tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448Sat, 03 Jan 2026 20:05:41 +0000book reviewreadingDebut Author Challengebook trailerbonus videoaudiobookwritingvideosReader's Cornergraphic novelNaNoWriMorealisticcontestsparanormalcatsscience fictionrevisiongoalsTeens Top Tenfilmfree downloadsNeil GaimandiversityhumormysteryALALGBTQconferencehorrorlibrary funprocrastinatingresearchAcross the UniverseAll Hallow's ReadAngelfireCory DoctorowElizabeth WeinLibba BrayLittle BrotherMarissa MeyerMegan McCaffertyNetGalleyThink Outside the Box Inside the BoxYALSAanthologybiographycharacter buildingdatabasesfairy tale retellinghistorical fictioninspirationqueriesrejectionromancescreenplaysstop wordssummersummer reading programtelevisionvomit draftwebsitesA Breath of EyreA Thousand Pieces of YouA Wrinkle in TimeA.S. KingAaron HartzlerAlteredAmy K. NicholsAndrew SmithAnna BanksAnya's GhostArin GreenwoodAyun HallidayBeautiful Music for Ugly ChildrenBeauty QueensBefore My EyesBeth RevisBetween Shades of GrayBlake NelsonBrent CrawfordBrian MooreBubble WorldBumpedBushman LivesButterCardboardCarol SnowCaroline BockCarrie ArcosCarter Finally Gets ItCat PatrickCathleen Davitt BellCece BellCharles DickensChristina KatzCinderClaudia GrayCode Name VerityCoralineCourtney Allison MoultonCrystal AllenDangerousDaniel James BrownDaniel KrausDaniel PinkwaterDare You ToDays of Blood & StarlightDerek Kirk KimDoctor WhoDon't Expect MagicDoug TenNapelDownton AbbeyEden WestEl DeafoElana JohnsonElisa LudwigEntwinedEoin ColferErin Jade LangeEve Marie MontExquisite CorpseFiona WoodForgive Me Leonard PeacockFred AstaireGary GhislainGene Luen YangGeniusGet Known Before the Book DealGregory MaguireHG WellsHalloweenHarry PotterHeather DixonHelen SimonsonHolly BlackHow I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien GIrlfriendHow Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized TrophyI Remember YouInnocent DarknessIt Gets Better ProjectJennifer ArcherJennifer RushJenny HubbardJessica Darling's It ListJonathan FriesenJosh SundquistKaren HealeyKaren HesseKaren Thompson WalkerKari LunaKarsten KnightKate AtkinsonKathy McCulloughKatie DaleKatie McGarryKristin Cronn-MillsLaini TaylorLandlineLaura BickleLaura BuzoLauren MyracleLauren OliverLife After LifeLindsey BarracloughLong LankinLost VoicesLove and Other Perishable ItemsMaggie StiefvaterMajor Pettigrew's Last StandMaria SempleMarisha PesslMarkus ZusakMaryrose WoodMatthew QuickMaurice SendakMaydayMcCormick TemplemanMelissa MarrMen of the StacksMichael BuckleyMichelle HodkinMike HolmesMorris GleitzmanMorteMr. Penumbra's 24-Hour BookstoreNancy FarmerNationNational Library weekNight FilmNow That You're HereOf PoseidonOncePanicPaper Covers RockPatricia McCormickPeanutPenelope BagieuPete HautmanPhilippa RicePossessionPretty CrookedProject GutenbergRachel SearlesRags and BonesRaina TelgemeierRainbow RowellRapture PracticeRay BradburyReality BoyRebecca SklootRobert RepinoRobin SloanRose Under FireRottersRoyal WeddingRuta SepetysSCBWISafekeepingSarah DessenSarah PorterSarah VowellSave the EnemyScarletScott McCloudSecret CodersSeinfeldSend Me a SignShannon HaleShelley CoriellSherlock HolmesSistersSoldSomeone Else's LifeSomething Like NormalSoppyStephanie TromlySteven T. SeagleSuzanne LazearTeen Titans Earth OneTeeth: Vampire TalesTeresa TotenTerry PratchettThe Age of MiraclesThe Book ThiefThe Boys in the BoatThe Coldest Girl in ColdtownThe DivinersThe Hallowed OnesThe Hunger GamesThe Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksThe Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious HowlingThe Infinite Moment of UsThe LeftoversThe Little WoodsThe Lord of OpiumThe Lost PlanetThe Night CircusThe Ocean at the End of the LaneThe OriginalsThe Prince of VeniceThe Raven BoysThe Reluctant AssassinThe SculptorThe Theory of EverythingThe Time MachineThe Unbecoming of Mara DyerThe Unlikely Hero of Room 13BThere Will Come a TimeThrough Her EyesTiffany SchmidtTim BurtonTim GunnTim PrattTom PerrottaTrish DollerTrouble Is a Friend of MineTune Book 1: Vanishing PointTwitterUndertowWe Should Hang Out SometimeWelcome Caller This Is ChloeWhat Happened to GoodbyeWhen We WakeWhere'd You Go BernadetteWickedWildefireWildlifeWingerWordleWorld Book NightWriteOnConYA ConfidentialYallWestaction planbanned booksblogsbook review policychildren's literaturedeadlinesfantasyfestivalline readinglistsmarketingnamesoutlinespenguinsplatform buildingplaylistsspeculative fictionsportsstorytellingvolunteerword countwriter's blockwriting promptThe writing life for librarians and other book lovers.http://libwriter.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-5565561596465437059Sun, 05 Aug 2018 20:42:00 +00002018-08-05T13:42:27.422-07:00rejectionwriting So I had a think about what I wanted for this blog. I realized that the name I chose for it is the answer. Things about writing, things about being a librarian, these are the subjects that I have something to say about. And when I think I have something worthy to share, I will. Which brings me to ... Schrodinger's Submission. I was talking to a friend about how http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2018/08/schrodingers-submission.