Library Lounge Lizard

A Few Good Reads...

2011-09-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

Tuesday September 20, 2011

After a what seemed like a very short summer and a crazy back-to-school last few weeks I am finally caught up here in the library enough to at least start posting some reviews! I read a lot this summer and found quite a few enjoyable books that I am more than happy to talk to you about!

Texas Gothic

by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Hardcover, 416 pages

Published July 12th 2011 by Random House Children's Books

Summary: Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face.

Pontifications...I really enjoyed this paranormal mystery and the cover is a real attention grabber! Amy is a strong female lead and her practical no-nonsense sister Phin is another great character.

As Amy tries her best to hide the "gifts" of her paranormally inclined family, the ghost around her aunt's farm seem to feel differently. At every turn it seems someone or something is trying to reach out and tell her something. Including the infamous "Mad Monk" who Amy is starting to think just might have it in for her.

As weird and sometimes dangerous events start happening around her aunts and neighbors farms, Amy is desperate to figure out whats going on. It doesn't help that Ben McCulloch, who lives on a nearby farm and thinks her whole family is nuts, keeps showing up when she least expects...and why does cowboy McCrankypants have to look so good in that saddle?

Super fun paranormal mystery mixed with a little romance :) This is a great addition to any middle school or high school library!

In My Mailbox (66)

2011-07-16T23:59:00.000-07:00

Sunday July 17, 2011

In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie is a way to share what new books you get each week. They can be books you borrowed from the library, bought, traded, won or received for review.

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Starstruck by Cyn Balog

Sass & Serendipity by Jennifer Ziegler

The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

Wildcat Fireflies (Fenestra, #2) by Amber Kizer

Sweet Venom (Medusa Girls, #1) by Tera Lynn Childs

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Eveby Anna Carey

Carrier of the Mark (Carrier, #1) by Leigh Fallon

Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. by Cassie St. Onge

My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Welcome to Bordertown by Various authors...

You Don't Know About Me by Brian Meehi

Variant by Robison Wells

The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

Amen, L.A. by Cherie Bennett, Jeff Gottesfeld

The Sons of Liberty #2: Death and Taxes
by Alexander Lagos, Joseph Lagos, Steve Walker

Sylvia & Aki by Winifred Conkling

Pocket Cats: Shadow Magic by Kitty Wells, Joanna Harrison

Mason Dixon: Pet Disasters by Claudia Mills, Guy Francis

The Black Stallion and the Lost City by Steve Farley

Wildcat Fireflies by Amber Kizer

2011-07-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

Thursday July 14, 2011

Wildcat Fireflies
by Amber Kizer
July 11, 2011
Delacorte Press

Goodreads summary: Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra—the half-human, half-angel link between the living and the dead. She has the dark responsibility of helping souls transition safely into the afterlife. If people die without the help of a Fenestra, their souls are left vulnerable to be stolen by the Aternocti, a dark band of forces who disrupt the balance of good and evil in the world and cause chaos.

Having recently lost her beloved Auntie—the woman who showed her what it meant to be a Fenestra—Meridian has hit the road with Tens, her love and sworn protector, in hopes of finding another Fenestra. Their search leads them to Indiana, where Juliet, a responsible and loving teenager, works tirelessly in the nursing home where she and several other foster kids are housed. Surrounded by death, Juliet struggles to make a loving home for the younger kids, and to protect them from the violent whims of their foster mother. But she is struggling against forces she can't understand . . . and even as she feels a pull toward the dying, their sickness seems to infect her, weighing her down. . . .

Will Meri and Tens find Juliet in time to save her from a life of misery and illness? And will Meri and Tens' own romance weather the storms of new discoveries?

Pontifications...I remember reading Meridian way back in 2009 (review HERE) and just totally loving the originality of the story. I've been looking forward to this sequel for a long, LONG time and I was way excited when I received it for review...I couldn't wait to see what happened next for Meridian and Tens!

The story picks up pretty much right at the end of the first book with Tens and Meridian leaving Revelation, Colorado after the death of Meridians Aunt and their confrontation with the evil Aternocti. The head out on the road as they search for other Fenestra.

When Tens and Meridian stop for a rest and a meal in the town of Carmel, Indiana, something leads them to hunkering down for a bit in the small and friendly town. While staying in a small cottage in exchange for doing odd jobs Tens and Meridian meet a handful of friends who become vital in their quest. They are also still finding out clues about her Fenestra heritage using Aunties diary and other signs they find along the way.

The narration of the chapters bounce back and forth between Meridian and Juliet, the young girl that Meridian and Tens are searching for. As Meridian narrates the quest to find her, Juliet tells us about her life at the horrid orphanage/nursing home she lives in. Things are bad for Juliet....REALLY bad. The question is, will Meridian and Tens find her in time, before it's too late?

This is a MUST read series for anyone who likes fantasy, adventure and romance. I would really recommend reading the first book because the story would be incomplete without it. The blossoming romance between Meridian and Tens gets a little "heated" in a few scenes so I think this one is best suited for ages 14 and up!

I'm hoping for a book three!!!

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey...Read It NOW People...

