Library Lounge Lizard

Wherever Nina Lies Contest Winners!

2010-03-11T10:51:00.000-08:00

Thursday March 11, 2010

Yikes! I'm a little late on this but here are the three winners for the Wherever Nina Lies contest!

Jill @ OWL Books

Julie 102794

Barbrafl

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone who entered!

Please email me ASAP to claim your prize :)

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

2010-03-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

Wednesday March 10, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday...books I can't wait to read hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spi ne

This weeks pick:

Somewhere in Blue

by Gillian Cummings

May 15, 2010

Lobster Press

Sandy Rawlins is sixteen years old. Her father – her best friend – has just passed away. She immediately begins to unravel, and yet her mother, mysteriously, is not grieving. Where can Sandy turn as the waves of grief overwhelm her? She doesn't want to be a burden on her friend, Lennie, who has her own problems, trying to be the responsible one at home while her cougar of a mom is out bar-hopping. The boy next door – always a friend, but now perhaps something more – wants to be there for Sandy, but is it already too late?

She has lost a part of her soul, and the aching sadness pulls her a little further away each day. Readers will be captivated by the dramatic lives of Sandy Rawlins, her friend Lennie Finn, and their two very different mothers. Set in contemporary Toronto, this is a story of intense loss and of reaching out for connections. It reveals four women struggling with their independence and their relationships with each other.

The manuscript for Somewhere in Blue was singled out by Governor General's Award winner, Tim Wynne-Jones, for an award of distinction at the Humber School for Writers.

I love this cover and the story sounds really good!

Tween Tuesdays (7)

2010-03-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

Tuesday March 9, 2010

Tween Tuesday 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!

John Brown: His Fight for Freedom
Written and Illustrated by John Hendrix
Abrams Books for Young Readers

Published on the 150th anniversary of John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, this biography explores the life of one of American history’s most controversial figures. A great deal of academic study has been published recently about John Brown. This is the first book for young readers to include these new attitudes and research.

In the late 1850s, at a time when many men and women spoke out against slavery, few had the same impact as John Brown, the infamous white abolitionist who backed his beliefs with unstoppable action. His dedication to freeing the American slaves made him one of the most recognizable leaders in the liberation movement to end slavery.

Told through engaging, thoughtful narration and bold, dynamic illustrations, John Brown: His Fight for Freedom is a fitting reminder that all men and women are created equal, and that some things are worth fighting for. The book includes an author’s note, a bibliography, and an index.

Review:

What will draw kids to pick up this book is the stunning artwork...it is amazing what can be done with a pen, some ink and acrylic paint! This is a wonderful story about a man before his time. A man who didn't see color, he just saw another human being.

The story itself does not sugar-coat Johns reputation as a passionate (albeit zealous) opponent of slavery. His methods of fighting slavery have been debated over the last 150 years but his focus to end the barbaric practice of owning other human beings has never been questioned.

I think this is a great book for discussion in the middle grades for all different levels of readers. It really opens the door for kids to debate the question....Was John Brown was a hero for civil rights or an over zealot vigilante?

The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary

How Greg Heffley Went Hollywood

by Jeff Kinney

Amulet
Available March 16, 2010

Go behind the scenes with Jeff Kinney and the making of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie!

If you've ever wondered how a movie gets made, you're not alone. Author and illustrator Jeff Kinney didn't know either, but when his bestselling series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, was turned into a live-action movie by 20th Century Fox, he learned how a book gets adapted into a major motion picture.

Complete with photographs, script pages, storyboard sketches, costume designs, and original art by Jeff Kinney, The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary is the perfect companion to the bestselling series.

Review:

It was a lot of fun to watch the progress of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series in this latest addition to these very popular books. From the authors very first sketches in notebooks to various scenes out of the new movie readers can see how it all started.

I was really impressed by the depth and amount information that the author provides on how a book is turned into a movie! Everything from making a script from the story, detailing and developing all the characters and finding the right director to auditions for each part.

I would have to say that any question a kid (or adult for that matter) could come up with in regards to how the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie was made would be found in this book. Seriously...they even show the stages of developing the villainous stinky piece of cheese!

I find it hard to believe that anyone would have to try very hard to get a kid to read any one of the Diary of a Wimpy kid books and this one will be no exception! Hey, even you adults out there will find this one interesting :)

Visit the movie website HERE

New Contest! Numbers by Rachel Ward

2010-03-08T08:49:00.000-08:00

Monday March 8, 2010

NUM8ERS

BOOK RELEASE

ONLINE GIVEAWAY

Book Synopsis
Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today's number. Today's date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!

Review:

This is one of those books that starts out at a slower pace and then has an ending that kicks your a**. After I finished the book I kept going back and re-reading passages that I really liked.

After Jem and Spider witness the terrorist attack in London they panic and runaway from it all. Their journey together shows that this book is more about building bonds, trust and love after you've been hurt and let down by others most of your young life. Don't get me wrong, Jem's horrific gift plays a key part in the story but the heart of the story is more about Jem, Spider and the people they meet along their journey.

I really liked this book. I loved Jem and Spider because they are imperfect and real and represent so many lost children out there. Physically and emotionally abandoned children who are victims by proxy of drug and alcohol abuse. There is a line in the book that Jem says to Spider that really struck me and says it all:

"Wouldn't it be good if you could start again?" I said. "I feel like my life's screwed up before I even got started."

As a middle school teacher/librarian I see these kids all the time. Maybe that's why this book really struck me and will stick with me for a long time.