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-3244454948409721373Mon, 16 Jul 2018 04:22:00 +00002018-07-15T23:41:17.455-07:00writing If you've been following my blog, I'd be stunned. There's a huge gap between my last post and now. Because life. So I'm doing a rethink of what I want this blog to be. What I have to say that's worth my time and yours. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them. Until next time, Monicahttp://libwriter.blogspot.com/2018/07/what-now.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-3354461106094033833Mon, 06 Mar 2017 02:35:00 +00002017-03-05T18:35:47.189-08:00book reviewrealisticTeresa TotenThe Unlikely Hero of Room 13B Title: The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B Author: Teresa Toten Publisher: Delacorte Press Publication Date: March 10, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-0553507867 304 pp. ARC provided by publisher If this gem of a book slipped your notice when it first came out, go ahead and put it on your TBR pile. It's one of those sad, funny, honest, and ultimately optimistic contemporary YA novels that remind you http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-unlikely-hero-of-room-13b-book.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-1399381054809181708Sun, 01 Jan 2017 22:44:00 +00002017-01-01T14:44:11.577-08:00videos Now that the shitstorm that was 2016 is over, it's time to greet the New Year with some hope. I have sorely neglected this blog, but I hope to do better this year. In fact, that's pretty much my resolution for the year. To do better. Not perfect. But better. Better will do. 2016 isn't something to put behind me, but something to learn from. So here's a bit of optimism for 2017: http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2017/01/good-morning-2017.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-2385467821179996401Mon, 25 Jul 2016 00:19:00 +00002016-07-24T17:19:58.039-07:00book reviewbook trailerEden WestPete Hautmanrealistic Title: Eden West  Author: Pete Hautman Publisher: Candlewick Publication Date: April 14, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-0763674182  320 pp. ARC provided by publisher This is a book that could be confused for dystopia at first glance. Jacob lives in the community of Nodd, home to the people known as the Grace. Their prophet, who has a penchant for young wives, says that the Grace will be http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2016/07/eden-west-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-4450011293583708366Sun, 26 Jun 2016 19:07:00 +00002016-06-26T12:07:13.776-07:00bonus videoTeens Top Ten Hey everyone! Summertime is the perfect opportunity to catch up on the Teens' Top Ten nominees. Check out the video below for the 2016 nominees. Happy reading! http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2016/06/2016-teens-top-ten-nominees.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-940296144895091595Sun, 15 May 2016 22:52:00 +00002016-05-15T15:52:09.529-07:00bonus videoGene Luen Yanggraphic novelMike HolmesmysterySecret Coders Title: Secret Coders Author: Gene Luen Yang Illustrator: Mike Holmes Publisher: First Second Publication Date: September 29, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-1626720756 96 pp. ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley Secret Coders is exactly the kind of book I love to booktalk, especially when promoting Summer Reading Club. It has a mystery, it has a diverse cast, it has basketball, it has a friendship http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2016/05/secret-coders-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-8082560400709946602Sun, 06 Mar 2016 22:59:00 +00002016-03-06T15:02:30.003-08:00book reviewMichael BuckleyparanormalromanceUndertow Title: Undertow Author: Michael Buckley Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Publication Date: May 5, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-0544348257 384 pp. ARC provided by publisher Undertow by Michael Buckley is a Romeo/Juliet story about a human girl named Lyric and a sea prince named Fathom set in modern day New York. It's not subtle in its parallels to current immigration fears as the sea folk knownhttp://libwriter.blogspot.com/2016/03/undertow-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-8441741729642091421Sun, 24 Jan 2016 19:38:00 +00002016-01-24T11:38:59.783-08:00audiobookbook reviewbook trailerEoin Colferscience fictionThe Reluctant Assassin Title: The Reluctant Assassin Author: Eoin Colfer Narrated by: Maxwell Caulfield Publisher: Listening Library Publication Date: May 14, 2013 ISBN-13: 978-0804123358 Listening copy via Sync Eoin Colfer is most well known for the Artemis Fowl series, a series I tried and never really got into.  