Laurisa White Reyes's Blog, page 123
July 5, 2013
DRAGONS: GOOD VS. EVIL?
What is it about dragons?
The first dragon I fell in love with was Smog from J.R.R. Tolkein's The Hobbit. I read the book when I was about twelve and thought Smog was the coolest bad guy. He was massive, he loved gold, he could breath fire, and he could talk. But he had weaknesses, too, like he was really old and tired, and he had that missing scale that made him vulnerable, just like Achilles and his heel.
The next dragon to get under my skin was in the 1980's fantasy flick 'The Dragon Slayer' starring Sir John Gielgud and Peter MacNichol. Now that is one nasty dragon. In order to pacify it, the local king sacrifices a virgin to it once a year. But when his own daughter, the princess, discovers that her name has been left out of the lottery, she heroically steps in as this year's sacrifice. The scenes with the dragon attacking the previous virgin and the priest who accompanies her, and with baby dragons devouring the princess still give me the willies. It's still one of the best bad dragon movies ever made, in my opinion.
But then something went wrong. Books started writing about nice dragons. Dragons that are man's best friend, kind of like overgrown dogs. Cornelia Funke's Dragon Rider and Christopher Paolini's Eragon, and even that campy kids' movie 'The Neverending Story' and the Luck Dragon come to mind. I never liked these dragons (though the books are great!) Dragons that are pleasant and friendly just don't seem natural. Thank goodness for J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for bringing bad dragons back into good standing.
When I started writing The Rock of Ivanore I knew I wanted dragons in it. When the port city of Dokur is invaded by a fleet of Hestorian ships, the enemy's weapon of choice are dragons. They swoop over the city setting buildings a flame and scavenging on the dead and dying. In essence, my dragons are what dragons are meant to be--dangerous, vicious, and evil incarnate.
Dragons make a brief appearance in my next book The Last Enchanter. Dragons are not native to the Isle of Imaness, being found only on the mainland of Hestoria where they are hatched and trained for battle. One dragon, however, is being held in the Fortress prison in Dokur. We only see it once in the book, but dragons are an ever-present entity. We are also introduced to the dragon's nemesis, the gryphon, which is the guardian of the Seer. (More on that in a future post.)
Dragons will continue to be prominent figures throughout my fantasy series The Celestine Chronicles, in The Last Enchanter and beyond. And I can promise that my dragons will always be BAD.
What are some of your favorite dragon books/movies? Any memorable ones stand out for you?
The first dragon I fell in love with was Smog from J.R.R. Tolkein's The Hobbit. I read the book when I was about twelve and thought Smog was the coolest bad guy. He was massive, he loved gold, he could breath fire, and he could talk. But he had weaknesses, too, like he was really old and tired, and he had that missing scale that made him vulnerable, just like Achilles and his heel.
The next dragon to get under my skin was in the 1980's fantasy flick 'The Dragon Slayer' starring Sir John Gielgud and Peter MacNichol. Now that is one nasty dragon. In order to pacify it, the local king sacrifices a virgin to it once a year. But when his own daughter, the princess, discovers that her name has been left out of the lottery, she heroically steps in as this year's sacrifice. The scenes with the dragon attacking the previous virgin and the priest who accompanies her, and with baby dragons devouring the princess still give me the willies. It's still one of the best bad dragon movies ever made, in my opinion.
But then something went wrong. Books started writing about nice dragons. Dragons that are man's best friend, kind of like overgrown dogs. Cornelia Funke's Dragon Rider and Christopher Paolini's Eragon, and even that campy kids' movie 'The Neverending Story' and the Luck Dragon come to mind. I never liked these dragons (though the books are great!) Dragons that are pleasant and friendly just don't seem natural. Thank goodness for J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for bringing bad dragons back into good standing.When I started writing The Rock of Ivanore I knew I wanted dragons in it. When the port city of Dokur is invaded by a fleet of Hestorian ships, the enemy's weapon of choice are dragons. They swoop over the city setting buildings a flame and scavenging on the dead and dying. In essence, my dragons are what dragons are meant to be--dangerous, vicious, and evil incarnate.
