The Book Muncher

The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze

2012-06-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

Princess Eliza has inherited a desolate world. Ever since a series of natural disasters that wracked the land in the Seventeen Days, food and other resources have been scarce, dangerous groups of cannibalistic criminals roam the forests, and days of sunshine are rare. But as bad as life gets, it’s only about to get worse with the rise of a supposed revolutionary intent on securing the crown for himself. When the royal family is attacked at Buckingham Palace, Eliza is the only one to escape. Desperate for revenge, she disguises herself to join enemy troops, intent on getting as close as she can to the man who destroyed her family so she can destroy him. But not all is as it seems and it soon becomes clear that there is so much more at stake than petty revenge. Eliza’s trust, her strength, and even her faith in herself will all be tested as she struggles to find a way to save the crown and her country.

The Last Princess has all the makings of a great story, with its deadly intrigues and epic power struggle between the royal crown and revolutionaries. Unfortunately, though, the execution of this story falls a little short. The biggest problem for me was the plot. Though it is certainly entertaining and full of action and excitement, the entirety of the plot felt extremely controlled; that is to say, the sequencing of events didn’t always feel natural, and it seemed like there was always an external, previously unmentioned or irrelevant reason for why important things happened. This made the story rather unsatisfying for me, because every solution to each new problem felt more like the result of chance rather than a product of Eliza’s ingenuity, which is what I would have preferred. Despite this, I did still find the dystopian backdrop to this story fascinating and the overall story still somewhat enjoyable to read.

The Last Princess will appeal to readers who also enjoyed Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, Shadow by Jenny Moss, and The Pledge by Kimberly Derting.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from publisher Little, Brown

Passenger by Andrew Smith is Munch-Worthy

2012-05-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

Best friends Jack and Conner can’t stay away from Marbury. It’s partly because of their obsession with this alternate world and the unresolved war that still wages there. But it’s also because forces in Marbury—including the darkest of the dark, who were not revealed in The Marbury Lens—are beckoning the boys back in order to save their friends . . . and themselves.

The boys try to destroy the lens that transports them to Marbury. But that dark world is not so easily reckoned with. Reality and fantasy, good and evil—Andrew Smith’s masterpiece closes the loop that began with The Marbury Lens. But is it really closed? Can it ever be?

There are both no words and too many words to express how freaking excited I am for this book. When I read The Marbury Lens last summer, I enjoyed it, but as time went on, the story and its strange, disturbing, and enigmatic world grew on me. I admit, now, I am rather addicted to Marbury.

The only potential cure for my ailment? Probably finding myself a copy of Passenger...

But really, in all seriousness, this is not a book any of you will want to miss, and if you still haven't yet read The Marbury Lens and are prepared to be spooked out, then get on it!

Releases October 2, 2012 from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

Cat Girl’s Day Off by Kimberly Pauley

2012-05-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

Natalie Ng comes from a super Talented family. Both her parents and her older and younger sisters all have useful, practical Talents. But Natalie? Yeah, all she can do is talk to cats. It’s not something she’s particularly proud of, and it’s definitely not something she likes to share. In fact, outside of her family, the only two people who know of her skill are her two quirky best friends, Oscar and Melly. And Natalie would like more than anything to keep it that way. But when she stumbles upon a video of a celebrity blogger being attacked by her own cat—and understands the Tiddlywinks’s vicious accusations—she knows she has to do something. So, Natalie begins to investigate a potential celebrity kidnapping that will take her through movie sets, all around Chicago, and nearly to the extent of her sanity. In the end, with two starry-eyed friends, some dubious backup, and an army of clever cats, will Natalie be able to save face and save the day?

Cat Girl’s Day Off is one hilarious story that covers with everything from celebrity gossip and movie stars to quasi-superhero powers and, oh yeah, talking cats. There really isn’t anything not to love about this book. The characters are easy to sympathize with and understand, especially Natalie and her feelings of inadequacy when compared to her Talented family. The plot is completely entertaining with a good balance of everyday awkwardness and more dramatic scenes. And the humor is superb; readers are sure to be immensely amused with Natalie’s dealings with her own cat Meep, the pompous pink cat Tiddlywinks, and her crush Ian’s cat Purr Daddy (or PD for short). I definitely found myself laughing aloud many times while reading Cat Girl’s Day Off, and I’m sure that many other readers will be as entertained, excited, and amused by this fantastic story as I was.

