Mrs. V's Reviews

Wanderlove

2012-02-04T09:03:00.000-08:00

I had high hopes for Kristen Hubbard's Wanderlove, and they were fulfilled. Bria was excited for a trip to Europe with her two best friends the summer after high school. When they disappointed her by saying that the trip would not be the best timing, she decided to go on a trip anyway but opted for Central America. However, her dreams of an ideal vacation were quickly dashed when she realized that the rest of her tour group was all middle-aged, rather than the fun teen-aged faces on the brochures!

Nonetheless, a twist of events set Bria on a journey to take risks and shift plans, traveling instead with brother and sister Rowan and Starling. While Starling seemed to be at peace with who she is, Rowan and Bria were both considering events from their pasts, present and who they want to become.

There was so much to love - the characters, the setting, the internal conflicts. I liked how throughout the book we discovered more of the pieces to Rowan's and Bria's pasts in order to better understand their present actions, as well as guessing what they would decide next. Another fun layer to the overall composition of the book was the addition of some of Bria's drawings. It was always a special treat to click and discover the way that Bria was capturing the experience.

I have heard a lot about Hubbard's other novel Like Mandarin, and now I want to read it even more.

*Netgalley e-copy provided. Wanderlove will be released in March.

The Queen of Kentucky

2012-01-25T18:54:00.000-08:00

Alecia Whitaker's book The Queen of Kentucky has one of those fun covers that made me want to read the book as soon as I saw the cover. Ricki Jo attended a k-8 Catholic school in her small community, and as she gears up for 9th grade, she is excited about a chance to finally go to school with more kids within her community. She wants everything to be perfect and decides that in order to start it off right, she needs to be Ericka instead of Ricki Jo.

Along the way I was laughing as Ericka/Ricki Jo tried to navigate who she was and who she wanted to become, while thinking about if that's what she really wanted after all. I loved that her dad thought it was a good idea to offer that she wear his high school FFA jacket on her first day to the high school. (Somewhere I have my corduroy FFA jacket stashed away - the one that I earned by selling the most Sloppy Joe feed tickets. But that is another story...) At least her mom came to her rescue, knowing that was not necessarily the first impression she wanted to make.

Among the unknown Ricki Jo has an anchor in her best friend and neighbor. She discovers what it means to be the "new" girl and tries to decide what her priorities are. While the book mainly lets us know about Ericka's process, there are also glimpses into her friends and acquaintances. Without giving away too much, (but don't keep reading if you don't want any type of a spoiler), I thought the ending had a nice touch, not necessarily your typical girl who wants to be popular eventually abandons the popular girls because of realizations along the way. There was more of a balance, and I liked that shift.

*Debut Author Challenge 2012 - 4/12

Love and Leftovers

2012-01-18T20:02:00.000-08:00

I sometimes add books to my Amazon wish list or to my Kindle and then when I actually read them I have forgotten what drew me to them in the first place. That was the case with Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay, but at the first page I remembered with delight why I had chosen it - not only is it in verse, but it is by a semi-local author for me. I always love making connections to locations in the book, so this one had the double benefit of being split between Boise, Idaho (where I commute for my doctorate) and Durham, New Hampshire (somewhere I have never been but that conjures up images of writing gurus, such as Linda Rief and University of New Hampshire faculty).

With that immediate hook, I plunged into the novel, and I did not want to put it down - although I did the first night, knowing that I needed to get to bed at a semi-reasonable hour.

Lisa Schroeder is probably my favorite author who writes novels in verse, and the voice in Love and Leftovers, reminded me of her books. Marcie, the main character is fun and witty. She also tells her story in a gut-wrenching manner, being able to understand her torn emotions and the confusion she feels with everything going on around her (and within herself).

When her mom finds out that her dad is gay and has a boyfriend, Marcie's mom flees with her to New Hampshire. Marcie expects it to be short term, but as the summer comes to a close and it is time to start school, Marcie realizes that it is not so temporary. Far away from her best friend, boyfriend, and the other "leftovers" at Boise High, Marcie starts to make the transition to Oyster River High School.

This shift in her parents' relationship was a curveball for her and she finds herself questioning the other relationships in her life and tries to make sense of her own feelings. Oh, and not only does she miss her friends and her dad, but her mom is depressed.

So many emotions to sift though, and I loved every minute of it trying to figure out the decisions she was going to make, as well as how others in her life would react to the events going on. The verse also had a lot of lines that I absolutely loved.

As an added bonus, I noticed that Sarah Tregay has a tab on her site dedicated to a compilation of novels in verse titles. She has them broken down by age group with suggested ratings. What a great resource! I will definitely have to revisit it for ideas.

*3/12 2012 Debut Author Challenge

The Whole Story of Half a Girl

2012-01-16T10:19:00.000-08:00

Those who read my blog frequently know that identity is a topic that always catches my attention in books; however, they are often novels for young adults or adults. Veera Hiranandani's The Whole Story of Half a Girl is a middle grade debut of Sonia navigating experiences of people questioning who she is for the first time. She previously went to a private school with close-knit classes and a general sense of acceptance. When her dad loses his job at the end of her 5th grade year, she finds out that the following year she will be going to public school for the first time.

She quickly notices that students seem to be divided by race and starts to wonder where she fits in as a half Indian, half Jewish American. People ask her questions that she is not sure how to answer. Those inner struggles combined with shifts in her family dynamics weigh heavily on her.

The book was somewhat slow throughout, but I still enjoyed it for a number of reasons. First, is the obvious topic of interest dealing with identity. In the recent years with overall shifts in economy, I have read quite a few books that deal with parents losing jobs, but this book seemed to address the topic at a deeper level, adding more dimensions for discussion. While Sonia was out of her comfort zone and struggling with identity, it was evident that she was a strong person. It was not always easy to predict how she would react to and deal with everyday middle school dramas. If middle grade readers are able to stick with the book, it will give them a lot to consider; however, some readers may be turned off by the slower pace.

*Net Galley electronic copy provided; 2012 Debut Author Challenge 2/12

Ditched

2012-01-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

When I first started looking though a list of 2012 debut YA novels, Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellon automatically caught my attention. Justina was not the "prom type", but when her best friend for whom she recently realized her feelings were shifting asked her to prom, she accepted. She excitedly geared up for the big night, but it ended up being very far from what she expected. For starters, as we find out at the start of the novel (and from the title), Ian ditched her at the prom.

As readers, we learn about the various events of the night (one disaster after another before and after she was ditched) as Justina recounts them to a couple of women at a 7-11 where she showed up the morning after prom.

I did not end up liking Ditched as much as I had anticipated I would. The book had a fun lay-out with designs pointing to different stains on her dress that each told a piece of the story at the start of each chapter. In addition, Justina would spill pieces of the story before backing up, saying she was getting ahead of herself, so I was constantly wanting to keep reading in order to figure out how what she mentioned could have possibly happened since they were so outrageous. Nonetheless, at times it seemed like it was just dragging on. I did however enjoy getting to know the various characters who emerged throughout the novel based on Justina's descriptions.

Though Ditched did not end up being all that I had hoped it would, it had some creative aspects that I appreciated. I enjoyed considering the author's craft and thinking about the decisions about how to tell the story in a unique way.

*Net Galley electronic version; 2012 Debut Author Challenge 1/12

Under The Mesquite

2012-01-01T21:16:00.000-08:00

I love novels in verse. I love reading about moving toward adulthood. I love books that include cultural flavor. Oh, and I love Lee and Low Books. Guadalupe García McCall's novel in verse Under The Mesquite had so much going for it from the first page because I knew it would include all these things - yet, it was so much more. The further I clicked away in the book, the more layers emerged that made me appreciate it even more.

In the book Lupita reflects on her early childhood in Mexico as well as her transition to moving to the United States. At the core of her memories is her close-knit family - sharing their moments of joy right along with their sibling squabbles. Early on there are glimpses into the discovery that her mother has been diagnosed with cancer, and readers wait along with Lupita to see if treatments will be successful. Parallel to worrying about her mother, she is also growing up and considering what her goals and dreams are.

The glimpses into Mexico, as well as general cultural references with her family on both sides of the border frequently brought smiles to my face as I could connect to the experiences. I always love snippets of different languages seamlessly integrated into English, and García McCall effectively accomplished this (while also providing a glossary of explanations at the back of the book). In addition, Lupita's character was endearing - I was proud of her for so many reasons.

This is a special, special book. I can't wait for my daughters to enjoy it someday when they are also on the verge of discovering who they are and what they want for their lives.

*Electronic Net Galley version provided

2012 Reads

2012-01-01T21:02:00.000-08:00

For 2012 I am trying out keeping track of the books that I read on Good Reads. That way I can have books from multiple blogs (different audiences) on one master list for the year. You can find my list here.

Queens of All The Earth - Last Book for 2011

2011-12-31T14:50:00.000-08:00

The description of Queens of All The Earth by Hannah Sternberg caught my attention because it included traveling to Spain, and I love travel. I have my own fond memories of a quick extended spring break trip back when I was a sophomore in college, so I looked forward to see what would unfold in the book.

18-year old Olivia was supposed to be at her freshman year of college, but a break-down on moving day morning led her mom to call and request a deferral, another aspect that intrigued me from the description. When she still doesn't seem quite like herself around the time of Thanksgiving, her sister decides that a sister trip to Spain might be just what she needs, and the adventure began. They even stayed in a hostel, meeting a lot of different people, which reminded me of our lodging while backpacking.

Once I started the book, it was a little bit slow getting acquainted with the book and the characters. I was trying to understand Olivia and to figure out just what was going on to push her toward her emotional break-down. While I was still trying to work out some of these pieces, some strange occurrences started to happen, making me wonder if they were signs of the state of her mental health or if there was a layer of fantasy in the book even though I thought it was realistic fiction.

I even checked the book description again to see if I had missed something. It turns out that it never really fully emerged into fantasy, but there were some seemingly magical elements at different points, making me think that it had a feel of magic realism. I started to appreciate the occurrences for what they were, rather than trying to analyze what was really going on all the time and just enjoy the story.

Before that point, in my new-found haste to not have as much patience with books that I don't absolutely love, I almost abandoned it. I wasn't sure that I was invested enough to continue trying to figure it out. Yet, I kept clicking away on my Kindle thinking, but I love travel, I love books about self-discovery, I the possibility of romance, and don't I want to see what happens to this cast of characters that is growing on me more all the time?

Despite taking me a while to truly appreciate it, this wasn't a book that I stretched out over days trying to decide whether to stick with it. I finished it up in a couple of days, and when I reached the end, I was glad I read it, reminding me that sometimes books that don't instantly grab me in every way are still worth it.

This is one of those books that shows a lot of glimpses into characters and who they are but also leaves a lot of questions for the readers to consider, opening up various possibilities of what might happen in their futures. I would love to read more about multiple characters in the book. I also think that it is probably the type of book that has multiple layers that I would appreciate it more as time goes on. Some day I might even read it again to notice what I missed the first time round when I was too fixated on trying to figure out whether or not it was fantasy.

While reading I was trying to think about which age range would enjoy this book most. I am not sure that I would have really gotten into it in earlier high school. I am thinking that around my senior year or college is probably when I would have started to appreciate it more.

*Net Galley Digital Copy Provided & 15/12 Debut Author Challenge

Graffiti Moon

2011-12-27T08:38:00.000-08:00

This Christmas break I have been savoring the time, being able to do some of my favorite things. On Christmas I started a middle grades novel, but last night when I picked it up and continued reading and realized that my interest for the book was luke-warm, I abandoned it. Then I clicked open Cath Crowley's Graffiti Moon, thinking I would read the first couple of pages to see what I thought. Before, I used to rarely abandon books, but I realized that as my middle grades/YA reading for pleasure time decreases, I want to be more selective with what I do read.

Well, not only did Crowley's writing hook me from the start, I could not put it down until I finished it. Told from multiple perspectives, mainly from Lucy and Ed and quick glimpses from "Poet", I could never wait to see what would happen next. I noticed right away that both Lucy and Ed's narratives were very lyrical. They were also strong characters, as well as humorous.

Lucy has been gravitated toward a graffiti artists' paintings all over town. Even though she does not know who he is, she feels a connection to Shadow. When she comes face to face with Ed a couple years after an unforgettable date they had, they both have bitter feelings toward each other. However, when she realizes that he might be able to help her discover Shadow, she sticks by his side as they explore the town, seeing his art. However, as a reader, from Ed's first narrative we know something she does not - he is Shadow. I loved knowing before they met who Shadow really was. It made events along the way even more funny, being able to realize just how awkward it would have been for Shadow. The tension between the two characters elevates over time, knowing they both aren't fully sharing how they feel.

I always love books that grip at my emotions, blending a mixture of feelings throughout. The book will be released in February, and I highly recommend pre-ordering!

I noticed that Crowley has another novel that was released earlier this year and instantly thought that I would love to read A Little Wanting Song, knowing the voice would probably hook me just as this one did. Reading the start of the first sentence on the Amazon summary confirmed that, "Two voices alternate chapters in this aptly titled, lyrical Australian novel [...]" Cath Crowley will be an author to watch!

*Net Galley e-copy provided

2012 Debut Author Challenge

2011-12-21T13:21:00.000-08:00

As 2012 is right around the corner, I have been debating whether or not I will participate in the 2012 Debut Author Challenge that the Story Siren is hosting. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have not been read as much YA novels as I would like to lately. Yet, I always love YA/middle grade novels, and it is fun to read something by debut authors.

I decided that I will sign-up. I am thinking of the books that I will potentially read for the challenge. Like last year, earlier in the summer I set up a 2012 Debut Authors Amazon wish list. I will continue to add books there.

So far, these are the books that are catching my attention the most...

January:

The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker

Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

February:

Trafficked by Kim Purcell

March:

Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler

April:

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

If I Lie by Corrine Jackson (not listed on Amazon yet)

Child of the Mountains by Marilyn Sue Shank

May:

What She's Left Behind by Tracy Bilen

June:

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

August:

Smashed by Lisa Luedeke

Here is the link describing the 2012 Challenge, the sign-up post, and the link for the buttons.

Blogging Break

2011-11-13T21:38:00.001-08:00

This fall my middle grades/YA reading has come to a screeching halt! I switched to a temporary one year position in teacher education, and I am in the last year of my doctoral studies and working on my dissertation. It has been a careful balance, and I have not been reading for pleasure (including books for adults) much at all - sigh. As a result, I also have not been accepting any new review copies - even though it is really hard at times to turn them down. I just know that I will not be able to write timely reviews, so that too is on hold for a while.

Over Thanksgiving break I will be reading The Help for my adult book club with my colleagues. I have heard it referenced as a cross-over book since it also captures the attention of high schoolers, so I may cross-post that on a couple of my blogs.

Other than that, this blog will probably continue to be pretty slow while I work my way through this year. My 8 year old is still mainly reading transitional readers, but before I know it she will be moving into middle grades novels, then no matter what is going on with my career, I should be able to have a steady stream of posts once again as I re-discover the joys of the genre through her eyes.

I have plenty of books that I can't wait to read on my Kindle and lining my bookshelves, so as I make progress through the terms and in my dissertation, I will have many books from which to choose.

Reasons to Be Happy Blog Tour: Q&A with Katrina Kittle

2011-10-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

I recently posted a review of Katrina Kittle's Reasons to Be Happy. Today, I am pleased to host Katrina for a stop on her blog tour with a Q&A. Enjoy!

Q: What has been different about writing your tween debut in comparison to the books that you have written for adults?

A: In early drafts, I made the mistake of “watering down” and playing it too safe. A wonderful editor encouraged me to “forget your audience.” That sounds crazy, right? But she said, “I picture you
picturing this room full of middle school girls. Forget them. Just write the novel you'd always write.
The only difference is that all the protagonists happen to be in middle school.” This advice really spoke
to me and allowed me stop trying to “filter” for the tween audience. Those attempts to filter will always
show and will inevitably be insulting.

Don't get me wrong. Of course there is a difference in presenting tough subject matter for a tween
audience and an adult audience. But for me the key was my protagonist. Especially since Hannah tells
the story in first-person, the only “filter” I needed was her. She tells the story with her perspective and
understanding of events, not mine. That became important in revision: I would comb through looking
for lines or passages that were colored by my own, more experienced viewpoint. When I found them,
they had to go. Hannah could only know what she would know as an eighth grader with her own life
experience so far.

That was the biggest difference, and a good exercise for me as a writer: to really capture Hannah's
voice I had to stay true to her frame of reference.

Q: I noticed on the FAQs of your author site that you incorporate your favorite restaurant, El Meson into your books. Does it make an appearance in Reasons to Be Happy?

A: Yes, yes it does! It's become almost a game for me, no, to find a way to sneak my favorite restaurant on the planet into every story. Characters are always dropping in to eat the amazing paella and empanadas, drink the mojitos, and revel in the ambiance that makes them feel they're in a tropical country. El Meson is mentioned briefly in Reasons to Be Happy when Hannah is staying with her Aunt Izzy in Yellow Springs, OH. Hannah is worried that her Dad hasn't called or emailed (or answered any of her calls or emails) from LA in four days. She thinks, “I just thought he was tired of pretending he cared enough to talk to me. Tired of listening to me blather on about canoeing on the Little Miami, climbing at the Urban Krag, taking Latin Dance class at El Meson, or having a picnic on the lawn of the Dayton Art Institute.” I've actually taking dance class there myself. I've met with probably 50 some book clubs in El Meson's lovely private rooms. It's my favorite place to go to celebrate anything. Seriously, if you're anywhere near the Dayton area, do yourself a favor and get in there!

Q: On your site you also mentioned, "I don't want to tell the reader WHAT to think about these issues. I want to ask the reader TO think about the issues…and I want to entertain them at the same time." Reasons to Be Happy would prompt a lot of discussion for an adolescent book club. How did you decide which aspects would be important to include in your novel?

A: I worried a bit, with the eating disorder, that I had a difficult balance to maintain: enough graphic
detail to show how horrifying and damaging it is, but not so much that the book reads like a “how
to” manual. Again, I focused on using Hannah as my guide, my filter. If I stuck to what she was
experiencing—what the disorder did for her, as well as how it betrayed her—then I felt I wouldn't go
wrong. And every time I caught myself lecturing, I'd delete, delete, delete. It's more satisfying for the
reader if any discoveries and revelations come through the character, not from me. I hoped readers,
young women especially, would identify with Hannah's doubts, fears and struggles, and maybe think
about Hannah's mistakes (and then, a writer's dream—to apply that knowledge to their own lives).
One of the greatest joys, for readers of any age, is to have something to discuss at the end of a book.
Discussion isn't possible if everything is too black-and-white with no room for interpretations and
perspectives. And being open to discussion, to perhaps considering a new way of thinking, is much
more likely if you've been entertained along the way, instead of feeling like you were subjected to a
preaching public service announcement. A quote I love (I heard it in a writing lecture once, but have no
idea who to attribute it to!): “A novel is not a message clamped to a passenger pigeon's leg. It should be
the experience of watching that pigeon fly from A to B.”

Thanks!

www.katrinakittle.com

Twitter: @katrinakittle

www.facebook.com/KatrinaKittleFanClub

http://katrinakittle.blogspot.com/ (Reasons to Be Happy Blog, lists a reason to be happy everyday)

There's a hash-tag—#reasonstobehappy—for your tweeting purposes. :-)

Why YA?

2011-10-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

Throughout the years I have read a lot of debate about YA novels and their content. A member of NCTE just posted a link to Sherman Alexie's commentaries on the content of his YA novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

What a powerful article! It reminds me a lot of hearing Chris Crutcher advocate for YA novels. I highly recommend that you read the full article, but here is one of my favorite sections, the last paragraph.

"And now I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don’t write to protect them. It’s far too late for that. I write to give them weapons—in the form of words and ideas—that will help them fight their monsters. I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed."

