Book Review: All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 320

Series/Standalone: Series

Synopsis:

Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three things:

1. She is not crazy.
2. Her mother was murdered.
3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay.

As certain as Grace is about these facts, nobody else believes her -- so there's no one she can completely trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful ambassador. Not her new friends, who all live on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands.

Everybody wants Grace to put on a pretty dress and a pretty smile, blocking out all her unpretty thoughts. But they can't control Grace -- no more than Grace can control what she knows or what she needs to do. Her past has come back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

MY THOUGHTS

Is it wrong to say I love Ally Carter? I don't think there's one book of hers that I didn't enjoy.  That's saying somethin because according to goodreads she's my most read author with 9 books. Nine books! I haven't read that many from Richelle Mead and she's my favorite (or so I thought). 

Anyways,  All Fall Down really couldn't of come at a better time for reading because I just finished her Gallagher Girls Series, and was wondering if I would get anymore of her quirky , on the edge, lovable characters like Cammie, Bex, Macey, Liz, Katarina, Hale, or Zach. While they're different stories with different problems they definitely have the Ally Carter-ness to them. :)

We go from Spies, to thieves, to con artists, to a diplomats grand-daughter which I guess could be very similar to the afore mentioned. 

All Fall Down has a bit of a dystopian like feel to it. The world in set up differently. I mean you still have the US and other countries, but it's different.

I liked Grace as a character she understood that sometimes you got to fight for what you believe. 

I liked that the other kids around her also tried to help her figure out who this person was.

Things happen that you definitely don't see coming (or maybe you're more perceptive then me and do). Either way be ready for for a shock. ;) 

The ending was a killer, and I don't know if I can wait for the second book to come out. This...this is why I try and wait to read the first book. 

Book Review: Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

AUTHOR: Ally Carter
PUBLISHER: E-book
PAGES: 294
STAND ALONE/SERIES: Series
SOURCE: bought
OUTLINE:
Some things are worth waiting for…

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan-an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers that months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie's summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It's a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

THOUGHTS

It took me what almost two years to finally get around to reading the 5th book, Out of Sight, Out of Time in the Gallagher Girls Series. This isn't because I didn't love the series. If you look back at the reviews I've done I really enjoyed. I thought they were adorable. Who doesn't love a spy book? I think I gave up on getting a 5th book because to me it seemed like it was forever. Anyways.....

I'm so glad to be back with the Gallagher Girls, Cammie, Bex, Liz, Macey and also Zach.

Out of Sight, Out of Time starts off with Cammie waking up and not knowing where she is, and for a spy that can never be a good thing. To figure out what happened to her during the summer vacation Cammie counts on her spy friends, and iffy boyfriend to help her solve the case of her vanishing summer. (Like that title I made there).

When Cammie gets back to the Academy everyone around her seems different. Her best friend acts mad at her. Her teachers and headmistress (mom) act like they're hiding something. The problem is she doesn't know what and nobody will tell her. All they say is somethings are better left forgotten.

This definitely wasn't the best book of the series, or my favorite. The first couple were more snarky and made me laugh. This one was more on a serious level if that's what you want to call it. I mean I guess it has to be when you can't remember things. Then they go on a hunt to find out just what Cammie's mind forgot, and the things they find out are things that were probably worth forgetting.

I'm definitely excited to read the last book in the series, but also I will be a little sad that the Gallagher girls series will be over.

Novella Review: Double Crossed by Ally Carter

AUTHOR: Ally Carter
PUBLISHER: Disney Hyperion 
PAGES: 89
STAND ALONE/SERIES: Novella to Gallagher Girls and Heist SocietySOURCE: bought as an ebook for free
OUTLINE:

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists

MY THOUGHTS
Two awesome series merging to form this little novella. I absolutely adore Ally Carter's writing. Her characters are always so fun, sarcastic, and enjoyable. I don't know why more authors don't try and merge some of their highly enjoyable series together. I mean yes they do the spin offs like Vampire academy and bloodlines, but eh. Then again maybe it's just the way Ally Carter delivers her stories and is able to do so flawlessly in my opinion.

As much as I loved Cammie and the other girls in the gallagher girls books it was fun to see Macey out and on her own, and then to add Hale and Kat from Heist Society was the icing on the cake.