But since the good people at Sync offered The Reluctant Assassin, I thought I'd give this http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-reluctant-assassin-audiobook-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-3908800248230410683Sun, 03 Jan 2016 20:09:00 +00002016-01-03T12:09:20.494-08:00cats Happy New Year! Those two fine looking cats are Elwood and Jake. Litter mates, trouble makers, and cutie pies. And what better way to celebrate the New Year than with some random cat videos! First, there's Cat + Monkey:   Next, there's Dogs Annoying Cats with Their Friendship: Finally, some solid reasons on why You Should Get a Second Cat: http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2016/01/random-cat-videos-iv.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-2511936555955855480Sun, 01 Nov 2015 20:24:00 +00002015-11-01T12:24:49.730-08:00book reviewmysteryStephanie TromlyTrouble Is a Friend of Mine Title: Trouble Is a Friend of Mine Author: Stephanie Tromly Publisher: Kathy Dawson Books Publication Date: August 4, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-0525428404 336 pp. ARC provided by publisher There are hi-jinks aplenty in this screwball mystery by Stephanie Tromly. Zoe is the new kid at school when she meets Digby, a weird, smart, completely impossible boy who drags her into an investigation of a http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/11/trouble-is-friend-of-mine-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-2875868941279191251Sun, 11 Oct 2015 18:07:00 +00002015-10-11T11:07:09.800-07:00book reviewCathleen Davitt BellI Remember Youromance Title: I Remember You Author: Cathleen Davitt Bell Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers Publication Date: February 10, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-0385754552 320 pp. ARC provided by publisher Juliet is a good student who has never had a boyfriend before. So when hockey player Lucas tells her he remembers their first kiss, she's not sure what to make of him. Cathleen Davitt Bell creates a premisehttp://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/10/i-remember-you-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-8191561925213768513Sun, 23 Aug 2015 18:07:00 +00002015-08-23T11:07:18.916-07:00readingTeens Top Ten It's that time of the year again! Voting has opened up for Teens' Top Ten nominees! Get the vote out to teens! Voting will close at the end of Teen Read Week, which is October 24th, so there's still time to catch up on the titles you haven't read yet. Teens can vote here. This year's nominees are: Alsaid, Adi. Let’s Get Lost. Harlequin Teen. Armentrout, Jennifer L. Don’t Look Back. http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/08/teens-top-ten.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-8318628165125496716Sun, 16 Aug 2015 19:27:00 +00002015-10-11T11:11:53.367-07:00audiobookbook reviewbook trailerhorrorMarisha PesslNight Film Title: Night Film Author: Marisha Pessl Narrated by: Jake Weber Publisher: Random House Audio Publication Date: August 20, 2013 ISBN-13: 978-0307932655 Listening copy via local library Marisha Pessl's debut novel, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, was a hot read a few years ago. I read it and thought it was intelligent and intricately plotted, but overall a meh from me in terms of being http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/08/night-film-audiobook-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-8308661139694782674Sun, 02 Aug 2015 19:15:00 +00002015-08-02T12:15:50.663-07:00biographybook reviewbook trailerJosh SundquistWe Should Hang Out Sometime Title: We Should Hang Out Sometime Author: Josh Sundquist Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Publication Date: December 23, 2014 ISBN-13: 978-0316251020 336 pp. ARC provided by publisher Josh Sundquist is a Paralympian, motivational speaker, and YouTuber who's not so good with the ladies. This biography tells the tale of all the girls he's loved before (or at least crushed onhttp://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/08/we-should-hang-out-sometime-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-1878503511883621411Sun, 26 Jul 2015 19:24:00 +00002015-07-26T12:24:56.392-07:00book reviewExquisite Corpsegraphic novelPenelope Bagieu Title: Exquisite Corpse Author: Penelope Bagieu Publisher: First Second Publication Date: May 5, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-1626720824 128 pp. ARC provided via NetGalley Fun fact: "Exquisite Corpse" was a game invented by Surrealists where a piece (of art, of literature) was constructed by each participant adding to what the earlier participant had created.   This French import by graphic http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/07/exquisite-corpse-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-4434672242415608295Sun, 12 Jul 2015 20:21:00 +00002015-07-12T13:21:03.774-07:00book reviewMorteRobert Repinoscience fiction Title: Mort(e) Author: Robert Repino Publisher: Soho Press Publication Date: January 20, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-1616954277 368 pp. ARC provided by publisher "I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords."  