Dragons make a brief appearance in my next book The Last Enchanter. Dragons are not native to the Isle of Imaness, being found only on the mainland of Hestoria where they are hatched and trained for battle. One dragon, however, is being held in the Fortress prison in Dokur. We only see it once in the book, but dragons are an ever-present entity. We are also introduced to the dragon's nemesis, the gryphon, which is the guardian of the Seer. (More on that in a future post.)Dragons will continue to be prominent figures throughout my fantasy series The Celestine Chronicles, in The Last Enchanter and beyond. And I can promise that my dragons will always be BAD.
What are some of your favorite dragon books/movies? Any memorable ones stand out for you?
July 1, 2013
FREEDOM TO READ GIVEAWAY HOP
Welcome to the FREEDOM TO READ GIVEAWAY HOP hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Book Hounds!!! If you're new to blog hopping, here's what to do. Hop from blog to blog (there are 100+ participating blogs listed below) and fill out their entry forms. Each blog has a different book or book-related item to giveaway! The more blogs you visit, the more chances you have to win!
What am I giving away?
$10 AMAZON GIFT CARD
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Enter to win via the rafflecopter form below. Just follow this blog, and earn extra entries by liking my Facebook page, following me on Twitter, or adding my books to your Goodreads!
Check out all the other blogs below!
This giveaway will end on July 9th. Open Internationally.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 30, 2013
BOOK REVIEW: HORRID HENRY AND THE ZOMBIE VAMPIRE by Francesca Simon
Congratulations to EMILY KNOPF! You won the MEGA SWAG PACK!Thank you to everyone who participated in SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! Hope to see you all again next year!
Welcome to Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM), a weekly event hosted by author Shannon Messenger. For a list of other MMGM posts, click HERE .
______________________________________________
HORRID HENRY AND THE ZOMBIE VAMPIRE
Francesca Simon
Sourcebooks
112 pp.
Ages 7-10 years
From Barnes & Noble -You Won't Believe What Horrid Henry Will Do Next! Henry knows that a class sleepover at a museum can only be on thing—boring!! So he's invited a few party crashers to liven things up...Zombie Vampires! Plus three other stories that will leave you screaming for more!
"Kids will love reading the laugh—out—loud stories about someoen whose behavior is even worse than their own."—School Library Journal
My Review:
Henry is quite horrid indeed. He is a conniving, dishonest, bitter little boy who resents his younger brother, Perfect Peter, and is always getting himself into trouble. The consequences of his behavior are not always what he expects, which makes for fun surprises for the readers. I will say, however, that while the stories are funny and the writing clever, I felt a little uncomfortable reading them to my son. Horrid Henry is not the sort of boy I would like my son to imitate. I couldn't help but wonder if reading about Henry's antics I'd be giving my son the wrong impression that these behaviors (such as tricking his brother out of his money and Halloween candy, and getting his school's chef fired) are acceptable. I've always been a fan of the Horrible Harry chapter book series, and Horrid Henry is very similar. I will admit my 5-year-old son did enjoy the stories and chuckled from time to time.This one is a tough call for me. The book is well-written and humorous. The Horrid Henry series is quite popular with kids in the UK and here in the US. I suppose it may not be any worse than laughing at books like Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, both series I really love. So my final verdict is a solid four stars, an enjoyable read that just needs a touch of caution when it comes to teaching our kids about the appropriate way to treat others.
Content Review:
Violence: NoneProfanity: NoneSexuality: None
Welcome to Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM), a weekly event hosted by author Shannon Messenger. For a list of other MMGM posts, click HERE .
______________________________________________
HORRID HENRY AND THE ZOMBIE VAMPIREFrancesca Simon
Sourcebooks
112 pp.
Ages 7-10 years
From Barnes & Noble -You Won't Believe What Horrid Henry Will Do Next! Henry knows that a class sleepover at a museum can only be on thing—boring!! So he's invited a few party crashers to liven things up...Zombie Vampires! Plus three other stories that will leave you screaming for more!