A wonderful debut novel that I totally recommend. I'm anticipating the follow up book The Chaos which will be published sometime in Spring 2011.

References to drugs/alcohol/sex make this book appropriate for ages 14 and up.

Check out the book website HERE and read the first chapter of Numbers!

Now for the contest!

Three (3) winners will receive:

NUM8ERS hardcover book

Books are valued at $17.99 each. Giveaway is open to

U.S.

residents only.

START DATE

Monday, March 8

END DATE

Monday, April 5

+1 for commenting (MUST be a follower!)

+2 for each tweet on Twitter

+3 for a sidebar post

+5 for devoting a post about the contest on your blog

Good luck and thanks for entering!

In My Mailbox (32)

2010-03-06T20:16:00.000-08:00

Sunday March 7, 2010

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.

So, without further adieu, the following are books I received this past week...enjoy!

For review:

Perchance to Dream

Theatre Illuminata #2

by Lisa Mantchev

Feiwel & Friends

The stuff that dreams are made on.

Act Two, Scene One
Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

Hunted

House of Night #5

by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

St. Martins Griffin

The good news: Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer. The bad news: Ancient evil with the face of an angel has been let loose – that and various other nasties (whose faces aren’t so angelic). Grandma Redbird is in trouble. Heath is in trouble. The House of Night is in trouble. Okay, let’s face it – Zoey’s whole world is in trouble! But when the trouble comes from a being who appears to be beauty personified, will the world believe it? Especially when only a teenager and a group of misfits are the only ones who really understand the danger he brings. Will Zoey have the strength and wisdom to reveal the truth? Especially when, in the House of Night, the truth is often hard to come by…

Seriously, the arrival of these two books this week nearly caused total anarchy in the library. I made the mistake of showing a bunch of my regular library peeps the cool cover of Perchance to Dream and I was met with demands of "give it to me now" and when I said "uh, I'm going to read it first" two of them seriously tried to wrestle it out of my hands....I wish I was kidding. Anyway suffice to say, I'm bigger and stronger and more determined :)

Hope you had a great week too! Happy reading :)

Book Review - Shadow Mirror

2010-03-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Friday March 5, 2010

Shadow Mirror

Walk of the Spirits #2

by Richie Tankersley Cusick

March 18, 2010

Speak

Unsettling. There’s no better word to describe Miranda Barnes’s ability to hear the cries of the dead, feel the wind move her hair when they run by, and—dare she look into a mirror—see the reflection of a ghostly woman behind her.

There’s only one person to turn to for support: Etienne. As sexy as he is mysterious, Miranda can’t help but be drawn to him. He believes her; he wants to help her. But there’s a secret in Etienne’s past, something Miranda’s on the verge of discovering. As paranormal activity escalates, passion grows, and soon Miranda is caught up in both love . . . and tragedy.

Review:

This book is a follow up to Walk of the Spirits in what I'm assuming is at the very least a trilogy because the ending in this one definitely leaves the door open for a lot more when Miranda learns a deep dark secret that could change the lives of everyone around her.

I didn't read the first book but the author does a great job of dropping tidbits of information here and there about the back story to get you up to speed. I enjoyed this book enough that I will probably go back and read the first too :)

Miranda's "gift" of seeing ghosts was passed down to her from a grandfather she barely knew. When her Mom gets a job helping to restore a local plantation, Belle Chandelle, Miranda is drawn to it and its ghostly past. When she hears ghostly cries for help from children in the attic she knows she has to find out more.

Meanwhile, Miranda is also torn between Gage and Etienne...she has feelings for both of them but is having a hard time figuring out how they feel about her. She is also seems to be caught in the middle of spat between her friends Ashely and Parker when a guy that Ashely is tutoring asks Ashely out on date. Parker and Ashely are both Miranda's friends so what happens if Ashely's feelings about Parker are changing and she chooses somebody else?

Not to mention the fact that Miranda has a sneaking suspicion that despite all Parker's complaining about her "gift" and how creepy it is, he may have some secrets of his own.

I really enjoyed this mystery/ghost story/romance read and I loved the southern setting. If you didn't know I'm a sucker for ghost stories set in the south ya'll :) After reading this book I was definitely interested in reading some of the authors other stuff so I went to her website and I found a lot of great sounding books!

Check out the website here: http://RichieTankersleyCusick.com/

Waiting on Wednesday (23)

2010-03-03T07:52:00.000-08:00

Wednesday March 3, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday...books I can't wait to read hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spi ne

This weeks pick:

Grace

by Elizabeth Scott
September 16, 2010
Dutton

A fable of a terrifying near future by critically acclaimed author Elizabeth Scott.

Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

Told in spare, powerful prose, this tale of a dystopian near future will haunt readers long after they've reached the final page.

I love the cover and this one sounds awesome!

Book Review - Exit Strategy by Ryan Potter

2010-03-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

Monday March 1, 2010

Exit Strategy

by Ryan Potter

March 1, 2010

Flux

Who are you supposed to look up to when it seems like every adult you know is more screwed up than yourself?

Looming above Zach Ramsey's hometown are the smokestacks of the truck assembly plant, the greasy lifeblood of this Detroit suburb. Surrounded by drunks, broken marriages, and factory rats living in fear of the pink slip, Zach is getting out of Blaine after graduation. But first, he's going to enjoy the summer before his senior year.