Reasons to Be Happy

2011-09-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

Katrina Kittle's Reasons to Be Happy focuses on life's transitions that leave Hannah feeling like she no longer knows herself. A move to a new town, navigating the lifestyle of being the daughter of a prominent actor and actress, as well as her mom's terminal illness. As if that was not enough, a sense of lack of control over her life leads her down the dangerous path of becoming bulimic.

With some aspects of the first chapters I felt disconnected from Hannah, feeling like her first person narrative was lacking a true sense of who she was as a person. Yet, that made sense because of her current state of feeling so lost and not quite knowing how to get back to the person she knew herself as.

When I started reading the book, I thought that the whole book would focus on her bulimia; however, I was in for a surprise as the book took a major shift that I was not expecting. I'm having a hard time not mentioning exactly what it was because there is a lot that I would like to say about that phase in the book, but I would not want to spoil the surprise for others. I will just say that it reminded me of Becoming Naomi León, with its own surprise shift, leading to a life-changing experience.

On October 10th I will be posting a Q&A with Katrina Kittle as part of her Reasons to Be Happy Blog Tour.

*ARC provided

Clementine and the Family Meeting

2011-09-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

I was first introduced to the Clementine series from a few years ago from an incoming sixth grader. Since then I always bought new installments when I saw that they were available in both English and Spanish and students continued to enjoy them. Lately, I have been buying my eight year old more and more chapter books. She already has Junie B. Jones, Ivy and Bean, and some Judy Moody books. Having an opportunity to read an e-version of Clementine and the Family Meeting had me falling in love with Clementine all over again and remind me that I will definitely need to add the Clementine books to my daughter's shelf. I know that my five year old is going to love having me read them aloud to her as well.

In this particular book in the series that will be released later this month, Clementine is anxious about the family meeting notice posted on the fridge. She wonders if she is in trouble. When the meeting finally comes, she is relieved that she is not in trouble until shortly after she realizes that her mom is pregnant, and she is not happy at all! To make matters worse, her friend Margaret is changing, her science project rat escapes from its cage over the weekend, and she loses her Grandmother's snow hat.

I found myself laughing at Clementine's antics and her sense of humor - such a lovable character. I can't wait to introduce her to my daughters. I highly recommend Pennypacker's series for different purposes for different ages: pre-readers like my youngest daughter will love it as a read aloud, transitional readers such as my daughter will enjoy it as a first chapter book, and tweens like my students still enjoy it as a fun, easy read. So many possibilities...

*Electronic review copy provided

Solstice

2011-08-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

Part of the Amazon product description for PJ Hoover's Solstice says, "Where Mythology and Dystopia meet..." which instantly intrigues me. I have always been a fan of books that weave in mythology, such as The Lightning Thief, Tera Lynn Childs' Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp, and Pandora Gets Jealous. Dystopian novels always draw me in as well, all those what ifs.

I enjoyed the blend that Hoover created in her YA debut. It starts out with prominent dystopian characteristics, a future in which global warming has caused dramatic changes in everyday life, specifically focusing on Piper, her mother, and close friend Chloe in their Texan community. However, Piper yearns to break free from her mother's firm grip of control. One weekend she gains her chance.

In comes the mythological pieces... So many possibilities and a whole new layer of what ifs. I enjoyed getting to know Piper's world and to go along with her into her journey navigating the clash between what she has always known and the new world that begins to shape her life.

Just as I enjoyed Hoover's middle grades novels, this YA novel held my attention making me excited to have a chance to keep scrolling down to see what would happen next! I look forward to seeing where Hoover's imagination will take her with future projects.

*Digital copy provided & 14/12 2011 Debut Author Challenge

Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt

2011-08-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

Crickett Rumley's Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Bell Hell is one of the debut books that caught my attention from the first time I heard about it. It was a fun read to enjoy on the last days of summer break before getting back on a more regular schedule.

From the first pages we get a sense of Jane's spunk and humor as she is experiencing her first days as a Bienville Magnolia Maid. Though many girls in the community dream of the day they will have a chance to participate in the court, an "honor", Jane is dismayed that she was selected. Having just moved back into town to live with her grandmother after being kicked out of 16 boarding schools, Jane applied to be a maid to appease her grandma but never imagined they would actually choose her.

Layer by layer different aspects are unveiled about Jane's past, giving insights into why she is the way she is, as well as the path her life will take based on current circumstances. The book encompasses friendships, romance, and making bad decisions and living with the consequences.

I enjoyed getting to know the different maids and seeing how the dynamics of their relationships with each other, as well as others in their lives emerged throughout the book.

*Review copy provided - 2011 Debut Author Challenge 13/12

2011 Debut Author Challenge Officially Completed

2011-08-10T06:07:00.000-07:00

Earlier this summer I posted my plans for the remaining four books to reach the minimum requirement for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge. I was excited to recently officially reach 12 because last year I ended up not being able to meet that requirement as the end of 2010 snuck up on me. The great news is, I still have more debuts ready to read, including two off of my list in my original remaining books post. I am going to hold off on doing an official reflection of the challenge until later in the year since I know that I will be reading more debuts before the end of the year.

The Beginning of After

2011-08-09T05:50:00.000-07:00

The release of Jennifer Castle's debut novel, The Beginning of After, is quickly approaching. The novel explores how Laurel navigates the array of emotions following a car accident in which her parents, only brother, and a neighbor's mother die. The only survivor is the neighbor's dad who was driving, but he is in a coma, leaving many questions about what happened for sure.

In a flash, Laurel's life changed from a huge focus on preparing for SATs and thinking about which college to attend to trying to come to grips with how her life has changed. She bottles up her emotions, afraid that if she starts crying she won't be able to stop.

At school it is rumored that one of her "top ten" is going to ask her to prom, but she wonders if it is out of pity. Then there's David, the neighbor's son who similar to Laurel ended up not getting in the car the night of the accident, the "bad boy" who weaves in and out of her life while he also deals with his grief. She also still tries to be a good friend but finds herself in some situations where she is conflicted when deciding what is best. So many emotions swirling around... I was confused right along with Laurel - there weren't clear cut, easy answers in many situations; although, I did cringe each time she would push away emotions relating to her family's deaths.

When I picked up this book I had just finished Left Neglected for adults which deals with a car accident and has incredible voice. Then I started another YA novel that deals with an adolescent coming to grips with a parent's death as a result of a car accident but abandoned it. I rarely, rarely abandon books, but I am finding that it doesn't take as much for me to abandon books anymore. With so many great books in my TBR pile, I don't plod my way through books that I have luke-warm interest in anymore. Clicking open The Beginning of After was like a breath of fresh air. I remember thinking automatically - now this is a book I won't be abandoning. Castle's voice was apparent from the first pages.

Laurel is also a character that I want to know more about. The ending of the book left me satisfied, and it is one solid, stand alone book, but I would be thrilled if Castle eventually decides to revisit Laurel to explore how her life continues as she makes the transition to college.

*Net Galley e-Copy Provided. 2011 Debut Author Challenge 12/12.

Populazzi Blog Tour Q&A

2011-08-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

Last month I posted about Elise Allen's Populazzi, and today I am thrilled to host a Q&A for the book's blog tour.

Q: I noticed that you have written in a wide variety of contexts and for a range of target audiences. I was surprised to realize that I am already familiar with some of your work, Sid the Science Kid and the Barbie DVDs. How do you decide what to work on next with so many different writing opportunities? How do you organize all of the different ideas that come to mind?

A: I gravitate towards great characters, compelling relationships, and comedy. The tone and depth of those elements are very different in something like Sid versus something like Populazzi, or the grownup screenplays I’ve written, but all three elements are always there in projects I love.

As for what I decide to work on next, quite honestly, sometimes it comes down to which deadline is approaching fastest. The turnaround times for TV and the DVDs can be pretty tight, so when those assignments come up, they get my full attention. When I’ve turned them in, I go back to projects with more drawn-out deadlines, like manuscripts, or passion projects I’m doing on spec.

When it comes to organizing ideas, I’m all about notes. I keep files dedicated to random ideas and thoughts about ongoing and future projects on every electronic gadget I own. For some reason, I need these notes to be typed – they don’t feel real if I handwrite them. This is most likely because I can barely read my own very messy writing, and yet I’m the polar opposite when it comes to my to-do lists. Those only feel real if they’re handwritten in my fabulously large and clunky daily planer.

Q: How did you discover your voice as a writer and what (if anything) do you do in order to help others discover theirs?

A: I believe you discover your writing voice simply (and not so simply) by writing. I’ve been writing fiction for as long as I can remember, and vividly recall my first “published” piece. I wrote it in fourth grade, and it centered around my cat, who naturally happened to be a hard boiled film noir detective. My first novel-writing experience spanned grades seven through nine: the book was a sprawling opus co-written by my then-best friend, chronicling our romantic exploits with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of Wham! (that particular exclamation point isn’t for emphasis, it’s actually part of the band’s name)

The more you write, the more comfortable and confident you become on the page, and the more your individual voice shines through. Naturally then, to help others discover their individual voices, I encourage them to write. A lot. Without fear of being judged, and without judging themselves. I believe that’s the greatest pitfall to anyone finding their voice, whether they’re a newbie or a seasoned pro: fear of judgment. If you let that little voice get in your head that says your words aren’t good enough, you’ll do more second guessing than writing, and you’ll never find your flow. It can be hard to get out of your own way – it’s often hard for me – but it’s absolutely vital.

That said, while finding your voice is all about writing, honing your voice is all about rewriting. I love rewriting, and I encourage others to embrace it as well. I agree with the plan Stephen King lays out in On Writing. Pour everything onto the page, then leave it – go away and do something else entirely for at least a week, so it’s not fresh in your mind. When you go back, you’re less feverishly attached, and it’s much easier to see what needs to be clarified; where you’re over-explaining and saying the same thing twice (like I just did); and when you’re telling your reader information instead of showing them the world you’ve created.

Q: I ran cross country in high school, and I have realized with time that I learned many life lessons through the experience. Since you love running so much, do you plan on writing a YA novel with a main character who is a runner?

A: I was thinking of this question today, as I did my ten-mile long run! I’m in the very early stages of training for the New York Marathon, so I’ll be running a lot for the next few months. I absolutely agree with you that running – especially long-distance running – is a profound experience, and the perfect metaphor for so many journeys in life.

At the moment, I don’t have any YA novels in the works with a runner as the main character, but I do have a TV project bouncing around that centers on marathoners, so we’ll see if anything comes of that.

Q: Cara ended up having some pretty crazy twists in Populazzi. What was the most fun about the process of developing the plot?

A: By far, the most fun was discovering things I had no idea would happen. From the time I sold it, Populazzi went through three major rewrites. While the large bones of the story were there from the start, everything else changed enormously. It was the characters’ fault – the more I got to know them and the richer and deeper they became, the more obvious it was that they’d never do what I had them doing in draft one. Left to their own devices they were far more creative than anything I could impose on them.

Q: What, so far, has been the most the most fulfilling with having your debut YA novel?

By far it’s hearing from people who have read the book and had it resonate with them. I write because it’s my passion to write, but I don’t feel like any of my stories are alive until they’re shared with other people. It’s beyond gratifying to talk to people and hear their favorite parts, the moments that made them laugh out loud, and the characters they loved, even when they wanted to shake them. One reader live-tweeted me as he was reading, and he got so anxious about the bad choices Cara was making that he practically jumped through the computer. I loved that, because Cara was real enough to him that he cared.

I feel incredibly honored by anyone who takes the time to read the book, and I’m always thrilled to hear from and chat with those who do. I’m very easy to get to through my website, and practically sutured to my computer, so it usually doesn’t take me that long to respond.

Thanks so much for having me on the blog, Mrs. V.! The visit was an absolute pleasure!

Love Story

2011-07-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I read a review that instantly had me clicking over to Amazon to buy it. Lately I have been trying to restrain myself since I already have so many books in my TBR shelves at home, as well as a growing array on my Kindle. That's why I much more frequently add books to my Amazon list and wait until I have gift certificates. Nonetheless, when I read The Story Siren's review of Jennifer Echols' Love Story yesterday, I could not resist. I was so relieved that I would only have to wait one day for the pre-ordered copy to be delivered to my Kindle.

Today as I was pulling out of the driveway to take the girls to swimming lessons and the park, I turned on my Kindle to make sure it downloaded while I still had wireless. Once at the park, I started clicking away while the girls played and played. I snuck any chance to continue with the story until finishing it tonight.

Echols wove together narratives for a creative writing course, as well as the main character Erin's first person narrative -- a fun format. At her first semester of college Erin was living out her dream of pursuing her creative writing. Inspired by a stable boy back at her grandmother's racehorse farm that she had known since she was twelve and could not get out of her mind, she wrote a historical romance - only the day the class was going to critique it, the real life Hunter joined the class. Mortified, Erin worried what others would think if they found out.

It was evident from the start that Erin's and Hunter's relationship had been interesting, with a lot of information missing, so much left unsaid. Through the narratives they write for the course, they send each other messages; however, that leaves the interpretation up to the reader, sometimes leaving their intentions unclear.

Wondering exactly what each character's full motivations were, as well as their feelings continually built tension and anticipation. What a fun summer read!

Populazzi

2011-07-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Elise Allen's Populazzi is one of those books that makes me anxious from the start since given the premise, the main character is obviously going to dig herself into a big hole. In the novel Claudia and Cara have been best friend since kindergarten when "The Incident" marked them for their school careers as outcasts with their classmates and bonded them together. They were resigned to the idea that they could not change their scale of popularity until Cara's family ended up moving to a different suburb nearby.

Unbeknownst to Cara, Claudia planned all summer, compiling a binder which she unveiled to Cara right before the start of the school year with a theory that Cara could move up the ladder of popularity at her new school by carefully gauging the different layers, making connections and moving up. Only it gets even worse because Claudia's "genius" idea relies on boyfriends. Hence, anytime Cara would meet someone new I would start cringing about how Claudia's plan could end up hurting others. More than once I was aggravated with Claudia for not realizing how her plan and continual encouragement to go through with it was not very healthy.

Nonetheless, tension and wondering how it is all finally going to work out always keep me flipping the pages, so I read it in one sitting. I appreciated that Cara had different emotions about the process as she went along, as well as her motivations shifting. There were a couple of times when I wanted to see more development with respect to her reactions and thoughts. Yet, other times I was more satisfied with the descriptions.

The book would give teen girls a lot to discuss about making decisions, values, and what aspects of their lives are worth the majority of their time and energy. There was also an array of fun characters that developed and emerged in different ways throughout the book. I had fun guessing just exactly what some of their long-term roles would be. There was also depth to family dynamics in the book.

The publisher recommends it as 9th grade and up which I was glad to see because of some of the issues. I had forgotten until after I finished her book that she has also written a lot for television and movies, such as some of the Barbie movies, which my girls absolutely love. Elise Allen has a talent with knowing her audiences and adapting for different target age groups.

Populazzi's release is coming right up in August, and I imagine it will be a hit! Join me on August 2nd for a stop on Elise Allen's blog tour. I also want to read Elixir that she co-wrote with Hillary Duff.

*Review copy provided. 2011 Debut Author Challenge Book 11/12.

Lord of the Flies

2011-07-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

For this month, we decided to read a classic for our book club. The host debated between Lord of the Flies and The Count of Monte Cristo but ended up going with Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

Though I had heard of the book and recognized the title, it was not until I started reading the book that it hit me that I really did not know a lot about it. I remember my sister that is about two years older talking about reading it for school, but by the time I got to that grade level teachers had changed and it was no longer required. Needless to say, anything that she said about it years and years ago were lost.

From the start I thought to myself that this book is obviously an example of what another language arts teacher in one of my classes called jump and tuck, where the author jumps right in to the action and then tucks in background details as they go along. Thus, with the first pages I was trying to orient myself to see what was going on with the boys and how they ended up on an island without any adults, as well as the historical context of the time. I quickly realized that the boys were from England (again that was one of the details that made me think about how most people who are knowledgeable about the book would have known that, making me realize that aside from the title maybe I did not know anything about the book!).

It does not take the boys long to bond together, setting up a governing system to have order and determine priorities. Nonetheless, this quickly falls apart as various boys have different understandings of what is most important and what should be most highly valued. Reasoning does not always win out and often superficial aspects, such as weight, bear more importance than aspects such as intelligence in deciding who to follow. Throughout the book the sense of order decreases and the madness escalates, leading up to a page-turner toward the ending.

The book has a lot to offer as far as self-identity, making decisions, aspects of being a human, and symbolism. It left me with a lot to think about... I imagine that we will have a deep discussion today of this classic tale at the coffee shop. I am also thinking that this might be an engaging read for an 8th grade boys book club during the school year.

Exposed

2011-07-09T17:01:00.000-07:00

As expected, today I clicked right through Kimberly Marcus' Exposed, a debut novel in verse. At the start of the novel Liz thinks her biggest problem is adjusting to having her brother away at college and missing him, or maybe the normal squabbles that she has from time to time with her best friend Kate.

Only the morning after an argument with Kate about whether or not she should focus on a career in dance, her passion, or be a history major everything changes. Liz cannot figure out why it was such a big deal. However, for Kate the full story of the events that happened that night are a very big deal - one that will change their friendship forever.

Liz is trying to come to grips with all that the night encompassed as everything comes into focus, conflicted between various feelings and emotions. Along with that, she is navigating the normal aspects of a senior year, working toward her dream of building up her photography portfolio and getting accepted to art school.

The lyrical verse unveils the plot one short poem at a time. As typical with great novels in verse, it tells so much with so little words. Fans of Lisa Schroeder's novels in verse will enjoy Marcus' debut.

*2011 Debut Author Challenge book 10/12.

Falling for Hamlet

2011-07-08T07:29:00.000-07:00

I can't say enough about how much I love modern updates of classics, especially updates of Jane Austen's and Shakespeare's works, so naturally, I could not wait to read Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray, which was released this week.

While reading adaptations of tragedies, the question in the back of my mind is always whether or not the author is going to maintain the tragic aspects to their full impact or not.

I remembered certain aspects of Hamlet. I can't remember if I read it for my college Shakespeare class or not. What stood out to me was watching another local high school perform it around my junior year of high school. Needless to say, I was rusty on a lot of the finer points, so I looked up information about it on-line to refresh my memory.

Wondering how closely Ray's version would align kept me clicking away on my Kindle. I won't share how many details aligned because that would spoil part of the fun, but I will mention that Ray had a nice author's statement at the end of the book that explained her inspiration for the novel, as well as her decisions on what to keep the same and what to change. A couple of smaller details that won't spoil anything is that I loved that she kept the names, even though as she explains, it was awkward at times in a modern setting. However, with a couple of characters, she simply had the classical names be their last names and everyone just called them by their last names - a nice fit.

The format of the book also helped to build tension. The start of each chapter began with a small part of an interview between Ophelia and Zara, a popular talk show host and ended with pieces of an interrogation between Ophelia and two officers. The parallel interviews were so fascinating, leaving the reader wondering which happened first and how Ophelia's story in this novel would end. The narration between the two book end interviews was the full truth that Ophelia was not going to tell either Zara or the officers.

I love, love, loved this book. In some aspects, it is probably better suited for older YA readers. It will be especially nice for those who are reading, watching, or performing Hamlet in class. I know a novel like this is exactly what I would have loved when I was in high school or college (where my interest in modern updates was initially sparked).

The book reminded me once again just how powerful and universal Shakespeare's messages are. Though I often think such tragic endings are rare (but then again maybe not...), so much is applicable to every day like, such as: the emotions of wondering what to do in complicated situations when people that you love are pulling you in different directions, how to grieve, how to handle disappointments and betrayals in a healthy way...

In my TBR pile, I also have The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet, Enthusiasm, and The Romeo and Juliet Code. I just can't get enough of adaptations!

