting the wrong kind of attention for way too long, Hannah has mastered the art of staying under the radar . . . and that's just how she likes it. Of course, that doesn't help her get noticed by her crush. Hannah's sure that gorgeous, sensitive Josh is her soul mate. But trying to get him to notice her; wondering why she suddenly can't stop thinking about another guy, Finn; and dealing with her parents make Hannah feel like she's going crazy. Yet she's determined to make things work out the way she wants - only what she wants may not be what she needs. . . .

This is a quick and easy read. But it is also really beautiful. It's a modern teen love story, probably predictable, but still magical. The plot is really well done, the whole family story is trapping. The character are marvelous, the best part of the book. Specially Finn's.

It has it's funny parts, sad parts, love parts... at the end a great book. The cover is cute, I love the color. It gives you an idea of summer, with the hat and stuff but it's not. So, I think it doesn't quite go with the book. But it is pretty. If you like fresh-pretty love stories, you'll love this book!