And Zach's having a blast until he uncovers dark secrets that shake his faith in everyone, including his best friend Tank (a state wrestling champion), whose 'roid rages betray a shocking habit. Falling in love with Tank's twin sister Sarah, an Ivy League-bound scholar, doesn't exactly make Zach's life any easier.

Eventually, with enough evidence to nail the town's steroid kingpin, Zach is faced with the toughest decision of his life—one that will prove just what kind of adult he's destined to be.

Review:

Stuck in Blaine, Michigan a small suburb of Detroit, Zach is desperate to leave after his senior year, hoping to avoid the fate of his parents, who have lived and worked there their whole lives. In the meantime, he becomes determined to expose his football coach, who he suspects is supplying steroids to athletes, and his best friend Tank's father, an undercover cop who he thinks is mistreating his children and having an affair with a married woman.

Zach is also a little bit stressed out about his brother's seeming lack of motivation to get out Blaine and is more than a little curious about why his talented and athletic brother quit the football team his senior year...another mystery to solve.

When Zach is forced to get a summer job he ends up working at the local "beverage" store across from the assembly plant, the box boy who had the job before him lets him in on a few secrets about the job. Will this job take him down the road to responsibility or just be another example of lame adults who once again fail to live up to Zach's righteous view of "adult behavior"?

It occurred to me while reading this book that there are a lot of teens out there that are in a very similar situation to Zach. With the economy the way it is and the slow death of industrial jobs there are a lot of "dead end" towns out there with kids hoping to escape the same fate as their parents.

Zach is a very realistic character...flawed but likable and struggling to figure out who he is and the path he wants to take in life. I predict a lot of boys who read this book will see themselves in Zach and the obstacles and questions he is facing.

I think this is a great story and the writing flowed nicely. There are a few sub-plots in the story like Zach's realization that he is in love with his best friends sister. At first I really wished that these were played out and developed a bit more but I came to the conclusion that this book isn't a love story, or about any other people in Zach's life...Exit Strategy is a definitive coming-of-age story with the main focus being Zach and the person he is becoming.

I KNOW this book will be popular here in my library...it has all the stuff boys like to read about (at least from my experience as a middle school librarian)...sports, girls and the choices boys have to make when it comes to sex, drugs, alcohol and friends.

References to the above topics and a few cuss words make this book appropriate for ages 14 and up.

Visit the books website here: www.ExitStrategy17.com

In My Mailbox (31)

2010-02-27T23:16:00.000-08:00

Sunday February 28, 2010

So, without further adieu, the following are books I received this past week...enjoy!

For review:

Brightly Woven
by Alexandra Bracken
March 23, 2010
Egmont

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.

Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

Exit Strategy

by Ryan Potter

March 1, 2010

Flux

Bought:

Lanky lizards! The slinkster-cool novels in Francesca Lia Block's Weetzie Bat series have finally been compiled into one delicious volume. All of the ethereal, mesmerizing titles are here -- Weetzie Bat, Witch Baby, Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys, Missing Angel Juan, and Baby Be-Bop -- together like the big, beautiful family described on their pages.

Block's unique, poetic style immediately draws readers into an intoxicating magical-realist world populated by empathetic, original characters (as well as a few ghosts, fairies, and genies): "He kissed her. A kiss about apple pie à la mode with the vanilla creaminess melting in the pie heat. A kiss about chocolate, when you haven't eaten chocolate in a year. A kiss about palm trees speeding by, trailing pink clouds when you drive down the Strip sizzling with champagne. A kiss about spotlights fanning the sky and the swollen sea spilling like tears all over your legs."

Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.

Living in small town Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn't quite fit in with so-called normal society. During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human.

Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures alternatively terrifying, beautiful, and deadly- all of which perfectly describe her new "friend," Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire.

It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick; spirits bag your groceries; and whatever you do, never-ever rub the genie's lamp.

If you love Sookie Stackhouse, then you'll want to dive into Nicole Peeler's enchanting debut novel.

Craft Book Review - The Beader's Handbook

2010-02-26T10:53:00.000-08:00

Friday February 26, 2010

The Beader's Handbook

by Juju Vail

January 2008

Martingale & Company

Description:

Find all the beading know-how you'll ever need in this comprehensive, step-by-step handbook! Over 350 photos and illustrations spotlight scores of techniques--they'll take you from beginner to expert with the flip of a page.

* Find inspiring ideas for featuring beads in jewelry, needlecrafts, home-decor accents, and more

* Try wrapping and threading, stringing and weaving, creating fringes and edgings--even knitting and crocheting with beads

* Find the perfect bead for any project with a "Know Your Beads" section, spotlighting over 100 bead types

Review:

I've been making jewelry and glass beads for about 10 years now and I've seen tons of "how-to" and informational books about beads and jewelry. The Beader's Handbook is great because it gives a little bit of information on a lot of different topics. If you want a good intro book to see all the different types of ways to make jewelry and to find about various types of beads then this is a great place to start!

I think it is great that the book only gives the basic supplies needed to start beading. I remember some of the books that I bought in the beginning completely overwhelmed me with the amount of stuff that I would need to buy to get started. The books were great overall but all the supplies listed seemed wayyyy expensive...in reality you can get started beading for less than $50 (even less if you go to garage sales and such :)

The basics are listed for: beading * wire working * jewelry making * bead stitching/weaving and stringing materials. The book also explains what various parts of jewelry are and what they are used for ie: earring wires and split rings.

You will also find the basics on how to do wire working, including a wire size chart, the different types of wire and their uses (including the hardness of the wire which is very important!)