*2011 Debut Author Challenge Book 9/12

2011 Debut Author Challenge TBR List

2011-07-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

In order to officially complete the 2011 Debut Author Challenge, I need to read four more books to get to the minimum requirement of twelve. Last night I skimmed through my challenge wish list of possibilities on Amazon and decided on my four remaining titles; although, there are many more that I still want to read as well. All books are downloaded on my Kindle, except one that is pre-ordered for next week. I still have not decided the order in which I will read them.

Entwined by Heather Dixon

The beautiful cover alone is enough to make me want to read the book, but the Amazon product description including, "Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her ... beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing ... it's al taken away," was enough to clinch the deal. I love novels set in previous time periods, as well as novels that have fantastical elements, so this one sounds like it will be a fun, suspenseful read.

Leverage by Joshua Cohen

This one caught my eye from the first time I read about it and have been tempted to buy it earlier, but I always hesitated because I know that the content will be heavy. Yet, I keep on coming back to it. I am excited to read it, but know that I will need to carefully select when I pick it up, preferably at a time that is relatively less stressful so that I can be emotionally ready for more difficult topics.

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

This is another title that I frequently considered whenever checking for challenge books. The deciding factor that had me clicking to purchase last night was noticing that it is a novel in verse, a format that I absolutely love. Last night I also noticed that it has a new cover. I liked that the old cover had more of a photography feel playing on the word exposed, but I also like the vulnerability that this cover expresses. I am expecting this to be a quick, powerful read.

Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

Finally, pre-ordered to deliver on July 5th is Falling For Hamlet. I can never resist modern updates, twists on, or allusions to classics. Can't wait for this one!

The Day Before

2011-06-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

Since I heard about its release back in January I could hardly wait for the release of Lisa Schroeder's latest, The Day Before. Right now is one of the busiest parts of my summer as I am finishing up papers for one of my summer school classes, but this afternoon I decided to treat myself to reading The Day Before in one sitting. After all, that's the only way to read Schroeder's novels in verse for the first time!

The building anticipation was all worth it. Set in Oregon (one more thing to love about it), the novel intermixes glimpses into the lives of Amber and Cade the day before both of their lives are on the verge of something very different, very terrifying.

Meeting by chance on the day they both needed to be alone and process, they were drawn to each other and realized that maybe the day was better spent with a stranger than alone.

Click by click on my Kindle, pieces to the puzzle clicked into place. Along with Amber, I just wanted to know that Cade was going to be okay, as well as wanting to know what was going on with Amber.

There's not much more I can say about the novel without giving too much away, other than saying both characters have dynamic stories that end up weaving together beautifully.

On a side note, it was especially fun for me to read because it was mainly all set at Newport, Oregon where I just went with my 8th graders for part of our field trip, so I could picture some of their experiences - especially the touch tanks, salt water taffy, and watching the sea otters. Reading about the chowder in Mo's made me wish that we had gone there to eat since it is part of the Newport experience.

Can't wait for her next novel in verse or to see my students around town to tell them they have to read this book!

Unwind

2011-06-15T07:38:00.000-07:00

Today I will be meeting with a couple of my colleagues for our book club that one of the teachers at my school started this year. This was the first book club where I was able to choose the book, and I decided to show Amazon information sheets about a variety of books I wanted to read from a range of genres and age ranges, including The Help, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and Unaccustomed Earth. I remember I had another YA dystopian novel in there, but I can't remember which. Out of the set, my colleagues were most intrigued by Neal Shusterman's Unwind. It's not hard to see why, as the book talk that a guest librarian gave about it to my YA Lit class last summer stuck with me throughout the school year.

Dystopian novels always have elements that are disturbing, but this one was especially high on that scale the further into the book I read. The premise of the book is that the country fought another war to determine whether or not abortion should be legal. Neither side won per se, but they did come to an agreement. Abortion was illegal but with scientific advances parents could decide whether or not to unwind their children once they reached a specific age range, most of their teenage years, which entails harvesting all the unwind's body parts to donate to other people. The society rationalized it saying that they were not killing people, as they continued to live on in a divided state.

Needless to say this decision had a domino effect of impacts on society, and many layers are revealed throughout the book. Told from third person point of view, the novel alternates between focal characters or groups in its chapters. There was a lot going on, so it was necessary to think of the whole picture and all the little details, many of which ended up having significant importance as the book progressed, even when they seemed less important at their initial mention. Characters' stories merged together and branched off on their own in various cycles. Some perspectives were only mentioned once, while others came up frequently throughout the novel.

There is so much I want to say about this book; yet, I don't want to go too far into it since it would spoil certain aspects. The various layers are entrenched in the culture as well as the interwoven nature of the stories that it is hard to talk about aspects and scenes that evoked strong emotions without providing more details about the society and context. One thing is for sure, this book will provide ample avenues for discussion today! I am glad that it is one that I will get to discuss with others who have already finished it so that I can share my thoughts without spoiling anything, and I can't wait to hear what they thought of the book as well.

The guest librarian at my class last summer highly recommended all Shusterman novels. Eventually I would like to read more, and it seems like he has a wide range of choices.

For July we will be reading another YA book, Ender's Game. In August we are planning on moving on to a classic.

Wither

2011-06-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

Wither is one of those books that originally caught my attention as I was skimming the 2011 debut books, and since then I keep on hearing nothing but good things about it. I could not resist buying the Kindle version, and I finally had a chance to read it.

In the dystopian novel Rhine's reality is completely different than today as the society is divided between "first generations" and everyone else after scientists attempted to use genetic engineering to relieve humans of illness. While it seemed to work with the first generation, who live long, long lives, their children all start to contract a disease and die at age 20 for females and age 25 for males. Scientists are in a flurry to find an antidote and save their children and grandchildren, while also trying to encourage (sometimes force) them to have babies at a young age in order to ensure the continuation of the human race.

The disasters brought on by this scenario cause many societal issues, such as poverty and a high number of orphans (since their parents die when they are very young). Rhine and her twin brother were fortunate enough to be children of "first generations", but when tragedy strikes, they fend for themselves and struggle to support each other. Unfortunately one of Rhine's attempts to earn some extra money ends up being a trap and she is abducted to become the wife of a rich first generation's son in Florida. Trapped in the mansion, Rhine lives through many horrors as well as conflicting emotions. Though she is held captive, she often surprises herself with emotions toward her "husband". And then there's the servant Gabriel who provides solace in such miserable circumstances.

As if that was not enough, the complexities of the society also involve polygamous marriages so Rhine not only watches her husband's first wife die from the disease, but two other young girls were also abducted with her and get married on the same day to a man they have barely met!

Filled with danger, suspense, confusion, and at times hope, the array of characters provide for many layers and dimensions. I read with my stomach in knots wondering what was going to happen next to the various characters.

One aspect of Kindle editions is that I often don't get a good look at the cover. When I was just looking at it on-line, I noticed how it said, "A Chemical Garden Trilogy". When I was reading it, I had not realized it was part of a trilogy. Now, I am so excited that I will be able to read more about the story. Though there was a good sense of resolution to this book (albeit more on the open side of a satisfying conclusion), and it could have been a stand alone, I am thrilled that there will be more because there is plenty that I was wondering about still! So many possibilities for twists and turns in the plot.

This book fits in well with so many other books I have been reading in 2011, not in the sense that it is very similar because it is definitely unique, but because different aspects complement other books. For example, the onset of a new disease, resulting in a shifting role for young women reminds me of another 2011 debut, Bumped, while the aspects of the negative impact of experimenting too much with humans relates to The Gardener. Rhine's unique eyes remind me of Willow's in Crush Control. The polygamy and manipulation aspects tie in with Family. Just like Drought, it has a suspenseful romance. So many interesting connections and layers for discussion.

Lauren DeSteno's debut is definitely gripping, and I cannot wait for more. I just had to look around on the author's site to see if it had any mentions of when to expect the second, and it looks like it will be out in February of 2012 - what a treat!

*Book 8/12 for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge

Crush Control Blog Tour Q & A

2011-06-06T05:18:00.000-07:00

I recently posted my thoughts on Crush Control. Now I am happy to post a question and answer with author Jennifer Jabaley. I enjoyed hearing more about Jennifer's process as a writer!

Q: I always love to hear the background behind books, such as what inspired them. For example, while reading Crush Control, I was wondering if someone you know has unique eyes just like Willow since I noticed that you are also an optometrist. I was also wondering whether A Midsummer Night's Dream inspired the plot or if it was more of a natural fit after you had already thought of your idea. I love it when books weave in plots from other literature that in some ways mirrors what is happening in the book. Can you share a little about the process of how Crush Control came together?

A: Yes, I am an optometrist and I have seen patients that have unique eyes like Willow's. The clinical term is 'coloboma' and it is when the iris is mishaped and leaves a keyhole shaped pupil. I did have one patient who was very much bothered by the appearance of her eyes and I wound up fitting her in colored contacts to masquerade the appearance of the pupils. But sshhh! don't tell Willow there's a way to hide it :)

When I was originally discussing the idea for CRUSH CONTROL with my editor, I said something of the effect of using hypnosis 'sort of like a love potion' and my editor said that it reminded her of MSND. And honestly, I barely remembered the plot to that play so right after hanging up, I went online and started researching MSND. Immediately I recognized the opportunity to use Shakespeare's play as the perfect backdrop and inspiration of sorts for Willow's use of hypnosis. So I began to weave the English assignment throughout the plot to use the Shakespeare play as a dangling inspiration for Willow. Naturally, she didn't look to the chaos in MSND to realize chaos would ensue in her life as well!! I'm glad you liked it!

Q: When reading Crush Control I appreciated that characters did not necessarily fit into their stereotypical roles, which was refreshing, making them seem all the more like individuals and developed characters. What have you found to be helpful when developing your characters?

A: Oh thank you, that's a nice compliment. First and foremost, I try to make my characters fascinating. If the characters are commonplace, the story gets boring. I try and make the audience identify with the characters and I've found that most often, when I'm reading, I'm in tune with the character's desires and problems. For a teenage audience I think most all can identify with the need of wanting to belong, of wanting to be loved and of finding their place in the world.

Q: One of my other blogs focuses on trying to find balance between different roles. I noticed that your site talks about trying to "manage optometry, writing and motherhood". What advice do you have for other writers trying to carve out time for writing - whether it is adults balancing careers and motherhood or younger writers balancing school and extracurricular activities?

A: You know, for me, the majority of 'writing' happens in my head. What I mean by this is ideas inspire and plots come together while I'm playing at the park with my kids. Or characters develop as I'm observing the behavior of patients at the office. So by the time I do have that precious hour or two to get down my thoughts on paper, they pour out constructively. I'm hardly ever staring at a blank sheet of paper/blank computer screen. So my advice is take notice in things around you. Scribble notes down when an idea strikes you. Even though we are all so over-scheduled and over-booked, if we can carve out a small bit of time each day and have our thoughts ready to purge, you can manage to creatively accomplish your task little by little, day by day.

Q: Even though I have not written a book, I typically have ideas for different types of writing in my writer's notebook. I imagine that you have many thoughts running through your mind as well. Have you decided on (or are you already currently working on) your next writing project?

A: Right now I'm in discussion with my editor for my next project. Fingers crossed!!!

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog! I really appreciate it!

Arctic Thunder

2011-06-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

Through Robert Feagan's Arctic Thunder, I caught glimpses of what life would be like in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Though the novel is told in third person, we see the events through the main character Mike's lens as he discovers that he will be moving, not only leaving behind all of his friends, but also his favorite sport lacrosse. While it takes time, Mike eventually starts to realize that there are advantages to his new surroundings and the people who live there.

I always love reading books involving sports and teamwork, sometimes even more so when it is an unfamiliar sport for me, which was definitely the case with lacrosse in this book. As Mike was teaching some aspects of the game to his new friends, I realized how I would have been just as clueless in the same circumstance, helping me to relate and laugh even more as they were surprised about certain aspects of the game. As a special bonus, I was also able to learn about traditional "Arctic Sports" that I had never even heard of before.

Nonetheless, sports was not the sole focus of the book. There were also significant explorations of cultural identity and getting to know and understand others. In addition, there was also a little bit of romance, which led to at least one hilarious moment.

*Review copy provided

Crush Control

2011-05-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Jabaley's Crush Control focuses on seventeen year old Willow's return to her childhood community. Filled with memories of Max, her best friend since birth, the return is much anticipated. She remembers all of the schemes they came up with together, as well as the time she hypnotized Max in an attempt to make sure that he would consider her his best friend forever right before she moved to Nevada for her mom to have a hypnotist show. Throughout her years away the two friends stayed in close contact, and Willow also realized that she liked Max as more than a friend.

Based on their first interactions, Willow had hope that Max's feelings were similar to her own, until she found out that he already had a girlfriend. Struggling to find out where she fits not only with Max but in general at her new high school, Willow ends up using hypnosis with her new classmates, including some in attempts to get Max to notice her. Only she never could have anticipated how complicated everything would get. One schenanigan after another Willow tries to get herself out of the mess she created.

The English major in me always loves it when books weave in the literature that students are learning in their classrooms, so the way that Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream appeared in the book was an instant hook for me. I also loved that the conflict was a theme that adults and children alike can relate to - realizing you have made a mistake but having to weigh coming out and telling the truth in order to have others help you, knowing that in doing so they will be disappointed or trying to fix it on your own. Once I got to a certain point in the book, I could not wait to keep flipping the pages to see how it would all turn out, at times cringing with Willow's decisions, making it all the more suspenseful.

I am excited to host a Q&A with Jennifer Jabaley soon as part of her Crush Control blog tour. The premise of her first book, Lipstick Apology, also has me intrigued.

*Review copy provided

A & L Do Summer

2011-05-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

Jan Blazanin's A and L Do Summer was a fitting read for the first days of my summer break - a fun, quick read focusing on best friends Laurel and Aspen's summer before their senior year. The two girls are on a mission to get noticed in their rural Iowa town. They get attention all right, just not necessarily the type they were seeking.

Both girls find themselves in and out of trouble, putting a damper on some of their summer plans. Yet, the two persevere, trying to find ways to avoid a trio of newly graduated senior boys who are constantly threatening them, while also seeking summer romances and to try to have some fun in the midst of all the consequences for mistakes and misunderstandings.

The book had the perfect blend of adventure, friendship, and romance. I would love to read more about what happens with Apsen and Laurel during their senior year of high school as I am sure their adventures will continue.

I noticed on the back cover that Blazanin has another YA book, so I was curious to see what it would be about. When I saw more about it on her site, I was thrilled to see that it was a MTV book, since I typically enjoy them. I can't wait to see what Blazanin will write next!

*Review copy provided

Family by Micol Ostow

2011-05-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

Disturbing was a word that popped into my head often while reading Family by Micol Ostow. Although it was quickly followed by another thought - what did I expect from a novel that the back of the book describes as being "loosely based on the Manson family murders of 1969"? Oh, and there's the cover that obviously let me know from the beginning that it was not going to be a happy, cheery book.

Yet, the premise intrigued me and I wanted to keep reading, holding on to the hope that Mel, the main character would realize that the "family" was not the best option for her and that she would find her way out of the cult's strong grasp.

The novel, which is told in verse, a format that I always love, shares Mel's story of a difficult childhood that led to her on a journey that eventually landed her in the middle of a cult lifestyle - a place where she finally thought she had found acceptance. Yet, some lines from the first page foreshadowed that Mel would not always feel so positive about her new "family".

The haunting verse weaves back and forth between the past and the present, circling around to give more and more details about specific events so that as readers we are able to zoom in and get a clearer sense of what is going on in Mel's world. Even though I knew Mel seemed to be having some second thoughts about the cult and its leader, I was not sure how she was going to respond, whether or not she would find the inner strength to listen to those inner voices or if the manipulation would be far too strong. Then there were times when I was thinking she was figuring it out, only to realize that she still had a strong sense of commitment to the cult.

The book is recommended for 14 and up. I think it really depends on the individual. As an adult I found it hard to read at times and I actually had to put it down since I had started it with the stressful rush of the end of the school year and it was just too much for the moment. This weekend I was able to finish it once some of the stress was relieved. People who are going to read it need to be ready mentally for a heavy, tough topic. However, once a reader feels prepared for it, I highly recommend the book and the artful way that Ostow tells the story. It also has the advantage of helping readers to understand others and to imagine what the context would be like.

*Copy provided for review purposes

Codename: Dancer

2011-05-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

In Codename: Dancer by Amanda Brice, Dani is off on a new adventure. She is in her first days at a boarding school that specializes in the arts and is anticipating all the opportunities that the school will offer in order for her to grow as a dancer. She can't believe her luck when not only does a television show decide to host a reality TV show similar to Dancing with the Stars at her school, but she is one of the four students chosen to participate. She is swept up in the world of reality TV and star struck with her rising teen idol partner.

Unfortunately, not long after the practices get underway, negative events happen that all appear to be related to the show, many of which directly involve Dani. The mystery begins and Dani and her friends have decided to take matters into their own hands in order to do their own investigation, rather than relying on the police's investigation.

I loved reading Caridad Ferrer's Adiós to My Old Life, so the premise of Codename: Dancer caught my attention. I knew that they would have a different tone because of their target audiences (older YA/adult vs. younger YA) and the mystery aspect of Codename: Dancer that was absent from Adiós to My Old Life. Yet, I still imagined I would enjoy the book.

I found myself flipping through the pages in order to confirm (or not) my building predictions about the mystery. The book held my attention, but as I reached the climax, it felt like some of the aspects of the plot were not fully developed, leaving the ending with a bit of an abrupt feeling.

However, I noticed that Brice has more Dani Spevak mysteries in the making (the second one coming out in November), and I would still like to read more. Since Codename: Dancer is her YA debut, I imagine that her writing is still emerging and that her future books will continue to improve with aspects such as development. I look forward to reading more about adventures at boarding school, as well as the possibilities for getting to know characters (both minor and major) introduced in this initial book in the series. The second book's title and synopsis already has me wondering!

*E-version provided for review purposes

Someone Like You

2011-05-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

When it comes to Sarah Dessen I am more familiar with her covers and some of her plot scenarios without being that knowledgeable about the order of publication, so when Miss K left a comment recently saying she has "loved watching her writing evolve from Someone Like You to her more recent books," it made me curious to peek at the copyright. When I saw that it was published in 1998 my first thought was, "What!? I could have read this when I was in high school!" So often I think about how there is a much more wider variety of YA books available now then when I was in junior high and high school, but part of it was also just a lack of exposure to all of the great books. At a time when it was just becoming common to have email, I never found out about books to read via the Internet. It is interesting to think that if the Internet and blogging was like it is now when I was in high school, I probably would have heard about it when it was released.

Luckily, as an adult I was still able to enjoy Someone Like You. Earlier this week I was swept up in Scarlett's and Halley's worlds. Right at the start of the book Halley realizes that roles are changing, instead of Scarlett always being the strong one there for Halley, she finds that she needs to provide the supporting role for Scarlett whose boyfriend has just died in a motorcycle accident. All the while Halley is always walking on egg shells with her mother and trying to navigate a new romance of her own.

I noticed some similarities to Just Listen, which I imagine may be key concepts in all of Dessen's books in one way or another, such as exploration of a wide range of relationships and main characters coming of age. I appreciate that she shows a wide range of emotions about the same context throughout the book, a realistic window into teenage girls' lives, helping readers realize that it is natural to be confused when making important decisions.

The girls in my 8th grade class have been enjoying Dessen books this year, and I look forward to reading more of them any chance I get!

Sarah Dessen Week

2011-05-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

This week is Sarah Dessen Week hosted by YA Bibliophile and The Reading Housewives. I jumped on any chance to give myself a reason to finally read more of Sarah Dessen's books. Right now I am mid-way through Someone Like You and will be posting my thoughts later in the week. In the meantime, here is a link back to my review of Just Listen. Coincidentally, yesterday I just saw another review of one of her books yesterday over at Watchareading. Like always with Dessen books, the cover alone makes me want to read it. (Added note: After posting I was looking at The Reading Housewives' launch post for the week, and they have a fun post with her covers from four different countries. I love them all for different reasons, but my favorite is still the US version.)

