Author Spotlight: Ally Carter

    Today, I wanted to introduce a new section to my blog: Author Spotlights. I want to try and do these at least once a month. Basically, I'll be talking about specific authors that I love, whether recently discovered or having read their books for years.

    I will be starting off with one of my favorite authors in YA literature today, Ally Carter. 

    Carter is the author of three separate YA series: the Gallagher Girls series, the Heist Society series, and the Embassy Row series. I began reading Carter's books in late 2008 or so, and ever since I have loved each and every one. I was thirteen at the time and going through a CIA and FBI loving stage. I wanted anything having to do with spies or anyone undercover, and I found exactly that in Carter's books. 

    Her first series, Gallagher Girls, is all about a school that trains teenage girls to become the next generation of spies and world leaders. When I thought I couldn't love Carter's books anymore, she came out with Heist Society, which follows a team of teen thieves who, in Robin Hood-esque style, thieve for good. It's amazing. Then, this past year, she came out with the first in a new series, Embassy Row, which is about a young girl living on Embassy Row among ambassadors and children from all around the world. 

 

    The first books I read by Carter were the Gallagher Girl books. I read the first two quickly, and I remember waiting for the third to come out. Here's the thing about Carter's books, though: I binge read them. They are fairly short novels, and after waiting over a year for each new installment, I always manage to read through the new book within a day or two. This means waiting prolonged periods of time, reading for a day or two, and then waiting even more prolonged periods of times. For years I did this, as I followed the Gallagher Girls series. The Heist Society allowed for a bit less waiting, however, because even though it wasn't the same characters or story, it still meant more amazing characters and plots from Carter. 

    I love the Heist Society and Embassy Row books nearly as much as I love the Gallagher Girls series, but I don't think anything will ever replace the amazing feeling I get while reading the Gallagher Girls series. I grew up with them. I literally shared my junior high and high school experience with these characters. It was a heart-breaking moment when this series ended, especially since the last book, which chronicles the girls' last semester of senior year, came out just after I had graduated high school and was about to move to Seattle for my first year of college. It seemed fitting that their last chronicled adventure happened the same year I graduated. It felt like the perfect ending to the series and to my high school years. 

    These books are the perfect mix of light and dark, funny and serious, fun and dangerous. I highly recommend them for anyone who wants a book to fly through on a weekend off, for anyone who loves spies, thieves, or foreign affairs, and for anyone who loves books with widely diverse and eclectic groups of characters. 

    These books are also, in my opinion, the perfect books for those between the ages of 11-13 who are wanting to start reading outside of the kid's section. I know that these books made my transition from kid's book to YA books much easier, and they hold a very special place in my heart for that exact reason. 

    Have you read any of Ally Carter's books? Do you have a favorite? Let me know in the comments below! 

    If you haven't read any of her books, I highly recommend any of them. Read them all. Go splurge and buy yourselves one of these 10 amazing books. I promise you won't be disappointed. 

        Your Pemberley Reader,

              Acacia

An Introduction

    Welcome to The Pemberley Reader!

    My name is Acacia, and, like my profile says, I am a bibliophile. I have had a passion for books since before I could read. My parents still tease me about how I could recite my favorite Dr. Seuss books before being able to even read them. Since the age of four, I have been flying through books of all different sizes and genres on my own. I even began writing my own stories and books when I was a young child. Words are, and have always been, my passion.

    Currently, I attend college in Seattle, but home is the San Francisco Bay Area. I am studying English with concentrations in both Literature and Creative Writing. I’m about two months from wrapping up my second year. I’m not sure what I want to do with my degree yet, but the thought of not doing something with stories is too insane to even think about.

    This being the first quarter (Yes. I’m on the dreaded quarter system. *shudders*) in four quarters that I have not taken 18 credits, I have a bit of free time on my hands. I’ve been able to read a bit more than I usually do, and, not for the first time in my life, have wanted to pick up a book blog. A few years ago, this desire turned into a vlog in which I reviewed books, discussed favorite stories, met authors, and made some great friends in the booktube community. A vlog takes a lot of time that I simply do not have, however, and so I figured trying my hand at a good, old-fashioned blog would be fun.

    My plans include book reviews, author spotlights, monthly wrap-up and TBRs, and a whole bunch of miscellaneous book-related things. I might occasionally post about writing, but I have a feeling this will be mostly about reading. As the quarter progresses, I will be looking to post about once a week (Mondays), but once summer comes, I will be wanting to post twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays). Hopefully nothing gets in the way of this being a formula for pure awesome book fangirling (and fanboying) to take place.

    I will be reviewing mostly YA (young adult) novels, as this is where my current passion lies, but I will also be posting the occasional review of a classic or adult book. Yes, I’m turning 20 this summer, but the YA genre owns my heart for the foreseeable future. YA doesn’t have an age-limit, guys, so please, no matter what your age, feel free to read along and enjoy the reviews.

    Well, that’s all for now. I’m looking forward to posting my first book review in a week’s time. Until then, be sure to check out my Goodreads page, which is linked over there on the left. Hope you all have a good week!

        Your Pemberley Reader,
              Acacia