Review: The Gorgon in the Gully by Melina Marchetta (Around the World Challenge)

The Gorgon in the Gully 
by Melina Marchetta

Publisher: Penguin Australia/Puffins
Release Date: September 27, 2010
Format: Paperback
Source: Melina Around the World Challenge
Age Level: Elementary/Middle Grade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beyond the basketball courts and classrooms of St Raph's is a gully where everything disappears forever. Danny Griggs has heard stories about a creature that lives down there. So why does he volunteer to face the Gorgon when he's been petrified of everything all his life?

A gentle story about overcoming fear and looking at things from all angles, from best-selling author Melina Marchetta. (Goodreads)

I'm excited to have finally had my turn with Gorgon as part of the Melina Around the World Challenge! Gorgon arrived late last week along with postcards from everywhere it's visited. For those that don't know, Melina Marchetta is an Australian author and not all of her books are available in the US. So when Carmel offered to send around a copy of Gorgon from Australia, a bunch of us jumped at the opportunity! Melina Marchetta instantly became one of my favorite authors after I read her amazing YA novels, On the Jellicoe Road and Finnikin of the Rock. When I found out that The Gorgon in the Gully's protagonist, Danny, was Jonah's (from Jellicoe Road, and one of my favorite male characters of all time) little brother, I wanted in on the fun.

The Gorgon in the Gully is so stink'n cute! It's a story about friendship, loyalty, and facing your fears. I love that Jonah appears in this book and is the BEST big brother EVER to Danny, which only makes me love him as a character more... Danny is a good kid - a great son, a good student, and the type of friend anyone would be lucky to have. He just happens to be afraid of... everything.

When Danny looses his team's lucky signed football in the gully, he realizes he needs to face his biggest fear of all to help out his team. In the process he makes unexpected friends and learns what can be accomplished when friends stick together. The Gorgon in the Gully is a heart-warming read that will leave your insides feeling warm and fuzzy.

I really enjoyed reading this, even as an adult. I wish this book was available to buy in the US, because there are at least 5 kids I'd like to gift this book to!

Author Links: website | twitter | facebook | goodreads

Below is a list of where this book has been so far, and where it's going. I starred myself as a "Gorgon is here" marker :). Today, I'm on a mission to find a Colorado postcard to include in the package before sending it to Becca in Utah!

Catie - Virginia, USA

Isalmq - Manila, Philippines
Roshini - Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Atiqer - Singapore, Singapore :)
Arphaxad - Cambridge, UK
Alleycat WPS - Redditch, UK
Michelle - Connecticut, USA
Bluemoon - Ontario, Canada
Alyssa - Ontario, Canada
Wendy F - Michigan, USA
Peep - Pennsylvania, USA
Cassi - Kentucky, USA
Brandi - Tennessee, USA
Heidi I - Illinois, USA
Kristina - Missouri, USA
Jessica - Missouri, USA
*Jen - Colorado, USA
Becca - Utah, USA
Jaimie - California, USA
Claire - California, USA
Shannen - Washington, USA
Bethany - Washington, USA
Amanda - Minnesota, USA

Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) 
by Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill/PenguinTeen
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Format: Advance Reader Copy
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Buy: Amazon | IndieBound

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship. (Goodreads)

A Million Suns starts off right where Across the Universe ends, and I was quickly immersed back in the world Beth Revis has created. I swear, thanks to Revis’ descriptions, I can picture Godspeed inside and out – all its different levels, features, and new nooks and crannies we learn about in this book! I love when I can imagine a story’s world so completely without feeling bogged down with details, and I think Revis has found a perfect balance with this series.

In A Million Suns, the pace gradually builds until about halfway through when it becomes a roller coaster of a ride! Seriously, there were so many unexpected plot twists and turns that I never saw coming. At one point I actually exclaimed “Holy Crap” out loud while I was up late reading, which my sleeping husband wasn’t thrilled about. You can’t help but feel a sense of urgency while reading this, because the ship is in chaos. The people are on the brink of mutiny, while Elder, in his new role of leadership struggles to maintain control. Godspeed is truly another character in the story with its own secrets that Elder and Amy must figure out, while also trying to figure out who is responsible for the murders.

I think what I enjoyed most about this installment was watching Elder grow as a character. I was fascinated with how he handled each new situation as issues/problems were thrown at him in rapid fire. I do have to admit, that I wanted more romance… I kept waiting, and waiting. This series is most definitely science fiction and mystery, with very little romance. I’m not sure why I feel so insistent that it should be there. I think I got the idea of the series being a sci-fi romance stuck in my head before reading Across the Universe, and I’m just having a hard time letting it go.

This is a must-read for fans of Across the Universe; it will leave you reeling and desperate for book 3, Shades of Earth! I highly recommend this series to fans of mystery, and to anyone curious about sci-fi. You don’t need to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy this series!

Author Links: website | twitter | facebook | goodreads | tumblr

Book Links: Across the Universe Website - Ship Navigation | ATU Facts Tumblr

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

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

The week's WoW feature is:

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: August 23, 2011

Goodreads Synopsis:

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

I'm really looking forward to this new series, and happy that we'll still be with some of the same characters from Vampire Academy. What book are you waiting for this week? Leave me a link!