Bumped

2011-04-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

Based on the books I have read in the Jessica Darling series, I knew that I would not be disappointed by the voice in Bumped since Megan McCafferty always makes me laugh with her sarcastic humor and strong characters.

At first I was not sure what to expect with Bumped since it is a dystopian novel. When I realized that the title refers to teen pregnancy and the concept of the book is centered around a future when teens are the only people in the world able to become pregnant, as those older are all infertile because of a virus, I was wondering what it would be like.

Though I knew it was going to involve two twins who are reunited after being separated at birth, I had not realized that it would be told in multiple perspectives, so I was instantly even more excited since that is one of my favorite formats. Many of the chapters were quick, especially when the tension was building making for a perfect balance to see what was happening with one twin but then being able to get back to the other. There were plenty of twists and turns, some that I anticipated and others that caught me by surprise - a perfect balance.

Another unexpected part of the book was the two distinct communities that the girls come from, Goodside and Otherside. In the beginning, I thought it was going to be a simple right vs. wrong tone; however, I should have known that it would never be that simple with McCafferty. As the girls' situations and true feelings emerged I continued to like the book more and more.

The ending was satisfying, but also left me wanting to know more about some details, so I was thrilled when I saw in the pages at the end of the book that McCafferty is busy working on a sequel. I can't wait to see when that will be coming out.

Sarah at The Reading Zone has an excellent review of the novel that also gives some insights into McCafferty's perspective for those who are critical of the topic of the book or would like to know more.

In June I will be reading Unwind with my book club, and I am thinking these two would be an interesting pairing. I will keep that in mind as I am reading to see for sure.

*Book 7/12 Debut Author Challenge (Though I originally thought that the Jessica Darling series, especially the first would have been considered YA, this is her first YA official debut.)

Between Shades of Grey

2011-04-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

I always love historical fiction, even when it is dealing with a time in history that is difficult to read about. It is always fascinating to become aware of historical events that I have little to no background knowledge about and then learn so much about it through a novel. When I originally skimmed through debut titles for 2011, Ruta Sepetys' Between Shades of Grey instantly stood out and I am so glad that I ordered it.

While I am very familiar with the Holocaust, I am much less knowledgeable with the background of the Soviet Union and Stalin. Though I vaguely remembered different snippets mentioned throughout my life, I did not have a clear grasp on the big picture, as well as how people were impacted. The book starts on July 14, 1941 when Lina, along with her mother and younger brother are taken by the NKVD, the Soviet secret police. They are loaded into the back of a truck and then into a crowded train car without knowing where they were going or why, as well as worrying about where their father was.

Lina is a strong-willed teenager who is not afraid to speak out with her opinions, and her father frequently tried to point out to her the gravity of voicing her thoughts given the climate of the government. Throughout the horrendous experiences during the train ride and later in a forced labor camp, Lina tried to hold on, while being strong for her family and others that they meet along the way. One aspect that helps her is being able to draw the different people and events that she sees, even though she puts herself in danger with each drawing and written account of their experiences. Yet, she just cannot stop. It is a fine line between the ability of her strength of character to help her through the experiences while also constantly having the potential to put her life in danger.

Sepetys talks about an important time in history in a very raw, engaging manner. I loved her author's craft and the way that she chose to weave in present events with glimpses into Lina's past to juxtapose her realities. The book also explored the dynamics of relationships well.

My only slight disappointment with the book was that though I liked the ending, it seemed a bit abrupt. Nonetheless, I would encourage others to read this powerful novel. As always, especially with historical fiction, I appreciated the author's note at the end to give further background information.

*Debut Author Challenge 6/12

Carmen

2011-04-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

After reading When the Stars Go Blue, I was intrigued about the original Carmen. Shortly after I heard that Walter Dean Myers just wrote an adaptation, which will be released on April 26th, and I could not believe my luck when I had a chance to receive a review copy. I always love updates/adaptations, and my interest was already piqued about this one.

Myers' version is written as a play, so in some ways this book reminded me of his book Monster, except that Carmen has a very poetic feel. I almost never read dramas, but it is always interesting to read in a different format. I could tell that Carmen had the same flair as her counterpart in When the Stars Go Blue. I love the cover as well, for the same reason.

I enjoyed the banter between Carmen and Jose. Nonetheless, Carmen is a very quick read and as the book progressed it felt like their relationship was over before it even started, which was a sharp contrast to the foundational relationship built up in When the Stars Go Blue. Yet, once I started to think about it, I realized that if it was actually performed, so much of the electrifying romance would have been more apparent through the actions of the play. I also imagine that Myers' version is probably similar in length to the original.

I probably should have slowed down to really create the strong images in my mind rather than flipping right through, but I just could not wait to see how it would all turn out. It would be great to go back and linger on the different scenes a bit longer to really visualize the events to a fuller extent.

It was also fun to see connections to the original that the drum and bugle corps was performing in When the Stars Go Blue come up in Myers' adaptation. Now I am going to write myself a note to read the original. Between the two books, my interest continues to build.

I definitely recommend reading When the Stars Go Blue and Carmen as a duo, and I'm sure once I read the original I will recommend reading the set together. I am torn trying to decide the order because all would be great.

*ARC provided.

Wake Unto Me

2011-04-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

After reading Timeless earlier this year, I could not resist also pre-ordering Lisa Cach's Wake Unto Me. I thought it would be fun to compare and contrast the time elements in both books. Now I keep on hearing of more books that are similar, so it seems like the concept of time is becoming a trend - we'll see how prevalent it becomes.

In the book Caitlyn is trying to navigate her teenage years and decide where she fits in with her family, including her father, step-mother and step-brothers. She does not feel quite at home and has often felt like a misfit. When an opportunity to go to a boarding school in France comes available, Caitlyn can hardly believe her luck. She is hoping to escape the horrible nightmares that have made her wake up terrified lately. Only, it was not that easy.

Nonetheless, her negative dreams are soon mixed with dreams that she can't wait to get back to, which are related to her school in a different time period. Weaving back and forth between her "real" life, dreams, and nightmares, Caitlyn is on a search to find answers.

I loved seeing the layers unravel as I continued on throughout the book. A perfect blend of romance, mystery, and traveling into the unknown, it was a fun read. Some fun connections that I made which made the book even better was that Caitlyn was from Oregon and even more uncommon was a connection to the pilgrimage in Spain where I backpacked as a college sophomore.

When I started my post I was inclined to say that I enjoyed this one more than Timeless, yet when I went back to re-read my Timeless post I remembered more and more aspects that stood out as well, such as the glimpses into the different generations in the family and the musical history in the different time periods. So often I love whichever book I am reading at the time, and that is the case here. Rather than choosing one or the other as a favorite, I will stick with noting that both were a joy to read, and it would be fun to read other similar books.

*Debut Author Challenge 5/12

The Gardener

2011-04-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

I always love reading books by Oregon authors, and even more so when they are set in my state as well. Pairing that with an intriguing premise and I had a lot to look forward to with S.A. Bodeen's The Gardener. Living in this time of technology, there is frequent talk about ethics and science. I know that there is a lot of technological advances beyond what I can fathom, so it was fascinating to watch the mysteries that Mason was trying to uncover through his eyes.

A series of events leads Mason to meet the girl of his dreams only to realize that there is some aspects that are very different about her. He knows that his mom would be able to provide many answers, but the girl is running from something that Mason cannot even comprehend. He finds himself helping her out even though he realizes that people are following them and he has no idea how much trouble he is going to get himself into.

The more Mason uncovers, the more horrified and enraged he gets. While I was able to predict some aspects of the book, there were plenty of twist that I did not figure out until certain layers were revealed. The book would be great to match up with other dystopian novels, as well as for prompting discussions about ethical decisions and how to respond with the situations we discover that lead to ethical dilemmas.

I look forward to someday reading Bodeen's other novel, The Compound.

Where I Belong

2011-03-21T15:04:00.000-07:00

Corinne thought that she had the perfect life, everything going according to plan. She loves her lifestyle of endless shopping with her parents credit cards without worrying about prices, and she is getting ready to start her new prep school with the popular boy there who has already expressed an interest in her. Then her parents drop the last minute bombshell that her dad has been laid off and one of the changes is that she and her little brother will have to move to her grandparents' house in rural Texas. Making it even worse, she barely knows her grandparents.

I love the front cover of the book and was excited about the premise, but I ended up having luke warm feelings for Gwendloyn Heasley's Where I Belong; however, in order to explain why, I might be giving away more than some would like to know, so only read on if you don't mind having some aspects spoiled a bit.

First, Corinne was aggravating - a stereotypical ungrateful rich girl, oblivious of how many people live and without any concept of the value of hard work and money. In the beginning I was okay with this knowing that it was probably all part of the drastic conversion that she would make as I assumed that she would eventually get used to her lifestyle in Texas and reevaluate the type of person she was as the information about the book had insinuated, "she begins to wonder if her life B.R.--before the recession--was as perfect as it seemed." Only, I never really got a clear sense that she got it. Sure, there was some indications that she realized that some aspects of her attitude were not ideal, she still frequently looked down on her life in Texas and expressed a strong desire to be back in her old lifestyle.

There were some interesting layers involving her mother's past and switch to her city girl life that is all that Corinne knew before the big move to Texas, but many of the aspects were not fully developed. The ending of the book left me hanging, wondering what Corinne was going to want in her life and just how much living in Texas was going to have an impact on her life long-term. Much of the message hinted at her having a new appreciation for different aspects of her heritage and an ability to balance, but I was not convinced that it would really have a lasting affect based on her thoughts and actions. I was surprised about some of what she did not do, which would have better indicated the impact of Texas.

Despite the areas that I did not love about the book, I still enjoyed it overall and was eagerly clicking away on my Kindle to see what would happen next. I would have liked to have known more about Corinne and the other characters in the book and had a better sense of resolution, but it was also fun to consider the possibilities of what was left unsaid.

*2011 Debut Author Challenge Book 4/12

Prom and Prejudice

2011-03-12T13:18:00.000-08:00

Since I love Austen novels, I was excited when I heard about Elizabeth Eulberg's latest novel, Prom and Prejudice. Last year I read Mandy Hubbard's update, but I don't think I could ever get enough of updates of classics.

There's so much to love about the book. Since I have already read Pride and Prejudice I enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences, but I think that teens who have not read Austen's original would still enjoy this fun book.

Eulberg decided to open with the first words of Austen's well known original line, which I loved. She also named the characters the same; although, she made some creative changes to some of their relationships. It was fun to see the general plot in tact while making it work in the context of contemporary teens to see how some of the events would play out today. In both the original and this book, I loved the scenes with Lizzie and Collin the clueless who just does not get rejection when he sees it!

One of my favorite characters that does not come across with the same dynamics as the first was Mr. Bennett. He is barely in this version and his sense of humor never shines through. Though Lizzie's mom is in the book a little bit more, her personality is completely different as well, but I did not miss her hysterics as much as I missed Mr. Bennett.

Nonetheless, Eulberg's version was a nice blend of similarities while also adding in her own creativity. In her acknowledgements, Eulberg wrote, "And of course there's Jane, the lovely Miss Austen. No one could ever touch what you have created. Prom and Prejudice is simply my attempt to pay homage to your brilliant work and to celebrate you as what you will forever be known as - one of the greatest authors of all time." I love the view of rewriting as a way to celebrate original works. I thoroughly enjoyed Prom and Prejudice. I still have another Austen remake, Scones and Sensibility on my TBR shelf as well, so I might be posting about more Austen themed books soon.

Timeless

2011-03-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

Since February had me barely reading my goal one/month debut author challenge read, I decided to start March off with Timeless by Alexandra Monir. Finishing it up this morning was a special birthday treat.

I originally added the book to my Amazon Debut Authors Wishlist because of the time travel aspect. Though I don't read too many books involving time travel, every once in a while one catches my attention, like Prada & Prejudice last year.

In this book Michele moves from the life she has always known with her mom in California to living with the grandparents she has never known in New York City. A family with a prestigious background and history in the city, it takes some adjusting for Michele to get used to her new life. Complicating matters is that she ends up traveling through time - not really understanding how or why and not really having a close friend to confide in at first.

Some aspects that I loved about the book was how Michele traveled back and forth between different periods in the city's history, trying to solve a mystery and do what was best long-term versus what she wanted the most. While much of Michele's thoughts revolved around a young man, we also catch glimpses of different teenage girls in her family's history, which ended up being another fun layer to the book. For those who have read Hubbard's Prada & Prejudice, this might give away too much, but I was thrilled to see that the books had something in common, something I was hoping for while reading the book.

The ending was somewhat abrupt, yet enough to have a satisfying conclusion. It also had a To Be Continued message, and I am thrilled that there will be more to the story. As a fun added bonus, toward the bottom of the Amazon link I have above, there is a playlist of songs mentioned in the book, including two original songs by Monir that have a special significance in the book. I love this added twist to have the book be a multi-modal experience and to bring the historical aspects of the book alive even more. For additional information about Alexandra and her projects, you can visit her website.

*2011 Debut Author Challenge Book 3/12

The Latte Rebellion

2011-02-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

I just barely squeaked by with my goal of staying on top of the Debut Author's Challenge by reading at least one debut a month. Today I finished Sarah Jamila Stevenson's The Latte Rebellion. When I was on Amazon to decide on options for the challenge, I added this book since it deals with mixed-ethnicity identity. Cultural identity has always fascinated me, but I am even more interested since I know that one difference between my childhood and my daughters' is the blending of their cultures. I have already been frustrated with check-boxes about race and ethnicity on different forms, which is brought up in the book. I was also interested to get insights into how they may or may not feel as they move into their teen years.

In the book high schooler Carey is enraged when a classmates makes a slur at Asha, calling her a towel head and barely Asian. Even though he does not think it is a big deal, Carey does, throwing an iced latte all over him. As the girls debrief about the unpleasant experience, an idea forms about lattes representing blending ethnicities. Their joking around ends up inspiring an idea to sell t-shirts around the theme of raising awareness of multi-ethnic backgrounds with the help of a third classmate in order to raise funds for an after-graduation vacation.

They never expected how much concept would take off. Not only did they sell t-shirts, but their site and shirts soon caught national attention. Early on in the book we know that something went horribly wrong as it flips back and forth between describing the events and a hearing to see whether Asha should be expelled from her school.

I loved the format of the book giving glimpses into the future and trying to fill in the gaps. I cringed when some of the details of how the girls marketed and worded their concept were revealed, seeing how their intentions could easily be misconstrued. Yet, the details of exactly what happened to warrant an expulsion hearing was not fully revealed until much later in the book. I also enjoyed the balance of characters and events in the book being able to see the concept from multiple perspectives.

I'm 2 for 2 with loving my picks for the Debut Author's Challenge. I already have several others downloaded on my Kindle or pre-ordered for delivery on their release dates.

*2011 Debut Author Challenge Book 2/12

Shine

2011-02-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

Shine by Lauren Myracle is a multi-layered novel that reveals with each turn of the page a little bit more of how complex the events are. When I first read that the book was about 16 year old Cat trying to do her own investigation into her best friend's hate crime, I thought that in itself would be gut wrenching and suspenseful. Yet, it did not take me long to realize that Cat was still coming to grips with something that had happened to her about three years prior that had led her to pulling away from everyone she cared about. As the book moved on it ended up being that everyone in their small southern town had their own secrets and aspects that others did not fully understand.

Cat's investigation puts her in danger, yet she can't stop. She has to keep on trying to get justice for Patrick. Going back and forth between the past and the present, little by little Cat filled in details as a first person narrator to help us understand the past events that influenced the dynamics of the multiple relationships in the book and as she tried to make sense of what happened that traumatic night when Patrick was attacked.

Myracle's book includes insights into the effects of intolerance, abuse, and substance abuse, as well as trying to escape the confines of a small town community with rough circumstances. The novel will leave readers with plenty to discuss and analyze about the multi-dimensional plot and characters. Though it was a completely different tone from the only other book by Myracle that I have read, Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks, both show Myracle's excellent craft in being able to tell the story that needs to be told with an appropriate voice.

Shine will be released in hardcover in May.

*Electronic galley courtesy of publisher via Net Galley

A True Princess Blog Tour

2011-02-10T06:22:00.000-08:00

After finishing A True Princess last weekend, I am excited to share more about the author and book, as well as participate in a Q&A with Diane Zahler for her blog tour. Enjoy!

About Diane Zahler

Diane Zahler, author of A True Princess, has loved tales of fairies and magic since before she was old enough to read. She has worked in the children’s room at a public library, in children’s book publishing, and as an elementary and high school textbook writer. The Thirteenth Princess, her first novel for young readers, was published in 2010. She lives with her husband and dog in an old farmhouse in the Harlem Valley that is held together with duct tape and magic spells.

About A True Princess

Twelve-year-old Lilia is not a very good servant. She daydreams, she breaks dishes, and her cooking is awful! Still, she hardly deserves to be sold off to the mean-spirited miller and his family. Lilia refuses to accept that dreadful fate, and with her best friend Kai and his sister Karina beside her, she heads north to find the family she's never known. But danger awaits. . . .

As their quest leads the threesome through the mysterious and sinister Bitra Forest, they suddenly realize they are lost in the elves' domain. To Lilia's horror, Kai falls under an enchantment cast by the Elf-King's beautiful daughter. The only way for Lilia to break the spell and save Kai is to find a jewel of ancient power that lies somewhere in the North Kingdoms. Yet the jewel will not be easy to find. The castle where it is hidden has been overrun with princess hopefuls trying to pass a magical test that will determine the prince's new bride. Lilia has only a few days to search every inch of the castle and find the jewel—or Kai will be lost to her forever.

Q: How much and what kind of research did you do for A True Princess?

A: When I was working on ideas for a follow-up to my first novel, The Thirteenth Princess, my husband was teaching a poetry class at Fordham University (he’s an English professor). One of the poems he was doing was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “The Erl-King,” which I had never read before. He read it aloud to me, and it was so creepy and wonderful that I started to think about putting a wicked elf-king in the story. I wanted to set the tale in the far north, so I researched the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, which appear in the story. Then I looked for Nordic legends and myths that would fit into the story and came up with Odin, the Norse king of gods, and nisses, mischievous sprites, who also became important characters.

Q: My sixth graders had fun with a Cinderella Around the World unit that I previously taught. There are so many possibilities. Since you have written a couple of retellings, I was wondering what ideas you might have for teachers to use your fairy tale retellings in the classroom?

A: In my previous incarnation – before I started publishing children’s novels – I was a textbook writer. I wrote lessons in literature, reading, and language arts for elementary and secondary school students, so I have thought about that. For teachers, I think retold fairy tales can be a great tool. By the time students are old enough to read a book like my first novel, The Thirteenth Princess, or A True Princess, they’ve usually encountered fairy tales in some form. They’re familiar with the stories. You could use a retold tale to teach about genre by pointing out how it includes the elements of a typical fairy tale – magic, witches, a princess or a prince. You could use it to expand lessons on character, setting, and plot by comparing the retold story to the original. This would help students see how these elements can be developed and the different directions they take. As a composition tool, a retold fairy tale can let help students see how they as writers can use character and plot development and description to open up a genre and work creatively themselves.

Q: I loved how you blended a traditional fairy tale while making it your own by adding in other concepts, rather than just sticking to "The Princess and the Pea". What advice would you give students (or any other writers) about finding a balance to preserve the intent of the original story while also giving it their own unique twist?