When it comes to the jewelry making part (earrings, necklaces and bracelets) all the basic skills are shown and I also like the fact that they list the "standard" length of various types of necklaces and bracelets.

The book also shows the basics on how to make the following types of beads: wooden beads * polymer beads * fabric beads * felt beads and making beads out of smaller seed beads. Although it shows the basics, if you are interested in focusing on making any one of them in particular I definitely recommend buying a book devoted to making that certain type of bead.

There is some info on stitching and weaving including a loom, peyote and off-loom stitching. A guide to Knitting and crocheting with beads is provided also. You can also find a lot of pages devoted to explaining all the different types of beads out there (there are a LOT) and semi-precious stones called "Know your Beads".

Overall a great book for beginners! Again, if you find a particular style of beading in this book that you really like, I definitely recommend buying another book that focuses on that style because it will provide you with more in-depth instructions.

Happy beading!

Review copy sent by publisher and donated to school library.

Book Review - Good Girl's Guide to Getting Kidnapped

2010-02-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

Thursday February 25, 2010

The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Kidnapped

by Yxta Maya Murray

January 7, 2010

Penguin Group

Kiki and Mish are best friends, but what Kiki doesn’t know is that Michelle Pena was born a gang princess. “Princess P” grew up destined to inherit leadership of the Snakes: a future filled with crime and fear.

Michelle, on the other hand, is a nationally ranked athlete and academic superstar. This is her new life, and she’s finally put her past—and her childhood love for Silver—to rest.

Then Silver helps kidnap both girls, and Michelle has to figure out how to free them both—and reconnect with a future that might now be beyond her reach.

Review:

Your average fifteen-year-old has enough to deal with, especially when it comes to making good decisions. Can you imagine trying to be one type of person: star athlete, brilliant student, loving daughter and gracious friend...all the while begrudging her roots: family and friends she left far behind on the rough streets of Montebello, California.

When Michelle comes face to face with her past she has to make a decision...fix the mistakes made by her brother and mother or rebuff any insinuated obligations and do whats best for her future as a star athlete at an Ivy league prep school with her best friend Kiki.

But as Michelle (AKA Princess P) finds out, like most things in life, her decision won't be that easy and whatever she chooses will ultimately affect not only her but the people she loves. Should she follow the path of the mother (the gangs queen, Reina, who is in prison) who claims to love her, but always keeps her at arms length or stay with her foster pop Frank who Michelle knows loves her despite his claims foster-father insanity.

Her ultimate deciding factor may be Silver, a gang member and the love of her life that she left behind when she went into foster care. He's one of the boys who kidnap her and Kiki...will he ever get over his anger and feelings of abandonment?

I enjoyed this well written urban street lit but was a little unnerved by the ending...I won't give anything away but I'm wondering if there will be a sequel?

Kids who like to read about urban teens, gang life and all that it entails will enjoy this face paced story. There is a lot of street slang and some mature language so the book is best suited for 8th grade and up.

Visit the book website: www.GoodGirlsGuideToGettingKidnapped.com

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

2010-02-24T07:56:00.000-08:00

Wednesday February 24, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday...books I can't wait to read hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spi ne

This weeks pick:

The Turning: Book 1
What Curiosity Kills
by Helen Ellis
May 1, 2010
Sourcebooks Fire

Mary Richards is a normal sixteen-year-old girl living in Manhattan. Well, almost normal. She goes to private school on the Upper East Side, having been saved from a life of squalor by an adoptive family. But she’s also slowly transforming into a cat.

Struggling to hide her physical metamorphosis, Mary discovers that she isn’t alone. A whole race of cat people prowls the streets of Manhattan at night, including Mary’s long-time crush, Nick.

Aside from heightened feline senses, hanging out with Nick is the best thing about discovering her inner kitty. But Mary’s transformation is special and could decide the outcome of a citywide turf war. She must decide whether to embrace her powerful feline side and become a pack leader or go back to being a normal teenage girl. Can she land on her feet or will curiosity be her downfall?

Hmmm....I thought this one sounded interesting, plus cat people have always been a purrrrrfect topic (yes, my attempt at humor :) Plus the cover is very pretty!
Me-yow!

Wherever Nina Lies Online Giveaway

2010-02-23T07:34:00.000-08:00

Tuesday February 23, 2010

Wherever Nina Lies

PAPERBACK BOOK RELEASE

ONLINE GIVEAWAY

BOOK OVERVIEW
Nina was beautiful, wild, and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But, one day, Nina disappeared. Two years later, everyone has given up home that Nina will return, but Ellie knows her sister is out there. If only Ellie had a clue where to look. Then she gets one, in the form of a mysterious drawing. Determined to find Nina, Ellie takes off on a crazy, sexy, cross-country road trip with the only person who believes she’s got a chance—her hot, adventurous new crush. Along the way, Ellie finds a few things she wasn’t planning on. Like love. Lies. And the most shocking thing of all: the truth.

My thoughts on the book:

I really loved this book...it is a great modern day adventure and mystery. Ellie is headstrong and determined to find out the fate of her sister even when everyone else has lost hope. Twists and turns and a truly WOW ending!

Visit the book website HERE

AUTHOR BIO
Lynn Weingarten spends a lot of time writing in coffee shops while occasionally reading strangers’ laptops over their shoulders. In the past she has been a book editor, a barista, a counter girl at a bakery in

Ireland

, a waitress at a bar, and a seller of tiny homemade clay animals. She lives in New York City. Wherever Nina Lies was her first novel. Please visit her online at www.lynnweingarten.com.