Cat Girl’s Day Off will be enjoyed by fans of Sucks to Be Me, also by Kimberly Pauley, Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez, and Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from Lee & Low Books

Quick Snacks: Wildefire by Karsten Knight

2012-05-26T06:00:00.000-04:00

Every flame begins with a spark.

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

I wanted so much to like this book. I heard (or thought I heard) such great things from other people, the synopsis sounded pretty promising, and the cover was awesome, so I picked it up. Unfortunately, there was just something about Wildefire that didn't quite resonate with me. Ashline's character in particular presented a problem for me: I found her unsympathetic and somewhat inconsistent in her behavior. Additionally, I felt that her Polynesian heritage was a little forced; while I'm all for having more books with POC characters, I prefer it when their heritage is more meaningful instead of an accessory. So while I thought the mythology behind Wildefire was quite interesting, there was just something unbelievable overall that prevented me from really getting into this story.

On a side note, I still want to pronounce the title of this book like the "wilde" in wildebeest, instead of the, more accurate, "wilde" as in Oscar Wilde.

Rating: 2.75

Review copy from Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

Congratulations to...

2012-05-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

Elisquared

who won a signed ARC of A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

Ana Lucía

who won a signed copy of Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

and

Lindsay @ The Literary Darling & Sierra

who each won Wrecked by Anna Davies

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker

2012-05-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

This summer was supposed to be the best summer of Clem’s life, but when she falls for her best friend’s boyfriend and said best friend refuses to speak to her, the summer is looking pretty gloomy. That’s why she doesn’t put up much of a fight when her parents get the bright idea to spend their entire summer on their sailboat. Maybe being surrounded by only her parents and her little sister Olive will be good for her, since they’re the only people who seem to still like her. Clem has resigned herself to a summer of wallowing and self-punishment until she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. Like Clem’s family, James and his father are sailing the river for the summer, and something about James and his unwavering cheerfulness is getting to Clem, in the best way. Maybe, with James’s help, Clem might find the strength to forgive herself and heal her broken heart.

Unbreak My Heart is a sweet and touching summery read from a favorite author of mine. I loved the fun premise of Walker’s Violet on the Runway series as well as her more contemplative look at personal faith in Small Town Sinners, and I immensely enjoyed all of those books. Unbreak My Heart falls somewhere in the middle of those books as a thoughtful twist on a lighthearted summer story. By alternating the story between reflections on the school year where everything went wrong and the summer after, readers get a generous glimpse into a girl who’s struggling to be a good friend and still be true to herself. Walker has this girl’s voice perfectly through Clem’s character, and this really brings Clem, her memories, and her struggles to get past them to life. I love how Walker ends the story on an open yet hopeful note, though I wish there were more interaction between Clem, her best friend Amanda, and Amanda’s boyfriend Ethan after the whole debacle to clear up the drama. Despite this, Unbreak My Heart is still a wonderful love story, personal journey, and summer read.

Unbreak My Heart will be enjoyed by fans of The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott, Stay by Deb Caletti, Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, and Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from NetGalley

Tale of a book signing with Jen Calonita, Kody Keplinger, Cat Patrick, Jennifer E. Smith, & Alecia Whitaker

2012-05-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

As any New Yorker will tell you, it's a huge pain to get from the Upper West Side (where I live) to the Upper East Side. There are no crosstown subways this far north, so either you have to go all the way down or all the way up to the Bronx first or take the bus....yadda yadda yadda, you get the point!

Needless to say, it takes a lot to get me to go to the Upper East Side, but fortunately, an awesome book signing is just the thing! That's why, last Wednesday, I found myself in the UES Barnes & Noble for a panel with five lovely Little, Brown authors: Jen Calonita, Kody Keplinger, Cat Patrick, Jennifer E. Smith, and Alecia Whitaker.

L to R: Cat Patrick, Kody Keplinger, Jen Calonita, Alecia Whitaker, & Jennifer E. Smith

Each author introduced her new or most recent book then discussed a number of things from how they started writing to their writing process to what they're working on next. Then everyone in the audience had the opportunity to ask their own questions.

I had a lovely time chatting briefly with each of the authors, getting my copies of Belles and Revived signed (since I already have signed books from Kody Keplinger, Alecia Whitaker, and Jennifer E. Smith), and chatting with my favorite bookish people, including Mitali of Teen Author Carnival and Kody's agent.

Did I mention that there were cupcakes?

Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin is Munch-Worthy

2012-05-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

And thus, Munch-Worthy returns from a year-long hiatus...

In a thrilling new novel about a reluctant mobster, Anya tries to shatter the ties that bind—with deadly consequences

Since her release from Liberty, Anya Balanchine is determined to follow the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, her criminal record is making it hard for her to do that. Plus, all the people in her life have moved on: Natty has skipped two grades at Holy Trinity, Scarlet and Gable seem closer than ever, and even Win is in a new relationship. But when old friends return demanding that certain debts be paid, Anya is thrown right back into the criminal world that she had been determined to escape. It's a journey that will take her across the ocean and straight into the heart of the birthplace of chocolate where her resolve—and her heart—will be tested as never before.

It's no secret that I loved All These Things I've Done. So, it should be no secret that I am hugely excited for its sequel Because It Is My Blood.

Honestly, that's kind of all I want to say on the matter, but I guess I'll say a little more as to why I am such a Gabrielle Zevin fan. It's because her writing and storytelling are so superb. She has this way of drawing you into her story and making it stick with you for a long time.

And that, is really all I am going to say on this matter...at least until I get to read the book!

Releases September 18, 2012 from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm

2012-05-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Libby Kelting is a self-proclaimed fashionista with a flair for the historical. She’s the kind of girl who loves Jane Austen novels and swoons for Mr. Darcy—but always looks good doing it. She’s never really found a way to combine her dual passions until she becomes an intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum. As the Education and Interpretation Intern, it’s Libby’s job to help run the Girls of Long Ago Camp, where she basically gets to cook and make crafts all day with younger girls as if they were really in 1791. The only thing that makes this even better is that Libby gets to do all this in period dress. But Camden Harbor isn’t turning out to be the glamorous historical adventure Libby dreamed it to be. Not only is she not allowed to use her cell phone, but her fellow Interpretation Intern has it out for her, her roommate is a nerdy smart-alecky obnoxious local reporter, and her chivalrous Mr. Darcy might not be so perfect after all. Oh, and apparently there’s a ghost at Camden Harbor. It seems that this summer is going to be full of surprises.

Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink is a quick and cute summery read. Protagonist Libby is certainly an amusing character to read about. She’s a quirky girl in the sense that she likes both fashion and history, and this combination made for some interesting digressions about the Greek Revival in architecture, when certain articles of clothing went in or out of style in history, and major historical events. However, despite Libby’s vast knowledge of some more interesting aspects of history, she seemed a little dumb otherwise. For example, one of Libby’s small problems is that her uniform short is longer than her longest pair of khaki shorts, making others think she is wearing no pants; instead of getting creative and maybe tucking her shirt into her shorts, Libby just carries on as she has, convinced that this is yet another thing making her summer experience worse. It was little things like this that made me progressively irritated and unsympathetic to Libby’s character. It doesn’t help that the plot is mostly predictable, especially with regards to Libby’s romantic life. Even though the execution of this story could have been much improved, Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink is still a fast, fun read.

Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink may be enjoyed by fans of Past Perfect by Leila Sales and Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s by Kristen Kemp.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from NetGalley

Quick Snacks: Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

2012-05-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life, she’s surprised to realize he’s not so bad—and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance…

I wanted to read this book when I first heard about it almost three years ago, and I even featured it on one of my other sporadic features as Munch-Worthy. From that moment, fast forward about two years: I picked up Give Up the Ghost while interning at Macmillan, read it, and then gave it pretty much no other thought. Why? While I certainly enjoyed reading the story, it didn't leave any sort of impression on me at all. Am I bothered by the fact that I can barely recall actually reading this book (though I am absolutely sure that I did)? Not really. Because Megan Crewe's next book, The Way We Fall, was just too spectacular to let me think anything ill of my Give Up the Ghost reading experience.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from publisher Macmillan

Tale of a book signing with Veronica Roth

2012-05-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

As of only a few weeks ago, I was actually one of the very few people who had not yet read Divergent by Veronica Roth. But when I heard that she would be coming to NYC on May 1, I knew I had to fix that.

And when that illustrious day rolled around, I knew I had to dress up. Unfortunately, there is no photographic evidence of my and author Kody Keplinger's killer Dauntless and Candor outfits, respectively.

Even though Kody and I arrived about an hour early, we weren't even close to being the first people at the Barnes & Noble in Tribeca waiting on Veronica Roth. Fortunately, we snagged decent seats where we sat, anxiously anticipating the moment we had been waiting for.

the lovely and phenomenal Veronica Roth!