2011-07-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

Saturday July 2, 2011

Jasper Jones

by Craig Silvey

Alfred A. Knopf

Available now

I'm not going to spend a lot of time reviewing this one. There is so much praise out there why reinvent the wheel? Just Google it :) I will say I LOVED it, every single piece of it. I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down. Here's a great description I found on the web....If you still aren't satisfied, like I said Google the book and author and you'll find all the awards and starred reviews to your hearts content!

...Brilliant, funny, heartbreaking and whimsical – this novel from Craig Silvey is a stunning coming-of-age story that will strike a chord with readers of all ages.

Late on a hot summer night in the tail end of 1965, Charlie Bucktin, a precocious and bookish boy of thirteen, is startled by an urgent knock on the window of his sleep-out. His visitor is Jasper Jones, an outcast in the regional mining town of Corrigan. Rebellious, mixed-race and solitary, Jasper is a
distant figure of danger and intrigue for Charlie.

So when Jasper begs for his help, Charlie eagerly steals into the night by his side, terribly afraid but desperate to impress. Jasper takes him through town and to his secret glade in the bush, and it’s here that Charlie bears witness to Jasper’s horrible discovery. With his secret like a brick in his belly, Charlie is pushed and pulled by a town closing in on itself in fear and suspicion as he locks horns with his tempestuous mother; falls nervously in love and battles to keep a lid on his zealous best friend, Jeffrey Lu. And in vainly attempting to restore the parts that have been shaken loose, Charlie learns to discern the truth from the myth, and why white lies creep like a curse. In the simmering summer where everything changes, Charlie learns why the truth of things is so hard to know, and even harder to hold in his heart.

Set during the summer of 1965-66, when Doug Walters scored his first Test century, a year after the Nedlands Monster was the last man hanged in WA, in the midst of the Vietnam War, and the same summer the Beaumont children disappeared from a beach near Adelaide, the characters in Jasper Jones will make you laugh, shock you to attention and stay in your heart forever.

Nightspell by Leah Cypress

2011-06-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

Tuesday June 28, 2011

Nightspell

by Leah Cypress

May 2011

Greenwillow Books

Goodreads: Here be ghosts, the maps said, and that was all.

In this haunted kingdom, ghosts linger—not just in the deepest forests or the darkest caverns, but alongside the living, as part of a twisted palace court that revels all night and sleeps through the daylight hours.

Darri's sister was trapped in this place of fear and shadows as a child. And now Darri has a chance to save her sister . . . if she agrees to a betrothal with the prince of the dead. But nothing is simple in this eerie kingdom—not her sister, who has changed beyond recognition; not her plan, which will be thrown off track almost at once; and not the undead prince, who seems more alive than anyone else.

In a court seething with the desire for vengeance, Darri holds the key to the balance between life and death. Can her warrior heart withstand the most wrenching choice of all?

Pontifications...I really enjoyed the awesome writing and originality of Mistwood so I was really excited when I received Nightspell in the mail for review. Although the stories are completely different I enjoyed this read every bit as much as the first!

The concept of a kingdom ruled and inhabited by mostly the dead risen from the grave to avenge their murders is so AWESOME! Just like Mistwood there is tons of mystery and intrigue....you're never quite sure who is on who's side and who really are the good guys???

If you're hoping for bits of Mistwood crossover, sorry....maybe in the next book? I hope so! I would love to see those characters mingle, lots of interesting possibilities there :)

The three main characters are siblings Darri, Callie and Varis, who are each used in various ways by their father and sent to eerie kingdom of Ghostland in hopes of a marriage proposal to unite their two lands. What they find when they arrive is that nothing is as it seems and that they are on their own against a plot that may or may not involve death to them all.

Both of these books are a must read for fantasy lovers! Appropriate for ages 13 and up.

***A Kirkus Starred review book.

The first book:
Mistwood

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood. But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat.
Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

In My Mailbox (65)

2011-06-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

Sunday June 25, 2011

Woow, it has been awhile since I've participated in IMM....between preparing for BEA this year, my son's high school graduation and end of year stuff at the library, I've been a little, well, distracted :) Soooooooooooooooooooo it may seem like I have an abnormal amount of books but this is about a months worth! Here goes............

Wonder Struck by Brian Selznick....funny story about this one, every day I went to the Scholastic booth at BEA they had already ran out of review copies. I was super excited to find a nicely boxed one delivered right on my doorstep when I got home!

Winner!!!

2011-06-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

Thursday June 16, 2010

Okay, I know this is a little late but for some reason the end of year stuff here at school is getting the best of me this year! Ummm could it be that I'm trying to inventory over 10,000 books by myself while middle school kids who have ants in their pants to start summer are in here driving me crazy??!! Yes! That's it :) anyway....

The winner of the signed copy of Passion by Lauren Kate is..............

Melissa

Spellbound by Books!

Congrats Melissa and thanks to everyone who entered!

Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor

2011-06-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

Tuesday June 7, 2011

Sparrow Road

by Sheila O'Connor

May 2011

Putnam Juvenile

It's the summer before seventh grade, and twelve-year- old Raine O’Rourke's mother suddenly takes a job hours from home at mysterious Sparrow Road– a creepy, dilapidated mansion that houses an eccentric group of artists. Secrets surround the move. Raine cannot understand why her mother gives up her job in the city to work as a summer cook for the artists, why her mother is so familiar with Viktor Berglund, the owner and caretaker of the mansion; and why her mother will not allow Raine to accompany her shopping into the nearby town of Comfort .

Though sorely missing her grandfather, whom she and her mother left behind in Milwaukee,Raine tries to make sense of her new surroundings and eventually forges friendships with a cast of quirky characters including the outrageous and funky Josie.

Together, Raine and Josie decide to solve the mysteries of Sparrow Road–from its haunting history as an orphanage to the secrets of its silent, brooding owner, Viktor. What bond holds Lillian and Viktor together? Who are the orphans Lillian talks about? What brought the orphans to Sparrow Road, and where did they go when they left?

As Raine discovers her artist self, and she passes the days writing the story of an orphan boy, Lyman, who lived in the mansion; however, intertwined with Lyman’s story is Raine’s search for missing pieces of her own life. Raine’s life is turned upside down when her mother reveals the truth about their move to Sparrow Road.

I really enjoyed this coming of age story that is part mystery but mostly a heartwarming tale about relationships and the mending of broken bonds. Perfection! I recommend it highly for ages ten and up :)

***Kirkus Review starred

Passion by Lauren Kate...Signed Hardcover Giveaway!!!

2011-06-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

Friday June 3, 2011

Passion (Fallen #3)

by Lauren Kate

June 14, 2011

Delacorte

Goodreads summary: "Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever."

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Sweeping across centuries, PASSION the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series hits stores Tuesday 14th June 2011.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Win a Gorgeous New SIGNED Hardcover

Comment below with contact info!

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spread the news and tweet :)

Contest ends on June 10!

Good Luck

and thanks for stopping by!

Kinda Late New York Trip and BEA Summary

2011-06-02T10:43:00.000-07:00

June 2, 2011

Wow! I can't believe its already June and it seems weird that the trip I have been planning for months has come and gone. Talk about a whirlwind vacation! We had a blast and enjoyed every minute of being in New York!

With this being my first trip to BEA I certainly learned a lot and what changes I would make when I go again. First of all I definitely need to get there earlier! We arrived Monday afternoon but I missed a few early publisher events that I had been invited to that happened early in the morning before we got there. I will also make sure the hotel we stay at has free internet! Seriously for the amount of money I paid to stay at the Westin I couldn't believe they wanted me to pay DAILY for internet! I mean really, even the Holiday Inn has free WiFi! So due to my refusal to pay for internet...(hey I have to draw the line somewhere!) I didn't give the daily updates that I planned on. So here is a very brief summary of what I did!

BEA

As a first year attendee all I can say is WOW! When I first arrived there was quite the line...
I met some very nice people while waiting!

I loved the steps walking up to the show...these books are super popular in my library!

I spent a lot of time in autograph lines and I always felt like the people behind me were silently sending me messages...."hurry, hurry, hurry!" In fact, that is a pretty good motto for the whole show! I did take a picture of Alexandra Bracken signing Brightly Woven because she has a whole group fans in my library who adore the book.

I waited in plenty of lines and talked to plenty of people but next year I think I'll be a little bit more prepared.

I know there has been quite a bit of chatter on Twitter and other blogs about the rudeness and grabiness of some BEA attendees and I have to admit I did experience this debacle here and there but not enough to ruin my entire experience!

I think what stands out the most is when I was waiting in line to get a signed copy of Passion by Lauren Kate (Fallen #3) when a lady with smaller publisher in a booth near Random House freaked out on someone for taking books off their shelves and sticking them in her bag. I stood there with my mouth literally wide open in shock as the lady righteously informed the attendee that her books were for people "in the business" not people who just wanted free stuff. Now I'm sure the lady from the publisher is a nice lady....I could tell she had just had ENOUGH!

I know that I was very careful to only pick up stuff that I knew I would read and review. I DID pick up a few adult titles from Harlequin because I got mixed up and thought it was when Rachel Vincent and Gena Showalter were signing there YA titles but I didn't feel too bad considering I'll buy those titles for the library :) Here's what I picked up...

Yes, I am super excited about all my great reads...there are some awesome YA AND middle grade books coming out soon!

Now here are some picks of some of the stuff I saw and did in NYC!!!

Carmines has the BEST stuffed mushrooms EVER!

All I can say is.......AWESOMENESS!!!

Totally Cool Box in the Mail Today...

2011-05-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

Monday May 16, 2011

My husband just texted me and sent a couple of pics of something I received in the mail today! I was so excited to see the cool box but even more excited to see who the author of the new book is...Gabrielle Zevan!

I have really enjoyed the other books I've read that she has written...Elsewhere and Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac. Here are the pics of the ARC and other goodies, plus the Goodreads summary of the book and publication date!

Oh and its Dystopian so yippee!

