I have measured out my life with coffee spoons

I don't know how I've been able to do it, but I've somehow managed to pass the entire night reading (with only a glass of soda for caffeine help). I'm rapidly approaching 24 hours now with no sleep and only the barest minimum of breaks (like to snatch my pre-made lunch and dinner from out of the fridge and quick trips to the loo). Can she make it another day? Can she? I think I'm going to have some friends over tonight to prod me awake if I dare look like I'm nodding off. That's what friends are for?

Though, I do have to say I'm a bit disappointed in my output overnight. Actually, no, I lied. There was just one book that seemed a bit dense to me and I slogged through that one. But, I wish I had at least one more book to my name by now. Eheu!

But, here goes!

5) Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

This was an ARC that our lovely children's librarian, Julie, let me borrow. Yes, I steal all of my YA ARCs from her. So, I traveled from 1970's India to ancient China (why yes, I do like to travel around a lot these days) with this book. I thought that it was a pretty fun action type book, and it reminded me a little bit of that favorite Disney movie of mine, Mulan. Not that that is a bad thing! Except for the whole not cross-dressing (and, yeah, thanks Disney for making me have to explain what that meant to my little cousins). But, I liked it!

Page count: 343


6) Once a Princess by Sherwood Smith

This was the novel that dragged for me a bit. Which is odd considering I had read it in rough draft format on the author's website a few years ago, and it didn't seem to drag that much then. I'm going to chalk it up to being tired. It's actually only part one of the full story (which I have, but have not read yet), so it leaves off at a bit of a cliffhanger, as is to be suspected. The plot revolves around a mother and daughter who currently live in the United States, but are escaped princesses from another world. If that makes sense at all. It is fun.

Page count: 278


7) The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It by Lisa Shanahan

Now that's a title, right? I laughed out loud quite a bit while reading this book, which is quite excellent for me, because I usually like to hold back silly emotions like that. The last time I think I laughed so much was when I was reading Michelle Jaffe's Kitty Kitty (those Dadzilla references always crack me up). And yet, the story was more than just funny, (though I would have loved to have attended Gemma's sister's wedding) as it dealt with some heavy issues and, yes, even death.

Page count: 297


8) Fade by Lisa McMann

I read Wake about a month ago, and enjoyed it so much that I kept pestering Marina (our ILL system) until some county library system was willing to send me a copy of the sequel. And, it didn't disappoint. Fade also dealt with some pretty big issues, what with student-teacher relationships, date rape, and new lessons and hardships for our main character Janie. I hope that this series continues, even after Janie graduates from high school.

Page count: 248


Total page count: 1934


And, right now I'm midway through Scott Westerfield's Uglies. I'll be working my way through those books over the next few hours.