Look out for the Gator!

So I just finished the most delightful book.  I'll admit that I really enjoy author, Carl Hiaasen's writing style (I have read both his adult and young adult material). His story lines are fresh, his characters are quirky and I always finish the book feeling satisfied.  Chomp is no exception.  Hiaasen is savvy at creating characters that are quirky and memorable.  The main character of Chomp, Wahoo Cray, is charming and endearing as he struggles to manage his family life surrounded by zoo's worth of animals his dad has collected as an animal wrangler.  And then there's Derek Badger.  He is the ridiculous, self-centered and over confident star of the reality-TV  show Expedition Survival.  Alligators, snapping turtles, snakes, bats and mosquitoes.  This book has an animal for everyone  If you're looking for a great book to pick up and laugh through then this one's for you.

YA Reading Challenge

I can't believe it's that time of year again.  Time to begin sorting out my goals for summer--and this includes my summer reading list.   When I put my goal down on paper it always seems to motivate me to read.  So I started thinking, what if I extended this throughout the year?  Maybe then I would finally reach my 100 book goal.  And then I discovered the 2012 YA Reading Challenge sponsored by Bumps in the Road.  I am so excited.  I've already signed up (I'm going for The Mega size YA Challenge--read 50+ books in 2012).  Seriously, I'm bouncing on my exercise ball as I write this (and that's no easy task).  So here are the parameters I'm sticking to:  1)  The book must be classified as YA  2)  Audio books count  3)  Abandoned books don't count (there are too many great ones out there to struggle through a dull read)  4) List completed books on the blog  5) HAVE FUN!

Now I have to ask.  Who's gonna join me!?

Top 10 Favorite Covers

Thanks to The Broke and the Bookish for their Top 10 Tuesdays!  I enjoy reading them and have decided to add my list to the mix.  Here are my very favorite covers (at least today)...

A Great and Terrible Beauty has
been one of my favorite covers since
I first laid eyes on it.  Started a dress
trend I think.

The Fold has a great juxtaposition of
the eyes and text that I really like.  Plus
I'm a fan of chartreuse.

The Luxe series is just a parade of one beautiful
dress after another.  I guess I'm a sucker for tons of fabric.


The original cover for Luna has always been one I loved for it's simplicity.