You really don't have to read the other books to read this short story, but I guarentee once you read this one you'll want to learn more about them in their natural surroundings. Hale and Kat with their friends cooking up jewelry/art heists or Macey with Cammie, Bex, and Liz at the Gallagher Academy for the
gifted.

Book Review: Only the Good Spy Young

AUTHOR: Ally Carter
PUBLISHER: Disney Hyperion
PAGES: 265
STAND ALONE/BOOKSERIES: Series (Book 4)

OUTLINE: When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.
Now the danger follows her everywhere, and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent, Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.


STARTED: May 15,2011
FINISHED: May 16, 2011

If you haven't read the first 3 books (or my reviews) some stuff might seem odd. :)
MY THOUGHTS:
Review style the Cammie Morgan Way

COVERT OPERATIONS REPORT:
Operative O. begins what she hopes is a semi-helpful review of Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter.

The Operative was able to ascertain the following:
-Operative O. learned more about the "Mysterious Blackthorne Institute for Boys" and let me tell you there's a reason it's hidden and surrounded by mountians, rivers, and forest.
-Why Joe Solomon acted the way he did.
-Sometimes it's better to not know everything because in the end it'll make things worse.
-more info on Zach became avaiable. It's always fun to learn about the hotties. :)
-learned about Bex's family. (always nice to know about a fellow spy)

Alright now that I've had my little fun with "The Report" I actually read the first book last year I think, and loved it. Why it took me so long to read the rest of the books I don't know. Stupid me. I finished the next 3 books. (This being the last for now) in about 2 days tops. I was hooked. Yes, at times it seemed like each book was like the one before: a few weeks before school something happens, get to school to learn something about what happened, mission from teacher, the girls own mission on the side, the major mission for a grade (supposely), back to school with an ending that is or isn't good. Still I loved reading them.


Overview:
This time Cammie started off in London with her best friend Bex and Bex's parents.They were all having fun ice skating when things went south, and then Joe Solomon shows up with a warning/message for Cammie "follow the pidgeons". Poor Cammie has no idea what that means, and why is it her once hot Cove Ops teacher looks mad crazy. Before she can talk to him he takes off. Then she's taken to some CIA people who question her about what happened and what he told her. What a wonderful winter vacation right? When she returns to the academy she learns things have definitely changed for her and the school. The school that she once was able to roam freely about is now a no-roam-free zone. All her secret passageways and hideouts are all closed up, and she's pretty much stuck inside.

Characters:
Really there's not much difference in the characters now then when the books started except maybe that Bex and Cammie's roles have flip flopped. :) Cammie is the one always putting herself in danger and Bex is trying to be level-headed, but when your a spy level-headed sometimes doesn't work. Even though not much has changed with the characters I still enjoyed them very much. The girls are always planning something and the list they make are funny.

It was nice to actually learn a bit more about Zach, the mysterious blackthorn boy from the other two books. We got to see inside the grounds of blackthorne. I like Zach, but then again what girl doesn't like those dangerous type.

We got to see the workings of Joe Solomon, and see what his connection with everything was.

We learned a little about Cammie's Dad through the journals. Is he really still alive after all this time?

Okay I know this wasn't that helpful, but there's only so much you can say about a 4th book in a series. :) I will say this if you haven't read them. I recommend it they're adorable and spies. What's not to love?

QUOTES:
-So Scary? Yeah scary and I go way back. (Cammie)

-If we hadn't hated him alot, we might have liked him a little at that moment, but we did. So we didn't. (Cammie talking about Agent Townsend)

-I'm half tempted to break into the CIA custody just so I can break Joe Solomon out of  CIA custody just so I can break Joe Solomon. (Bex)

-Are you still mad at me? (Zach)
(I didn't say a word-Cammie)
Ooh, the silent treatment. (Zach)

I'd tell you I love you but then I'd have to kill you Review

AUTHOR: Ally Carter
PUBLISHER: Disney Hyperion
PAGES: 288
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Series book 1 (Cross my heart and hope to spy #2, Don't judge a girl by her cover #3, Only the good spy young #4)

OUTLINE:Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her? Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.