Photo by: Jena Cumbo

Prizes!!!

Three (3) winners will receive:

Wherever Nina Lies paperback book

Books are valued at $8.99 each.

Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to participants with a

United States

mailing address only (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

This contest will end Tuesday, March 9, 2010

+1 for commenting (MUST be a follower!)

+2 for each tweet on Twitter

+3 for a sidebar post

+5 for devoting a post about the contest on your blog

Good luck and thanks for entering!

Craft Book Review - Good Mail Day

2010-02-22T10:39:00.000-08:00

Monday February 22, 2010,

Good Mail Day

A Primer for Making Eye-Popping Postal Art

by Jennie Henchcliff & Carolee Gilligan Wheeler
2009 Quarry Books

“What is a good mail day?” A good mail day is a day when, instead of just bills, catalogs, and advertisements, your postal carrier delivers artful, beautiful, personal mail from friends and acquaintances all over the world. Mail art is a collaborative art form with a long and fascinating history populated by famous artists as well as everyday practitioners. The term “mail art” refers to pieces of art sent through the mail rather than displayed or sold in traditional venues. Mail artists often use inexpensive and recycled materials including postcards, collage, rubber stamps, and photocopied images.

Mail art is a truly international activity and a fun way to connect with people in every corner of the globe. Readers will learn to create decorated and illustrated envelopes, faux postage and artistamps, find penpals, make a mail art kit, and much more!

To be honest I had never even heard of this type of "craftiness" until I received this book for review. As I read and reviewed the book it really prompted me to think about the fact that due to how prolific email has become, the postal letter is all but dead.

I mean I'm not completely daft...I realize how much everybody emails each other day to day and that most people pays bills electronically. I just mean that the days of the pen pal, the old fashioned love letter and the "how are you doing" postal letters have pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur. It's one of those things that you know, but don't really think about that much...

It made me kind of depressed. Even to this very day if I see a envelope or package that is handwritten and addressed to me, I get excited! Seriously, does that ever get old? It's like Christmas, a present just for you that makes you feel good, all warm and fuzzy inside!

I had so much fun reading this book and looking at all the beautiful letters that you can create to send to someone you love or care for. Letters that are works of art! Its like sending a letter AND something they can frame all in one little letter!

Like the book states, Mail Art is something everyone can do...you don't have to be an "artist" to have fun with the ideas in this book you just have to want to have fun and be open minded about what art really is and can be.

There are great instructions and ideas and pictures and practically every page. There is also the history of Mail Art and some basic Mail Art rules you should follow...for example:

"Every piece of mail art that comes into your mailbox should receive some sort of acknowledgment in return."

The book also includes a list of basics for the mail art beginner and where to find inspirations for your mail art projects. Do's and don'ts, the "what's up" on postage and Artistamps and a whole lot more!

This book has definitely inspired me to get a pen pal, or start sending mail art letters to people on their birthdays and special occasions in addition to that Hallmark card. Great for all levels of wanna-be artists (I say that because really, you are an artist if you think you are, right?)

There are no actual projects in the book just plenty of inspirational pictures and some cool techniques to try. In addition there are also some blank postcards and stickers in the back of the book!

Review copy sent by publisher and donated to school library.

In a Heartbeat Signed Copy Winner!

2010-02-22T09:36:00.000-08:00

Monday February 22, 2010

In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

Winner of the signed copy is....

LostForWords

Congratulations!

Stay tuned for my next contest which starts tomorrow!

In My Mailbox (30)

2010-02-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

Sunday February 21, 2010

So, without further adieu, the following are books I received this past week...enjoy!

For review:

Exit Strategy

by Ryan Potter

March 1, 2010

Flux

Who are you supposed to look up to when it seems like every adult you know is more screwed up than yourself?

Looming above Zach Ramsey's hometown are the smokestacks of the truck assembly plant, the greasy lifeblood of this Detroit suburb. Surrounded by drunks, broken marriages, and factory rats living in fear of the pink slip, Zach is getting out of Blaine after graduation. But first, he's going to enjoy the summer before his senior year.

And Zach's having a blast until he uncovers dark secrets that shake his faith in everyone, including his best friend Tank (a state wrestling champion), whose 'roid rages betray a shocking habit. Falling in love with Tank's twin sister Sarah, an Ivy League-bound scholar, doesn't exactly make Zach's life any easier.

Eventually, with enough evidence to nail the town's steroid kingpin, Zach is faced with the toughest decision of his life—one that will prove just what kind of adult he's destined to be.

The following are all from the lovely people at Bloomsbury School and Library Marketing:

Deception

by Lee Nichols

May 25, 2010

When Emma Vaile’s parents go missing while away on a mysterious business trip, she’s left all alone in her creepy old house. But her brother’s very cute best friend, Bennett Stern—Emma’s knight in J. Crew armor—arrives unexpectedly to whisk her away to New England. There, Emma settles into his family’s museum-like mansion and enrolls at an old-fashioned private school. She quickly finds friends in the popular legacy crowd at Thatcher and spends her free time crushing on Bennett. But the eerie visions she’s been hiding from everyone have gotten worse. Emma has memories of Thatcher that she can’t explain—it’s as if she’s returning home to a place she’s never been. Finally, Emma confides in Bennett and learns she is a ghostkeeper, a person who can communicate with ghosts. Bennett brought Emma to Thatcher to protect her, but now he needs her help tracking an other-worldly murderer.