Veronica Roth read a short segment from Insurgent (oh yes, more than ever, I cannot wait to have time to read this!) and then took lots of questions from an extremely eager audience. I have to say that it was really awesome seeing so many people so excited about these books and that I am a little bit in awe of Veronica herself.

As much as I loved getting to hear Veronica read and speak about her books and writing, I have to say that getting to see as well as meet so many people was a huge part of what made this event so fun. I had a great time chatting with, however briefly, or just seeing bloggers Mitali from Teen Author Carnival, Sam from Living Little Women, and Rachel from Bookshelf Lust; authors Claire Legrand and Dan Krokos; and lots of amazing editors and agents, including my own most wonderful boss, one of my former bosses from my internship at Lee & Low, as well as Kody's and Veronica's agent. I also had the immense please of meeting cool new people including author Alison Cherry and blogger Kristin from GrowingUp YA.

In all, it was a night to be remembered! (Did you notice my repetitive use of synonyms for "awesome"?)

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

2012-05-10T06:00:00.001-04:00

Mia Price can’t count the number of times she’s been struck by lightning. She couldn’t begin to guess what will happen to her the next time it happens. The one thing she does know is that being struck by lightning makes her feel more alive than she’s ever felt. She craves this intense sensation, but when she realizes the true cost to those close to her and the constant threat of danger that she poses, she and her family move to Los Angeles, a place where lightning rarely strikes. But LA is not the safe haven Mia desperately needs, especially after a major earthquake devastates the city. The aftermath transforms Mia’s new home into a place she can barely recognize, where crumbling ruins line most streets and shantytowns of tents cover the beaches—a place blinded by fear where the only hope for salvation rests in two extreme and opposing cults. Mia finds herself caught between the warnings of one group and the persuasive power of the other, but if the doomsday prophecies are true, then Mia may not have a choice after all—in creating or preventing the largest disaster the world has ever seen, in saving the lives of the people she cares about most, or even in being able to save herself.

Struck is one of those books that reels readers in with its unique premise. Mia’s history of being struck by lightning innumerable times is certainly intriguing, especially with the hint that this history is an indication that Mia has a mysterious power. Unfortunately, I was a little less satisfied with the story itself. I won’t deny that Struck has a fascinating backdrop, that of a nearly post-apocalyptic cityscape, and an engaging plot that is full of interesting and exciting twists, although some were more predictable than others. My issue was that I didn’t think Bosworth delved deep enough into her own story; I wanted to know more about how Mia felt about each complication in her life, the histories of the Followers and the Seekers and how they grew into cults, and how exactly lightning strikes correlated with some sort of elevated inner electrical power in certain people. The plot was interesting, but it felt like it only began to scratch the surface of this scary new world. Additionally, for all that Mia’s story kept amounting to even more dramatic danger and tragedy, the story wrapped up rather too neatly. Nonetheless, Struck is still an enjoyable read from a promising debut author.

Struck will be enjoyed by fans of Fracture by Megan Miranda, Numbers by Rachel Ward, The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, and Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from publisher Macmillan

Congratulations to...

2012-05-09T17:00:00.000-04:00

elizakb

who won a signed copy of Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg & other goodies from Teen Author Festival

Diane

who won a signed copy of The Cupcake Club by Sheryl and Carrie Berk & other goodies

Win Wrecked by Anna Davies

2012-05-08T06:00:00.001-04:00

CONTEST CLOSED

In the wake of a tragic boating accident that killed her friends, 16-year-old Miranda is consumed by guilt. She has no memory of how she managed to survive the crash, only the murky dreams of a strange boy in the dark water. Her only refuge is in the late-night swims she takes alone—until one night on the beach when she meets Christian, a boy who seems eerily familiar, but keeps many secrets.

The more she fights it the faster love pulls her under. Soon she finds herself in over her head when the dangerous true nature of Christian’s secrets rise to the surface.

Wrecked is a seductive contemporary reimagination of The Little Mermaid, with a paranormal twist, from debut author Anna Davies.

Intrigued? Then check out an excerpt here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/88001309/Wrecked-by-Anna-Davies-Extended-Excerpt

(2) lucky winners will receive Wrecked by Anna Davies
courtesy of Simon & Schuster

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Other details:

US mailing addresses only.
Contest ends 5/20/12, at 9 p.m. EST.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered, and only one form submission per person will be counted. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.

