Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy audio book performed by Rupert Degas

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy is about a girl named Stephanie Edgley who at the age of 12 inherits her late Uncle Gordon Edgley's estate-- making her a VERY rich girl once she turns 18, anyway. Since Stephanie inherits Gordon's estate, she also inherits the weirdness he lived with. She first meets her uncle's strange friend, Skulduggery Pleasant, at the repast of his funeral. She learns a little more about him at the reading of Gordon's will. Her life become entwined with his when he saves her life. . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, I KNOW I'm not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but look at that book. No way in the world should that cover lead to a book I actually like! I mean really. It has a skeleton throwing fire. I don't like fire and skeletons make me freak. However, once I learned this book takes place in Ireland (I want to go there so bad) and heard Rupert Degas perform the story, I was hooked. I'm still finishing this one and I really can't wait for the next one. Too bad I have other things I need to read for work first. . .

Love and Happy Reading,

Series Round-up: True Life from Hamilton High Series by Marilyn Reynolds

Telling is the book that started it all for me. I believe it was the first YA book I read and It is definitely the one I remember the best. Cassie was a typical 12 year old girl. She fought with her mom, was annoyed by her brother and loved hanging out with her friends and her cousin, Lisa. When a new family moved into the neighborhood, all that changed. Soon, the new family became a big part of Cassie's life, she hung out with them, helped around the house and even babysat their children. Then the father of the children she sits for begins molesting her, Cassie turns to her cousin instead of an adult. Cassie and Lisa soon learn to trust in the adults in their family and healing can begin.



In Shut Up, Marilyn Reynolds takes a story similar to Telling but chooses to bring to light that boys can be molested also. In this book, a ten year old boy is the victim of his mother's boyfriend. He withdraws from everyone until his older brother walks in on molestation. From that moment on, brother and brother work to stay together and finally get the help they need.

Erica was a model student. She got good grades, kept a steady job, but her boyfriend was not a good influence to her. At one point in the book a police officer warns Erica that "If she lays down with dogs, she's going to get fleas . . ." Erica ignores the warnings until her boyfriends friend rapes her and her boyfriend does nothing to stop it from happening.

Teen Pregnancy from the guy point of view. Jeff didn't mean to get his girlfriend pregnant. When the girlfriend decides to keep the baby, Jeff has to step up and be the man he has become and help take care of their daughter.

In Detour for Emmy, Emmy is a straight A student, lead soprano in choir and an all around good girl who happens to get pregnant. Emmy has to deal with the disappointment of adults, the abandonment of her boyfriend and the constant stares that accompany her growing belly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marilyn Reynolds really knows how to make a story so gripping that you don't want to put the book down until you have read the final word. Her True Life from Hamilton High series is emotionally gripping and wondrful. One thing that I LOVE about the series is the parents usually try to help and in the cases of molestation and rape, always believe their child.