A: That’s a great question! I think it depends a lot on the fairy tale itself. Some have been retold over and over, so writers who want to take them on have to look for approaches that are new. They might use only bits and pieces of the original, or they might layer a completely different story over the tale. That’s pretty much what I did with A True Princess -- “The Princess and the Pea” is in there, but it’s not the main focus of the book. Other, less-known tales might lend themselves to a retelling that keeps more faithfully to the original story. That said, a novel-length fairy tale retelling HAS to include a writer’s unique stamp because the originals are usually so short. “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” the basis for my first novel The Thirteenth Princess, is only 3 or 4 pages long. That left me hundreds of pages for invention!

Aspiring fairy-tale writers should think about what makes the original tale special and magical for them. What drew you to the story in the first place? I loved the idea of a pile of feather mattresses and a girl so sensitive that she couldn’t sleep with a tiny pea beneath them. But I was also intrigued by some of the Nordic myth and legend I found when I researched the setting. And Goethe’s poem “The Erl-King” made its way into the story too. The challenge is to retain the aspects of the story that grabbed you, while making it your own in as imaginative a way as you want. The balance between the original story and the writer’s inventions will change, depending on the story and the writer. That’s what I love about retelling fairy tales: they allow amazing freedom for writers within the lines of the original tale, and they also reward writers who step outside those lines.

Q: I can't wait to get a copy of your first book The Thirteenth Princess, and I would love to read other similar books. Are you currently or do you plan on working on another fairy tale retelling?

A: Yes, I am! My next retelling is called Princess of the Wild Swans and will be out in February 2012. It’s based on Hans Christian Andersen’s tale “The Wild Swans” and the Grimms’ story “The Six Swans.” And I’m hard at work on a fourth book – but that one’s not far enough along to talk about yet!

Thank you for participating in the Q&A Diane. I look forward to watching for Princess of the Wild Swans next year, as well as reading and re-reading your first two books with my daughters.

Secret Saturdays

2011-02-06T20:12:00.000-08:00

I bought Secret Saturdays this summer when I was buying what one of my students would call "guy books," since I decided to focus on such books for my summer YA Lit class in an attempt to push myself to read books that appeal to boys, rather than focusing too much on books geared more for girls. Except, rather than just buying the number of books required for the class I found my self clicking away, adding more books than I could read over the summer into my cart. As a result, I still have a stack left to read.

At first when I picked up Secret Saturdays, it took me a while to orient myself to the book. From the front cover and description, I was picturing Justin as a high schooler. As I read, I noticed that he seemed younger and eventually realized that he was a sixth grader, so the tone and plot was different than I had expected since it is a first person narration.

In the book Justin is trying to figure out why his best friend Sean has been acting different lately, at times seeming like night and day between the old Sean and the new Sean. Justin noticed Sean and his mother leaving their housing project early on some Saturdays but Sean never told him about the trips. When Sean won't open up to Justin or their other two close friends, they try to solve the mystery on their own in order to understand just what is going on with Sean.

The book is set in the same neighborhood where Maldonado grew up, so he is able to weave in challenges that are true to the setting. I appreciated that as Justin learned more about Sean's situation, he was surprised to also learn about himself. At 195 pages, the book is a nice length for middle school readers, especially those who are not avid readers. I would imagine that it would be especially appealing for boys who can relate to Sean and Justin, having a difficult time navigating their circumstances of growing up without fathers and as the book describes, many potential traps along the way. One of the concepts of the book was the difficulties of sharing true feelings and struggles with even closest friends, so the book could serve as an outlet to process and understand how others feel even before the readers themselves feel comfortable reaching out to their own friends.

A True Princess

2011-02-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

When I first heard about Diane Zahler's two novels, The Thirteenth Princess and A True Princess, my interest was automatically piqued. Just as I have mentioned many times on my blog that I love books involving identity, another one of my favorites is retellings of classics and fairy tales. I was thrilled to find out that I would have a chance to read A True Princess and host a stop on Zahler's blog tour.

I started reading the book, suggested for 8-12 year olds, aloud to my 7 year old before bed time. Since we had already done a lot of other reading, she was quickly lulled to sleep, but I could not stop. I stayed in bed next to her reading away. As I was reading I remembered that the book weaves in ideas from "The Princess and the Pea," so I was able to predict some of what was going to happen. Yet, Zahler was also inspired by other sources, which led to many other twists and turns to keep me wondering what would happen next.

Needless to say, I absolutely loved the book and plan on getting The Thirteenth Princess and any other fairy tale retelling that Zahler ends up doing. I noticed that The Thirteenth Princess is available on Kindle, but I am planning to get a paper version since the two covers will look great together side by side, and it will be fun to have for my daughters' collection of books as they grow. They will love this one especially because it is based on the Grimm's fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." My girls love the Barbie movie version, which I admit is my only understanding of the tale. I will definitely read the Grimm's version either before or after reading Zahler's retelling.

I am excited to continue reading A True Princess with my daughter and am assuming that we will be able to read it multiple times as she and her little sister continue to grow. I highly recommend the book for people of all ages who enjoy the creativity involved with retellings, as well as for the recommended age range for the book.

Find out more about Zahler's books on February 10th when I host a stop on her blog tour.

*Copy provided by the publisher

The Lost Saint Giveaway Winners

2011-01-31T18:49:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Dawn and Taylor. I mailed out your copies of The Lost Saint, along with the nail polish this afternoon. Enjoy!

Liar

2011-01-27T18:20:00.000-08:00

I love it when formats of books catch me off guard by straying from the common. Even better when they leave me thinking about the events, still trying to work them out in my mind after I have turned the last page. Liar by Justine Larbalestier definitely fits that description. I actually had to go back and reread the last pages as the full impact was settling in so I could try to analyze the possibilities.

I first heard about the book when there was all the controversy about the front cover and its mismatch to the actual main character. Last summer in my YA Lit class my professor had read it and was telling the class about the way the book is set up. I was intrigued by how she said the book was divided into three sections: Telling the Truth, Telling the True Truth, and The Actual Real Truth. She explained how the narrator and main character is up front about being a liar, as the title also makes clear.

I had just read Inexcusable and was still in awe about what I can remember as my first experience with an unreliable narrator and a commenter had recommended Liar, so I clicked right over to Amazon to get my own copy. Yet, since I was trying really hard to have more control with my book expenses I pre-ordered a paperback copy that just arrived in December. Right about that time I saw Jennifer Hubbard's post about unreliable narrators that re-ignited my curiosity to want to read the book soon, being able to go back and read her full post was another motivator since I did not want to spoil anything by reading the post first.

I find it very hard to review this book without giving away too much. What I will reiterate is that I loved that it gave ample opportunities to be an active reader. From the first pages I was questioning everything that Micah said, wondering what type of information was going to be lies. Was the lie that she told classmates on the first day at her new school really even true or was she lying about the lies she told? Did she really even know Zach as she described? Were classmates really talking about her so much? I was wondering whether it was the little details or major pieces of information that would be lies or if anything and everything was fair game for a lie in the book.

Going in knowing this aspect made me constantly cross evaluate the new information that I was reading. I know that if I were to reread multiple times, there would always be more to consider and unearth. I won't say what the ending was, but I am going to mention about how it was not what I expected, so stop reading if you do not want to know anything about the ending. All along, I thought that the events were leading up to a trauma that would make everything else make sense - a reason for the lies, a nice, tight ending. Instead, I was left with possibilities and a lot to ponder, which made me appreciate Larbalestier's author's craft even more. More than anything, I wished that I had a friend who had read it in order to call right away to debrief.

Right now the bargain hardcover is selling for $6.78. I definitely recommend getting a copy while they last! On another note, I had not realized before that the author is married to Scott Westerfeld. My students absolutely love his books! I haven't read any of them, but I have stocked the classroom library with them as I have seen my students' enthusiasm for them grow and am planning on reading Leviathan as my first ever in the steampunk genre.

Look what will be released in June?

2011-01-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

I was just curious to see if Lisa Schroeder had anything new coming out, and saw this title for June 2011. I have loved her books so much that I clicked pre-order before even reading what it is about! Later I realized that Amazon does not have a description of the book yet anyway, but Lisa Schroeder's site does. I was also able to find from one of her blog post comments that it IS a novel in verse. I am even more excited because I love the flow of her writing in verse!

It will come out about a month after I have finished the regular school year and a little ways into my 5 weeks of doctoral summer school. It will be such a nice treat!

Will Work for Prom Dress

2011-01-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Though I was not instantly hooked with the first few pages of Aimee Ferris' Will Work For Prom Dress, once I was a couple of chapters in, I could not wait to take advantage of any free moment to continue reading. In the novel Quigley tells the story of following her best friend's schemes during their senior year in order to raise money for their dream prom dresses. Even though Anne's mom is a well-known fashion designer, she would rather buy a dress. Quigley often asks herself why she continues following along with Anne's plans that often leave her feeling humiliated, but one job ends up being something to look forward to.

When Anne initially mentions that they will be models for one of her mom's design classes, Quigley is skeptical, especially when almost everyone chooses Anne as their model. Yet, there is Xander, the only one who chooses Quigley, talented with fabric but horrible at drawing what he pictures in his mind. He and Quigley make a great team. She can see his designs and transfer them to paper as he imagines them. Quigley is hopeful that he might be interested in her, but then David, a boy at school who has always annoyed her starts showing interest as well.

Anne convinces Quigley that David is the sure chance of having a date to the prom and leaves Quigley doubting whether or not Xander could really be interested in her. Events happen to shake up both girls' lives as they try to navigate discovering who they are during their senior year.

As a teacher, I always notice when there are school scenes that do not seem to match my reality of how schools work, so there was an instance where the way a teacher handled an incident did not seem realistic. Yet, other scenarios, such as trying to truly want to do what is right but meeting the challenges of decisions in the gray areas and the consequences of eventual actions resonated with real life. I also enjoyed the contrast between Quigley's and Anne's personalities and lifestyles, as well as watching their friendship continue to emerge throughout the book.

I absolutely love the fun cover of the book, and I can't wait to book talk it on Monday. Many of my students would enjoy the book, but I am especially excited for one particular 8th grader. She has had dreams of being a fashion designer since I first started being her teacher in 6th grade (and I think her dream was already solidly established at that time). She also enjoys romances, so this book will be a perfect fit for her. I know that the fun cover will also draw her in and that she will enjoy catching glimpses into the design world as well as a character who is seeking her artistic style.

On a side note, I just realized that Aimee Ferris was a member of the Class of 2k7. I have enjoyed a lot of books from the different classes of debut authors, and I look forward to going back and reading Ferris' debut novel.

The book will be released on February 8th, and it is available for pre-order right now, including on Kindle.

*ARC provided by the publisher

The Lost Saint Giveaway

2011-01-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to announce that Egmont has provided me with two copies of Bree Despain's The Lost Saint, along with blue nail polish to giveaway to two lucky readers. I absolutely loved both of Despain's Dark Divine novels, and I can't wait for her to publish another one.

The giveaway is open to anyone within the US who is at least 13 years old. I will randomly choose two readers who fill out the form and mail the books out on January 31st. After the giveaway I will delete the all of the addresses.

Good luck! I am excited for whoever wins since its the type of book that I would love to win.

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Other Words for Love

2011-01-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

Lorraine Zago Rosenthal's Other Words for Love was my first 2011 Debut Author Challenge read of the year. I pre-ordered it at the start of the month, and eagerly awaited it to be delivered to my Kindle earlier this week. Even though my goal is to start going to bed by 10:00 every night, even on the weekends, good books always become an obstacle to sticking to that plan. I had read a little bit of the book earlier in the week, but once I got going on it, I did not want to put it down moving my bedtime last night to early morning!

The back of the book gives away events pretty far into the book explaining that Ariadne starts dating her new friend's gorgeous and charming cousin but that a tragedy in his family leads him to pull away and her wondering what the whole relationship meant. It also alludes to the fact that Ari's family gets concerned with her losing herself.

The description caught my attention, but I had no idea just how complex the different layers of the story would be. There are multiple characters and family dynamics explored that provide comparisons and contrasts to each other. While Ariadne's story takes center stage, there is plenty about the other characters to prompt a lot of thought-provoking discussions. Rosenthal wove the tale with different events coming together in fascinating ways - sometimes heartwarming, other times heart wrenching!

What an amazing debut novel. The book spans multiple years in Ariadne's life and throughout the book her growth and strength shines through. I loved seeing her come into her own and gain a better understanding of herself and her world. I would love to read more about Ari as she continues her journey. I was happy to see that on Amazon there is currently only one more copy left until they order more, since it was such a rewarding read.

While reading I was also thinking that it would be fun to pair up with I Now Pronounce You Someone Else, adding an additional layer to the discussion about searching for oneself. Then for familial expectations, it would match up well with two other books that I reviewed recently, Bitter Melon and Drought.

On a side note, I am loving my Kindle more and more all the time. One aspect that I think I will always miss more than anything is not being able to look at the beautiful glossy covers. Fortunately I can see them on-line, but it is not quite the same as holding them in my hand and seeing them in person!

*2011 Debut Author Challenge Book 1/12

When the Stars Go Blue

2011-01-04T20:37:00.000-08:00

I have loved checking in at Free Book Friday and Free Book Friday Teens since I heard about them. Though I had never won a book, I got many ideas for books to buy and add to my wish list. That all changed back in December when I actually won my first book, and I was thrilled to get an autographed copy of Caridad Ferrer's When the Stars Go Blue. I fell in love with Ferrer's writing when I read her first two books (Adiós to my Old Life and It's Not About the Accent), and I had not realized that she had another book out until I saw the post. It was all I could do to patiently wait for winners to be selected, rather than going instantly to Amazon, especially with the beautiful cover!

Once again, I loved Ferrer's style of writing and the voice of the first person narration. Soledad Reyes has been dancing since her childhood years, a therapeutic escape from some traumatizing events early on in her life. Almost ready to graduate from high school, she has big dreams to save up money before heading to New York City to audition for dance companies. But then Jonathan comes along, opening her up to a whole new world of performance thrills of drum and bugle corps. Although the rest of this particular group is all male, this year they need a female dancer to bring their rendition of Carmen to life. Even though it is a complete change of pace, Soledad jumps right in, loving the experience as well as her time with Jonathan.

I was also getting swept away in Soledad and Jonathan's romance. Yet, there was a foreboding on the back cover, "But in an uncanny echo of the story they perform every evening, an unexpected competitor for Soledad's affections appears. One explosive encounter later, Soledad finds not only her relationship with Jonathan threatened but their entire future as a professional dancer in jeopardy." As they were getting ready to go on tour, I wanted to learn more about Carmen. I did a quick web search and was horrified to see that Don José, the equivalent to Soledad's Jonathan, murders her out of jealousy in the end!

What?! my thoughts screamed. There's absolutely no way Jonathan would do that! I was calmed by thinking back to Alyson Noel's quote on the first pages of the book, "an ending that will make you swoon." With relief I went back to the book wondering just what twists Ferrer had in mind, and let's just say I was so surprised. Though there had been some thoughts coming to mind about how the events might go, I was not anywhere near exactly how it all ended up. Such a great book!

You can see more about the book and an interview with Ferrer on the Free Book Friday Teens post.

Drought

2011-01-01T08:27:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to see that Pam Bachorz had another novel coming out after I enjoyed her first book Candor this summer. Just as Candor's cover mesmerized me, Drought's cover pulled me. I like how both covers have a color in sections that stands out.

I rang in the new year with Drought. I was having a New Year's slumber party with the girls. While they were watching one of the movies we rented for the second time, I decided to read, intending to go to bed right after 12 'o clock. Little did I know, Drought would be too gripping. The official start of 2011 came and went, both girls fell asleep, and I was enthralled. No matter how tired I was, I just could not put it down. This point comes fairly early in the book, as I stayed awake even though I did not read the last page until 4:30 in the morning. Only on break would that be possible, so it is a good thing I did not hold off on reading it until I was back in school!

Ruby has lived with her mother and the Congregation for about 200 years. Enslaved by Darwin West and the Overseers who work for him so that the Congregants remain under his control, Ruby spends her days with a cup and a spoon scraping any drops of water she can find into her cup to fill her quota. Right after the Congregation started Ruby's mom lied to Darwin, telling him that the special healing water they had needed to be harvested this way by Otto's followers in order to protect the truth that it was really Otto's blood mixed with the water.

Though Otto is Ruby's father, she has never met him. He left before she was born, leaving 4 viles of blood that her mom was able to drop into the water for years. Luckily for her, by the time they finally ran out, they realized that Ruby's blood was also special.

Years of back-breaking work and cruelty have Ruby wishing she could go into the outside world, rather than being stuck as if it were 1812 and struggling. However, the Congregation's leaders refuse to try to overturn Darwin's control. They say they must endure and patiently wait until Otto returns to save them all. An opportunity arises for Ruby when a new Overseer is different. She is shocked to begin forming a relationship with him, but he is more kind and promises that he would be able to take her away and keep her safe. Yet, that would mean abandoning the Congregation and taking away the healing power of her blood.

Heart beating quickly and stomach in knots, I kept turning the pages, anticipating finally seeing what type of an ending Bachorz had waiting for her readers. I was wishing that Ruby would just leave but knew how deep her commitment to the Congregation ran.

The farther I read into the book, I started to think back to Bitter Melon. It should have been an obvious connection from the beginning, but since the genres were so different, it escaped my notice at first. The books would be perfect to read together, discussing issues of making decisions weighing needs/wants of self vs. family and community, navigating feelings, and discovering true intentions/motivations of others. Individually, each book lends to ample discussion, but together the discussions would achieve an even higher level of depth.

Originally, I was more excited about the premise of Candor as compared to my initial thoughts of Drought, but it ended up that Drought was even more gripping. It will be released on January 25, and I highly recommend it.

*ARC copy provided by the publisher

2011 Reads

2011-01-01T07:56:00.000-08:00

This year I will try something new and write the number of books I have read during the year next to the title as well as the month I read it. I debated just writing the titles in a numbered list by month, but I think I like having the books in alphabetical order.

Allen, Elise
Populazzi - Book 29: July

Bachorz, Pam
Drought - Book 1: January

Blazanin, Jan
A and L Do Summer - Book 21: May

Bodeen, S. A.
The Gardener - Book 13: April

Brice, Amanda
Codename: Dancer - Book 19: May

Cach, Lisa
Wake Unto Me - Book 14: April

Castle, Jennifer
The Beginning of After - Book 31: August

Crowley, Cath
Graffiti Moon - Book 36: December

Dessen, Sarah
Someone Like You - Book 18: May

DeStefano, Lauren - Book 23: June
Wither

Echols, Jennifer
Love Story Book 30: July

Eulberg, Elizabeth
Prom and Prejudice - Book 11: March

Feagan, Robert
Arctic Thunder - Book 23: June

Ferrer, Caridad
When the Stars Go Blue - Book 2: January

Ferris, Aimee
Will Work For Prom Dress - Book 4: January

Golding, William
Lord of the Flies - Book 28: July

Heasley, Gwendolyn
Where I Belong - Book 12: March

Hoover, PJ
Solstice - Book 33: August

Jabaley, Jennifer
Crush Control - Book 22: May

Kittle, Katrina
Reasons to Be Happy - Book 35: September

Larbalestier, Justine
Liar - Book 5: January

Maldonado, Torrey
Secret Saturdays - Book 7: February

Marcus, Kimberly
Exposed - Book 27: July

McCafferty, Megan
Bumped - Book 17: April

Myers, Walter Dean
Carmen - Book 15: April

Monir, Alexandra
Timeless - Book 10: March

Myracle, Lauren
Shine - Book 8: February

Ostow, Micol
Family - Book 20: May

Pennypacker, Sara
Clementine and the Family Meeting - Book 34: September

Ray, Michelle
Falling for Hamlet - Book 26: July

Rosenthal, Lorraine Zago
Other Words For Love - Book 3: January

Rumley, Crickett
Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt - Book 32: August

Schroeder, Lisa
The Day Before - Book 25: June

Shusterman, Neal
Unwind - Book 24: June

Sepetys, Ruta
Between Shades of Grey - Book 16: April

Sternberg, Hannah
Queens of All the Earth - Book 37: December

Stevenson, Sarah Jamila
The Latte Rebellion - Book 9: February

Zahler, Diane
A True Princess - Book 6: February

2010 Wrap-Up

2010-12-31T10:09:00.000-08:00

2010 has been filled with great YA/Middle Grade books. I continued to stretch myself, reading a variety of genres, though I still have my favorite genres that I tend to read most often. In addition, I also listened to my first audio books and read my first Kindle book!