Interview with Mary G. Thompson

2012-05-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

What has your experience as a debut author been like so far?
That’s a hard question because the experience is just beginning. But I’ve been amazed by all the support I’ve gotten from my family and friends. Since I wrote Wuftoom, I quit my job as an attorney and went through the New School Writing for Children program. Not one of my family members or friends told me that I was crazy for doing this. Maybe they knew what was best for me before I did. People I haven’t heard from in years have gone out of their way to congratulate me and support me through this process. My New School classmates especially have been there with me every step of the way, even though they haven’t known me for all that long. Basically, all the support I’ve gotten has restored my faith in humanity. People are really pretty good!

What has been the best part of the publishing process for you? the worst?
The Best: It’s been fantastic working with my editor, Daniel Nayeri, at Clarion and my agent, Kate McKean. Both have been behind me and the book 100% and have really taken care of the project at every step.

The Worst: Waiting! I wrote the book in 2007, so it took five years to get it to print. The next one won’t take as long, but the process will never be fast enough.

What were you trying to accomplish when you started writing Wuftoom? What do you feel you’ve accomplished with the finished product?
When I started Wuftoom, I thought it would be a novella, maybe 100 pages. I thought I would get it out of my system and then begin work on a novel. The way I originally conceived it, it would have been more straight “horror” and probably not a middle grade or YA story. As the story came along, Evan became a real, sympathetic person to me, and his story became less about the situation of turning into a monster and more about the emotional transformation from helpless invalid to active decision-maker, for better or for worse for him. So something that was just going to be a quick scare turned into a fully formed character and world.

What inspired you to write about metamorphosis?
Well, that is a mystery. Most of my ideas come to me out of thin air. With Wuftoom, I suddenly pictured the boy, Evan, sitting in his bed in a dark room, covered with membranes, with the creature sliding toward him across the floor. And it became immediately apparent that Evan was turning into one of the creatures. Someone in a critique group once theorized that the book was an elaborate metaphor for puberty. I guess you can take it that way if you want, but that’s certainly not what I intended! I just thought it was an interesting situation. How would you react if it happened to you?

The Wuftoom and Vitflys are certainly very interesting and unique creatures. Where did your ideas for them come from?
When I first pictured the Wuftoom, I was really going for something gross. This creature was supposed to be terrifying for Evan, something he wouldn’t want to be turning into! So they are this sallow pinkish color and covered in membranes that I picture as being like flaps of skin, and they have fangs and pale little glowing eyes, and they are wormlike in that they are bendy and can fold their limbs into their bodies. Of course, there’s more to the Wuftoom than appearances. They don’t seem quite as gross anymore if you are one.

The Vitflys came about because, well, giant bugs are gross too! And they are suitable for pure evil, in my opinion, with their claws and their hairiness and their screeching. Basically, I was going for ugly and otherness and a creature that you would probably realize you shouldn’t trust. They had to match the Wuftoom for grossness but lack the redeeming qualities of the Wuftoom.

What sort of research did you have to do for this novel?
Heh. Well, “research” for something as (hopefully) unlikely as a world full of monsters is really just world building. I tried to make everything as plausible as possible if you accept that there’s really a disease that can turn you into a wormlike creature … and there are a bunch of weird gross talking things living beneath us. I didn’t actually look into whether there is such a disease, though, so for all I know, there really is!

What is the most interesting thing you learned while writing Wuftoom? (This can be about yourself, about writing, or anything at all).
If you have something you really want to do, and you work hard at it, you can succeed. That’s something most kids hear from adults, but by the time we grow up, we often stop believing it. We feel stuck with choices we made or failed to make when we were younger and start thinking that change is just too difficult. When I was writing Wuftoom, I didn’t have any friends in the publishing industry, or an agent, or any support at all. I didn’t even know any other writers. But I decided to write the book and try to get it published. Five years later, it’s coming out, and now I’ve created a support system that will help me keep my career going. It took longer than I wanted it to take, but it happened.

What is the most rewarding part about being a middle grade author?
Imagination! Boy can real life be a drag sometimes. Being an author is like skipping the unpleasant parts. Yes, there’s lots of real life stuff you have to do, like selling the book and promoting it and paying bills, but there’s no feeling like really letting your imagination go and seeing where it can take you. Hopefully there will be some readers who get to enjoy that part of the job with me. I imagine that actually reaching readers will turn out to be the real best part. We’ll find out soon!