A rich New England setting filled with mystery, tradition, and prep-school intrigue make Deception the perfect choice for fans of series like Kate Brian’s Private, as well as all those paranormal fans. The shocking ending will leave readers desperate for book two.

Rules of Attraction

by Simone Elkeles

April 27, 2010

New sparks will fly in the sequel to Simone Elkeles’s breakout book Perfect Chemistry

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

With new characters to fall in love with and the same hot romance found in Perfect Chemistry, Simone Elkeles has crafted another sure-fire hit for teens.

The Fool's Girl

by Celia Rees

July 20, 2010

A lush, epic historical novel by bestseller Celia Rees, with an added Shakespearean twist. Young and beautiful Violetta may be of royal blood, but her kingdom is in shambles when she arrives in London on a mysterious mission. Her journey has been long and her adventures many, but it is not until she meets the playwright William Shakespeare that she gets to tell the entire story from beginning to end. Violetta and her comic companion, Feste, have come in search of an ancient holy relic that the evil Malvolio has stolen from their kingdom. But where will their remarkable quest—and their most unusual story—lead? In classic Celia Rees style, it is an engrossing journey, full of political intrigue, danger, and romance.

This wholly original story is spun from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, and includes both folly and suspense that would make the Bard proud.

Princess of Glass

by Jessica Day George

May 25, 2010

The engrossing companion novel to Princess of the Midnight Ball, with a wicked twist on Cinderella.

Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other’s countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It’s got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.

Little Blog on the Prairie

by Cathleen Davitt Bell

May 11, 2010

Little House on the Prairie? Great book. Horrible idea for a family vacation.

Gen’s family is more comfortable spending time apart than together. Then Gen’s mom signs them up for Camp Frontier—a vacation that promises the “thrill” of living like 1890s pioneers. Forced to give up all of her modern possessions, Gen nevertheless manages to email her friends back home about life at “Little Hell on the Prairie,” as she’s renamed the camp. It turns out frontier life isn’t without its good points—like the cute boy who lives in the next clearing. And when her friends turn her emails into a blog, Gen is happily surprised by the fanbase that springs up. But just when it seems Gen and family might pull through the summer, disaster strikes as a TV crew descends on the camp, intent on discovering the girl behind the nationwide blogging sensation—and perhaps ruining the best vacation Gen has ever had.

Good Behavior: A Memoir

by Nathan L. Henry

June 22, 2010

A must-read for fans of gritty teen memoirs like Tweak and The Burn Journals

Jailed at age sixteen for armed robbery, Nathan Henry was the kind of teenager most parents and teachers have nightmares about. His crime was the culmination of a life lived on the edge: guns and drugs, sex and violence, all set against the ordinary backdrop of a one-stop light town in rural Illinois. Nate’s personal history is both disturbing and fascinating. A rough childhood becomes an adolescence full of half-realized violent fantasies that slowly build to the breaking point. But these scenes alternate with chapters about Nate’s time in jail, where through reading and reflection he comes to see that his life can be different from all he’s known up to this point.

Nathan’s story of his year in jail and the life that led him there combine to create a powerful portrait of an American youth gone bad—and a moving story of redemption.

No and Me

by Delphine de Vigan

August 2010

Parisian teenager Lou has an IQ of 160, OCD tendencies, and a mother who has suffered from depression for years. But Lou is about to change her life—and that of her parents—all because of a school project about homeless teens. While doing research, Lou meets No, a teenage girl living on the streets. As their friendship grows, Lou bravely asks her parents if No can live with them, and is astonished when they agree. No’s presence forces Lou’s family to come to terms with a secret tragedy. But can this shaky, newfound family continue to live together when No’s own past comes back to haunt her?

Winner of the prestigious Booksellers’ Prize in France, No and Me is a timely and thought-provoking novel about homelessness that has far-reaching appeal.

What Momma Left Me

by Renee Watson

July 6, 2010

A heart-tugging debut celebrates one girl’s gift for finding joy

How is it that unsavory raw ingredients come together to form a delicious cake? What is it about life that when you take all the hard stuff and rough stuff and add in a lot of love, you still just might have a wonderful life? For Serenity, these questions rise up early when her father kills her mother, and leaves her and her brother Danny to live with their kind but strict grandparents. Despite the difficulties of a new school, a new church, and a new neighborhood, Serenity gains strength from the family around her, the new friends she finds, and her own careful optimism.

Debut author Renée Watson’s talent shines in this powerful and ultimately uplifting novel.

Poop Happened! A History of the World From the Bottom Up

by Sarah Albee

May 11, 2010

The number one book on “number two” will give kids a whole new perspective on the past

Did lead pipes cause the fall of the Roman Empire?

How many toilets were in the average Egyptian pyramid?

How did a knight wearing fifty pounds of armor go to the bathroom?

Was poor hygiene the last straw before the French Revolution?

Did Thomas Crapper really invent the modern toilet?

How do astronauts go in space?

History finally comes out of the water-closet in this exploration of how people’s need to relieve themselves shaped human development from ancient times to the present. Throughout time, the most successful civilizations were the ones who realized that everyone poops, and they had better figure out how to get rid of it! From the world’s first flushing toilet invented by ancient Minoan plumbers to castle moats in the middle ages that used more than just water to repel enemies, Sarah Albee traces human civilization using one revolting yet fascinating theme.