It is always hard to choose my "favorite" books because with so many great books to choose from, I typically read books that catch my interest and am rarely disappointed. Nonetheless, here are some of my favorite books from my 2010 reading list in alphabetical order from my reading list:

Marcelo in the Real World

The Hunger Games Trilogy

Carter Finally Gets It

Deadline

Mexican Whiteboy

The Dark Divine Novels

Everything by Simone Elkeles

The Dreamer

Everything by Lisa Schroeder

Here's to more great reading in 2011 both from favorite authors and new!

Wish

2010-12-29T15:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my Kindle arrived, and I just finished my first Kindle edition book, Wish by Alexandra Bullen. At the start of the book Olivia has just moved with her mom and dad across the country. They decided to move from the Boston area to her mom's hometown in California during spring break after Olivia's twin sister Violet died the summer before. The family has not been able to come to grips with the tragedy and thought the change would be good for everyone.

Struggling to fit in when her sister was always the sociable one, it is not long before Olivia is in for a surprise when she realizes that she was able to bring her sister back after she went to a shop by chance and ended up with a magical dress that could grant one wish, unbeknownst to her until her wish comes true and her sister is back. Violet starts guiding Olivia, giving her the encouragement to gain more confidence. Together they also learn that Olivia will be able to get two more dresses from the shop, and other than some rules, she will have a chance at two more wishes. Only, she is not sure what else to wish for, but some wishes come out without her meaning to or sometimes even realizing it, leading to interesting events.

Other than her family's struggle coping with their grief, Olivia was also trying to navigate friendships and a romance in her new town with conflicting interests. I found myself clicking away to see what was going to happen next with Olivia, Violet and all of the other characters. One thing that I enjoyed about the book was that it had some characters from the popular crowd, but they were actually nice, rather than falling into the typical popular stereotypes. As Olivia formed relationships with different people at school, her inner conflicts of trying to be loyal to different people were ever-increasingly complicating.

After reading the book I love looking back and thinking about the different layers of meaning present on the cover. Also, when I got to the end of the book, I realized that Bullen has another Wish novel, Wishful Thinking, coming out January 1, 2011. The first chapter was at the end of the book. It hooked my interest, and I already added to my Kindle Wish List.

Bitter Melon

2010-12-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

I always love a good novel about culture and identity. Bitter Melon by Cara Chow is an excellently crafted story that demonstrates the struggles with culture clash as well as mother-daughter dynamics. In her senior year of high school Frances should be taking calculus and a Princeton Review course in order to boost her chances of getting into Berkley in order to fulfill her mom's goals of college choice, major, and the eventual career of being a doctor. She knows how adamant her mom is about sticking to the path - no extra curricular activities, no relationships with boys or any other potential distraction from her plan. A plan that would reward her single, ailing mom for all the sacrifices she made in her life for Frances.

Yet, when Frances ends up in a speech class by mistake instead of calculus, she is in a class where she can thrive. She can't quite bring herself to submitting the change of class by the two week deadline. She begins weaving plans with a friend to blind her mom from the truth. Naturally, there are challenges in this line of thinking that only build the tension of the plot.

When I read the description of the book I had an image of Frances mother in my mind, but she was actually a lot more extreme than I had imagined. As she went to progressively greater lengths to keep Frances under her control, Frances' situation often seemed helpless and the relationship appeared more unhealthy as the events unfolded. Even in sleep she could not get away from her mom's wrath, as she slept on the top bunk in their single room apartment and her mom would make sure to toss and turn all night to show Frances that she was disappointed in her and to express her thoughts that Frances was an ungrateful daughter causing her mom pain and suffering.

The one glimmer of hope was that Frances was quickly approaching a cross roads where she would finally have some freedom once she started college. Yet, to gain that freedom it quickly became apparent that Frances would have to directly defy her mother and destroy much of their relationship. I wondered if Frances would be able to make difficult decisions that would ultimately lead to her own happiness, rather than remaining closely tethered to her co-dependent mother. After all, I knew that this was not a fairy tale style of a story and was not sure how it would end. As the plot developed I was constantly on edge, cringing about Frances' situation, seeing her dilemma. Yet, I was also sad for her mother - sad that she could not understand Frances and that she did not realize how all of her actions intended to make Frances never want to leave her were actually pushing her away.

I appreciated the various levels of relationships represented in the book through the different characters and their families with parents, teachers, and friends to show an array of perspectives from different cultures that ultimately help Frances figure out who she is and the decisions she wants to make. While reading Frances' mother and a family friend made me think back to The Joy Luck Club with the way they would discuss their daughters, as well as her mom's personality in general. This morning it was interesting to read Chow's information about her inspirations for the book on her website and realize how The Joy Luck Club had been pivotal in her high school years.

Bitter Melon will be released this week (December 28), and I highly recommend it! While reading I was also thinking about how it would be a great addition to a high school or college course or book club about identity, matched up with some of the other books that I have loved about the topic, including: Mexican Whiteboy, Born Confused, Randa Abdel-Fattah's books, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The way Chow wrote the book would facilitate a lot of discussion based on the multiple layers, dynamics, and considerations.

*ARC provided by the publisher.

Guess What Should Arrive Monday?

2010-12-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

I have frequently thought about buying a Kindle, and last year started debating between a Kindle and an iPad. Nonetheless, I kept on thinking that I should read all those books on my TBR stacks and shelves before investing in an e-reader. However, it is quite clear that I will always buy more books than I can possibly read, so I would never reach that elusive time when I could catch up with my TBR books in order to justify my e-reader purchase.

At the same time, Kindle prices keep on dropping, and I love the new granite color! Because of my holiday (as well as other) spending, I just received $50 in gift certificates to Amazon yesterday from my credit card rewards. I finally decided to get a Kindle!

Here's what I ordered:

$139 Kindle with Wi-Fi - I decided against the upgraded 3G version since I have wireless access from home and most airports have access as well. I had debated waiting until I could afford the larger Kindle. My sister recommended that size in case some of my college coursework texts are available via Kindle; however, from the pictures it seems like I will prefer the smaller size since it fits so nicely in one hand (or so it appears).

With the $50 gift certificate that would make it under $100, but then I also ordered this lighted leather cover.

Having books instantly arrive will have its positive and negative aspects. Mainly I will have to be very careful with clicking right away buying books out of control! My books waiting in the wings are proof of how little self control I can have at times when it comes to books. I am going to try to stick to only buying Kindle editions when I have already completed my previous purchase.

Yesterday after ordering, I got an email that I can already start purchasing books that will automatically be on the Kindle once it arrives. I saw a post over at The Story Siren that Wish is free until January 3rd on Sky Shelf. I had never heard of Sky Shelf before but rushed right over and it was quick and simple to get set up. When I went to Amazon to hear more about the book, I noticed that the Kindle edition was also free right now, so it is probably that all electronic versions are free for this window of time. Thus, it will be the first Kindle book that I will read.

I am also planning on buying a lot of the books that I will read for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge on my Kindle. After all seeing so many of the books that caught my attention when skimming through the debut author lists available on the Kindle version motivated me even more to take the plunge!

Ivy and Bean: Doomed to Dance

2010-12-23T23:01:00.000-08:00

Last year my students introduced me to the Ivy and Bean series, and because so many of them loved the books, I bought the first five that were available at a local store. Thought I caught glimpses of the content, I had never read a full book, but they appeared to be similar to the Junie B. Jones, Clementine, and Judy Moody series.

This winter my daughter noticed Ivy and Bean Doomed to Dance at the store and wanted to get it. This year it has been fun to see her transitioning into enjoying reading chapter books with me, so I was excited to buy the book for her. We read it chapter by chapter each night before going to bed, and last night we read the last pages. Throughout the book we saw Ivy and Bean first begging their moms to agree to signing them up for ballet lessons and then living to regret their pleas once they started and realized it was not exactly what they had expected. When they realize that they will have to be squid for their performance it is more than they can take and they try to do anything possible to get out of it. The only problem is that their moms had the stipulation that in order to start ballet, they had to stick with it.

It was especially pertinent to A as we read because she just started ballet as well, and depending on the day, sometimes she loves it, while other days it does not seem to be quite what she was expecting. Although I think it has more to do with her energy level at the end of the day, rather than the actual ballet classes, it was fun to see the experience through Ivy and Bean's perspectives.

My daughter and I were laughing throughout the book, and I could see how it is an endearing series for children like my daughter who are transitioning into chapter books as well as still being an enjoyable, fun, quick read for middle schoolers. Now I think that I will be reading the other books that I got for my classroom library with my daughter and am thrilled that we are able to enjoy a wider range of books together. A side note on this particular series is that I love that it is written by two authors, and they have cute bios in the back.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

2010-12-21T20:04:00.000-08:00

Even though I had to post earlier this week about having to abandon the 2010 Debut Author Challenge, I can't help signing up for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge. Especially now that I am in my doctoral program and having to divide my reading time more than the past couple of years, I want to make the challenge a priority - a fun escape! I will not be signing up for any more challenges this year.

Kristi at The Story Siren is hosting the challenge, and she has plenty of information about it on her blog (including about, FAQs, buttons, and the sign-up). There are already many participants signed up; it takes a long time to scroll through all of the names!

I went through the list on The Story Siren blog of debut titles and searched for them on Amazon. I am still unsure of the twelve that I will read, although I know I will actually read twelve this year. I started an Amazon Wish List with the titles, so you can see the titles that caught my attention. I also added a Kindle and cover to that list as I am thinking that I will probably want to get a Kindle early next year, so I will hold off on books available on Kindle to see if I get one!

Here's to some great reading in 2011!

Shoot Out

2010-12-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

This quarter my 6th graders have all been reading Mike Lupica books in book clubs. A couple of years ago when I started at my school I bought some of Lupica's Comeback Kids novels. I had not realized that since then he published a Comeback Kids novel about soccer, my students' overall favorite sport. I was able to buy a set of the books just in time to include in our book clubs, and that group of boys was thrilled!

Shoot-Out shares the story of Jake, a boy who is disappointed about having to relocate to a new school when his father accepts a new position resulting in him leaving a strong winning soccer team to one of, or maybe the worst teams in their league. Throughout the majority of the book Jake has a horrible attitude. I knew that based on Lupica's other books, Jake must have a dramatic change by the end of the book.

Early on in the book I realized that another character, Kevin, would play an important role in the book. After both his best friend moving and his mother dying in a relatively short time frame, Kevin is withdrawn from others and wishes his father would let him quit the soccer team. Though he is stuck on the team, that does not mean that he is going to try his hardest. The majority of the time it would be hard for him to do any less than the effort he provides.

As the book evolved, the two boys stories merged more than I had initially anticipated, both surprising each other with how much they were able to recognize their own weaknesses based on each other's comments, eventually leading to growth for both of them.

In general, the class loved all the different Lupica books they read, but many of the students have an extra special connection to soccer. Because Lupica already has many basketball, football, and baseball books, I would love to see Lupica write more soccer books. I just might do a Lupica author study each year with my 6th graders!

2010 Challenges: 1 Completed, 1 Abandoned

2010-12-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

This year has been filled with fun teen chick lit, and today was the official tenth book that I labeled with the 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge on my blog. I always love chick lit, whether it is for teens or adults, so the challenge was a great idea, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Here are the books that I read for the challenge in reverse chronological order, even though they are not the only books on my books read list from this year that could be categorized as teen chick lit:

Return to Paradise
Gamer Girl
Rich Boys
Swoon at Your Own Risk
Leaving Paradise
Rules of Attraction
Chasing Brooklyn
Far From You
Prada and Prejudice
Perfect You

If you want to read more about my thoughts about any of these books, just click on the 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge label at the bottom of the post to see all challenge posts.

The other good news is that I still have a lot of the original books that I mentioned from my bookshelf still waiting to be read. I buy more books faster than I can read those I already have, so I always have a teen chick lit book on hand at all times!

As for The Story Siren's 2010 Debut Author Challenge, December 31st is quickly approaching, and it is apparent that I will not be reaching the challenge minimum of 12 debut author books, let alone my personal goal of twenty. Different aspects, such as beginning my doctoral program and needing to shift some of my reading priorities resulted in this. Yet, there are still advantages to signing up for the challenge, even though I hate starting something and not finishing... Because of the challenge, I actually bought a lot of the books that I intended to read for the challenge, so I will read them eventually.

Return to Paradise

2010-12-18T09:58:00.000-08:00

Last night I got home and was exhausted. The last week before winter break is always pretty busy, leading up to the grand finale of the week with our winter performance at school. Afterward we took the girls for ice cream. When I got home, I instantly got into my pajamas. Despite my head ache and wanting nothing more to go to sleep, a package had arrived on my doorstep that day that included Simone Elkeles' Return to Paradise. I guess I still have not learned from experience. I thought I would be able to read a few pages, maybe a couple of chapters before sleeping soundly. As the pages kept flipping, I just could not put it down. Grateful that I had not picked it up for the first time on a school night, I read straight to the end, finally going to bed as the last page turned at about 2:15 a.m.

After finishing Leaving Paradise back in April, I knew that I would eventually be thrilled to get Return to Paradise. By chance Maggie and Caleb are thrown into each other's paths again as part of a four week program to travel around with four others talking to different teen groups about the effects of reckless teen driving. It ends up that the chaperone for the group is Caleb's transition counselor who is giving Caleb another second chance by giving the option to participate with the group of students.

Tensions run high for Caleb and Maggie as they are seeing each other for the first time in nine months since Caleb left Paradise without a trace at the end of Leaving Paradise. Both want to move on and prove that they have gotten over each other, only it is easier said than done.

As with the first book, Elkeles wove together the events from alternating perspectives shifting between Maggie and Caleb with each chapter. We see glimpses into what each is really thinking in contrast to what they say to each other. Both characters are struggling to decide who they really want to be and what would be best in the long run for both involved.

The conclusion of the book reminded me more of the style of Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry novels, which I loved. Just yesterday, I received one of Elkeles' email updates with the cover image for her third novel in that group of books. I am always thrilled that she has a steady stream of books coming out. We'll see if I remember with the next book that once I pick it up, I won't be able to put it down until I reach the end.

The Lost Saint

2010-12-15T22:02:00.000-08:00

As with many books in a series, I don't recommend reading this review unless you have finished The Dark Divine.

Bree Despain took me on a roller coaster ride with The Lost Saint, complete with plenty of twists and turns. I was clutching the book, eyes glued to the page to see what would happen next.

The end of The Dark Divine left readers with a promise of what Grace might become - the potential to overcome the curse, living up to her name. Yet, early on in The Lost Saint, that plan becomes complicated. Daniel pulls back from helping Grace, but another opportunity opens up to continue developing her powers. Only, there are so many layers it is hard to decide what is really the best. Motivated to track down her brother, Grace sometimes made decisions that left me cringing as a reader, wondering if she just made the worst decisions or if it really would end up being exactly what she was supposed to be doing.

While I anticipated some of the turns in the plot, Despain had plenty in store that was unexpected. I was constantly trying to determine the different character's motivations and who Grace should trust. I can hardly wait for another Dark Divine novel as The Lost Saint ended with quick paced events and a perfect balance of emotions and an overwhelming heap of questions for what is to come. Where will Despain's imagination take us with her next page turner?

The Lost Saint Preview

2010-12-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

Today I watched the official book trailer for The Lost Saint that was just posted on-line. After recently reading and loving The Dark Divine, the anticipation was building...

Then this evening a UPS delivery had multiple book packages for me: some textbooks for next semester, other educational books, and most importantly, some ARCs, including The Lost Saint. My statistics prep is now officially on hold. I can't resist getting started with The Lost Saint. I am also looking forward to my break - so many great books to come!

I love looking at the two covers side by side. I'm off to read. Expect a post within the next couple of days!

Mockingjay

2010-12-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

*Spoiler alert: If you have not read the other two books in the series, I don't recommend reading this before you do.

I started reading Mockingjay with my own theories. In Catching Fire Katniss brought up multiple times Peeta's gift with words. Although I was devastated that Peeta and Katniss were split up at the end of the book, I was relieved in thinking it was possible that Katniss would work on gaining Panem's freedom from the outside while Peeta used his gift for words on the inside. It did not take me long until I realized that was not exactly the case as the capital captured and tortured Peeta. Luckily, we were able to catch glimpses of Peeta from some broadcasts to at least know that he was alive.

Even though Katniss was out of President Snow's reach in District 13, strange events are also happening there, which made me wonder if their leadership was really what Pamen's rebels was working so hard for. Strict daily schedules, severe punishments, tight regulations of supplies... I could sympathize with the level of confusion that Katniss must have had - inner conflicts on what she should be doing.

I found myself repeatedly telling myself to hold back from skimming to know for sure whether or not Peeta and Katniss both made it to the end of the series. As with the others, the book had plenty of twists and turns as well as chapters that left me eager to keep reading. At one point I was in such shock that I closed the book, sighing, unable to believe what happened, but upon regaining my composure and reading on realized that I had misinterpreted the events. Once again relief washed over me, but anxiety built about the impact of future events.

The turn of events at different points in the book bring clarity, confusion, hope, and disappointment. I had a headache while reading it - such heavy topics and knowing how much the decisions that Katniss had to make must have weighed on her. I have often heard author's say they love it when they are able to evoke strong emotions from their readers, and this book definitely did that for me, right up to the end, which I thought was the most perfect, perfect ending for the trilogy. I started reading the second and third books in the trilogy with trepidation. I had heard many say that they got worse as they went along, but I was not disappointed. I loved all three, and would not be able to choose a favorite. Now, I am ready to read a few books with lighter topics!

Catching Fire

2010-12-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

***SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read The Hunger Games, I recommend that you don't read this yet.

Right on the heels of reading The Hunger Games, I could not wait to read Catching Fire. The conclusion of the first book in the trilogy left me wondering what would happen with Katniss and Peeta now that they would be returning home, as well as where Gale would fit into the picture. I had my own opinions about Katniss' true feelings and the confusions brought on by the horrendous experience of being obligated to participate in the Hunger Games.

Early on in the book it is apparent that their relationship is strained upon arriving back home, as well as Katniss' relationship with Gale. It seems like a no-win situation. To complicate matters, President Snow steps in to intimidate Katniss about a fire that she has ignited that could very easily lead to a rebellion. Though the situation is already highly delicate, Katniss and Peeta end up realizing that they will have to go back to the games once again because it is the 75th Hunger Games and they changed the rules of how they would choose the participants.

I loved the way that Peeta's character continued to unfold and the way that he always knows just what to say and is a strong rock for others around him. In much the same way, it was interesting to see Katniss continue to navigate the difficult situations around her, as well as trying to figure out Gale's characters and the other secondary characters.

Needless to say, the book always gave me plenty to think about, leading up to the gut-wrenching conclusion that left me a bit speechless. When I was talking to my students I told them my predictions for the concluding Mockingjay, knowing that I would not be surprised with a "happy" (given the circumstances) ending, but that I am also prepared for a chilling conclusion. They have their own theories.

Right now I am already about half way through Mockingjay. I just could not keep my hands off the glossy hard bound book. Typically, I never begin the next book in the series without reviewing the previous one; however, I just could not hold myself back this time. I will post about it when I finish it up, which will most likely be today or tomorrow.

