Five Flavors of Dumb By: Antony John

Title: Five Flavors of Dumb
Author: Antony John
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 352
Release Date: November 11, 2010
Release Date: Dial
Geared Towards: Teen/Music Lovers
From: Library

"'Here's the deal: You've got one month to get us a paying gig. We'll split the money with you-four ways. Do that and you can be our manager, even when we get big'" (23).

Summary (From Front Flap): Eighteen-year-old Piper has gotten herself into a mess. Because of her big mouth, she has one month to get a paying gig for her high school's hottest new rock band, called Dumb. In Piper's mind, the band couldn't have a more perfect name. Just look at the members: one egomaniacal pretty boy, one silent rocker, one talentless piece of eye candy, one angry girl, and one nerd-boy drummer-five discordant personalities who, when put together, seem ready to self-destruct at any moment. Getting them an actual gig seems impossible. Add to that the fact that Piper doesn't know if their music is good or not, because, well, she's deaf.

But Piper is determined to get the band a gig to show her classmates that being deaf doesn't mean she's invisble. And as she gets to know the five flavors of Dumb, some hidden talents, secret crushes, and crazy rock music emerge. She doesn't need to hear the music to sell it, but Piper wants the chance to feel the music too. Does she have what it takes to manage Dumb and discover her own inner rock star?

Wdebo's Review: When one listens to music, sometimes the song is very easy to get into, from the first minute one can get hooked just like that *snaps fingers to show the quickness* or it can take a few listens to actual appreciate and enjoy the song, but, thankfully The FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB was like the first example. This novel has a fun, addicting, fresh look on music and what music means to us not just hearing wise. It was wonderful from beginning to end.

The FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB is anything but dumb. The writing was professional yet fun and addicting even from the very beginning. The storyline was great, interesting, novel, I haven't read many stories with a deaf protagonist before so I was very intersted to read. The story had me feeling all kinds of feelings, I laughed, I cried, I shook my head at decisions that the characters made, but it was definitely good feelings all around.

Though I do enjoy music and respect the musicians that create them I cannot cry the way that the characters cried and felt the pains for the "classic" musicians like the characters did in the story. I feel bad for all they had to go through but I cannot not sleep and become depressed for them. Therefore, there was those parts of the book that I was emotionless, I knew the author wanted us to understand and feel those feelings, but I couldn't and just felt left out, so I was bored during those parts.

I loved the character of Piper, she was strong, sassy and sarcastic, she knew where she wanted to go and aimed for that destination. Though at times she was frustrating, but most of the time I enjoyed reading from her point of view and sympathized with her. All the characters had something about them that made them likeable and I enjoyed reading about all of them and see their growth.

Cafe Cover Chat: I like the cover, but it is kind of average, nothing special. (B-)

All in all, a great novel for music lovers all over.

Grade: A-

Wdebo :)

Blog Tour: Crush Control By: Jennifer Jabaley

Title: Crush Control
Author: Jennifer Jabley
PAPERBACK
Amount of Pages: 318
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 9, 2011
Geared Towards: Teens
From: Blog Tour

"I had a sudden feeling that everything I wanted in moving back to Worthington was about to come true. Like all I had to do was dream-and all my wishes would be granted, just like that."

Summary (From B.O.B):

Willow hypnotized Max

to be her friend forever

...which is why she
never expected to fall for him.

When Willow Grey was nine, her mom dropped the bomb of ultimate betrayl: they would be moving from their small town in Georgia to glitzy Las Vegas. Willow was devastated to have to leave her best friend, Max, behind. So she decided to take control of the situation: she told Max to relax, to let his eyelids droop, and then she said: Max Montgomery, for as long as we live, you and I will be best friends...

Now, at seventeen, Willow and her mom move back to their hometown, and Willow is determined to pick up where she and Max left off. But even though he's still her best friend, his heart now belongs to someone else-and Willow realizes what she feels for him is so much more than just friendship. For the second time in her life, Willow finds herself using hypnosis to get what she wants. But what starts off as a harmless experiment soon spirals into chaos, and Willow is forced to wonder:

Is the heart really something you can control-with mind control?

Wdebo's Review: When I first began this book I had no idea what to expect, I have never read a book by Jennifer Jabely so I wasn't really sure about her writting style and the last YA novel I read that delt with hypnotism, Human.4, actually scared me and made me decide to never be hypnotized. However, Crush Control dealt wonderfully with the funny, over-the-top consequences of using hypnotism and added a lovely, healthy-sized dallop of romance into the mix.

