In My Mailbox #12

Today I am going to share the books that I received for review or books that I bought for personal/classroom library use. If you've read any of these books, please tell me what you think! This meme is hosted by The Story Siren. Happy reading!

Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw

I've been looking forward to reading this one for awhile.  Not only does it seem like something I'd enjoy, but it claims to be a retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "Evangeline," which is a brilliant idea.  And what a gorgeous cover!

Goodreads says, “Evangeline,” he repeated, calling at a whisper. “Evangeline.” He was not calling that she may hear, he was calling that somehow her soul might know that he was devoted entirely to her, only to her. “Evangeline, I will find you.”Eva and Gabe explore the golden forest of their seaside Maine town, unknowingly tracing the footsteps of two teens, Evangeline and Gabriel, who once lived in the idyllic wooded village of Acadia more than one hundred years ago. On the day that Evangeline and Gabriel were be wed, their village was attacked and the two were separated. And now in the present, Gabe has mysteriously disappeared from Eva. A dreamlike, loose retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous love poem “Evangeline,” Anxious Hearts tells an epic tale of unrequited love and the hope that true love can be reunited."

The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock

(I won this book from a contest!) I love historical fiction and this one seems very interesting. I especially love the time period of WWII. 

Goodreads says, "The new Americana romance from bestselling author Dorothy Garlock, this time set against the backdrop of WWII.  Sophie Heller's family immigrated from Germany to Victory, a small town in Illinois, before WWII began. Now that the war has affected the town, the townspeople discriminate against Sophie and her family. When a train derails, it is an accident but the Heller family is blamed. Coming to Sophie's rescue is a teacher from the high school, and despite their cultural differences, a romance starts to bloom."

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey 

This seems like a really fun read. I bought this book (along with many others), because it was Educator's Discount Week (WOO HOO!) at Barnes and Noble.  I think my female students and Twilight fans will especially like this book.  I also read some really great reviews for this book, especially Jenn's at Book Crazy.  Thanks for the recommendation!

Goodreads says, "The undead can really screw up your senior year ... Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction."

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

I also bought this one, because it definitely deserves a place in my classroom library.  Many of the students have already asked me if I had this series.  I feel like I may be the last person in the world to have not read this book; so, I finally broke down and bought it in order to see what all the talk is about. I've read amazing reviews so I hope that this book will live up to its reputation. 

Goodreads says, "After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.  At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…"

So what do you guys think of my books? What did you get this week? I look forward to checking out everyone's IMM post.  Thanks for stopping by mine!