"Kids will love reading the laugh—out—loud stories about someoen whose behavior is even worse than their own."—School Library Journal
My Review:
Henry is quite horrid indeed. He is a conniving, dishonest, bitter little boy who resents his younger brother, Perfect Peter, and is always getting himself into trouble. The consequences of his behavior are not always what he expects, which makes for fun surprises for the readers. I will say, however, that while the stories are funny and the writing clever, I felt a little uncomfortable reading them to my son. Horrid Henry is not the sort of boy I would like my son to imitate. I couldn't help but wonder if reading about Henry's antics I'd be giving my son the wrong impression that these behaviors (such as tricking his brother out of his money and Halloween candy, and getting his school's chef fired) are acceptable. I've always been a fan of the Horrible Harry chapter book series, and Horrid Henry is very similar. I will admit my 5-year-old son did enjoy the stories and chuckled from time to time.This one is a tough call for me. The book is well-written and humorous. The Horrid Henry series is quite popular with kids in the UK and here in the US. I suppose it may not be any worse than laughing at books like Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, both series I really love. So my final verdict is a solid four stars, an enjoyable read that just needs a touch of caution when it comes to teaching our kids about the appropriate way to treat others.
Content Review:
Violence: NoneProfanity: NoneSexuality: None
June 29, 2013
SUPER SWAG SUNDAY - DAY #7
* Read about my Kickstarter campaign for my YA novel PETALS* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY#1* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #2 * Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #3* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #4* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #5 * Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #6 Welcome to DAY 7 of the2nd ANNUAL SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!!!
Welcome to the FINAL DAY of SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you've been with us all week, then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, so far 6 winners have each received a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors!
Today, the last day, one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, which includes everything in the swag packs PLUS all of the following: signed copies of The Always War by Margaret Petersen Haddix, The Unwanteds: Island of Silence by Lisa McMann, The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, Losing It by Erin Fry, Evertaster: The Buttersmith's Gold by Adam Sidwell, Starters by Lissa Price, Hysteria by Megan Miranda, original artwork from Fishtale by Catherine Masciola, a signed Losing It water bottle, T-shirts from OyMG! by Amy Fellner Dominy and Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini, a guitar pick from Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt, and a heart-shaped necklace from Love and Leftovers, a Dragonwitch pencil, a Margaret Petersen Haddix promo pin, an ARC of Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick & camo backpack, a hard copy of Quarantine by Lex Thomas, and a signed poster of The Binding Stone by Lisa Gail Green! Whew!
Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. The final winner will be announced tomorrow morning,
Congratulations to ARIEL T.! You won Saturday's swag pack!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
STARTERS
Lissa Price
Random House
384 pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 7/23/2013
The paperback has an exclusive short story in it, approx 25 pages, "Portrait of a Spore." It gives insight into the Spore Wars as it shows the day the spores fell. This story is not available online.
You can’t get them out of your head. . . .
Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie.
Callie’s only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie’s head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter.
Callie soon discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations’ plans are more evil than she could ever have imagined. . . .
“Readers will stay hooked. . . . Constantly rising stakes keep this debut intense.” —Kirkus Reviews
Read my review of Starters HERE.
Pre-Order Starters
TREASURE OF EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGYDonna Jo NapoliNational Geographic Society192 pp.Ages 8-12Publication Date: 10/22/2013
The new National Geographic Treasury of Egyptian Mythology is a stunning tableau of Egyptian myths, including those of pharaohs, queens, the boisterous Sun God Ra, and legendary creatures like the Sphinx. The lyrical storytelling of award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli dramatizes the timeless tales of ancient Egypt in the year when Angelina Jolie will make Cleopatra a multimedia star. And just like the popular National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology, the stories in this book will be beautifully illustrated to bring ancient characters vividly to life.
The stories are embellished with sidebars that provide historical, cultural, and geographic context and a mapping feature that adds to the fun and fascination. Resource notes and ample back matter direct readers to discover more about ancient Egypt. With its attractive design and beautiful narrative, this accessible treasury stands out from all other mythology titles in the marketplace.
