Happy 2010!
Ellie
Hey everyone! Happy new year!

It's hard to believe it's already 2010. I started this blog in November of 2008, and I really never even thought anyone would read it. But I loved (and still love) reading, and I didn't really care if anyone ever read it. Now, people are reading it. Not as many people are reading my little blog as some of the bigger book blogs, and to be honest, I'm fine with that. Sure, I'd like more readers - who wouldn't? But I'm amazed that I have 73 followers - that's 73 more than I ever thought I'd have.

This year, my blog's going to be better. My life is going to be better. I was challenged, instead of making resolutions, to choose a word for the year that embodies something to me. The word I chose is excellence. That's what I'm aiming for. I'm aiming to be excellent, and I know I can do it. I want to be excellent in school, in life, in blogging, in my friendships, in my family.

Hopefully some of you will choose a word too, and you'll follow through with following that word this year. I know I can do it - can you?

Happy 2010!
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Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag
Ellie

What happens in Paris...


secrets PJ's deep blue eyes and angelic long blond hair conceal a truth that's anything but. Will her dark past stay where it belongs in the backwoods of Vermont, or haunt her in the city of light?


passion  Always the good girl, Olivia plans to twirl her way to the top of the Parisian ballet scene. But that's not supposed to include dancing on a table all night...or stumbling into the arms of the wrong boy.


lies With his emo-trendy bedhead, hilarious comebacks and Southern drawl, zack could win over anyone. Too bad he's after the only one who's forbidden...


scandal all alex wants from paris is to nab that berry-red Dior coat and seduce the perfect penny-loafer-wearing boy - and alex always gets what she wants. But will her scheming pay off? Or is she risking more than she knows...?


Alex, Olivia, Zack and PJ are spending a year in the prestigious Lycee de Monceau in the sparkling city of Paris. This is their chance to sip case au lait in Le Marais, throw secret parties in their host families' Versailles-size apartments, and have the time of their lives. But when the secrets they thought they left behind come out, everything could be ruined....


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  • Alex, Olivia, Zack and PJ are four very different teenagers who are nothing like each other. While reading each of their stories (narrated by each one of them, switching back and forth), I saw a piece of myself in each one of them. I love that the book is about a study abroad in Paris, something I would absolutely love to do. 
They all had their own problems and reasons for coming to Paris, some worse than others. For each of them, Paris isn't exactly how they expected it to be - they realize that they won't just immediately get what they want. I appreciated this, because it's part of life - you won't get what you want right away. You have to work for it, and that was made pretty clear in the book.

While this book wasn't one of my favorites, I liked it. Paris as a setting in a novel is perfect for me; I dream about one day going there. I love the idea of a trip to Paris, and can't wait to go. There were French phrases in the book that aren't exactly explained, so it might be hard to know what they're saying if you don't know French. Still, that isn't something that should stop you from reading this book. If you're interested in Paris or studying abroad, I would read this.

The sequel, Wanderlust, just came out on Christmas Eve, and I can't wait to read that.
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    • Publisher: Razorbill (January 8, 2009)
    • ISBN-10: 1595142223

    This book came from my own collection.

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    Waiting on Wednesday: Edition Eight
    Ellie

    The youngest grand duchess of the imperial family comes of age during the revolution. Her family is imprisoned, conditions become worse and worse. But Anastasia has a secret that she keeps from her family, a love that endures through the horrors of war and the privation of imprisonment and deprivation. Will her love save her from the fate her family seems destined for? Or is she a creation of a rarefied atmosphere, unable to survive without her loved ones?

    Released March 2nd 2010

    My take: This book looks really, really good. I love reading about royal families, especially the Romanovs. It comes out two days before my birthday, so maybe I can get it as a gift!
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    Interview and Other News
    Ellie
    I'm featured here at Starry Night talking about 52 Books and 52 Weeks. It was super nice of Nadine-Stella to interview me, and I really appreciate her doing so! If everyone could go check it out and leave a comment, that would be awesome! Thanks so much Nadine!

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    In other news, I finished Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors. It was awesome. I'm going to start Willow by Julia Hoban next.
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    School starts Thursday! Eeek!
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    In My Mailbox
    Ellie


    This week, I got Willow by Julia Hoban from my library. I have heard AWESOME things about Willow, so I'm very excited to read it.


    Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow’s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain
     by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy —one sensitive, soulful boy—discovers Willow’s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down.
    It sounds fabulous, and I'm very much looking forward to reading it.





    I also got Girl, Overboard by Justina Chen Headley. It sounds really good too, and I love the cover. I'm

     waiting for North of Beautiful at the library, and I thought it'd be nice to check out another book of Justina's while I wait.
    The worst thing about having it all is having to deal with it all-the good, the bad, and the just plain weird. Like seeing more of my dad when he's on the cover of Business Weekthan I do in person. Like the surgeon whose schedule was too jammed with professional ballplayers to deal with my busted up knee...until he heard who my parents were and miraculously his calendar was wide open. Like the pseudo boyfriend who was more in love with my last name than with me.
    Everybody thinks Syrah is the golden girl. After all, her father is Ethan Cheng, billionaire, and she has everything any kid could possibly desire, right down to a waterfront mansion, jet plane, and custom-designed snowboards. But most of what glitters in her life is fool's gold. Her half-siblings hate her, her best friend Adrian's girlfriend is ruining their friendship, and her own so-called boyfriend is after her for her father's name. When her broken heart results in a snowboarding accident that exiles her from the mountains--the one place where she feels free and accepted for who she is, not what she has--Syrah must rehab both her busted-up knee, and her broken heart, and learn that she's worth her weight in real gold. 
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    Suggestions?
    Ellie
    I'm planning on making some (or many) improvements to the blog this week before I go back to school Thursday. I'm looking for ideas and suggestions that you might have. Do you want me to start a new feature? Change something? Should I be doing more of something? Less of something?

    If you have anything to say at all, please do! This is your chance to speak your mind and tell me what you, as a reader, want to see here on 52 Books and 52 Weeks. What can I do to make the blog and the reading experience better?

    Please let me know, and thanks so much!
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    My Review Policy
    Ellie
    (Accurate as of September 5, 2009)

    I love to read. I love everything about it. I love the feel of a book, the smell, the way it looks. I also love to blog. I love being able to connect with people who love the same things as I do,

    Publishers/Authors:
    First of all, thanks for taking the time to look at my blog. I really appreciate it. If you're here reading my review policy, I can only guess that you're considering sending me a book. I'm definitely accepting books for review, and if you think I might be interested in the book, or just have questions, please email me at 52booksand52weeks@gmail.com. I hope you'll continue to read about the types of books I like, and I look forward to hearing from you!

    Criteria of Books I'll Gladly Acept:
    - Young Adult
    - (Some) Middle Grade
    - Adult
    - Fantasy
    - Science Fiction
    - Chick-lit
    - Historical Fiction
    - Satire
    - Romance
    I will accept any young adult book, with rare exceptions. I read mainly YA but the other genres are genres I enjoy and love to read as well.

    Time it takes for reviews:
    I will do my best to review the book shortly before it goes on sale, to generate buzz for your book. If it is an already published book, it will take a little longer. That being said, unless I tell you otherwise, I have the intention of reviewing all books within 2 months of my receiving them. If there is going to be a delay, I will email you and let you know. I will do my best to get your book reviewed within that timeframe, but sometimes real life issues arise and there may be delays, for which I apologize.

    Statistics:
    I have 72 Blogger followers and 89 subscribers on Google Reader. I started blogging in November 2008, but in April of 2009 was forced to go on a hiatus. I returned in August 2009, and plan to continue blogging! I only installed a visitor counter recently, so I do not yet have statistics on my visitors.

    A Word on Reviews:
    I will do my absolute best to review every book I receive. If I get the book and it turns out I don't think it's for me, I will email you and then, if you allow, pass it onto someone I think it is better suited for. I can't, however, guarantee that every review I post will be positive. It will be honest, and I won't ever bash a book, but there are just some books that I don't like.

    About My Reviews:
    As of September 2009, all my reviews include cover art, a summary, my honest and original thoughts, publication details, and a rating.

    Interviews/Guest Blogs/Contests:
    I love all three! If you want me to feature you in an interview or guest blog, please just send me an email at 52booksand52weeks@gmail.com and we will set something up as soon as possible!
    I haven't yet held a contest, but plan to soon. I would prefer for the publisher or author to end the book to the winner, because that cuts down on shipping costs for everyone. However, if this isn't feasible, please let me know and we will work something out.

    I think that's it! If you want to know more about me, please visit this page.
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