Book review: Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer

AUTHOR: Jennifer Archer
PUBLISHER: HarperTeens (Imprint of HarperCollins)
PAGES: 374
SOURCE: Bought
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Stand Alone (I believe)

OUTLINE:
Every ghost has a story to tell.
The last place Tansy Piper wants to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But it's the strange artifacts she finds in the cellar—a pocket watch, a journal of poetry, and a tiny crystal—that have the most chilling impact on her.
Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality—before she loses touch with her own life forever.

THOUGHTS:
This was actually a first for me in YA Ghost stories to read, and I must say I was not disappointed. I love the fact that it took place in Texas. (I've lived here my whole life)  It's nice to see Texas brought to life in books, even if Cedar Canyon is a fictional town it brought the life style of Texas and small towns to the forefront. Although not all Texans are cowboys, and we don't all where cowboy hats. What a big misconception. It's ok Tansy I'll forgive you. It would be cool to have a mom as a writer. I guess it might get old after a while moving like she does, but think of all the adventures you could have and people you would get to meet.

It took the story some time to pick up because Tansy, her mom, and grandpa just get to Cedar Canyon, and have to get settled in to a house that apparently her Grandpa lived at when he was younger. Upon arriving there her grandpa becomes consumed with feelings that the reader doesn't learn about until later. I have to say this I love seeing another family member in the story. As with most YA's you don't get alot of the Protags that have that connection to their family whether it's grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins you get the picture. (Maybe, I'm just not reading those books though. Who knows.) I love that it's the grandpa too. They're usually the laid back ones (or at least mine is he just goes along with whatever my grandma or others say). Being new in town means having to learn where to fit in especially in a town where everyone grew up together. I'm talking since diapers. So it's no surprise that Tansy takes to herself  in the beginning, and gets caught up in the old notebook of poetry she finds in her basement (Some things aren't always as they seem though), and also her photography. Which leads to the world hopping. Looking through her camera and seeing things in black n white. Things that shouldn't be there. Intriguing is it not?  After a few encounters with the locals though she let's her guard down by befriending Bethyl Ann aka Stinky and after while Tate.

I think my favorite character wasn't tansy, but her crazy Shakespearean friend Bethyl Ann. Bethyl Ann is that person who doesn't care what others think of her. She marches to the set of her own drums. She's herself, unique and proud. I mean who would enjoy being called stinky? Apparently she doesn't mind she just ignores it. She embraces her nerdiness. :) For that I applaud her.


VIDEO THOUGHTS


EXTRAS:
An Author Interview I found that I enjoyed at Ya Addicts

My copy that I got signed. :)

 Some pictures from a signing back in May I went too. Enjoy!

Jennifer Archer (ThroughHerEyes) ME, Tracey Deebs (TempestRising), T.L Childs (ForgiveMyFins)

Chills and Thrills Tour (My little recap)

May 22, 2011
Hurst, Texas

Alright, I actually got to go to this tour. You can not imagine how excited I was seeing as how I never get to go to any because there are rarely any near me. There were four authors Tera Lynn childs (Forgive my fins), Tracy Deebs (Tempest Rising), Jennifer archer (Through Her Eyes),and Lara Chapman (Flawless) who were there. I only to meet the first 3, but I was still glad. There weren't very many people there so I din't have to wait to long, and I even got a picture with them. YEA! They talked about their books and answered some questions. Although we weren't a very talkative group. We asked some question..they asked us question. FUN! After that we were able to get them to sign some books, and I even got up the courage to ask them a few question while they were signing. I asked Tera L Childs and Tracy Deebs what they thought about the whole e-reader thing, and they were nice enough to tell me what they thought and told me some other things. I was shocked to learn they make a little more from e-books. I asked what they thought about bloggers and they told me. I even recommended a book to Tracy Deebs. I thought that was pretty cool.

So all in all it was an awesome signing. I didn't take to many pictures, but below are a few. Also they had some bookmarks and things so I got a few extra to send to people. It might be for a future giveaway.(which I need to have), or I might send them out in future R.a.ks.

L-R Jennifer Archer, Me, Tracy Deebs, Tera Lynn Childs
I have a few others but this turned out the best. :)

Tracey Deebs talking about a book I think she said she was working on with someone called The international kissing club go check it out on goodreads.

Forgive my fins by Tera Lynn Childs (Mermaids)

In the arms of stone angels by Jordan Dane. She wasn't at this signing, but they had some signed copies.

Oh My Gods by Tera lynn Childs

Tempest Rising by Tracey Deebs (She said it's a darker version about mermaids)

Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer (Ghost story)