Pre-Order Treasury of Egyptian Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters & Mortals
IN THE AFTER
Demitria Lunetta
HarperCollins
464pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 6/25/2013
In this heart-stopping postapocalyptic thriller from debut author Demitria Lunetta, one courageous girl must navigate a world that has been overtaken by Them—vile creatures that are rapidly devouring mankind. Perfect for fans of books like Marie Lu's Legend, In the After examines a harrowing place where day-to-day survival is never guaranteed. . . .
In what seems like an instant, Amy Harris's life is changed forever. They arrive and quickly begin killing off humanity one by one. No one knows how they got here—and even worse, no one knows how to stop Them.
Marooned in a high-security house, Amy manages to stay alive—and even rescues "Baby," a toddler she finds in an abandoned supermarket. For years they escape death, forging a bond as strong as sisters, until they are finally rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living on a former government research compound.
On the surface, New Hope is the happy ending Amy was looking for. She's even started falling for Rice, a handsome researcher she's become close with at the facility. But then she makes a shocking discovery. And staying in New Hope could mean losing her freedom . . . or her life.
"This end of the world is original enough to make it a good addition to any collection of post-apocalyptic fiction." - Kirkus Reviews
Order In the After
REMIND (Graphic Novel)Jason BrubakerCoffee Table Comics152 pp.Ages 11-17Publication Date: 7/21/2011
All Sonja wanted was to find her missing cat, Victuals, but when he washes up on the shore of her sleepy coastal town several days later with a head full of stitches and the startling ability to speak and no memory of how he got that way her quiet life is forever changed. Together they set out to solve the mystery of his disappearance, embarking on a journey that leads to a strange kingdom under the waves and into the heart of a royal power struggle, where the answer to Victual's true identity could save or doom them all!
"The cat, the lizard man, and Sonia's love for her father are woven into an amazing tapestry that is sure to capture readers' imaginations and keep them turning the pages." - School Library Journal
Order reMIND (Vol. 1)
TERRA TEMPO (Graphic Novel)
David Shapiro
Craigmore Creations
146 pp.
Ages 8-11
Publication Date: 10/1/2010
Join in the adventure as Ari, Jenna, and Caleb unlock the secret of time travel and journey back 15,000 years to witness the great Missoula Floods, the largest floods to have ever washed over the face of the earth. Experience the world of the not so distant past when giant mammoths and saber-toothed cats roamed the Pacific Northwest. Ride along with the time travel kids as they tour the changing landscapes from back of the mythic Thunderbird and work together to survive the dangers of the Ice Age Cataclysm!
Order Terra Tempo: Ice Age Cataclysm!
DESMOND PUCKETT MAKES MONSTER MAGICMark TatulliAndres McMeel Publishing240 pp.Ages 7-12Publication Date: 10/1/2013
Meet Desmond Pucket—master of mayhem! Will his monster-y special effects pranks get him kicked out of middle school before the class trip to Crab Shell Pier? Or will Desmond be able to keep his monster magic in check?
This is a compelling new character that kids will love! Meet Desmond Pucket—professor of frightology and master of monsters. Someday Desmond will be famous for his special effects wizardry, but for now he's just trying to make it through sixth grade at Cloverfield Memorial Junior High, which means he needs to stay one step ahead of the school's disciplinary officer, Mr. Needles.The only problem is Desmond just can't stop pulling pranks—like the time he attached a shrieking rubber goblin to the toilet seat in the teachers' bathroom. Mrs. Rubin screamed so loudly her wig flew off! Or the time he put giant motorized worms into the mashed potatoes in the cafeteria. Or the time Desmond and his best friend, Ricky, arranged for a three-headed ghost to crash his sister's slumber party. Rachel still hasn't forgiven him.
And now Desmond has to stay prank-free for the rest of the year, or he won't be able to go on the class trip to Crab Shell Pier, home of the Mountain Full of Monsters ride! It's going to be tough, but Desmond has to try.