If there was one thing you could change about Wuftoom, what would it be?
Ask me in twenty years! Right now, it’s difficult to have perspective. It’s almost like Evan is a real person to me and this book is his life. Okay, not quite. But still, the way it turned out feels like what “really happened.”

What are you working on next?
My next book is a lighter-toned middle grade sci-fi called Escape From the Pipe Men! It’s about a couple of kids who have grown up in an alien zoo and go on an adventure across the universe. There will be many eyes, legs, and antennae. Watch for it in Spring 2013!

Quick Snacks: A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie by Matt Blackstone

2012-05-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

Rene, an obsessive-compulsive fourteen year old, smells his hands and wears a Batman cape when he’s nervous. If he picks up a face-down coin, moves a muscle when the time adds up to thirteen (7:42 is bad luck because 7 + 4 + 2 = 13), or washes his body parts in the wrong order, Rene or someone close to him will break a bone, contract a deadly virus, and/or die a slow and painful death like someone in a scary scene in scary movie. Rene’s new and only friend tutors him in the art of playing it cool, but that’s not as easy as Gio makes it sound.

I ended up picking up this book because I saw the author, Matt Blackstone, at several events around the city and his readings were always hilariously fantastic. So, I exercised my rights as a Macmillan intern and borrowed a copy of A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie from the marketing shelves in my free time... The result was undoubtedly positive. Reading this book was just as funny, sad, and heartwarming as I hoped it would be, based on my previous experiences of hearing Matt read. Rene is such a unique and believable character; getting to see the world from his perspective was such a treat.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Macmillan

Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

2012-05-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

Chloe Camden is just a girl with a big personality and a big heart. So what if she likes to talk a lot? Better to express herself than keep it all bottled inside. And so what if she sometimes pays more attention to vintage shoes than the sucky parts of her life? Every girl needs a pick-me-up once in a while. Chloe’s just living her life the only way she knows when everything starts to fall apart: one of her best friends trashes her reputation, her new school counselor rejects her previously approved junior independent study project, and the fights between her mother and Grams are only escalating. And that leaves Chloe basically friendless and in hostile territory—both old and new. In addition to struggling to keep the peace at home, Chloe finds herself doing promotional work at her school’s radio station, with people who can’t seem to stand her very existence. But no matter how hard things get, Chloe won’t give up on anything—on her Grams, on the radio station, or on being herself.

Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe is a wonderful and utterly sweet story. I was drawn to this book because I’ve always been a fan of stories where the protagonist is forced into a different social sphere, because these stories always so perfectly capture the awkward painfulness and simultaneous bittersweet joy of high school. I am pleased to say that this novel met and quite exceeded my expectations. Chloe is one of those girls whose natural exuberance for life is a little overwhelming in real life, but her unique voice and personality is sure to capture the attention of readers and win them over. Coriell’s development of Chloe’s character felt very natural so that Chloe feels completely realistic throughout the whole story. There is a lot going on in this story, from friendship spats and nasty rumors to Parkinson’s disease and drug abuse. Chloe is really the glue that holds it all together and makes it work so smoothly because, well, this is her story, and life sometimes really is that messy. I found this debut novel to be completely enjoyable; Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe is really a perfectly cute and fun contemporary read.

Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe will be enjoyed by fans of Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern, The ABCs of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro, and Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from NetGalley

Tale of a book signing with Barry Lyga

2012-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I headed over to BookCourt in Brooklyn to see Barry Lyga read from his newest book I Hunt Killers.

Barry Lyga

The event was a little on the smaller side, but it was still nonetheless quite fantastic thanks to an awesome audience and, of course, Barry himself. After reading an, admittedly, rather frightening passage from I Hunt Killers, Barry took questions from the audience and then signed books. I have to say I'm both excited and terrified to start my own copy!

Author Kody Keplinger, which whom I had come to the event, had a great time after the event was over chatting with Barry and one of my favorite Little, Brown people. So much fun, in fact, that we all stayed in the bookstore long after we had other places to be...

I'm so glad that I got to go to Barry's event at BookCourt since I missed his earlier event in Brooklyn as well as his later event at my usual bookstore haunt, Books of Wonder (I know, so unusual for me!). This trek was definitely worth it!

Win A Midsummer's Nightmare and Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

2012-04-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

CONTEST CLOSED

To celebrate the upcoming release of A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger, I have some of her books to give away!