Kent Brockman Mort(e) by Robert Repino was an ARC I picked up at last summer's ALA Annual Conference and I finally found the time to read it. I was intrigued by its animal http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/07/morte-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-4934073111990923840Sun, 05 Jul 2015 18:44:00 +00002015-07-05T11:44:17.129-07:00audiobookbook reviewHG Wellsscience fictionThe Time Machine Title: The Time Machine Author: H.G. Wells Narrated by: Sir Derek Jacobi Publisher: Listening Library Publication Date: June 11, 2013 Listening copy via Sync H.G. Wells' The Time Machine is one of those science fiction classics that I just never got around to reading, so I thought listening to a free Sync copy would be a perfect way to finally get around to it. I've seen the Hollywood http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-time-machine-audiobook-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-3575181989418145828Sun, 21 Jun 2015 18:37:00 +00002015-06-21T11:37:51.534-07:00audiobookLandlineRainbow Rowell Title: Landline Author: Rainbow Rowell Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman Publisher: Macmillan Audio Publication Date: July 8, 2014 ISBN-13: 978-1427239327 Listening copy via public library Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park is still crazy popular, and maybe one day it'll be in the library long enough for me to check it out. In the meantime, I listened to the audiobook of Landline. Landline isn't http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/06/landline-audiobook-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-8974407492332971839Sun, 14 Jun 2015 22:17:00 +00002015-06-14T15:59:36.750-07:00Beautiful Music for Ugly Childrenbook reviewbook trailerKristin Cronn-MillsLGBTQ Title: Beautiful Music for Ugly Children Author: Kirstin Cronn-Mills Publisher: Flux Publication Date: October 8, 2012 ISBN-13: 978-0738732510 288 pp. Copy provided via publisher I picked up a copy of this title (signed by the author!) at the ALA Annual Conference last year, and though it's taken me awhile to get to it on my TBR pile, I am absolutely in love in with it. Beautiful Music forhttp://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/06/beautiful-music-for-ugly-children-book.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-4720588487569959022Sun, 24 May 2015 20:09:00 +00002015-05-24T13:09:53.743-07:00Amy K. Nicholsbook reviewbook trailerNow That You're Here Title: Now That You're Here Author: Amy K. Nichols Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers Publication Date: December 9, 2014 ISBN-13: 978-0385753890 304 pp. ARC provided by publisher Here's another book in the current parallel universes mini-trend, Now That You're Here by Amy K. Nichols. There's dual narration by Danny, a street artist in Phoenix who lands in his doppleganger's body http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/05/now-that-youre-here-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-6197447948402307001Sun, 10 May 2015 19:57:00 +00002015-05-10T12:57:28.341-07:00audiobookfree downloads It's that time of the year again, when the good people at Sync offer a weekly selection of YA audiobooks paired with classic titles. If you don't have OverDrive Media Console, you'll need to install if, but Sync offers a handy link to that on its website. Check out this year's offerings: May 7-14:   Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/05/free-audiobooks-people.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-6548448808535333637Mon, 04 May 2015 00:42:00 +00002015-05-03T17:42:09.377-07:00A Thousand Pieces of Youbook reviewClaudia Gray Title: A Thousand Pieces of You Author: Claudia Gray Publisher: HarperTeen Publication Date: November 4, 2014 ISBN-13: 978-0062278968 368 pp. ARC provided by publisher A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray is the first in her new Firebird series, a rollicking, action-packed novel about love and revenge across parallel universes. Marguerite Caine is an artist in a family of scientists. http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-thousand-pieces-of-you-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-4521468476691202441Sun, 19 Apr 2015 18:52:00 +00002015-04-19T11:58:17.091-07:00audiobookbook reviewPatricia McCormickSold Title: Sold Author: Patricia McCormick Narrated by: Justine Eyre Publisher: Tantor Audio Publication Date: November 26, 2012 Listening copy via Sync Sold by Patricia McCormick was a National Book Award finalist, a lyrical, heartbreaking story about Lakshmi, a thirteen-year-old girl who is sold by her stepfather into the sex trade. Justine Eyre does a phenomenal job narrating Lakshmi's story,http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/04/sold-audiobook-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143687555740363448.post-16059151554921906Mon, 13 Apr 2015 01:41:00 +00002015-04-12T18:41:46.980-07:00festivalYallWest YALLWEST StoryMob Books for sale Whew! The first ever YALLWEST books festival is over! Two days of YA madness with over 80 authors, a couple thousand attendees, and tons of books! I volunteered to help out on both days, so I didn't go to any of the panels. But that didn't mean I didn't get to meet people and have fun! Scrabble time I was assigned to the gaming area, playing http://libwriter.blogspot.com/2015/04/yallwest-2015.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0