STARTED: 12-28-10
FINISHED: 12-31-10

MY THOUGHTS:
As the outline says the book follows Cammie (and friends Bex, Liz, and later in the book Macey) on an undercover mission to find out if the boy Cam likes is what they call a Honeycutt. In between following the boy Cammie and friends deal with going to classes, lying to the adults, fake cov-ops missions, learning to accept new friends, and more events in the life of a Gallagher Girl/Spy. The beginning of the book is basically telling you that this is going to be like a report the main character is doing. (it's not written like a report just parts are)

This was a first for spy books I've read, but it was great. I loved the whole private school for girls that's really a spy school thing. I adored the writing too. I guess because in a way it reminded me of how I write my reviews and other stuff on here. (Lots of paraenthesis and other little quirks that make writing fun for me) Also it reminded me of Kiersten White's writing in Paranormalcy (which I also LOVED by the way). The same kind of fun and bouncy style. If there's one thing about books that will keep my attention it's that they can actually make me laugh out loud while reading them, and people asking what's funny. The characters were fun too. Another I liked about it was there really wasn't a romantic triangle like most books. It was just the one boy. Which I liked because you could get a feel for a relationship that could have been developed, and not have some girl whining over who she likes better. Hopefully the books stay this way, but who knows since it's only book one.

Cammie (the chameleon) was the MC. She was a sweet (but dangerous) 15 year old ( I think maybe 16. I can't remember) whose mom was the headmistress of the school. When it came to her friends she would do almost anything for them. (Not telling her friend something she found out to keep her from getting hurt, may have seemed mean but it wasn't.)
Bex (Rebecca) was Cammie's in your face kind of friend. Strong-willed and also would fight for her friends.
Liz (elizabeth) was the brainy, always wanting to do extra credit work, and teacher pet type girl. She seemed like maybe more of the innocent, shy girl. (But we know these girls are a deadly force)
Macey was the new girl that came in a little later, and was the prom-type girl only more gothic-y. If that makes sense. Once the other 3 girls got use to her she helped them on their "boy mission" to learn about Josh and see how he reacted to Cammie.
All the teachers seemed fun and at times a little weird, but I guess if you spent all your time in the CIA, FBI, whatever other spy like agency there is you'd be a little nut-so too. The teacher (Professor Smith) that always had a different disguise come a new school was fun because he thought he was being followed. Dr. Fibs wasn't in it much, but from was was told about him he was a genius who could make almost anything. I told you I loved just about every character.

There was one thing that I'm not sure I liked about the book, but I can't say because then it kind of ruins some parts of the book. If you must know though...*Highlight the next few* *There wasn't really a villian that I could tell from the story. Which I guess is fine, but I'm use to all my books having someone be kind of mean. Maybe that was Macey's job before the girls started liking her. Other than that it seemed like at first maybe the boy would be, but turns out he wasn't really. That's all*

QUOTES:
-Oopsy daisy.(Liz)
Sure she knows cuss words in 14 different languages, but when faced with a minor catastrophe Liz says oopsy daisy. (Cammie)
-Is it true he killed a Turkish ambassador with a thong. (Tina)
I wasn't sure if she was talking about the sandals or the panties.(Cammie)
-You girls are pretty smart, but you're also kind of stupid. (Joe Solomon-teacher)
-See you don't even have to answer that, because I know all the trash cans in town, and while this is a very nice trash can, it doesn't look like the kind of trash a girl like you would normally scavange from. (Josh)
I opened my mouth to protest but he went on--(Cammie)
Now, the trash cans on Seventh street, those are some very nice trash cans. (Josh)
-Be sure you write down the steering wheel is round. She seriously had the W H E of wheel in her notebook before she realized I was joking (Cammie)
Cammie don't make fun. (Liz)
-When people like Josh look at you like you're a cross between Charles Manson and Paris Hilton, it hurts a little- even for a spy. (Cammie)
-Did you bake that for me? You shouldn't have? (Dillion)
Josh punched him hard on the shoulder.
-Welcome to the science of garbology. (Joe Solomon)
-Oh no. I think we have a flat. (Madame Dabney)
Oh do we now. Normal friends probably don't go around blowing up Driver's ed cars--well not intentionally anyway. (Cammie)
-Where are we putting paper towels again? (Bex)
Depends. What's on it? (Liz)
Spaghetti Sauce ...I think or blood? (Bex)
So either they love pasta or are a family of axe murders? (Cammie)
-If the communists and the capitalist could fight together to take down the nazis. If spike could fight alongside Buffy to rid the world of demons...if lemon could join forces with lime to create something as delicious and refreshing as sprite, then I surely can work alongside Macey McHenry for the cuase of true love. (Cammie)
-This is it I've killed the only man I could ever love, and now I'm about to hear his deathbed (deathstreet?) confession. (Cammie)