(1) really lucky winner will receive a signed ARC of A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

and

(1) lucky winner will receive a signed copy of Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Other details:

US mailing addresses only.
Contest ends 5/15/12, at 9 p.m. EST.

Teen Lit Day and World Book Night

2012-04-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

The month of April has been a pretty exciting one in terms of celebrating everything books and YA. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about or can't infer from the title of this post, I'm referring to both Teen Lit Day (Apr 12) and World Book Night (Apr 23). Both days are essentially dedicated to promoting literacy, whether specifically in teens or in anyone, and I am proud to say that I participated in both.

For Teen Lit Day, I was one of many who Rocked the Drop. That is, I left a bunch of books at random public places for other readers to take. I have to say that I had a lot of fun devising locations in which to leave my books, actually dropping them off, and passing the same locations later and realizing that someone had taken my book! (Also, the knowledge that I would own 8 less books by the end of the day was also a huge motivator as well!)

Here's some photo documentation of how I Rocked the Drop:

some pigeons overlooking How to Make a Bird by Martine Murray in Riverside Park;
only now to I realize how appropriate that sounds

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan outside Milbank Hall on Barnard's campus

Love? Maybe. by Heather Hepler inside the Diana Center on Barnard's campus

Meridian by Amber Kizer in a tree on Lehman Lawn on Barnard's campus

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs in Riverside Park

a signed copy of First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci outside Barnard Hall on Barnard's campus

The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki on the Columbia Sundial on Columbia's campus

and last but certainly not least, Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick at the feet of Alma Mater on Columbia's campus; I have to say that this was my favorite and perhaps most appropriate Drop of the day!

Clearly, most of these books were left around the campuses of Barnard and Columbia, because, as it was a school day, I didn't really have the opportunity to go elsewhere! At the very least, I hope I made some college students happy!

Also, though perhaps somewhat unnecessary, I decided to include a little note with each book that read "Take me please! I'm free!" in the hopes that would encourage the random passerby to happily pick up the book. I know if I were just walking around NYC and saw a book left on a bench, I probably wouldn't just take it for fear of, well, basically anything unsavory...

This month, I also signed up to be a Giver for World Book Night, which basically meant that I got a box full of 20 special copies of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie to distribute to reluctant readers.

my box full of books!

one lovely special edition of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

When I decided to take part in this event, I figured that where else is there a huge concentration of reluctant readers than a college campus? As a college student, I know that free time is hard to come by and that the last thing most students want to do in that time is read more. However, I also know as a book lover that the right book can get anyone to read.

my Giver box, now empty!

So I distributed my books in public spaces in my dorm building and sent out some emails! Hopefully, my fellow Barnard students will love this book as much as I did!

Supergirl Mixtapes by Meagan Brothers

2012-04-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

Maria can’t wait to escape from her small southern hometown. Things have been going downhill for a while, and Maria is starting to feel like everyone she could count on is going away. She feels like she needs to get out of there too, so her father’s permission to visit her estranged mother in New York City is a blessing. And so what if the big city is a little scary and maybe a little too much for Maria to handle on her own? She would gladly brave the subways ad busy streets in order to see her mom again. But the more time Maria spends with her mom, she starts to question whether her own mother would go so far for her. It’s been great going to concerts and being immersed in the local music scene, but it hasn’t been so great learning the dirty little secrets Maria’s mom tried so hard to keep hidden. Maria will have to figure out what exactly it is she’s looking for in New York City—and whether she can find it—before it’s too late to turn back.

Supergirl Mixtapes is a wonderful character-driven coming of age novel. Maria is a vivid protagonist who is motivated by her love of music. Music isn’t necessarily what completely defines her, but it plays a huge role in her everyday life and is sometimes just what she needs to get through the day. Brothers does a fantastic job developing Maria’s character and the backdrop for her city adventures. It took me a little while to realize that Supergirl Mixtapes was set in the 90s, but once I did, it was really easy to get into the rhythm, so to speak, of the story. I was actually surprised that I didn’t feel let down by the ending of the story, because the plot comes in around in a full circle. I’m usually irritated when its seems like nothing really happened. But this just further goes to show how invested I became in Maria’s character, because that’s where all the real growth happened. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed or appreciated reading about an episode in a character’s life as much as I did in Supergirl Mixtapes, and I thank Brothers for that.

Supergirl Mixtapes will be enjoyed by fans of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert, Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly, and Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher Macmillan

Congratulations to...