All These Things I've Done

by Gabrielle Zevin

September 27th 2011

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

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

I probably should have waited for Waiting on Wednesday but I just couldn't wait! :)

Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes by Amber Kizer

2011-05-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

Friday May 13, 2011

Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes

Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves #2

by Amber Kizer

April 5, 2011

Delacorte Press

Goodreads summary: Okay, so here's the deal: there are books about volcanoes erupting and meteorites hitting Earth and plane crashes where the survivors have to eat people—those are extraordinary crises.

That's not what this book is about. I'm more the ordinary catastrophe type. This second semester of my sophomore year, there are basically 7 KINDS OF ORDINARY CATASTROPHES: high school, boys, heartbreak, family, job, friends, and the future.
Well, I guess everyone's life is full of ordinary catastrophes. These are mine...

Hi, I'm Gert Garibaldi. Welcome to my crazy life.

Pontifications... This "smart and sassy romp" is a sequel to Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time which has a pretty high check-out count here in my library and although I haven't read it myself, I hear its a pretty good book.

Nicely enough I didn't have to read the first book to enjoy the sequel but I imagine doing so would round out Gert's story, but I still found this book quite enjoyable. I can get bored REALLY fast in this genre if the characters aren't interesting so the fact I kept reading tells you Gert is a pretty fascinating girl :)

Like a lot of teens her age Gert is insecure but her funny sometimes gross sense of humor keep things lively. I can't imagine a teenage girl out there who wouldn't want Gert for a friend and they will enjoy her snarky-yet-likable personality. I agree with a review I read somewhere that this one will appeal to the older teens who enjoyed the Georgia Nicholson series (Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging etc.)

A few sexual situations, mild swearing and drinking make this one more appropriate for 8th grade and up.

The first book...
One Butt Check at a Time

BEA Mobile Phone App = AWESOME

2011-05-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

Wednesday May 11, 2011

Have you downloaded the BEA mobile phone app yet? It is totally awesome and you can find everything on there and save it to your phone! We are doing out state-mandated testing this (oh yay) and as I'm proctoring classroom testing I have been writing down all the booths I want to visit and sheesh on the mobile app it lists them all plus you can save each one and add them to your agenda!

If you don't have it yet here it is http://www.beamobile.com/landing/

Entwined by Heather Dixon

2011-05-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

Monday May 9, 2011

Entwined

by Heather Dixon

March 29, 2011

Greenwillow Books

Goodreads summary: Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away.

All of it.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

Pontifications... When I first received this book for review I was totally enamored by the gorgeous cover and as soon as I started reading the story I fell head over heals for it too!
The story is a retelling of "The 12 Dancing Princesses" originally published by the well known Brothers Grimm in 1812 and includes some of the dark elements Grimm stories are famous for. Luckily the author has added plenty of humor to balance it out. I so fell in love with one of the sisters, Bramble....she is hilarious..."that rotten shilling-punter nuffermonk..." the mouth on that girl!

Grieving over the death of their mother and heartbroken over the fact that their father (in devastation over his wife's death) has practically abandoned them, the twelve sisters find a magic door into another world where they can dance to their hearts desire in memory of their beloved mother.

What they don't know know is that The Keeper has alternative motives....with a chocolaty smooth voice, elegance and grace, he has captured Azaleas attention. He both thrills and frightens her but she soon realizes the dark, dark truth.

In the real world Azalea, the oldest daughter, who made a vow to her mother to watch over her eleven sisters, is ready to be engaged and must chose an appropriate suitor. She has someone in mind but she wonders if she'll ever find true love. Romance and humor round out this wonderful story and the main characters are well defined and memorable.

Highly recommended for ages 12 and up

The Newest "Must Have" Book for Your Library!

2011-05-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Thursday May 5, 2011

The Emerald Atlas

The Books of Beginning, Book 1

by John Stephens

April 5, 2011

Alfred A. Knopf

Goodreads summary: Kate, Michael, and Emma have been in one orphanage after another for the last ten years, passed along like lost baggage.

Yet these unwanted children are more remarkable than they could possibly imagine. Ripped from their parents as babies, they are being protected from a horrible evil of devastating power, an evil they know nothing about.

Until now.

Before long, Kate, Michael, and Emma are on a journey to dangerous and secret corners of the world...a journey of allies and enemies, of magic and mayhem. And—if an ancient prophesy is correct—what they do can change history, and it is up to them to set things right.

Visit the Emerald Atlas Website

***************************************

This book is a super fun read and full of adventure. Many people are comparing it to Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia books. Regardless, the book is awesome and I already have a waiting list here in the library just by word of mouth amongst the kids! (I've been keeping quiet until I get more copies!)

The story is fast-paced and wonderfully detailed. You HAVE to buy this book for fantasy lovers in elementary and middle school but I imagine it will have fans among high school readers and beyond!

Appropriate for ages 8 and up!

BEA Bound and Excited!

2011-05-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

Monday May 2, 2011

I can't believe its almost here! I've been planning for months now and everything has been booked since January but it sure got here fast! My husband is coming with and he is super excited about going to a Yankee game and trying out all the food establishments around NYC. This is his first time and my second trip to The Big Apple and we are pins and needles waiting to get there!