Pre-Order Desmond Pucket Makes Monster Magic
INFINITYGLASS
Myra McEntire
Egmont USA
304 pp.
Ages 14-17
Publication Date: 8/6/2013
The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.
The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time travelers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.
With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.
But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?
Pre-Order Infinityglass: An Hourglass Novel
QUARANTINELex Thomas Egmont USA416 pp.Ages 14-17Publication Date: 7/10/2012
It was just another ordinary day at McKinley High—until a massive explosion devastated the school. When loner David Thorpe tried to help his English teacher to safety, the teacher convulsed and died right in front of him. And that was just the beginning.
A year later, McKinley has descended into chaos. All the students are infected with a virus that makes them deadly to adults. The school is under military quarantine. The teachers are gone. Violent gangs have formed based on high school social cliques. Without a gang, you’re as good as dead. And David has no gang. It’s just him and his little brother, Will, against the whole school.
In this frighteningly dark and captivating novel, Lex Thomas locks readers inside a school where kids don’t fight to be popular, they fight to stay alive.
“As original as The Hunger Games, set within the walls of a high school exactly like yours.” – Kami Garcia, New York Times best-selling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures novels
Order Quarantine #1: The Loners
DC SUPERHEROES: THE MAN OF STEEL
Stone Arch Books/Capstone Press
88 pp.
Ages: 7 - 11
Publication Date: 2013
A solar flare suddenly erupts near astronaut HANK HENSHAW'S space shuttle, killing him. But that wasn’t the end for HENSHAW — he survived, and in the process, developed the ability to fuse his consciousness with machines. HANK blames SUPERMAN for his tragic fate, and is dead set on unleashing all the powers of technology in his bid to break the MAN OF STEEL.
These DC BOOKS for libraries feature the WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER HEROES: SUPERMAN, BATMAN, WONDER WOMAN, GREEN LANTERN and THE FLASH, plus the WORLD’S BIGGEST VILLIANS. And, you can read about the pets of these heroes in DC Super-Pets! Available in full color chapter books and library-bound comics, these books will captivate young readers and give them glowing examples of bravery, loyalty, and true heroism.
Order THE MAN OF STEEL
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's MEGA SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Welcome to the FINAL DAY of SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you've been with us all week, then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, so far 6 winners have each received a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors!
Today, the last day, one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, which includes everything in the swag packs PLUS all of the following: signed copies of The Always War by Margaret Petersen Haddix, The Unwanteds: Island of Silence by Lisa McMann, The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, Losing It by Erin Fry, Evertaster: The Buttersmith's Gold by Adam Sidwell, Starters by Lissa Price, Hysteria by Megan Miranda, original artwork from Fishtale by Catherine Masciola, a signed Losing It water bottle, T-shirts from OyMG! by Amy Fellner Dominy and Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini, a guitar pick from Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt, and a heart-shaped necklace from Love and Leftovers, a Dragonwitch pencil, a Margaret Petersen Haddix promo pin, an ARC of Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick & camo backpack, a hard copy of Quarantine by Lex Thomas, and a signed poster of The Binding Stone by Lisa Gail Green! Whew!
Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. The final winner will be announced tomorrow morning,
Congratulations to ARIEL T.! You won Saturday's swag pack!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
STARTERSLissa Price
Random House
384 pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 7/23/2013
The paperback has an exclusive short story in it, approx 25 pages, "Portrait of a Spore." It gives insight into the Spore Wars as it shows the day the spores fell. This story is not available online.
You can’t get them out of your head. . . .
Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie.
Callie’s only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie’s head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter.
Callie soon discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations’ plans are more evil than she could ever have imagined. . . .
“Readers will stay hooked. . . . Constantly rising stakes keep this debut intense.” —Kirkus Reviews
Read my review of Starters HERE.
