Suffocate by S.R. Johannes
Published by Coleman & Stott
Pages: 30
Ages: Young Adult
Buy It: Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble Nook
Publishers Summary:

For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It’s a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes.

If those responsible find out what she knows, they won’t stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.

Eria’s life has been and will most likely be within the walls of Biome. The world around her is nothing like the way the earth was years ago before the atmosphere became a suffocating toxic wasteland no longer inhabitable by humans. Eria’s father leads the way in attempting to overcome the obstacles they face in trying to return to life as it once was. His scientific endeavors lead him not only to a suit that allows him to walk outside the Biome, but also many secrets the government would rather he not know. Before Eria knows it she’s struggling to unravel secrets she never anticipated and hoping that maybe she might be able to survive to save everyone within the walls of Biome including her friend Asher.

It’s hard to believe that in the matter of thirty pages you could be completely swept away by story, but that’s exactly what happened when I read Suffocate by S.R. Johannes. This story was so engrossing that thinking back on my reading experience makes me wonder how I could imagine it was just under three dozen pages. I’m actually a huge fan of short stories, novellas, and novelettes but not all are created equally. If not done well with the correct balance of dialogue, action and background you simply end up with a very short mess. This wasn’t at all the case with Suffocate. Here is a short story, the beginning of a series of short stories, that I for one am excited to read again.

Part of what makes Suffocate by S.R. Johannes so engrossing are the details. Details about the main character Eria, about the environment surrounding her, about her father and mother, and then of course about her love interest Asher. I’m still so incredibly blown away that so much was packed into such a small amount of pages and that it was done so well. This is a case of extremely good storytelling and great editing, because this could easily have been a four hundred page novel but wasn’t. Everything about Eria and the relationships she had was believable and easy to connect to. Even the love interest within the story isn’t overdone, it’s the perfect balance with everything else going on within this beautifully written novelette.

Suffocate by S.R. Johannes is a short story that packs a punch! Rich with characters that literally come to life before your eyes, this is one young adult science fiction novelette that readers will want to read over and over. I’m a big fan of the recent insurgence of science fiction within the young adult genre and this is one that should be welcomed with open arms. Now I can’t wait to get my hands on the next two in the series, Choke and Exhale, because if they are anywhere close to as good as Suffocate this will prove to be an incredible series. I’d highly recommend picking up Suffocate by S.R. Johannes because of it’s incredible story telling and it’s ability to grab you within a matter of a few pages!

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages 12 and up. A short story that packs a punch! Rich characters, realistic science fiction setting and a love interest that all strike a perfect balance. Pick up Suffocate by S.R. Johannes now!

Find Suffocate by S.R. Johannes for only .99 cents (USD) at the following spots:
Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble Nook | Goodreads

The 2nd novella in the series, CHOKE, is scheduled for Fall 2012. The 3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013.

Thank you so much to the author, S.R. Johannes, for providing a copy of this book for review! Connect with her on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Goodreads!
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our various affiliate relationships.

©2012 There's A Book. All Rights Reserved.

Today I’m really excited to share with you a new monthly feature that Scholastic has started!

About the Mother-Daughter Book Club from Scholastic:

Start a tradition of reading with your daughter with a Mother-Daughter Book Club! Scholastic’s monthly selections will help you choose books that you and your daughter will enjoy!

The book club launched May 1 with 4 titles: Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood, Pie by Sarah Weeks, The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone, and Tomorrow Girls: Behind the Gates by Eva Gray, and there will be 2 new featured titles each month.

Along with book selections, the Mother-Daughter Book Club website also features discussion questions and snack suggestions for your book club meetings and a monthly Skype sweepstakes where you can enter to win a Skype visit from one of the authors at your next book club meeting. May’s sweepstakes author is Augusta Scattergood, author of Glory Be.

I’m so excited to be sharing this with everyone! Obviously, I’m a huge fan of reading with my kiddos and one of the things I look forward to as they get older are opportunities like this one. I love the idea of being able to read a variety of middle grade and young adult books with both of my kiddos and then discussing them. Plus, the added possibility of Skyping with the author of the book we read seems amazing!

Reading with your kiddos when they’re young and as they grow older provides so much more than simply a shared loved of reading I believe. For me at the age they are now it’s changed not only the way I feel about the books I’ve always loved, but it’s enhanced the relationships I have with both of my kiddos. As we discuss and read together we grow together and are more connected through the experiences within the books we love. I’m excited to see how this continues as they grow older. I’m sure they won’t always want to read with mom, but I’ll still try and those are the moments I know we’ll both treasure as they grow up.

Now, thanks to the great people at Scholastic I have an incredible giveaway to share with one lucky There’s A Book reader so that they can kick start their very own Mother-Daughter Book Club if they choose! Take a look:

Giveaway!

One (1) winner will receive copies of all May book club titles:
Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood
Pie by Sarah Weeks
Tomorrow Girls: Behind the Gates by Eva Gray
The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone

This is an amazing set of books and one I’ve already started reading in hopes of passing them along to my book club here locally! Thank you again to Scholastic Press for offering this giveaway and for this fantastic new endeavor! Connect with them on Twitter and on Facebook and at the brand new Mother Daughter Book Club site!

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only and you must fill out the form below to enter. Comments will not count as entries. Also, no purchase is necessary to enter. So, be sure to fill out the form below and good luck!

Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our various affiliate relationships.

©2012 There's A Book. All Rights Reserved.

Howdy everyone! You know how there are certain authors you look up to and idolize like rock stars? For me one of those very authors happens to be the wonderful Catherine Ryan Hyde. I’ve had the privilege of sitting in on a critique weekend with her as well as reviewing a few of her brilliant novels. So when she contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in being interviewed by her I was truly thrilled! Obviously being a blogger I’m usually on the interviewer and not the interviewee, which of course also appealed to me.

This is one interview I’d highly recommend reading! Not just because it’s all about yours truly, but also because (not surprisingly) Catherine taught me a great deal about interviewing. Her questions were wonderful and I had an amazing time sifting through my memories to share some really neat experiences. Many of you have mentioned on my recent survey about enjoying the Turkeybird’s interviews and also some had questions about deciding whether to write negative reviews. Catherine’s interview with me answers all of that and so much more! So I hope you’ll pop over there, take a few minutes to read a bit about me & There’s A Book, and maybe even say hi!

Thank you again to Catherine for this wonderful opportunity!

©2012 There's A Book. All Rights Reserved.

Each week The Broke and the Bookish host this fantastic weekly feature that poses different bookish questions.

This weeks topic? Top Ten Blogs/Sites You Read That AREN’T about Books.

I’m really excited about this one because I have a ton of blogs I absolutely adore that aren’t book related, technically. So, lets get started!

1. Superhero Journal – This is one of the first blogs I ever started reading. Andrea is actually a friend of my mom’s and her organization Mondo Beyondo was something I participated in right before starting this blog. Mondo Beyondo was huge for me. Love love love this site.

2. Chef Messy – Kim is a friend from our husband’s law school days and I adore her blog! In fact I’ve had her guest post here before I love what she does so much. She’s super crafty and always giving me ideas on what new things I should be sewing up. Love her site!

3. Abbie Rufener Photography – Abbie is another close friend of mine from our husband’s law school days. She was the one that took many of the images you see on the site actually! I love checking in with her blog, seeing her gorgeous photos and what she’s been up to. If you live in the DC area you really should have her shoot your photos!

4. Out of the Past ~ A Classic Film Blog – My hubby and I are movie junkies. For quite a while before our kiddos were born we went through a “classics” faze and it’s never really left our system. We love watching old movies when we can and Raquelle’s site is the one I go to when I need a great recommendation!

5. The Perfect Pantry – I’m fairly new to reading this site, but it’s been fantastic! We’ve recently been making the switch to Vegan/Vegetarianism and she has a ton of really easy to make yummy recipes. And when I say a ton, I mean it!

6. Created by Diane – This is actually a food blogger I’ve been reading for quite a long time and her pancake recipe is the one we use every time. You simply have to try it!

7. Handmade by Alissa – I’ve long read Alissa’s blog, actually I read it before it was hosted where it is now. She’s an incredible quilter and so inspirational. Plus, she’s about to have a baby! So exciting!

8. Thoughtful Eating – Another site run by Raquelle from Out of the Past. I love her take on food and the recipes she shares! If you live in the Boston area she also has some great recommendations on where to eat!

9. The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle – This girl knows how to make a cookie look out of this world! On top of that she takes amazing photos and gives you step by step instructions on how to make them yourself. I dare you to go over there and not drool!

10. JCasa *Handmade Blog* – Seriously, Jennifer does it all. Everything! She’s crafty, she’s in a band, she writes recipes and she has kids. I love reading her site because it gives me hope that I can keep moving forward and do all the fabulous things I want to do. A must read!

Now, your turn! Which sites do you visit when you aren’t stuck in a book {blog}?

If you want more details just click on the title and you’ll be taken to my review or Goodreads.

©2012 There's A Book. All Rights Reserved.

This fabulous weekly recap is hosted by Shelia of One Persons Journey Through a World of Books and the kidlit version is hosted by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts. Each week we recap what we’ve read and look at what’s coming up this week. If you’re interested head over to Shelia’s site as well as Jen’s and get involved! It’s a blast and I may even stop by to see what you’re up to!

Here’s what we’ve been up to this week:

Well, I’m officially sick of having allergies! I’m now sick thanks to going outside on Saturday (the first time in two weeks I’d left the house for more than ten minutes). So, here’s to hoping the weather sorts itself out soon! On a positive note I did finish two books today! Yay!

Also, on Friday I shared my first ever Reader Survey! I’m really excited about this and have been loving all the feedback so far. I’d love to hear from more There’s A Book readers, so if you haven’t filled it out already please do! There’s even an Amazon Gift Card giveaway to go along with it as a small incentive. Thanks in advance for filling it out!

Reviewed (Just click on the title to see the Review!):

Events/Randomness:
Top Ten Tuesday: Authors and Books at BEA
2012 Reader Survey

New Giveaways:
Book Publishers 101 Giveaway: The Ship Breaker Series by Paolo Bacigalupi
One for the Murphys Swag Giveaway!
Win a Kindle Fire and An Amazon Gift Card!

What’s up for the week to come:

Reading/Reviewing/Listening:

The Turkeybird and Littlebug are Reading/Reviewing:

So, what are you reading this week? Have any suggestions I should add to my reading pile?

©2012 There's A Book. All Rights Reserved.