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover

2010-12-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

I had heard a lot about Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series, and this year I bought a copy of each for my classroom library. There was a Scholastic special with Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover, so I bought multiple copies to have for a book club choice. When I book talked it to my 7th graders this fall, I had imagined that it would be an all girls book club. Nonetheless, the spy aspect appealed to the boys as well. There was so much interest, that I did not end up reading the other choice with some of the students and consolidated what would have been two groups.

Though there were some gaps because we read the third book in the series without having read the first two, Carter did a good job in writing it so it could be read as a stand alone novel; although, I really want to go back and read the first two in order to get more of the back story.

The main character Cammie and her roommates go to a special spy school. Even though outsiders think it is a traditional school for girls - prim and proper, it is actually preparing them to advance to higher levels of espionage. It was fascinating to imagine what the school was like based on the description in the book.

This school year is complicated because right before school started when she was visiting one of her best friends/roommates, Macey, the two along with another boy are attacked. Macey's dad is running to be vice president, and after the occurrence, the girls and school know that they will need to take extra measures of safety to keep Macey and the school's identity safe.

Cammie, along with the other two roommates, can't seem to keep themselves out of trouble, as they want to personally have a hand in investigating and keeping Macey safe. Throughout the book they try to unravel just who tried to get to Macey at the start of the book and how they can prevent something similar from happening, but Carter has many twists and turns in mind as the details of the evening are unveiled bit by bit.

My students have not completed the book yet, so I had to make sure to take careful notes of where they were at to not give away any of the exciting events leading up to finally discovering the full story of what happened. So far, the book has been a hit with both the boys and the girls in the group! There has been plenty lively discussions. One of my sixth grade girls has also been reading through the series and is loving it.

The Hunger Games

2010-11-21T09:48:00.000-08:00

I read the last lines of The Hunger Games Friday evening wishing that I had my copy of Catching Fire at home, rather than at the school. Yet, in some ways it was good that it was not on hand because it was already the middle of the night and it would have been tempting enough to keep me from sleeping! A classmate in my summer YA Lit class was talking about how the book is an example of a cross over, written for teens but catching a lot of interest in adults as well.

The premise is chilling, somewhere in the future located in Panem (present day North America) are twelve districts under tight control of the government. After a group of citizens staged a rebellion earlier in the country's history, the capital squelched their efforts and created The Hunger Games in order to remind citizens just how little control they have in comparison to the capital. Every year a boy and a girl from each district has to compete in a reality TV show, fighting to the death, and the last one living is the victor. Katniss Everdeen stands in for her younger sister who was selected, along with the baker's son in her community.

Suzanne Collins crafted a page turner maintaining the reader's interest with the horror of it all as we see the multi-layered experience through Katniss' eyes, seeing her feelings about being placed in a position between humanity and survival. Various relationships and emotions came to life with vivid descriptions, along with exploring power relationships. It's one of those books that I don't think I could ever do justice in describing, one that you need to read to see all the layers and is filled with opportunities for rich discussion.

Read here to see how my students are responding to the book.

The Dark Divine

2010-11-14T13:39:00.000-08:00

Sometime this spring or summer a fellow blogger commented on one of my posts that she thought I would love The Dark Divine by Bree Despain, and indeed, it looked great, but I was trying to restrain myself from over-spending on books as I often do. However, whenever I heard the title come up I was more and more excited to eventually read the book. When I heard that the second book The Lost Saint would be coming out in December, I could no longer resist. At the end of this week it came in the mail, and even though I have so many other books in the bin by my bed, the cover drew me in. I picked it up yesterday evening and finished it this morning - it was that good.

Similar to other paranormal romance books it drew me in with the theme of female characters not knowing quite how to navigate through their feelings about a mysterious male character who is different, on one hand knowing he could be dangerous, yet also thinking there had to be more to the story. Yet, in this book it was different because the main character Grace Divine had a long history with the mysterious bad boy who showed up after disappearing years before. Tensions ran high when Daniel returned to town because of a conflict between Daniel and Grace's brother Jude right before his disappearance. Grace never understood what happened that night, but the more she knows the more she kicks herself for being so curious.

The book hooked me from beginning to end, loving each unexpected twist in the plot trying to determine just where everybody stood, not always being the type of person they appeared to be. The Lost Saint couldn't come soon enough. If you can't wait to read the book, right now the Kindle edition of The Dark Divine is only $2.39, and it will be released in paperback on November 23rd.

Erin McCahan Blog Tour

2010-10-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

As part of Erin McCahan's blog tour for her new book I Now Pronounce You Someone Else, I asked her to write a guest post about discovering/developing her author's voice. I am pleased to share her guest post with you!

In Honors College Comp, eleventh grade – notice how I threw in Honors – the teacher began the year by telling us we would be developing our voices as writers. We’d be reading novels, studying essayists, critiquing their works and keeping journals, and great. Okay, great.

Scribble, scribble.

Read.

Write.

Critique.

Wait.

What?

My voice. I kept getting papers back with the comment, “I’d like to hear more of your voice,” written in red at the top. Now, let me say that more of my voice was one of the last things this particular teacher, Wanda Shortbottom – that’s not really her name – wanted to hear. She was the very first teacher of mine about whom I can honestly say this: She and I thoroughly disliked each other. And this was rare for me. I was so awfully shy and pathologically obedient that most teachers and I got along beautifully. I liked my teachers. I assumed they liked me, but in addition to being shy and obedient, I didn’t exactly have the healthiest self-esteem, so it was almost too much to consider being liked by a teacher, but I knew, at least, they didn’t hate me.

Until Honors College Comp.

She was only subtly unkind to me, and I was only withdrawn and terrified in her class. And it was first period, so, yeah, that was a fun way to start the day.

So back to my voice. We wrote in our journals two or three times a week and were required to turn in – excuse me?! – one entry a week.

Turn in a journal?! A deeply personal, private recording of my own not so shy or terribly obedient thoughts and observations? And I’m supposed to turn this in to a woman I dislike in direct proportion to her dislike of me?!

What?!?!?

“I’d like to hear more of your voice,” she wrote, and if I’d have been braver, I’d have written, “No, you wouldn’t.”

Instead I wrote a journal about seeing my college-freshman brother in his first theatrical role at Miami University. And that’s another story. My parents and I dragged ourselves three hours south in miserable weather to watch yet one more amateur production – poor Will Shakespeare – of Romeo and Juliet in which my brother was Lute Player Number One.

Lute Player Number One.

He was in three scenes, had no lines but did step forward during one party scene to play a handful of lively chords, recorded and played over-loud through the sound system, before stepping back among Lute Player Numbers Two through Five. Oh, and all the way home my mother gushed about how “watchable” he was. Now, I am a typical little sister who, even at my current age, idolizes her older brother and believes he can do no wrong. But I would have been satisfied with a still photo of him as Lute Player Number One because – let’s face it – it was Romeo and Juliet, not Romeo, Juliet and Their Nifty Lute-Playing Sidekick, Paco.

So I wrote a journal entry about this. Not quite like this but, in any case, about this event, and I got it back with, “I’d like to hear more of your voice.” And to be honest, I didn’t understand what the woman wanted.

“I am writing in my voice,” I wanted to write back. “I’m certainly not writing in any other voices. This is it. This is my voice.”

And it was at the time. The fact that I didn’t have much of a voice or an interesting voice or a spiky voice WAS my voice. What I wrote perfectly reflected how I existed in the world. I was observant, yes. But I was also shy, withdrawn, unhappy. I was occasionally afraid and usually worried. I was polite. I followed rules. My spelling and punctuation were flawless. And I was forever hoping to be something more than what I was or what I thought I was at the time, which just wasn’t much.

And that’s how I wrote.

Yawn.

Sigh.

“I’d like to hear more of your voice.”

Yeah, I’d like to think I have a voice worth using.

So, here’s what happened in Honors College Comp: Nothing.

I got an A or a B. I can’t remember.

But here’s what happened during the college years: I started speaking up. And in speaking up, I became less shy. And in becoming less shy, I started speaking up more. And in speaking up more . . . . You see how it goes.

On my own, away from people whose expectations were that I’d never really have much worth saying, in the company of brilliant professors and wonderful friends, I found I had quite a lot of things to say . . . and likely always did. But an unkind teacher writing on a journal entry, “I’d like to hear more of your voice,” is hardly the same thing as a religion professor writing on papers, “This is interesting, Erin. I’d like to hear more of your thoughts in class.” Or a creative writing professor writing, “Good observation. Come by my office later and let’s talk about it.” Or even hearing a friend laugh at something I said.

So – the point: My writer’s voice and my interior voice are the same thing. This is how I talk, complete with pauses where commas would be when I deliver my thoughts live and in person. My interior voice reflects my interior self, and that self once sat scared and unhappy in Wanda Shortbottom’s class but today is doing a blog tour for her debut novel. And in between once and now . . . that’s where all the experience for future novels come from.

Lure

2010-10-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Halloween I read Deborah Kerbel's new novel Lure. Because I have enjoyed Kerbel's other two books, I was excited to see what she would have in store for her readers this time. It did not take long for the book to hook me. From the information about the book I knew that it was going to be a ghost story about a boy Max who just moved to a new neighborhood and is having a hard time fitting in, as well as a local historical house in his new town that is supposedly haunted. The more I flipped the pages, the more I fell in love with the style and layers of the book.

I am a huge fan of multiple perspectives, which this book has, but what made it unique was that one of the perspectives was from John as a ghost. Bit by bit the story is revealed, both about John's childhood and events that we know will lead up to his death as a teenager and the strange events involving Max. The two perspectives move closer and closer together as the story approaches the ending, leading up to the surprising conclusion.

Another aspect that turned me on to the novel early on was that I flipped to the end to see the author's Afterword and saw that the haunted library in the book really exists in Ontario, Canada. Growing up there was a building nearby my community that was notorious for similar occurences - a historical building that was everything from a hotel, a spa, and a hospital. I am like Max. Even when people talk about the strange occurrences, I tend to not believe it and know that there is probably an explanation for each one. It was fun to explore the what ifs as Max's experiences evolved. I imagine that many communities have a "haunted" historic building that will endear them to this novel.

Then there is the eerie cover that both fascinated me and made me shiver, as well as crafting a novel with multiple meanings that are unraveled throughout the novel. So much to love about Kerbel's new book. I wonder what she will come up with next as each of her three books have been pretty different!

*Copy provided by the publisher

Flying Solo

2010-10-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

I had copies of Ralph Fletcher's Flying Solo to read with small groups of students as book clubs since the end of last year, but this fall I had my first chance to read it with a group of 8th grade boys.

Told from the angles of different characters, Fletcher wove a story of what would happen on a day that a miscommunication left a class of 6th graders without a teacher or substitute teacher for the day. Rather than notifying the office, they decide to conduct the class on their own for the day and see if they can make it through the day without getting caught. They have some close calls early on in the day and some instances that make them wonder if they really made the right decision in not notifying adults. A strong undercurrent of emotions is boiling up as one student is preparing to move and the class has never properly grieved the death of another student.

One of the reasons I was excited to read it was because I am a fan of Fletcher's professional development books. It was fun to see glimpses of the type of writing classroom that Fletcher's teacher books highlight utilizing writer's workshop.

With student book clubs sometimes I read the book in advance and other times I read the book along with the students. This time I read it with them, but had I read it in advance I probably would not have chosen this particular book for the boys I was reading it with. While they did not absolutely love the book, I think that students around 5th-6th grade would enjoy it much more.

Cruzando el Pacífico (Pacific Crossing)

2010-10-08T20:12:00.000-07:00

I have read many Gary Soto books in English and Spanish over the last four years. This year my students have started keeping their own reading lists via Google Sites, and they are supposed to choose one English and one Spanish post per month to submit for evaluation. It is easy for me to read stacks and stacks of English books since I have so many on my to be read shelves at home, but this year my goal is to read at least one Spanish novel per month in order to have my Google Site book list match up to student requirements. For this month I chose Soto's Cruzando al Pacífico (Pacific Crossing in English).

At the start of the book Lincoln Mendoza is on a plane from California to Japan to spend his summer on exchange. His best friend also goes, but they rarely spend time together, as they are both immersed into the lives of their host families. While they do not take academic classes, Lincoln takes kempou (a martial art) classes. It is a summer of adventure, discovery, and new experiences. I loved reading the book because it reminded me of some of the same feelings that I had while on exchange, and I have always loved travel and seeing new places and cultures.

Now my next Spanish TBR book is the second in the Harry Potter series.

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else

2010-09-29T05:56:00.000-07:00

I should have known it was a bad idea, but I did it anyway. I started reading Erin McCahan's I Now Pronounce You Someone Else Sunday evening right about the time that I typically go to bed. Since I have a long day of teaching and doctoral classes on Mondays, I always try to get to bed early. It was a perfect treat before bed, but Bronwen's voice hooked me from the beginning, and I had to pull myself away from the book in order to get a good night's rest. In the morning I read as much as I could during breakfast and found myself rushing around to get ready because once again, it was so hard to pull myself away. When I returned home Monday night at 11 p.m., I was so tempted to read "just a couple of pages", but knew I had to resist and go to bed immediately. Tuesday morning was a replay of Monday, but last night, finally, I was so happy to be able and sit down to finish the book!

From the description I knew that I would enjoy the book, but I had no idea that I would absolutely love it. From Bronwen's voice to the different layers of the plot being unveiled to the beautiful glossy cover, there was so much to enjoy. The book follows Bronwen from the end of her junior year when she breaks up with her boyfriend on prom night. Shortly after she sees one of her brother's high school friends who was home from college and they start dating. He and his family are everything Bronwen has ever wanted. She feels like she belongs and even though everything moves very quickly, she can't wait to officially be part of their family and ends up planning a wedding during her senior year of high school. Yet, she ends up having doubts. She had always been excited about the dorm experience and other aspects of college and tries to reconcile the life that she can't wait to have with Jared with the dreams she had for college.

When I heard about the book, I thought the whether or not to get married conflict was just that simple; however, I realized that Bronwen's inner conflict went back to her own family history of her father dying when she was young and always feeling the void of his absence. I had tears streaming down my cheeks at a couple of points in the book, and when I did reach the end, I sighed and ran my hand along the pale blue pages at the end of the book. Bronwen tells the story in the past tense, making it even more mysterious when trying to figure out exactly what she chose, allowing for unexpected twists and turns. All around, what a perfect, perfect book for an author's debut.

I am interested to see if my 8th graders will enjoy this book or if will only have an appeal at the upper high school level. I know for sure that this would be great for college students, and as an adult, I still loved the theme of making decisions in life that have long term impacts. As a reader it was even hard to know what would be best for Bronwen.

To make it even better, on October 16th I will be hosting one of the stops on Erin McCahan's blog tour. After reading the book, I am even more excited.

*Copy provided courtesy of the publisher

Shadow Riders

2010-09-29T05:36:00.000-07:00

History always fascinates me, and I especially love fictionalized accounts of what could have happened during any given context. Just as when I was reading Fever Season and listening to Elijah of Buxton, I loved seeing a historical account from Canada since I am not as familiar with its history while reading Shadow Riders by B.J. Bayle. It is interesting to see how its history is similar or different to our own since we are geographically close.

This adventurous account shares the story of two brothers who set out in search of their stolen mares and a stallion, as their family depends on them to survive economically over the winter. Set in 1874 the boys go on horseback to a fort, hoping to find their horses there. However, they are disappointed and end up deciding to continue on their journey in search of the North-West Mounted Police in hopes that they will assist them in finding and recapturing their horses from the dangerous criminals who took them. The oldest, Rob, who is sixteen, wishes that his younger brother would go back home, but they stick together. Their journey ends up lasting months. The seasons change and they find themselves at the start of winter, which brings on more challenges all the time. The horses are getting skinny and people are getting sick. Rob begins to question whether he made the right decision by continuing on with the journey and hopes that he will be able to return home with the horses.

The front of the book has a map outlining their journey, and the back of the book has support information, such as an author's note talking about the NWMP, as well as a chronological map of the events in the book and resources for further reading. The chronology helped me to realize just how long their journey lasted. At first in the book I had not thought about how much time had passed, and I was a little caught off guard when it was changing to fall/winter weather so quickly. Seeing the timeline made the boy's journey even more amazing, but if you read the book, do not look ahead to the timeline because you would definitely find out more than you would want to and spoil parts of the book!

B.J. Bayle has other historical fiction books available for those who love Shadow Riders.

*Copy provided courtesy of the publisher

Gamer Girl

2010-09-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

Last year I heard about Gamer Girl from a Scholastic book order. Though I did not automatically buy a copy, one of my students did. I always love pulling books out of the Scholastic boxes, especially books that caught my eye. After my student read it and had positive feedback about it, I could not resist eventually getting a copy for the classroom library. Since then, other girls have also read and enjoyed it.

When I had a chance to read it, I loved the premise, as with other books that integrate changing technology into their plots. Maddy's parents have just gotten a divorce, and as a result she has to move away from Boston and the school she loves. Her mom did not see any other solution than to move in with her own mother. The first day at her new school ends up being disastrous, making the transition nearly unbearable. Her one solace is her birthday gift from her dad - a virtual video game where she is able to escape as Allora and meets Sir Leo.

The book takes different twists and turns as Maddy tries to reconcile her different lives on and off line, wishing that she was able to have a little more courage in real life as she does behind the comfortable anonymity of her computer screen. I loved the cute drawings at the start of chapters showing different emotions and giving a hint as to the direction the chapter would take. Though the book was a bit predictable, there were some surprises to balance out the direction the plot went. I can see why my 7th grade girls enjoyed it last year and imagine that more of their friends who did not get a chance to read it last year will pick it up now that I will be putting it back in the YA section tomorrow.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2010-09-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

The Harry Potter books, similar to others, such as The Hunger Games trilogy, are books that I feel like I should have already read a long time ago since they since they have been so popular. I have been listening to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for my commute, and just finished it this week.

I can see why it drew in so many readers. It was fun to think about what would happen with Harry next as the mysteries of his past were unveiled throughout the book and he discovered and refined some of his magical capabilities at Hogwarts. As a reader, I cheered for Harry to have an escape from his unkind aunt, uncle, and cousin who have been his caregivers since his parents' death. Upon arriving to Hogwarts, Harry realized that his fame preceded him, even though he had not realized so many people knew who he was.

I never knew what Harry's magical capabilities would allow him to do or how he would save himself from the different challenges that arose. Of course, I knew that he would be triumphant because of the presence of the rest of the series, but it was fun to wonder which twists and turns the plot would take leading up to the ending of the book. I loved the end of the book on different levels, a great mixture of seriousness and humor.

I can see why the Harry Potter series has been and continues to be so popular. Each year I see students both reading for the first time or rereading books in the series. Eventually I would like to read the whole series, and don't worry, yesterday I just received my Scholastic order, including each of the books in The Hunger Games trilogy. I will be getting up to speed with that set of books as well!

Second Helpings

2010-09-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

A year ago in June I posted about Megan McCafferty's Sloppy Firsts. Not long after I posted, I put in an interlibrary loan request for Second Helpings, but I had resigned to thinking the request was not going to be filled. Lo and behold a little over a week ago I went to return some library books and the librarian said a book had just arrived for me. It was such a nice surprise. Even though I had loads of doctoral class homework, I was able to squeeze in time to read it.

If you have not read the series, you might want to just read my original Sloppy Firsts post because this post might spoil a bit of the plot.

I was excited to pick up where the first book left off. I have to admit that one night when I was too tired to keep reading but could not wait to see what would happen, I thought I would just skim ahead to see when Marcus Flutie's name would be mentioned again, wondering if Jessica would ever forgive him from the first book. When his name showed up 30 pages later, I could not help myself and read the next 30 pages ahead. It was so hard to go back and read the pages I skipped, knowing the book was going in a little bit different direction than I thought it would. I just wanted to keep moving forward to follow those twists in the plot. Nonetheless, I went back to where I jumped ahead. Then I had to make myself stop skimming forward.

