In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. In My Mailbox was created by Alea and turned into a meme by Kristi.

Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch

All Jack Blank knows is his bleak, dreary life at St. Barnaby’s Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost, an orphanage that sinks further into the swampland of New Jersey with each passing year. His aptitude tests predict that he will spend a long, unhappy career as a toilet brush cleaner. His only chance at escape comes through the comic books donated years ago to the orphanage that he secretly reads in the dark corners of the library. Everything changes one icy gray morning when Jack receives two visitors that alter his life forever. The first is a deadly robot straight out of one of his comic books that tries its best to blow him up. The second is an emissary from a secret country called the Imagine Nation, an astonishing place where all the fantastic and unbelievable things in our world originate - including Jack. Jack soon discovers that he has an amazing ability--one that could make him the savior of the Imagine Nation and the world beyond, or the biggest threat they've ever faced.

-Amanda

Contest Saturday

Here are some current contests going on in the blogosphere!

Princess Bookie is holding a comment contest. Click HERE to enter. Ends October 2nd.

Book Rat is holding a Zombies Vs. Unicorns contest. Click HERE to enter. Ends when September does.

Ellz Readz is giving away an ARC of The Duff. Click HERE to enter. Ends September 17th.

Book-love Carol is having a Blogfest giveaway. Click HERE to enter. Ends TOMORROW, so get those entries in.

The Compulsive Reader is giving away a signed copy of Mockingjay. Click HERE to enter. Ends September 24th.

-Amanda

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Originality- 17/20

Characters- 20/20

Remembrance- 9/10

Quote-ability- 9/10

Entertainment- 19/20

Ending- 9/10

Recommend to read- 10/10

TOTAL- 93/100

Grade- A

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical. Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans.

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This book, this book, THIS BOOOOK. I absolutely love John Green, and definitely enjoy David Levithan. The two of them together though? Magic.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson had the perfect mix of humor and seriousness mixed together. I don't know how they do it, but even though this book wasn't terribly exciting, I couldn't put it down. It usually takes an action packed, or super original book for me to be so enthralled.

Both Will Graysons were completely amazing. I want to be best friends with both of them, it's crazy. I've always wanted to meet someone with the same name as me, so this book had me living my dream.

This book had so much. It had betrayal, love, friendship, and a musical. You can't help but love it. Each character was filled with so much awesomeness. Even though Tiny wasn't a main character, you feel like he his. Everyone adds something to the story.

I don't say this often, but I would recommend this book to everyone. It will have you laughing so much, there is no way you'll regret reading it.

-Amanda

The Limit by Kristen Landon

Originality- 19/20
Characters- 18/20
Remembrance- 9/10
Quote-ability- 8/10
Entertainment- 18/20
Ending- 8/10
Recommend to read- 8/10
TOTAL- 88/100
Grade- B

An eighth grade girl was taken today . . .

With this first sentence, readers are immediately thrust into a fast-paced thriller that doesn't let up for a moment. In a world not too far removed from our own, kids are being taken away to special workhouses if their families exceed the monthly debt limit imposed by the government. Thirteen-year-old Matt briefly wonders if he might be next, but quickly dismisses the thought. After all, his parents are financially responsible, unlike the parents of those other kids. As long as his parents remain within their limit, the government will be satisfied and leave them alone. But all it takes is one fatal visit to the store to push Matt’s family over their limit—and to change his reality forever.
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This book was so amazing. You all know how much I love dystopian novels, and this one fit in perfectly with my collection.

We start off hearing about how a girl was taken because her parent's went over the limit. Right away we are introduced to this strict society that gives each family a spending limit. If the family goes over the limit, even just a few cents, their child can be taken away to a workhouse.

Matt was a fantastic protagonists. He didn't make all of the right decisions, and sometimes he annoyed me, but that's what made him perfect to me. I get annoyed when the main character gets everyone done without a problem, and Matt had a whole lot of problems. The other characters were good too, but none could compare to Matt.

You notice almost instantly that things are not right, and that something is going on. You spend the majority of the book with that paranoid feeling that something bad is going to happen. The ending is both happy and sad. It's a little give and take that made me like the book even more.

Overall I would have to say that The Limit was a completely engrossing read. If you have a thing for controlling governments, or any dystopian book, you should definitely read this.

-Amanda