In regards to BEA itself thank goodness there are so many bloggers who give advice and answer questions because seriously, half the stuff they mention never would have occurred to me! As a librarian I've booked a few things offered such as a lunch with some authors that I'm totally psyched about plus a few others. To be honest I'm already overwhelmed, so I imagine I'll be walking around the Javits center with a glazed over stare and my mouth wide open...possibly a bit catatonic. :)

Like I said, my husband is looking forward to Yankees and food...Me? In addition to BEA I'm on the look out for fabric and trim stores...any suggestions??? I also can't wait to meet all the people I've emailed over the past few years as a book blogger. Oh my gosh, I just realized this month is my two year blog-iversary!

Guest Post -- Author Caitlin Kittredge --

2011-04-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

Friday April 29, 2011

Guest post by author Caitlin Kittredge, author of The Iron Thorn...

5 Horror Movies That Made Me a Better Writer

I love horror movies. Love them. Unreservedly, unconditionally. They can be brilliant, or terrible. Slashers, ghosts, demons, hockey-masked killers. Love 'em. Can't get enough.

Movies can teach you to be a pretty good writer, believe it or not. They're ace for teaching story structure, and there's nothing like a horror movie for well-done tension. Below, a few that taught me how to be a better novelist:

1. The Exorcist

Cute little girl Reagan is possessed by the devil, and two priests battle him for her immortal soul. Features pea soup vomit, creepy backwards walking, and one of the best climaxes between villain and doomed hero (Max Von Sydow) ever put on film.

What you can learn: The Exorcist is the master of slow-building tension. Nothing blows up, but every moment of the film is geared toward the confrontation between the devil and Von Sydow. Just like this film, a novel should ratchet the narrative tension in every scene, until the climax occurs. I learned most of what I know about pacing from this movie, and others like it.

2. Aliens

After surviving the events of Alien, Ellen Ripley returns to LV-426 to confront the xenomorph aliens once again, this time with a crop of plucky marines and a scheming corporate executive who wants to weaponize the alien. This all works out about as well as you might expect.

What you can learn: Alien, the first film, is actually the basis of a famous screenwriting book called Save the Cat!, which I recommend even if you're not a screenwriter, as it has valuable advice about storytelling (including why it is necessary to have your heroine, as Ripley does, save the cat.) Aliens has lessons on a couple of levels—first, it's a masterful building off of the first film, much the same way that modern fantasy writers often expand, change and flesh out traditional folklore. Second, it teaches that it's okay for the female heroine to give romance a back seat (the romance between Ripley and Corporal Hicks is touched on, but it's far from the focus of the story) and go ahead and kick ass. Ripley isn't as tough as the Marines, but she's the woman for the job as they're picked off one by one. Your protagonist doesn't always need to be the smartest, toughest person in the room—they just need to be the right one for the story.

3. Below

An American submarine during WWII picks up the survivors of a British hospital ship purportedly torpedoed by Germans—and promptly finds that they've brought more on board than wounded soldiers.

What you can learn: Below is a ghost story, but it's also a historical drama dealing unflinchingly with the very real horrors of war. Don't be afraid to mash paranormal and real-world elements in your story—often the combination can elevate both elements.

4. Dawn of the Dead (George Romero's original)

A group of regular folks wake up to find that the zombie apocalypse is happening, and take refuge in a mall. Their plan slowly unravels as tensions rise and zombies find a way in, infecting one of the group.

What you can learn: People matter. Creatures are scary, sure. Hordes of zombies are terrifying. They're even more terrifying when used as a metaphor for mindless consumerism, and you're forced to watch the few human beings left slowly succumb. Your characters are going to be the spine of your paranormal story, and without strong characters, all you've got is a mindless, shambling mess.

5. Let the Right One In (Swedish original)

Lonely middle-schooler Oskar befriends Eli, a girl his age—or is she? Eli isn't normal, and she may not even be a girl--Eli is a vampire, and while she teaches Oskar to stand up to bullies and find joy in life by living for the moment, she may also be grooming him to become her new assistant—procuring her blood and brutally murdering anyone who gets too close to her secret.

What you can learn: Based on the equally brilliant book by Swedish novelist John Lindqvist, Let the Right One In is as good an examination of the friendship between human and monster as you're going to find on film. Monsters can often be more human than their human counterparts—and when their true nature shows, it can be a devastating blow for your characters, and your readers. Don't be afraid to let the monsters get close. The emotional punch is well worth it.

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Thanks Caitlin for the awesome post! I'm a huge horror movie fan too :)

Caitlin Kittredge is the author of the FANTASTIC new book The Iron Thorn! I loved this read and totally recommend it! Its been described as a fantasy/steampunk/dystopian combo and I totally agree. Great for ages 12 and up, this story is an awesome adventure with a sequel to come!

The Iron Thorn

February 22, 2011

Goodreads summary: In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.

Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.

Find more info here www.caitlinkittredge.com

Four Seasons: A Novel in Four Movements by Jane Breskin Zalben

2011-04-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

Wednesday April 27, 2011

Four Seasons: A Novel in Four Movements

by Jane Breskin Zalben

February 8, 2011

Knopf Books for Young Readers

Goodreads summary: Allegra Katz has been playing piano since she was four. But these aren't just any piano lessons. She studies at the Julliard School in New York, where careers are being formed—or not.