I enjoyed reading this novel, it was a perfect summer read, romance filled, light (no thinking required. A high school graduate must!), funny and cute. Though it wasn't my favorite book ever or that I've read this year, it still ranks up there, I liked it from the beginning when it started it with one of those cheesy Once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-boy-and-girl starts and as it lead to some memorably funny hot-guy-leg-dog-humping action in the next chapter and ended with a cliche but adorablely statisfying ending for a die-hard romantic like me. I enjoyed the story itself, I mean seriously, it filled a desire of mine to mind controlling my crush to like me.

The writing was very enticing, simple and addicting, it added nicely to the storyline and I really enjoyed Willow's voice, it was quite...soothing.

The thing I wasn't too happy about was that Max and Willow did not have enough interaction when she and Quinton were together. I thought it would have made for nice I-like-you-but-I-can't-tell-you tension =]

Willow is a good character, though she infuriates me at times with her...ugh...stupidity, but overall she was a good main character, Georgia, her best friend fit that quirky, eccentric best friend mold, but I liked her. Well, looking back now all of the characters in the book were pretty stereotypical, but then again, what realistic YA book isn't? Anywho, I liked all of the characters, they all had their loveable points, especially Max, haha, then again, that is typically of me to like the hot main guy/best friend.

Though I wasn't the biggest fan of Quinton, the guy Willow hypnotizes to like her, he seemed like a blah character to me, I wasn't very attracted to him. And for some strange reason, I had pictured him as Garrett Ecstasy, even though they are nothing alike. And even though Garrett is quite attractive he just so happens to be gay and just so happens to posess a, I don't know how to say it, but a "stereotypical gay voice", really not sure how I can put that kind of idea into words, that's the best I can do, so the entire time Quinton was talking he seemed to have Garrett's voice and, yeah, it was weird.

Cafe Cover Chat: I like this cover, the swirly lines make me feel like I'm getting hypnotized...zzz.... (B+)

All in all, a great light, romantic book, a perfect candidate for a fun summer read.

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)

Beast Master By: Kyousuke Motomi

Title: Beast Master
Author: Kyousuke Motomi
PAPERBACK
Publisher: Shojo Beat
Amount of Volumes in this Series: 2
Amount Read: 2
Geared Towards: Teens/Shojo lovers

"Kubozuka Yuiko, High School 2nd year. Animals really hate me, but I love them. The first one who got close to me...is a kind of weird, beast-like guy."

Summary (From myanimelist.net): Yuiko Kubozuka is a high school girl who loves animals. Unfortunately, animals hate her and flee from her whenever possible. So when a new classmate, Leo Aoi, turns out to be a scary guy who resembles a wild animal than anything human, she is intrigued. Not only because Reo has an affinity with animals which she envies, but also because he isn’t the wild animal that he seems to be. He seems to hide a very sweet disposition behind his scary features.

Or so she thought. The truth is revealed when they are attacked and Leo immediately behaves like a wild animal and gets violent like a blood-thirsty animal, just to save Yuiko.

Will Yuiko be able to tame this wildest of all animals or will he be just like the others and flee from her? Or the better question, will she flee from him?

Wdebo's Review: I wasn't really sure what to expect when I first began this manga. The cover art was pretty meh, the title is, to put it simply, pretty stupid, but when I began reading, I for some reason was drawn into the story. Most likely because Yuiko's actions reminded me instantly of my best friend, who like Yuiko, enjoys jumping/attacking animals because she is so in love with them, but animals usually don't return that affection because they are pretty damn freaked out by her.

Though this manga definitely has the cliche aspect to it, in the sense that it is obvious from the very beginning that Yuiko and Leo are going to be together and it also follows many overused elements in Shojo mangas, there is something simple and sweet to the story and artwork that just makes me so happy.

Though I am a sucker for romance and any form of cliche fluffyness makes me happy, there was something about this story that just made me happier then usual and made me unable to put it down until I finished the entire story (Which wasn't that hard seeing as how there were only two volumes, with four chapters each-So I totally finished the entire manga in two hours because I'm cool and have no life like that). I also enjoyed how it wasn't all just "romance" there was darker scenes that were great, hey a girl needs some violence in her life, right?