Once again, I loved Jessica's voice and watching her navigate the end of her high school days. Someday I will love to read the rest of the series. From the blurbs at the back of the book, the third book covers her college years, and the fourth book is after she graduated from college. It mentions Marcus Flutie and has wedding bands on the cover - that's enough to keep me wondering. I was thinking there was a fifth book, and just confirmed that on Amazon; although I would not recommend reading ahead the information because I just saw a little more than I wanted to, giving away some of the events in the third and fourth books. Oops. I should have just been satisfied to see that yes there was a fifth book without trying to read ahead.

Elijah of Buxton

2010-08-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

I had wanted to read Elijah of Buxton, or any Christopher Paul Curtis book, for so long. The author's name came up over and over again in different classes and his books have been enticing me on my classroom library shelves for a while. Yet, like so many other fabulous books waiting to be read on my TBR list, I had not read any of his books yet.

I was glad to see Elijah of Buxton available at my university library as an audio book. I am starting to notice a trend of thoroughly enjoying the voices in the audio books that I have been able to listen to this summer. Mirron Willis really brought this book to life. I loved how Christopher Paul Curtis was able to present his historical fiction, a genre that I always love.

He told the story of Buxton, a settlement in Canada for escaped and freed slaves. Elijah, the first boy to be born free in the settlement holds a special role in the community, but his mom also brings up often that he is a fragile boy. This is a key part of the book as Elijah encounters various situations in the book in which he needs to be anything but "fragile". Mixed in with the serious aspects are funny boy pranks and memorable childhood experiences with friends that had me rolling. I can see why Christopher Paul Curtis has made a name for himself!

A Northern Light

2010-08-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

I love historical fiction, as well as mysteries, so listening to Jennifer Donnelly's novel A Northern Light was a perfect way to spend my commute. The book follows Mattie during the last year of high school and the summer after; however, it is not presented in a chronological manner. Instead, it alternates between past and present. As a reader, I was constantly trying to predict what would happen as I learned more information. The glimpses into the present made me realize that the last look into the past was not going to end up being what it seemed at the time, leaving me tossing around different ideas in my mind about just how Mattie would find herself in the events of the current portions of the book. This happened over and over as I learned more information. Just as when a prologue gives a hint of what is to come and is in the back of the reader's mind the whole time, this provided a similar feeling, except in an extended manner.

Set in 1906, Mattie is struggling with her strong desire to graduate and continue her education in contrast to expectations set by her family to stay home. This is especially complicated because her mother has died and she feels a responsibility to take care of her younger sisters. Yet, she has one close friend and an influential teacher encouraging her to follow her dreams.

As if that was not enough to keep Mattie's mind occupied, she also has to navigate through her first romance and the prospect of getting married, as well as sifting through a murder mystery. A real murder inspired this portion of the plot, and Donnelly gives some background about that at the end of the book. One of the things that I missed about some of the other audio books that I have listened to is the omission of some of the background information at the end of books that I always love. I was thrilled that this audio version included the author's commentary.

It looks like Donnelly has some more great novels that I hope to eventually read. So many good books to choose from and less time to read them in with my doctoral studies...

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks

2010-07-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

Lauren Myracle is a name that I have heard frequently in the blogosphere, but I had yet to read any of her books. Though I was more familiar with her titles, ttyl and ttfn, Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks was the only one available on audio CD at my university library. I was curious to see what her writing style was like.

I chose to listen to her book first out of the three that I picked up about a week ago. The voice of the novel instantly had me hooked. However, to my dismay, my car CD player is not the highest quality and the CDs would play to about mid CD and then it would jump a bunch of tracks. On the bright side, my laptop was able to play them just fine, but that meant that listening to it was delayed.

Before I began to commute, I never thought that I would listen to audio books. Now, I have started thinking that it is also perfect when I am doing house cleaning. That's just what I did today. Among loading the dishwasher, putting away dishes, loading the washer and dryer, folding and stacking, and scrubbing my bathroom counters, I was listening to Carly's story. In fact, even after I had cleaned what I was going to, I found myself looking around for something else to do so I could keep hearing the story.

In the book Carly is dealing with her little sister Anna growing up and entering her freshman year of high school. She wants to play the big sister role, taking care of her at school. The only glitch is she finds herself jealous of her sister, which makes for an interesting plot throughout the book as their relationship evolves in this new stage of their lives.

The girls are surrounded by privilege - they live in a rich neighborhood and go to a private school. However, Carly is sick of it all. She looks around and sees that she is living among a bunch of fake people. Carly's search for self and making sense of the various relationships in her life added different layers.

Based on this book, I would expect that I would love all of her books because of Carly's strong voice. I'm sure that I will be picking up more of them in the future.

Marcelo in the Real World

2010-07-29T22:18:00.000-07:00

This weekend after my last YA literature class I was skimming the YA section of my university's library for audio books. I could not believe my luck when I saw that Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork tucked among the hardcover versions. Some of my classmates mentioned it, as well as one of Stork's other books during the class.

While reading I was in awe. During the summer before his senior year, Marcelo's plans are thrown for a loop. Growing up he has found comfort in attending Patterson. It is his safety net in dealing with a condition similar to Asperger's. He would have loved nothing more than to work at his school for the summer caring for the ponies before continuing there in the fall.

However, his father has different ideas. He thinks it is time for Marcelo to experience life in the "real world" and demonstrate that he can cope with the rules. He tells him that he needs to work at his law firm for the summer and if he meets expectations, he can choose where he attends school in the fall. If not, his dad would send him to the regular public high school. At work Marcelo experiences more than he ever could have imagined, not sure how he feels about all of it. Prior to the job there were multiple emotions that he had never experienced first hand. At the heart of the book Marcelo must decide how people know the difference between right and wrong and determine how he will respond when confronted with confusion.

Told from Marcelo's point of view, I was fascinated. Early on in the book it was evident that he was very intelligent, even though many people treat him as if he is stupid. Throughout the book he continues to amaze those around him, sometimes much to their chagrin. However, despite his high level of thinking, I started to cringe with about the third CD. A boy at the law firm that his sister had warned him about confirmed his sister's portrayal; yet, it is unclear how much Marcelo understands about his intentions because of his lack of previous experiences with someone like him. From that point on, the tension continued to build with that and other components of the plot, making for a suspenseful commute.

This evening I pulled into my driveway having just popped in the 8th and final CD. Typically I have only listened to the audio books in the car, but I will not have to go back to school until Monday. I just could not wait, so this evening, as soon as the house quieted down, I listened until the end - well worth it. I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for Stork's other books.

Audio Books 2010

2010-07-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

Donnelly, Jennifer
A Northern Light

MacLachlan, Patricia
More Perfect Than the Moon

Myracle, Lauren
Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks

Curtis, Christopher Paul
Elijah of Buxton

Rowling, J.K.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Stork, Francisco X.
Marcelo in the Real World

More Perfect Than the Moon

2010-07-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

While commuting to my summer school classes I have been listening to audio books. This week when I realized that the book I was reading was going to only have a few minutes left for the ride home, I picked up a short middle grades book from the library, More Perfect Than the Moon. When I saw that the library had it, I was thrilled to read it because I have it in my classroom library. A few years ago one of my students loved the book and wanted to re-read it after she had already read it once in the year. I thought it would be a great chance to see what she loved about it so much. Then, I can book talk it when school starts back up in under a month.

In the book Cassie's mom is pregnant and she is not happy about it at all. However, she does find pleasure writing in her journal, which is actually a mixture of reality and her imagination playing with the seeds of true events. I always love books that have main characters who love to play with words and express themselves through the joy of writing. It made me think of El color de mis palabras and Sharon Creech's Absolutely Normal Chaos.

When I unpack my classroom library I will be excited to find it to see what it looks like format wise, as that is one thing that I miss with audio books. I am imagining that there will be textual cues, such as a different font to distinguish the journal writing from the regular narration.

When I went to get the Amazon link for the book I realized that it is part of the Sarah Plain and Tall series. I don't know how I missed it. I don't remember if I read it or not, but I remember my mom watching the movie versions with us on TV when I was younger.

Today I went to return this to my university library and had a chance to browse through their YA shelves on the look out for more audio books because they are all mixed in. I checked out three more books and then had to pull myself away from browsing because I knew I would be tempted to get more. We'll see how many more I can get through with my last three weeks of summer school.

Middleworld Blog Tour

2010-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month I posted my review about J&P Voekel's Middleworld. Now, I am excited to be a part of their blog tour. In under a month I will be heading back to school to get my classroom ready. I can't get set-up to book talk Middleworld at the start of the year, and share this background information with my students. I hope that you enjoy finding out more about Jon and Pamela Voekel and their book as much as I did.

Q: It sounds like you extensively traveled and researched in order to write this book. What are some fun anecdotes that you have while writing/researching the book?

A: There was the time in the Calakmul biosphere when our youngest daughter was practicing her howler monkey calls and the local howlers came to investigate. They were hanging from the trees by their tails and reaching out to her. We were laughing until we suddenly realized that they thought she was one of them and were going to vanish with her into the trees. I grabbed her and ran. Another memory that makes me smile/cringe happened in Belize. We were driving along, in the middle of nowhere, when our son needed a rest stop. We pointed to some bushes across a swampy field. “Go behind there,” we said. He was gone a long time, so I went to look for him. The first thing I came to was a sign saying: “Danger. Crocodile reserve."

Q: What can you tell me about fact versus fiction in the book, other than the information mentioned about characters and setting in the author's note?

A: That’s an interesting question, because it’s something we wrestled with. We wanted to give our readers a new take on the Maya, because they’re often portrayed as grim, humorless savages. From our studies of their art and architecture, we see them as intellectual, sensitive, gleeful, party people! To associate them only with human sacrifice is like defining the Romans only in terms of the Colosseum or medieval Europe in terms of witch-burning and beheadings. So we invented the Jaguar Stones to embody five key pillars of Maya society – agriculture, astronomy, creativity, military prowess and kingship. Bringing back the king and his mother as howler monkeys enabled us to have some fun with them, but also emphasize the close connection between the Maya and the jungle. It’s our intention to keep the fiction entertaining and the facts accurate. With that in mind, we have our manuscripts checked by a Maya expert at Harvard.

Q: Who illustrated the pictures, and how did you decide which scenes to accompany with a drawing?

A: Jon does the illustrations. For the full pages, he takes dozens of photographs and collages them together, before finally drawing on top of them. I think he’d like to illustrate every scene if he could, but the ones we choose are the hardest ones to imagine – for example, the scene in the cave underneath the red pyramid, or looking down on the city of Itzamna. Jon is also very keen to convey the Maya aesthetic to readers and he takes a lot of trouble to get all the glyphs and decorative elements exactly right.

Q: I always love hearing more about collaborative writing projects. What was it like for you two to write the book?

A: In the beginning, we used to switch off, each working through a full draft before passing it back. Then we settled into our current roles with Pamela doing most of the writing and Jon doing most of the illustrating. The best thing about working together is that we can discuss the plot all day and all night. We both know our characters equally well and we like to surprise each other with unexpected twists and turns. It’s amazing to be able to talk through scenes with someone else who’s seeing exactly the same thing in their own head. It’s like watching a movie together.

Q: When can we expect book two?

A: The Jaguar Stones, book two: The End of the World Club will be released on December 28^th 2010. It’s a Tuesday.

Thank you to the Voekels for stopping by. I am amazed with all the time you take to get the story "right". I teach at a dual immersion school. My students learn about the Maya from the Spanish teacher in 4th or 5th grade and most of our students have ties to Mexico, so they are always enthusiastic about the culture by the time they get to my class. They are going to be thrilled when they hear about Middleworld. I am glad that book two will be coming out soon!

Choose Your Own Adventure

2010-07-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

When talking about point of view, I remember teachers talking about how second person was very uncommon, with the Choose Your Own Adventure series being one of the rare exceptions. Though I could not remember the last time I picked up a Choose Your Own Adventure book (I am guessing around 3rd grade or younger), I would always think of the series whenever I heard about books with multiple endings or about second person point of view. For example, earlier this year one of my students brought in a couple of books from the Scenarios series after receiving them for Christmas.

Since I have fond memories of the series from my childhood, I was excited to have a chance to review a re-release of one of the classic stories, along with a new release.

While reading the classic, House of Danger, it was much as I could remember, except I was shocked with one thing. I had forgotten how quick it was to read one of the scenarios. When I got to my page that said "The End," I went back and counted, realizing that it had only been ten pages long, and a lot of the pages aren't even a full page length. I thought about how this could be especially nice for students who are still in the transition to chapter books. They are able to read a book that looks like a regular chapter book, but it is actually not as challenging as a full length chapter book. The series provides for going back and reading various scenarios, and if a student went back and re-traced through every scenario possible, they would read closer to the length of a regular chapter book. Thus, they can read to whichever capacity they decide is the best fit for them as a reader, also taking into consideration their level of motivation to enjoy their first picks or to continue seeking every possibility. In addition, the series prompts active reading as readers have to pause and think about the next route they should take.

While I love the improvements to the cover design in the newer update, I was a little turned off from the plot in this particular book (Zombie Penpal) because it was a little dark, especially when thinking that these books are best-suited readability wise for elementary students in the younger grades (although, they would also work well for older students who are not well-established readers or those who want to have an easy read). They are recommended for ages 7-14.

However, my luke-warm feelings for Zombie Penpal is not to say that I would feel the same about the whole series. The books come in a wide variety of topics: sports, mysteries, ghost stories, exotic travel, space exploration, sea exploration, other worlds, and history. While on their site, I saw that the same company also has a series out called Fabulous Terrible, a YA series recommended for girls 12+ that looked like it had a fun plot.

*Review copies provided by the company.

Rich Boys

2010-07-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Gearing up for five weeks of summer school classes, I decided to have what may be my one last fun summer read. Sure, I will squeeze more in if at all possible, but it looks like I will be so busy with required course readings, that my reading for pleasure might be very limited or non-existent. Just in case, I put off pre-reading the chapters for the first week of class and opted to pick up Jenny O'Connell's Rich Boys instead. It was the perfect book to fit that category.

The book gives glimpses into the lives of two friends, Winnie and Jessie, during the summer before their senior year. Though the book follows Winnie's summer, it gives many insights into Jessie's life and the realizations that she is having. At the start of the summer Winnie's biggest concern is trying to figure out how she will spend her afternoons after her morning summer job. However, she quickly ends up not having to worry about that as she is offered an afternoon babysitting job. Things get more interesting when the older step-brother shows up for the summer where she is babysitting.

The book was a good balance of summer fun and romance, as well as teens dealing with complex issues that come up, such as making difficult decisions and coming to grips with situations outside of their control.

I also loved Jenny O'Connell's Plan B, and I would love to eventually read the other two books that she has out. I just realized that there is a blog for MTV books, and Jenny O'Connell also has one.

Nice and Mean

2010-07-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

I read my first m!x novel, The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney, a few years back. Since then I realized through reading books such as Tricia Rayburn's Maggie Bean books, that I could trust that I would love any book with the m!x label on it. My first year at my new position as I was buying more books for my classroom library, I bought every m!x book that I saw available at the time. When I received a review copy of Jessica Leader's Nice and Mean, you can imagine the added excitement when I realized that it was a m!x novel.

I wasn't surprised when I loved the book. Seemingly polar opposites in the grand scheme of middle school Marina and Sachi are paired up to be partners in film class - a class that Sachi should not even be in since her parents did not give her permission. Marina is the "mean", popular girl, and Sachi is the "nice", shy girl in the 7th grade. Needless to say, they have different visions for the videos they want to create. They realize they are in a bumpy ride, but they didn't expect that they might not even get to make a video after all.

The book alternated between the two girls' perspectives. Marina's chapters typically started with an excerpt from her LBB (Little Black Book), while Sachi's usually started with a screenplay, typically a nightmare, in her mind. I loved that Leader decided to have this visual cue to show the shift between perspectives. I have always loved books with multiple perspectives, but they are often confusing for some students if they don't pick up on cues of who is talking right away. The LBB vs. screenplay was a good support for readers to familiarize themselves with multiple perspectives.

Another aspect that I absolutely love in books, and have mentioned before, is issues of identity. Yet, when I think through my mind of books that I have read covering this topic, they are all YA or adult books, which makes sense because I remember in college when we discussed identity, developmentally high school is an age where people really start to delve deeper into identity issues. However, in this book, Sachi's side begins to explore identity issues. I am so excited to have this in my classroom library for students to have a stepping stone into other books that they might read about identity when they are older, and it might also prompt them to think about their own identities now.

For Marina's side, I loved that her narrative raised issues of bullying and harassment, something so relevant to middle school. For so much of the book Marina just doesn't get it. Marina and her friends allow for a representation of girls from a wide range of involvement, showing how it is easy to get swept up into bullying. Recently a group of authors started a Facebook group, YA Authors Against Bullying. Although I would consider this a middle grade book, middle school is where so much bullying begins, and this book would be an excellent starting point to discussions about peer relations.

I can hardly wait for August to come around so I can add this to my classroom library and book talk it. Eventually, I would love to get about 4 more copies, as it would be a great book club book, rich with discussion points. If you would like to learn more about Jessica Leader, she has a really fun website.

A Note on What's To Come (Or Not)

2010-07-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

Starting next Monday I will begin five weeks of two doctoral courses. They will finish on a Thursday, and I will go back to work on Friday. Then during the school year I will take two courses a semester. Spring semester when I took one course there was a notable difference in my free time. I am anticipating that it will be a whirlwind five weeks, followed by a busy school year, and it is very possible that I will have very little time to read for pleasure and write posts once all of my coursework readings are completed and I spend time exercising and with my family. I hope that I will still be able to post regularly, but it might be very invariable until the completion of my doctoral program.

Ghost Ride

2010-07-04T05:10:00.000-07:00

When I picked up Marina Cohen's Ghost Ride, based on the information on the back I thought that it would appeal to a group of my 8th grade boys who are drawn to problem novels. However, as I started the book, I did not think it would hook them. The more I read, I realized that it actually had ghost story elements, rather than realistic fiction, opening up possibilities for a whole new target audience.

From the first day Sam McLean drives into his new community, Sleepy Hollow, strange events occur. It just keeps getting weirder as time goes on, including his dad's behavior. In class the students are reading "Sleepy Hollow" which juxtaposes with the events that Sam is living through.

Sam often becomes confused as he tries to navigate the realization that the way he is perceiving events happening do not match up with what everyone else is seeing. He has to figure out why he is living the horrifying events, while others live them on a different level. It is like the difference between a nightmare and waking up and realizing that it was not so scary after all. Only, Sam does not have the luxury of waking up.

I look forward to having this in my classroom library. I want to have "Sleepy Hollow" available to read along side it.

*Copy provided by publisher

Candor

2010-07-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

This summer when I heard about Candor, I couldn't stop thinking about the book. I just had to buy it. The topic of subliminal messages controlling a community, as well as the front cover captivated my interest. As an educator fascinated with the way literacy is changing to encompass a wide variety of 21st century literacies, I often read about how teens are never "unplugged". Reading the description about how this book is about a model son who would not be suspected deciding to help other teens out of the controlling town made me think of the reality of technology today.

Lately some of my students have been enthralled with dystopia. I too find that it captures my attention, making me think, what if? This book kept me actively engaged, right up to the shocking ending that I did not expect. It was bitter sweet; I was left feeling happy, yet sad, wondering what would happen to the characters after the last page.

While reading the book, I could not help but think of The Giver. My incoming 8th graders and I read this book together when they were 6th graders. Those who loved The Giver will probably love reading this book to think about how they compare and contrast. They both have many similar themes, but Oscar, the main character in Candor is an older teen, as compared to Jonas, so his concerns are more geared to those of a typical high schooler.