A blend of historical photos and humorous illustrations bring the answers to these questions and more to life, plus extra-gross sidebar information adds to the potty humor. This is bathroom reading kids, teachers, librarians, and parents won’t be able to put down

Book Review - Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

2010-02-18T09:24:00.000-08:00

Thursday February 18, 2010

Finnikin of the Rock

by Melina Marchetta

February 9, 2010

Candlewick Press

Finnikin was only a child during the five days of the unspeakable, when the royal family of Lumatere were brutally murdered, and an imposter seized the throne. Now a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere’s walls, and those who escaped roam the surrounding lands as exiles, persecuted and despairing, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

In a narrative crackling with the tension of an imminent storm, Finnikin, now on the cusp of manhood, is compelled to join forces with an arrogant and enigmatic young novice named Evanjalin, who claims that her dark dreams will lead the exiles to a surviving royal child and a way to pierce the cursed barrier and regain the land of Lumatere. But Evanjalin’s unpredictable behavior suggests that she is not what she seems — and the startling truth will test Finnikin’s faith not only in her, but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

Okay let me just lay it out on the table...I straight up loved, loved, loved this book! From the opening prologue I was hooked and I didn't just read it, I devoured it.

In the style of Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore, Melina Marchetta spins an epic tale of adventure, intrigue and destinies intertwined. Every page holds something different and I often found myself reading faster and faster to get to the next scene where I would find out something new about a character that would bring me to another "wow" moment.

Finnikin is absolutely swoon worthy and not in a mushy teen-crush kind of way. Think of Mel Gibson in Braveheart...a flawed young man with truth in his heart, someone a girl could depend on. Something that Evanjalin knows as they journey back to their homeland. Let me just say that Evanjalin is a way complex character and leave it at that...

I know I used this word before but this is an epic story...something classics are made of. Marchetta's writing style is a force to be reckoned with and will leave you constantly amazed at the next twist and turn. This story has so much depth and inter-connectedness between characters that I don't want to diminish any of your reading experience by writing too much about it!

Fantasy writing at its best, a story that will keep you enchanted and characters that you won't soon forget. Loved it!

Recommended for 14 years and up due to violence and sexual references.

Review copy sent by publisher and donated to school library.

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

2010-02-17T07:40:00.000-08:00

Wednesday February 17, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday...books I can't wait to read hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spi ne

This weeks pick:

Pegasus

by Robin McKinley

November 2010

A gorgeously-written fantasy about the friendship between a princess and her pegasus

Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pegasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication.

But it’s different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close—so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo—and possibly to the future safety of their two nations.

Sounds great huh! I love Robin McKinley's books and I can't wait to read this one!

Tween Tuesdays (5)

2010-02-16T09:32:00.000-08:00

Tuesday February 15, 2010

Calamity Jack

by Shannon & Dean Hale

Illustrated by Nathan Hale

Bloomsbury

January 2010

Jack thinks of himself as a criminal mastermind with an unfortunate amount of bad luck. A schemer, a trickster ...maybe even a thief? But, of course, he's not out for himself he's trying to take the burden off his hardworking mum's shoulders. She'd understand, right? He hopes she might even be proud.

Then, one day, Jack chooses a target a little more ...'giant' than the usual, and as one little bean turns into a great big building-destroying beanstalk, his troubles really begin. But with help from Rapunzel and other eccentric friends, Jack just might out-swindle the evil giants and put his beloved city back in the hands of the people who live there ...whilst catapulting them and the reader into another fantastical adventure.

A follow up to the graphic novel Rapunzel by the same team of authors/illustrators, Calamity Jack is everything a middle grade graphic novel should be...fun, adventurous and full of crazy characters!

Jack is a bad boy gone good who has come home to rescue his mother and to show her he has changed his nefarious ways (always a good guy at heart, Jack remains flawed but lovable). Evil giants have taken over his home town and its up to Jack and Rapunzel to save the day!

Enough action and the story of Jack and Rapunzel's evolving love story to keep both middle grade boys and girls turning the pages!

Copper
by Kazu Kibuishi
Scholastic
January 2010

Copper is curious, Fred is fearful. And together boy and dog are off on a series of adventures through marvelous worlds, powered by Copper's limitless enthusiasm and imagination.

Each Copper and Fred story in this graphic novel collection is a complete vignette, filled with richly detailed settings and told with a wry sense of humor. These two enormously likable characters build ships and planes to travel to surprising destinations and have a knack for getting into all sorts of odd situations.

Copper's good cheer always smoothes the way---and Fred can usually be won over if there's food involved.

A beautifully drawn collection of previously published web-comics that follow Copper and his dog Fred through a series of adventures in a somewhat quirky-mystical world. For the most part each page is a comic that is its own little narrative, although its easy to see the complete story/theme throughout the book.

I really enjoyed Kibuishi's artistry and the mini-parables of each story. The overall meaning of some of the comics may go over the head of your average middle grade reader but the simplistic dialogue will keep them reading and enjoying this wonderful collection.

Another fun note to this book is that the last few pages are dedicated to author/illustrator Kazu Kibuishi's method of creating his comics which is fun for anyone to discover especially the budding artist!

Missile Mouse: The Star Crusher (#1)

by Jake Parker

Scholastic

January 2010

Missile Mouse, secret agent for the Galactic Security Agency, is a risk taker and a rule breaker, which is why he's in hot water at GSA headquarters. Then RIP, the Rogue Imperium of Planets, kidnaps a scientist who knows about the Star Crusher, a doomsday machine capable of destroying the entire universe.

Time to let loose the mouse!