Between strict practice schedules, music classes, and regular school, Ally doesn't have time for much else. Sometimes she wishes she could break free, but she's never known any other way. Her parents—a professional violinist and a singer—would kill her if they knew she was thinking about quitting piano, especially her mother.

So she keeps on going, but as the months go by, she begins to ask herself, does she even love the piano? Why does she play? And how much longer can she stand the pressure before she breaks?

Pontifications... If you haven't seen it by now you must Google Emily Bear on the Ellen show right now. This tiny, little, cute-as-a-button six-year-old is a crazy, insane, Mozart-like piano prodigy! I can't imagine having that kind of talent and I also can't imagine the kind of pressure that undoubtedly goes along with it.

Ally must practice four hours a day as instructed by her hardcore piano teacher Miss Pringle if she is to ever live up to the standards of the infamous Julliard School. Miss Pringle isn't what one would call "compassionate" and compliments aren't really her thing. Ally's parents are loving but goal-oriented. Being musicians themselves Ally has never known anything different. When the pangs and cravings of living a more "normal" teenage life start to make way into Ally's thoughts she starts to lose the zest she once had for playing the piano.

I think this story is a realistic depiction of what life must be like for gifted students like Ally. The grueling practice and expectations are not glossed over and Ally really shows the stress of all the pressure she is under. The fact that she wants to hang out with her friends more and experience her first crush on boy just makes her more real and likable.

I really enjoyed this book and Ally is a great character. Overall the story is about a girl who has everything going for her including the sense enough to know that following your heart is always the right decision.

Appropriate for ages 10 and up.

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

2011-04-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

Tuesday April 26, 2011

Like Mandarin

by Kirsten Hubbard

March 8th 2011

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers

Goodreads summary: It's hard finding beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, but 14-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild-girl Mandarin Ramey: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin.

When they're united for a project, they form an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies, and searching for someplace magic. Grace plays along when Mandarin suggests they run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds plaguing their Badlands town. Because all too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken, and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, no friendship can withstand betrayal.

Pontifications... Every awkward teenage girl knows another girl at their high school who they wish they could be more like....popular, outgoing, a wild streak that makes them exciting and a reputation for always having fun. From the outside this girl's life looks perfect...but what happens when we look behind the scenes and glimpse the reality of whats really going on???

Grace can't believe her good luck when she is paired up with Mandarin. She has always felt overshadowed by her younger sister largely due to the fact that her mother showers her sibling with attention and obsesses about her child beauty pageants. As their friendship blossoms Mandarin encourages Grace to do things she has never been brave enough to do before...skinny dip, dressing differently and even making plans to run away together.

The closer they get the more Grace starts to see another side of Mandarin...a scary side that involves drinking, lying and careless, often dangerous, decision making. Grace feels like Mandarin is constantly testing their friendship to see how far Grace will go...but when one of those tests put Grace in a terrifying situation, she finally blows up and confronts Mandarin.

This is a great story and so relevant for today's teens. In a world of peer pressure especially for girls who have all that self-doubt (which is most), being led around by a peer they admire isn't much of a stretch. This is both a coming-of-age and cautionary tale about what can happen when we don't stand up for ourselves and our own values. Teens will totally identify with all the complexities of friendship and peer pressure.

Recommended for ages 14 and up due to drinking, cussing and sexual situations. Nothing is overly graphic but the topics themselves seem best suited for this age and older.

A Time of Miracles by Anne-Laure Bondoux

2011-04-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

Monday April 25, 2011

A Time of Miracles

by Anne-Laure Bondoux

November 2010

Delacorte Press

Goodreads summary: Blaise Fortune, also known as Koumaïl, loves hearing the story of how he came to live with Gloria in the Republic of Georgia: Gloria was picking peaches in her father’s orchard when she heard a train derail. After running to the site of the accident, she found an injured woman who asked Gloria to take her baby. The woman, Gloria claims, was French, and the baby was Blaise.

When Blaise turns seven years old, the Soviet Union collapses and Gloria decides that she and Blaise must flee the political troubles and civil unrest in Georgia. The two make their way westward on foot, heading toward France, where Gloria says they will find safe haven. But what exactly is the truth about Blaise’s past?

Bits and pieces are revealed as he and Gloria endure a five-year journey across the Caucasus and Europe, weathering hardships and welcoming unforgettable encounters with other refugees searching for a better life. During this time Blaise grows from a boy into an adolescent; but only later, as a young man, can he finally attempt to untangle his identity.

Bondoux’s heartbreaking tale of exile, sacrifice, hope, and survival is a story of ultimate love.

Pontifications... Seven year old Koumail (Blaise) has always enjoyed the story of how his guardian Gloria saved him from an uncertain future when his dying mother handed him over to Gloria after she came upon the poor woman in the aftermath of a horrible train derailment. Knowing that his mother was French and that his birth name is Blaise, Koumail hopes to one day find his birth family to fully understand his past.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Gloria and Koumail set out to France in hopes of finding the family he has no memory of and the possibility of a better life. On their journey they meet many other refugees and people who are struggling just like them. The encounters are memorable and heartwarming and balance out their times of struggle and sickness throughout their five year journey to Koumail's homeland.