2012-04-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

Allie Jones & Pearl

who each won The Book Club Cookbook

Nancy & Leanne

who each won an ARC of Supergirl Mixtapes by Meagan Brothers

and

Nicole A

who won The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

Introducing Quick Snacks: The Reviews that Slipped through the Cracks

2012-04-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

It happens to the best of us. You know, not writing a book review. This actually happened to me a lot last summer, since I read so many books so quickly, it was nearly impossible to collect my thoughts between each book, let alone formalize them into a review.

That's where Quick Snacks comes in.

What is Quick Snacks, you ask? Why, it's a feature that encompasses all of the Reviews that Slipped through the Cracks. I've known for a while that I've wanted to do such a feature; the hardest part, honestly, was naming it! I was so torn between Quick Snacks and Bite-Size Portions...but clearly, I decided to go with the former (it helps that Quick Snacks rhymes with its subheading, the Reviews that Slipped through the Cracks!).

So here's how things will go: every so often I'll feature one (or more!) previously read but unreviewed title(s) and include its jacket summary, a few candid sentences with my thoughts, a rating, and nothing more. Basically, it'll be like the title says, a really quick snack!

It's easy for me and easy for you! Now let's do some snacking...

Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

2012-04-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

At the New York City High School of the Creative and Performing Arts, almost everything is a competition. From getting a part in the next school production to being selected for a showcase to auditioning to even attend the school, competition is both a pressure and a challenge to be the best. For four seniors, this competition has never been fiercer or more personal. Emme is a talented songwriter, but it’s her friend Sophie who always gets the spotlight, since she’s the performer. Emme tells herself she likes it better this way, but lately, she hasn’t been so sure, and that makes Sophie nervous. Sophie knows she’s the one who’s supposed to be the big star, and she will stop at nothing to get there, even if it means stepping on a few people to get to the top. Carter, a former child star, thought that attending CPA would make it easier to live a normal life, but with his girlfriend Sophie and it seems everyone else pressuring him to stay in the spotlight, he’s not so sure that’s possible. Ethan is one of the best songwriters at CPA, but all his inspiration comes from all the relationships he’s sabotaged, and no matter how much he respects his friend Emme, he doesn’t trust himself to not do the same to her. As graduation, college, and the world beyond loom ever closer, these four friends will have to face themselves and each other and determine what’s most important: dominating the spotlight, or sharing it with others who matter.

I always find stories about or related to the performing arts to be so fun and interesting to read because they explore a side of life that I don’t normally experience. Set at CPA, Take a Bow certainly does this extensively by offering readers a peek into the lives of four high school students who are also actors, singers, songwriters, musicians, and performers. I loved being able to see Emme, Sophie, Carter, and Ethan in their natural element and particularly how they each responded to the pressures that accompany a life in performing arts. Where I was a little disappointed, though, was with regards to the characters themselves. I initially thought that the pressure of senior year would cause these friends to splinter and finally come back together, but that’s not quite the case. While Emme, Carter, and Ethan do grow as characters, Sophie does not and remains almost completely unlikable throughout the story. Sophie’s lack of growth was immensely unsatisfying to me as the reader, although it is still realistic within the story. Regardless of this, though, I still found Take a Bow to be overall a quick and entertaining read full of the grit and glamour of the world of performing arts.

Take a Bow is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci, The Comeback by Marlene Perez, and The Darlings Are Forever by Melissa Kantor.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Win a signed copy of The Cupcake Club by Sheryl & Carrie Berk

2012-04-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

CONTEST CLOSED

Here's your chance to win a delicious-looking book for younger readers, along with some goodies!

Meet Kylie Carson.

She's a fourth grader with a big problem. How will she make friends at her new school? Should she tell her classmates she loves monster movies? Forget it. Play the part of a turnip in the school play? Disaster! Then Kylie comes up with a delicious idea: What if she starts a cupcake club?

Soon Kylie's club is spinning out tasty treats with the help of her fellow bakers and new friends. But when Meredith tries to sabotage the girls' big cupcake party, will it be the end of the Cupcake Club?

This sweet book even includes cupcake recipes for every eager baker and sweet tooth out there!

(1) lucky winner will receive a signed copy of The Cupcake Club by Sheryl & Carrie Berk and a Cupcake Club measuring spoon (see above)
courtesy of Sourcebooks

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Other details:

US/Canadian mailing addresses only.
Contest ends 5/01/12, at 9 p.m. EST.