Missile Mouse battles giant space slugs, corrupt agents, killer bugs, and a pair of shark-headed thugs to save the day (and the scientist!). And when he's sucked into the exploding Star Crusher, he becomes pure energy . . . energy that will consume him unless Missile Mouse can release it and destroy RIP's spaceship fleet in time.

KABOOM!

Secret Agent Missile Mouse doesn't do things by the book and his crazy adventures are what will make this graphic novel a sure-fire hit! Colorful illustrations of wacky Sci-fi creatures and an action filled storyline will keep the attention of the video-playing crowd and even the most reluctant readers!

Soul Screamers Contest Winners!

2010-02-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

Monday February 15, 2010

Here are the winners for The Soul Screamers contest...they will each receive a brand new beautiful copy of My Soul to Save! Congrats to the winners and thanks to everyone who entered!

AlterLisa (Lisa R)

SincerelyEmma (Emma M.)

Krae991 (Kelsey)

Email me ASAP with your addresses!

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

Not many books this week so I'm skipping "In my mailbox" and eating lots of Valentines candy instead :o)

Lets Shake it Up a Bit!

2010-02-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

Friday February 12, 2010

I've seen some other blogs do this lately so I thought I would check too because it is VERY easy for me to get in a rut and do the same boring things over and over because its easy hence the "shake it up" intro...

Anyway, I would really appreciate some input about what you like to see on book blogs. I know that "In My Mailbox" is popular, same with contests and so is "Waiting on Wednesday" and of course it wouldn't be a book blog without reviews but what about the following:

author interviews
author guest blogs
personal "fun" stuff about the blog writer (yours truly)
my deep insights and random stuff (ha ha)
a daily diary of my super exciting life (again ha ha)

See the problem? Help me out people! What would you like to see on a blog that you haven't seen or rarely see? Is there stuff related to the book/library world that you desperately need to know about?

Let me know what you think....please!

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

2010-02-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

Wednesday February 10, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday...books I can't wait to read hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spi ne

Banished
by Sophie Littlefield
October 2010
Delacorte Press

Sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell can’t wait for the day she’ll leave Gypsum, Missouri, far behind, taking only four-year-old Chub, the developmentally-delayed little boy her cruel drug-dealing grandmother fosters for the state money. But when a freak accident in gym class leaves a girl in critical condition, Hailey feels drawn to lay her hands on the injured girl and an astonishing healing takes place.

Before Hailey can understand her new powers, a beautiful stranger shows up…just in time to save her and Chub from hired killers. A desperate race begins, with Hailey as the ultimate prize: there are those who will stop at nothing to harness her gifts to create an undefeatable army of the undead. Now it is up to Hailey and a small but determined family of healers to stand up to the unbelievable and face the unthinkable.

Hmmm...special powers, a beautiful stranger and facing the unthinkable?? Sounds like my kind of book!

Find out more here: www.SophieLittlefield.com

Book Review - All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab

2010-02-09T09:44:00.000-08:00

Tuesday February 9, 2010

All Unquiet Things

by Anna Jarzab
January 12, 2010
Delacorte

Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.

Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.

The intensity of first love, betrayal, envy, kids with gobs of money and a good 'ole who-done-it all wrapped up in one great book...that's what you have with Anna Jarzabs debut novel All Unquiet Things.

From the opening pages I was hooked! A year after the murder, Neily re-visits Empire Creek Bridge, the site of Carly's death. Something just isn't right and he knows it, but are his emotions for Carly clouding his judgment? Everyone keeps telling him to move on but something is stopping him...despite the fact she stomped on his heart the year before she died.

Considering Neily and Audry (who's connection to the murder is that of tabloid television) are on the outs with the "in-crowd" at Brighton Prep, laying low and getting the real-deal on what really happened should be easy right? No such luck...they seem to have obstacles at every turn but this doesn't stop them from finding clues and deeply guarded secrets on their path to finding out who really murdered Carly.

A smarter version of Gossip Girl with a murder mystery twist! A thriller for teens and young adults that will keep you guessing down to the last chapter! You can't beat that right? There's more...a few heart-breaking scenes of love lost and how money and power can twist what we "think" is love.

Best suited for 8th grade and up!

Visit the Website for trailers and more www.AnnaJarzob.com

Contest - Signed Copy of The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz

2010-02-07T21:05:00.000-08:00

Monday February 8, 2010

Win a Beautiful Signed Hardback copy of The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz!

About the book:

With a summer job at Bob & Bob Records in Berkeley, California, teen music junkie Allie is ready for anything. She’s poised to fall in love, catch a thief, and make a mix that’ll break your heart. And when she blogs as The Vinyl Princess, Allie is the sort of mystery girl you can’t resist tuning into. Get ready for the vinyl revolution!

Author Yvonne Prinz, cofounder of Amoeba Music, the world’s biggest independent music store chain, brings readers into the inspired, obsessive, irrepressible heart of a teen who is head-over-heels in love with music. Like a great record, this read will rock your soul and rattle your bones.

I loved this book! Check out my review HERE

Check out The Vinyl Princess blog...Seriously, I check her blog all the time! If you want a source of great music and fun top 10's (my favorite one recently: 10 Songs to Soothe a Broken Heart ) then make sure to check it regularly!

The Vinyl Princess Blog

Okay, now for the contest :o)

+1 for commenting (MUST be a follower!)
+2 for each tweet on Twitter
+3 for a sidebar post
+5 for devoting a post about the contest on your blog

Ends February 22, 2010

Good luck and thanks for entering!