The Case of the Deadly Desperados

The Case of the Deadly Desperados
by Caroline Lawrence
Western Mysteries, book one

When twelve-year-old P.K. (Pinky) Pinkerton's foster parents are murdered by Whittlin' Walt and his gang of ruthless desperados, Pinky goes on the run and is forced into hiding with Ma's priceless last possession: the deed to a large amount of land and silver mines in the Nevada Mountains. But relying on disguises will only keep Pinky hidden for so long, and the desperados are quickly closing in . . . (Description from Amazon.com)

I loved this book SO much more than I ever thought I would.  P.K. is a spunky, interesting (maybe autistic) main character that I had no trouble rooting for... I loved all of the side characters.  There were mean desperados, and helpful townsfolk, a new "foster" parent to look up to, and even an appearance by Samuel Clemens himself! The mystery was great and the setting was way more interesting than I'd thought it would be.  I found myself smiling as I listened (I did this as an audio book) and hope to read the follow-up soon! 

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my Library

One Came Home

One Came Home
by Amy Timberlake

In the town of Placid, Wisconsin, in 1871, Georgie Burkhardt is known for two things: her uncanny aim with a rifle and her habit of speaking her mind plainly.

But when Georgie blurts out something she shouldn't, her older sister Agatha flees, running off with a pack of "pigeoners" trailing the passenger pigeon migration. And when the sheriff returns to town with an unidentifiable body—wearing Agatha's blue-green ball gown—everyone assumes the worst. Except Georgie. Refusing to believe the facts that are laid down (and coffined) before her, Georgie sets out on a journey to find her sister. She will track every last clue and shred of evidence to bring Agatha home. Yet even with resolute determination and her trusty Springfield single-shot, Georgie is not prepared for what she faces on the western frontier. (Description from Amazon.com)

I enjoyed Georgie's story a lot more than I had thought I would. I was worried the whole book was going to be about pigeons. Ugh. No, this book is about a girl who can shoot a thumb right off a man and uses her spunk to track down the sister that everyone believes is dead.

Georgie was pretty awesome. She's a girl who speaks her mind, she's smart, and she shoots a gun better than most men. In fact, I loved reading about her at fourteen and I would love to read a follow-up book when she's a couple of years older. I think things could get reallyinteresting in Georgie's life when she's around eighteen.

Historical fiction fans, western fans, adventure fans, mystery fans I would recommend this book to all of you.

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my library 

In My Mailbox - August 7, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

For Review:

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
Everybody Sees the Ants by A. S. King
Wintertown by Steve Emond



Bunheads by Sophie Flack
The Phantom Limb by William Sleator

*A HUGE thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending me a small box o'books...you rock!!*


From the Library:

Overbite by Meg Cabot
Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey
Rip Tide by Kat Falls



All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

Won!!:

Love Story by Jennifer Echols
*Thank you so much to Chick Lit Teens and Simon and Schuster!!*

Rot and Ruin

Rot and Ruin
by Jonathan Maberry

In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human. (description taken from Amazon.com)

Ummm...we are perilously close to me declaring this my new favorite zombie book. I can't decide...I LOVED this book, but I also loved Carrie Ryan's The Dead-Tossed Waves just as much. It may be a cop-out, but I think they officially tie for first place.

Nevertheless... this book is officially receiving one of my coveted "Gold Star" reviews!

I was absolutely drawn in and then blown away by this book. The world is very reminiscent of Carrie Ryan's zombie apocalypse, which is great, because they are both fantastically imagined. What I thought set this book apart from hers, setting-wise, was the frontier feeling. There is a definite Western vibe to this book that I totally dug.

After the events of First Night, when zombies took over the modern world, society reverted back to more of a frontier lifestyle. Safe within the boundaries of small towns, with only bounty hunters or loners venturing out into the wild frontier...the Rot and Ruin.

The excellently drawn characters - the Imura brothers, Nix, Lilah, Charlie Pink-Eye - all force readers to really think through the morality of a lifestyle in the wild free from rules. As Benny begins to open his eyes to what the world is like, more and more questions must be asked and most of the answers are truly appalling. Even their town which seemed to be a safe haven slowly becomes a place led by fear and built on turning a blind eye.

I was transfixed throughout this book. I cried when Benny finally had to bring peace to his own memories, and I CANNOT wait to get my hands on Dust and Decay.

2011 Zombie Reading Challenge title