The underlying story during the story of their travels are the tales that Gloria tells Koumail about his past. It seems that Gloria has a talent for embellishing stories. Her motivations behind it are loving but ultimately confusing to Koumail. A reunion at the end of the story brings to light the real truth of the boys past.

I loved this book. A beautiful story set against war-torn Europe that follows our narrator, Koumail from a seven year old boy to a twenty year old young man. Originally written in French, the translation is flawless and the writing is exquisite.....like I said, LOVED IT!

Best suited for grades 7 and up

Jersey Tomatoes are the Best by Maria Padian

2011-04-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

Thursday April 21, 2011

Jersey Tomatoes are the Best

by Maria Padian

March 8, 2011

Knopf for Young Readers

Goodreads summary: This is a hilarious and heartbreaking story of two teen girls and the summer when everything changes for them. Both Henry and Eva are New Jersey natives and excellent athletes: Henry's a master on the tennis court and Eva is a graceful ballerina.

When opportunity knocks for both of them the summer before their junior year in high school they throw open the door: Henry sees freedom from her overbearing father and a chance to build her talents on the court. Eva sees the chance to be the best as well as even more pressure to be graceful, lighter, more perfect on the dancefloor.

Soon, Eva's obsession with physical perfection leads her down the path to anorexia, and her health issues overwhelm everything else. But through it all these two best friends know that Jersey Tomatoes are the Best, and nothing will come between them no matter the distance.

Pontifications...In a day and age where the term "Jersey girl" brings to mind all sorts of drunk and disorderly connotations, its refreshing to read about two Jersey girls who are anything but those two things. In fact, don't call them Jersey girls....they are Jersey tomatoes!

When the two best friends are separated for the first time in their lives and go off to their respective dream summer camps things are looking good...Henry is loving her new found attitude away from her pushy, overbearing tennis-dad and Eva succeeds and gets through a super tough audition. Unfortunately, while Henry blossoms in her new found freedom Eva starts to let the pressure get to her and inside her own negativity begins to develop an eating disorder.

When Henry hears about Eva's health problems her first instinct is to run to her side. Realizing this decision could cost her spot at the tennis academy Henry must make a tough decision.

The heart of this story is about two girls who cherish their friendship through thick and thin and loyalty to a friend in the face of losing your own dreams. I loved this aspect of the book because its such a great example of what friendship is really all about.

There is a lot to like here. A peek into the world of high pressure sports and the infamous parents behind the kids who are rising to the top. Friendship, a little romance and how teens deal with the body image and the pressure to be successful make this an insightful read. I enjoyed every minute of it!

Best suited for ages 13 and up.

Wish by Joseph Monninger

2011-04-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

Wednesday April 20, 2011

Wish

by Joseph Monninger

November 2010

Delacorte Press

Goodreads summary: Bee’s brother, Tommy, knows everything there is to know about sharks. He also knows that his life will be cut short by cystic fibrosis. And so does Bee.

That’s why she wants to make his wish-foundation-sponsored trip to swim with a great white shark an unforgettable memory.

But wishes don’t always come true. At least, not as expected. Only when Bee takes Tommy to meet a famous shark attack survivor and hard-core surfer does Tommy have the chance to live one day to the fullest.

And in the sun-kissed ocean off a California beach, Bee discovers that she has a few secret wishes of her own. . .

Pontifications...With the recent release of the Movie Soul Surfer which is about surfer Bethany Hamilton who lost her arm in a shark attack, but was determined to keep surfing. I remember a book in my review pile that sounded something like it. While the main character in this novel isn't a shark attack victim herself, the story is still just as touching and inspirational.

Tommy doesn't live his life like a cystic fibrosis victim and Bee is determined to see that he has every option to fulfill his shark-obsessed dreams. When the trip Tommy wins to see sharks in their own habitat goes bust and their mom is sidetracked by a new man in her life, Bee knows its up to her to find a way for Tommy to live out his dream.

With a mother who isn't exactly nurturing its obvious that Tommy and Bee rely on each other for emotional support which results in a bond that is clear and true. They have no doubt of each others intentions and on the quest to fulfill Tommy's wish their respect and love for each other is clearly visible.

A coming of age story for both brother and sister as they both deal with Tommy's impending death and Bee falls in love for the first time. Despite what could be an overwhelmingly depressing the topic the story is actually uplifting and inspirational. Yes, I teared up a few times but I was smiling right up to the last page.

Well written and full of interesting shark facts! Appropriate for ages 12 and up.

Tween Tuesdays (23)

2011-04-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

Tuesday April 19, 2011

Tween Tuesdays is a meme I first saw at Green Bean Teen Queen and really liked because she is also a librarian who deals with teens and tweens. So, since most of my blog is devoted to YA and teen books I figured that on Tuesdays I can do posts for all the tweeners out there!

