Friday Favorites

 

It's been a great week!

 

My birthday was last Saturday. My uncle had a family crawfish boil. 128 pounds of crawfish. Heaven.

 

My friend made me these amazing cake pops and chocolate-covered pretzels. So good. I'm blessed.

 

 

 

Then, Sunday, I went to the Rockets game with my sister. They won! It was so much fun. I can't wait for the playoffs to start this weekend. Go, RedNation!

 
 

Wednesday morning, I left home earlier than I usually wake up to head to Austin for the Texas Library Association's annual conference. It's an amazing thing. Three days of workshops, author signings, author talks, and walking the exhibit hall where there are aisles and aisles of vendors, publishers, and stores.

 





I got to meet Ally Carter for the second time. She's my favorite YA author. If you haven't read her books, you MUST! Spies, art thieves, and granddaughters of ambassadors. What more could a reader want?

My hotel was near a river, so I hung out each night after dinner near the water. So relaxing and soothing.

 
 

Such a great week!

 

 

 

 

 

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United We Spy: A Review

 

 

 

I didn't want to start reading this book because I knew it was going to be the last new Gallagher Girl book. This is one of the best series I have ever read. Ally Carter is an amazing writer, weaving small little details perfectly to create an adventure for the characters and the readers.

 

The young, naïve girl we met in book one is all grown up. She's about to graduate, but high school is the least of her concerns. Instead, she's chasing The Circle instead of letting them chase her. The last mission proves to be the most important. Lives hang in the balance, and Cammie and her friends finally learn what it is truly means to be a Gallagher Girl.

 

Although this isn't my favorite book in the series, it's still a great book and a solid conclusion to a terrific series.

 

I recommend this book for fans of YA featuring strong females, adventure, and a whole lot of spying.

 

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Perfect Scoundrels: A Review

Ally Carter is quickly moving from my favorite YA author to my favorite author in general. This book moves her to that spot for good. Perfect Scoundrels has all readers expect from Carter: action, a tightly written plot, and a hint of romance. 

In the first two books, I enjoyed the fast-paced action, but this third book in the Heist Society kicks it up a notch with the character development. When Hale's grandmother dies, he is named the heir despite his young age. When his grandmother's longtime friend questions the will privately to Kat, she and the team are on a mission to save the family company. Through Hale's loss and Kat's attempts to console him while not quite being accepted by his family and his world, their motives and characters are flushed out, and I love them even more. 

Fans of Carter will enjoy this latest spy adventure, and people who aren't fans should be.

Double Crossed: A Review

What's next, Ally Carter? In this short story, Macey, spy in training, is held hostage at a social event along with Hale, thief extraordinaire  Although they don't know each other, they soon rely on one another to get out alive and to steal the diamond before the thieves can. 

Although this is just a short story (thanks for giving it to us free), it is done with the traits fan come to expect from Carter: action, precise plot, and a little bit of fun. 

After finishing it, I couldn't help but wonder what's next? Fans know Gallagher Girls ends with book six, so is Carter hinting at what's to come? A Macey series? Gallagher Girls showing up in future Heist books? A totally new series? I can't wait to find out.

Fans of the either series will enjoy this short story, and fans of one series will want to check out the other after reading about Macey and Hale. 

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Kat is a normal teenager. She has a crush on a cute guy. She has family issues. Oh, and she’s a jewel thief…a thief who just pulled off a major heist. In this second novel, Kat and her team are off to steal one of the most famous jewels of all time, the Cleopatra Emerald, and return it to its rightful owners. When things go wrong in the operation, Kat must correct her mistakes and out-con one of the most notorious cons of all time.

Ally Carter is my favorite young adult writer. In a YA market that is saturated with novels about snobby girls, vampires, and girls who care only about boys, her writing stands out. Her characters are smart, independent young girls who have more on their plate than boys and clothes. (The innocent romance storylines add to the story without overtaking the main plot.) The characters are unique, and the plot is interesting and fresh (unlike a lot of authors who seem to take what’s hot and recycle storylines).

I sometimes wish Ally Carter would write faster because I want to read more of her books, but every time I read one of her books, I understand why it takes so long. Her books are just worth the wait. The plot flows, and each detail is planned and carefully executed.

If you haven’t read Heist Society, the first book in the series, check it out. You don’t have to read the books in order, but it does help. Also check out Ally’s Gallagher Girls series. It’s just as awesome for teens and adults alike.

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Quick Summary: Cammie Morgan, now a junior, must tackle her biggest mission yet: discovering who is after her, what they want from her, and just who belongs to this secret group.

My thoughts: This is my favorite Gallagher Girl book so far. I like the “darker” turn to the book as Cammie delves into her family’s (particularly her father) secrets. I tried typing my thoughts several times, but I found I was giving away too many of the plot’s twists and turns.  Cammie grows as a character and as a spy through this book: she is more confident in herself and her abilities in than in previous books. She also tackles on more difficult tasks, which adds to the adventure of the book. The supporting cast is as strong as in other books, and the character of Zach and the mystery surrounding him is developed further in this fourth book.


Once again, I must praise Ally Carter for the thought she puts into her books. Events are well-planned, and while the twists are surprising, they are not unrealistic. I can’t wait to see what happens in Cammie’s senior year!

Some of my Favorite--Middle School

I love young adult literature. Posting my favorite may take a few posts!

1. Ally Carter:

Her books are about strong, independent teenage girls who have more going for them than just finding a boy to like. The Gallagher Girls series is about Cammie, who is a spy in training. The Heist series is about a girl who has been raised in a family full of art thieves. I recommend both series to middle school and high school girls. Ally's books also have the catchiest titles!

2. Jordan Sonnenblick

Jordan Sonnenblick is one of the best at capturing the thoughts and feelings of young adults. I can't tell you how many times I've had students say that he writes like they think. He tackles tough topics in a funny way, and I love his books.

3. Suzanne Collins: Hunger Game series

This series is cutting edge and full of suspense. It's a springboard for great talks about society. The third book comes out in August, and I can't wait to read it!

4. Brandilyn Collins: Christian fiction writer

Brandilyn Collins has teamed with her daughter to write a teen suspense series, which turned out to be a great series. I recommend it to the mystery lovers.

More to come....

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Summary: Kat thought she had escaped the family business when she enrolled in Colgan School, an elite boarding school. However, she is reeled back into the business of stealing artwork when her father is framed for stealing paintings of a cruel criminal. Kat must steal the artwork back to clear her father. However, will Kat be able to steal the paintings while also doing the right thing by returning the paintings to their rightful owner?

Analysis: This book may be Ally Carter's best book thus far. Even though the idea of a fifteen year old flying around the world, stealing artwork from prestigious museums is outlandish, Carter makes the story seem believable. The story unfolds smoothly even though the characters are jumping from country to country. Kat is a likable character, and the supporting cast of Hale, Nick, and Gabrielle offset Kat's character well.

In her discreet way, Carter sets the stage for a future romance, but the reader is left wondering if it will be Hale, fellow thief, or Nick, whose mom is investigating Kat's father. In a world of rushed romances in literature, it is refreshing to see a romance built slowly over friendship. One of the best parts of this book is how Carter weaved some history into the art heist when Kat meets Mr. Romani, who is working diligently to recover artwork stolen by the Nazis.

Hopefully in future books, readers will be able to learn more about Kat's parents and perhaps how the family started stealing in the first place.

This book is an excellent book for young adult girls...even as early as sixth grade. It depicts strong female characters who chose to do the right thing with a little help from friends.