I really liked all of the characters, there is just something loveable about all of them. (Except for the meanie-faces). You have the heroine, Yuiko, who, though at times is a total spaz and is like a child when she sees animals, she is the strong, mature girl that apparently many manga girls aren't able to become. Leo, the hero, is just the cutest thing ever. Period. GAHHH I love him! But I really shouldn't make this some sort of Wdebo-is-in-love-with-a-cutely-hot-fictional-character essay, so let's just leave it at that. Then there are all of the supporting characters, they were great, especially Taiga, Leo's caretaker. The main reason I like them is because they get really awesome banter.

There were also two one-shots included in this manga series. One story was called FLY which was featured in the first volume and the second was called CACTUS SUMMER SURPRISE which was featured in the second volume. I definitely loved the cactus one more then the other story, but I enjoyed both of them.

All in all, a very enjoyable little manga story that is perfect for a nice summer read.

Grade: A-

Wdebo :)

When You Are Lonely Who Will You Think Of-Nicholas Teo

-ENGLISH SUBBED-

English Title: When You Are Lonely Who Will You Think Of
Chinese Title: 當你孤單 你會想起誰？
Artist: Nicholas Teo
TTS: None

Wdebo's Notes: GAH! I love this song. I first heard it when I went karaoking a few months ago (Seriously, how have I not listened to this song before?? >.<) Anywho, Nicholas' voice is so soft and sweet and his smile is to die for. Well, enjoy!

Listen and Love!



Wdebo :)

Random Entertainment Clips (27)

So, lately I've been rewatching Will & Grace which used to be one of my favorite shows when I was younger and now as I watch it I have to question why the hell was I even watching it in the first place, I was in elementary school when I started watching it and the stuff they talked about is pretty intense. I guess it is mostly because I didn't know what was happening. Anywho, I have decided to share some of my favorite clips with you guys. Enjoy!











Can you guys tell that Jack is my favorite character? :)

Wdebo :)

The ABC's of Kissing Boys By: Tina Ferraro

Title: The ABC's of Kissing Boys
Author: Tina Ferraro
PAPERBACK
Amount of Pages: 215
Release Date: January 13, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Geared Towards: Teens
From: Random Buzzers

"My breath caught in my throat as it really sank in for the first time. Was this the end? Like a ref giving me a red card that took me out of the game...forever?" (P. 58).

Summary (From B.O.B): Parker Stanhope has played soccer practically since she could walk. And now that she's a high school junior, everything she's worked for is finally coming together. She's paid her dues on the field, and as an upperclassman she's a shoo-in for the varsity team. Anyway, the coach moves everyone from JV up to varsity. It's just what happens.

But that's not what happens.

This year Coach Hartley moved up every JV player but two-and one of those two was Parker.

Parker has spent her life being a team player, but as soon as school stars, she's stuck with (horror of horrors) the freshmen, and her love of the game is seriously beginning to fail. Worse? Her friends her own age are cutting her loose, and now the freshman kid across the street is the only person who'll give her the time of day.

But Parker's determined to get her life back. She has to get on the varsity team, and she has the perfect plan. The only catch? She has to trick her way into a place in the kissing booth at the school's annual sports fair, then pull a stunt crazier than any she could ever dream up on her own. But the kiss has to look real. And Parker is less than experienced in playing that sort of field.

Parker knows that practice makes perfect. Now she just has to find the right coach...

Wdebo's Review: There is just one word to describe this book: Cute. Wait, I have another one to add, fun. Therefore making it, cutely fun. This was a super cliche yet happy-making book that I definitely enjoyed.

I liked the story and the obvious ending. Except what totally eluded me was why Parker would want to re-be friends with those girls in the first place, because they were just totally horrible from the beginning even when they were "friends." Ferraro's writing is also very good, it has a nice and relaxing tone that just made me happy and want to finish the book in one sitting, which I did. I also enjoyed the "kissing vocabulary" in the beginning of each chapter, they were just so adorable and fit with what the chapter was talking about.

I wasn't a giant fan of Parker but at least I liked her better than her varsity "friends". I did however enjoy her "new" friends, especially Tristan, the Freshman boy that "teaches" her how to kiss. And truthfully, I don't see why it was such a big deal that she was "dating" a freshman, one of my friends during Junior year dated a Freshman and it wasn't that big of a deal, or maybe that's just me. The only problem I had with her friends was that at times there just seemed to be too many people coming in and it was hard to keep track of them all and I do not like to be confused, especially when I'm reading a "summer read".

Cafe Cover Chat: It's a super cute (Gah, I need a new word) cover, I really like the lipstick and its color. (B+)

All in all, an adorable and fun novel that is sure to make the reader feel warm and fuzzy inside, a perfect summer read for YA lovers.

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)