As a middle school librarian I must hear fifty times a day..."Are there any Diary of a Wimpy Kids books in?" More often than not I tell them no and instruct them to put the book on hold. In the meantime I recommend a few books they might like as well or even better...here are just a few!

Big Nate: In a Class by Himself

and

Big Nate Strikes Again

by Lincoln Peirce

HarperCollins

Available Now

Transitioning from popular comic strip to chapter book, the author uses the popular style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, to debut its star, Big Nate. In the first book, Sixth grader Big Nate knows that he is destined for greatness especially after his fortune cookie declares "Today you will surpass all others,"….what he doesn’t know is that his best friend Teddy slipped him the fortune. Unfortunately, Nate seems to find himself in less than fabulous situations like being in detention. This is a funny book and kids will relate to the annoying older sister and prankster friend stories as well as the issues Nate has at school. Funny stories and hilarious comic illustrations will make this one a sure hit with The Wimpy Kid crowd.

Here is an example of one of the comic strips:

The Loser List

by H.N. Kowitt

April 1, 2011

Scholastic Press

When Danny gets caught trying to cross his name off the "Geek" list in the girls' bathroom, he's sent to detention. Bullies torment him mercilessly -- until they discover that Danny can draw. He enjoys his new "bad boy" status, supplying tattoos and graffiti, until he's unknowingly drawn into a theft. Turns out the bullies took a comic book from Danny's favorite store. Can he steal it back before they get caught -- and break off with the bullies before he gets in too deep?

With its Wimpy Kid design and set-up its sure to draw in that crowd and likeable Danny will keep them reading!

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

2011-04-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Thursday April 14, 2011

Enclave (Razorland #1)

by Ann Aguirre

April 12, 2011

Feiwel and Friends

Goodreads summary: New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight, in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.

As the two are guided by Fade’s long-ago memories, they face dangers, and feelings, unlike any they’ve ever known.

Pontifications...I usually try to wait and read review books until around the time they are going to be released because that is when most publishers prefer that the review is posted. Well, when I received this review copy a few months back, I couldn't help myself! I was a little over-saturated by paranormal romance and was still on my Hunger Games finale high when I picked up this little gem. I have to say I wasn't disappointed one little bit.

An interesting part of the book is that in Deuce's group each member is given a role depending on their strengths....as we know Deuce is a hunter, but other group members have been designated as Breeders. Breeders are the only group members allowed to have sex and no one falls in love anymore. With love and sex forbidden you know its only a matter of time before Deuce and Fade start to feel the tension.

A mixture of Dystopian approaches like The Forests of Hands and Teeth and Hunger Games, I predict you'll love this one. There is definite chemistry between Deuce and Fade but romance is just a hint on the horizon. Gritty fight scenes and the doom and gloom, fight-to-stay-alive aspect of a post-apocalyptic world rule this read.

Best suited for ages 14 and up

I can't post the trailer right now because I'm at school and the sight is blocked but google it on the web, its everywhere!

The authors website is here www.AnnAguirre.com

Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon

2011-04-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

Wednesday April 13, 2011

Fury of the Phoenix

Kingdom of Xia Book #2

by Cindy Pon

March 29, 2011

Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins)

Goodreads summary: The Gods have abandoned Ai Ling.

Her mysterious power haunts her day and night, and she leaves home—with just the moon as her guide—overwhelmed by her memories and visions and an unbearable sense of dread. For Ai Ling knows that Chen Yong is vulnerable to corrupt enchantments from the under-world. How can she do nothing when she has the skill and power to fight at his side? A dream has told her where he is, the name of the ship he is traveling on, his destination. So she steals off and stows away on board.

The ocean voyage brings with it brutal danger, haunting revelations, and new friendships, but also the premonition of a very real and terrifying threat. Zhong Ye—the powerful sorcerer whom Ai Ling believed she had vanquished in the Palace of Fragrant Dreams—is trapped in Hell, neither alive nor dead. Can he reach from beyond the grave to reunite with Silver Phoenix and destroy Chen Yong? And destroy whatever chance Ai Ling has at happiness, at love?

In this sequel to the acclaimed novel Silver Phoenix, four lives are woven together and four destinies become one, now and forever.

Pontifications...Silver Phoenix is an awesome read so this sequel has been one that I have really been looking forward to and I was not disappointed!

Fury of the Phoenix picks up right where the last book left off and once again we find Ai Ling and Chen Yong on an exciting adventure as they seek out Chen Yong's real father to solve the mystery of his past.

In the first book we find out that Zhong Ye is the evil force behind Ai Ling's battles with various demons and monsters. In the sequel the chapters alternate between Ai Ling's present adventure and Zhong Ye's human beginnings nearly three centuries past. We find out about how he started in the kings court, how he met Silver Phoenix and what ultimately led him to the monster he became.

A well written, fast paced story with lots of adventure and romance, bloody battles and creepy immortality spells. The chemistry between Ai Ling and Chen Yong continues and the tragic romance between the books villan and his lost love may even have you shedding a tear or two. I also love Ai Ling as our kick-ass heroine!

Best suited for 8th grade and up

Visit the authors website http://cindypon.com/