Because It Is My Blood (Birthright #2) by Gabrielle Zevin

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Since her release from Liberty Children's Facility, Anya Balanchine is determined to follow the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, her criminal record is making it hard for her to do that. No high school wants her with a gun possession charge on her rap sheet. Plus, all the people in her life have moved on: Natty has skipped two grades at Holy Trinity, Scarlet and Gable seem closer than ever, and even Win is in a new relationship.But when old friends return demanding that certain debts be paid, Anya is thrown right back into the criminal world that she had been determined to escape. It’s a journey that will take her across the ocean and straight into the heart of the birthplace of chocolate where her resolve--and her heart--will be tested as never before.

Book Trailer:


Book Review:
I honestly didn't think this series could be any better than when I read All These Things I've Done, but I am so happy to be proven wrong! Get ready for an emotional roller coaster with this follow up! Anya so desperately wants to do the right thing, but someone else has a different plan for her. My favorite parts of this book occurred while Anya was in Mexico. I was intrigued by the thought that Mexico had done things right, while the U.S. was floundering as a society. Really interesting stuff. I am really excited to see where things go from here! Zevin is now one of my automatic go-to authors!

Favorite Quote:
"Natty studied my face. She held my cheeks in her hands, hands with disarmingly long fingers. 'You look strong Annie. That's all. But then, you've always been strong'."

Cover Art Commentary:
Ok, I seriously have ISSUES when they change up the covers mid-series. STOP DOING THAT!!!! What makes me happy is that both hardcover books look like giant bars of Balanchine chocolate once you remove the dust covers. Hazzah for that! :)

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Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn't have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn't have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn't have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her "Chief." She'd know about her mom's new family. She'd know about her dad's fiancée. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn't have wanted to kiss him back. But Naomi picked heads.

Book Review:
I recently read Zevin's latest novel, All These Things I've Done (my review), and just adored it! Ever since, Ganrielle Zevin has been on my list of to-read authors! At the bookstore I saw a paperback copy of Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Zevin, and immediately snatched it. I started reading it at the store, and before long, I was completely hooked! The characters are so individualistic and engaging, it hard not to fall in love with them. What I enjoyed most was making discoveries alongside of Naomi. I loved making mistakes and amends along side of her. Zevin excels at enveloping the reader into the story. It's a talent that I tend to find in books that I really enjoy. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac is a wonderful example of this. I only had a few minor complaints. While I enjoyed the ending, I thought Zevin could have elaborated a little bit more and left the reader feeling more satisfied. The total page count was under 300, so I feel this could have been accomplished. Also, the world building, while good, wasn't as good as All These Things I've Done. So for these few reasons, I marked Memoirs a half point less than All These Things. Overall though, such a great story! I can't wait to read more from Gabrielle Zevin!

Favorite Quote:

“Above all, mine is a love story. Unlike most love stories, this one involves chance, gravity, a dash of head trauma. It began with a coin toss. The coin came up tails. I was heads. Had it gone my way, there might not be a story at all. Just a chapter, or a sentence in a book whose greater theme had yet to be determined. Maybe this chapter would've had the faintest whisper of love about it. But maybe not. Sometimes, a girl needs to lose.”

Cover Art Commentary:
I LOVE the cover of this book! The simplicity of the typewriter keys is classic, yet inviting. Typewriters hold a lot of meaning in this story. Such a great choice for the cover!

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All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
This was the first book I have read by Zevin, and I have to say, I was blown away! Zevin's voice was colorful and refreshing. I loved, loved the main character Anya. She is flawed, responsible, loving, and always tries to do the right thing. Her family "mob" background was original and engaging. I loved how she interacted with different family members and family acquaintances. Really, all of the characters were superb. The romance was realistic and endearing, and not too overpowering. There was very little I didn't like about this book! I couldn't help but furiously turn the pages, eager to know more. Overall, I highly enjoyed this story, and look forward to the sequel! Ganrielle Zevin is now on my author TBR list! :)

Favorite Quote:

“Tragedy is when someone ends up dead. Everything else is just a bump in the road. For the record, that was something Daddy used to say.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
This is definitely not my favorite cover. For one, it lacks color. Two, because of the font and the majority of writing on the cover, I thought this was a self-help book for teens until I started reading reviews. For what it's worth, I like the chocolate heart! Also, once you remove the jacket, the actual book cover is made to look like a Balanchine chocolate bar, which is beyond awesome! :)

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