Pre-Order Starters
TREASURE OF EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGYDonna Jo NapoliNational Geographic Society192 pp.Ages 8-12Publication Date: 10/22/2013The new National Geographic Treasury of Egyptian Mythology is a stunning tableau of Egyptian myths, including those of pharaohs, queens, the boisterous Sun God Ra, and legendary creatures like the Sphinx. The lyrical storytelling of award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli dramatizes the timeless tales of ancient Egypt in the year when Angelina Jolie will make Cleopatra a multimedia star. And just like the popular National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology, the stories in this book will be beautifully illustrated to bring ancient characters vividly to life.
The stories are embellished with sidebars that provide historical, cultural, and geographic context and a mapping feature that adds to the fun and fascination. Resource notes and ample back matter direct readers to discover more about ancient Egypt. With its attractive design and beautiful narrative, this accessible treasury stands out from all other mythology titles in the marketplace.
Pre-Order Treasury of Egyptian Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters & Mortals
IN THE AFTERDemitria Lunetta
HarperCollins
464pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 6/25/2013
In this heart-stopping postapocalyptic thriller from debut author Demitria Lunetta, one courageous girl must navigate a world that has been overtaken by Them—vile creatures that are rapidly devouring mankind. Perfect for fans of books like Marie Lu's Legend, In the After examines a harrowing place where day-to-day survival is never guaranteed. . . .
In what seems like an instant, Amy Harris's life is changed forever. They arrive and quickly begin killing off humanity one by one. No one knows how they got here—and even worse, no one knows how to stop Them.
Marooned in a high-security house, Amy manages to stay alive—and even rescues "Baby," a toddler she finds in an abandoned supermarket. For years they escape death, forging a bond as strong as sisters, until they are finally rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living on a former government research compound.
On the surface, New Hope is the happy ending Amy was looking for. She's even started falling for Rice, a handsome researcher she's become close with at the facility. But then she makes a shocking discovery. And staying in New Hope could mean losing her freedom . . . or her life.
"This end of the world is original enough to make it a good addition to any collection of post-apocalyptic fiction." - Kirkus Reviews
Order In the After
REMIND (Graphic Novel)Jason BrubakerCoffee Table Comics152 pp.Ages 11-17Publication Date: 7/21/2011All Sonja wanted was to find her missing cat, Victuals, but when he washes up on the shore of her sleepy coastal town several days later with a head full of stitches and the startling ability to speak and no memory of how he got that way her quiet life is forever changed. Together they set out to solve the mystery of his disappearance, embarking on a journey that leads to a strange kingdom under the waves and into the heart of a royal power struggle, where the answer to Victual's true identity could save or doom them all!
"The cat, the lizard man, and Sonia's love for her father are woven into an amazing tapestry that is sure to capture readers' imaginations and keep them turning the pages." - School Library Journal
Order reMIND (Vol. 1)
TERRA TEMPO (Graphic Novel)David Shapiro
Craigmore Creations
146 pp.
Ages 8-11
Publication Date: 10/1/2010
Join in the adventure as Ari, Jenna, and Caleb unlock the secret of time travel and journey back 15,000 years to witness the great Missoula Floods, the largest floods to have ever washed over the face of the earth. Experience the world of the not so distant past when giant mammoths and saber-toothed cats roamed the Pacific Northwest. Ride along with the time travel kids as they tour the changing landscapes from back of the mythic Thunderbird and work together to survive the dangers of the Ice Age Cataclysm!
Order Terra Tempo: Ice Age Cataclysm!
DESMOND PUCKETT MAKES MONSTER MAGICMark TatulliAndres McMeel Publishing240 pp.Ages 7-12Publication Date: 10/1/2013Meet Desmond Pucket—master of mayhem! Will his monster-y special effects pranks get him kicked out of middle school before the class trip to Crab Shell Pier? Or will Desmond be able to keep his monster magic in check?
This is a compelling new character that kids will love! Meet Desmond Pucket—professor of frightology and master of monsters. Someday Desmond will be famous for his special effects wizardry, but for now he's just trying to make it through sixth grade at Cloverfield Memorial Junior High, which means he needs to stay one step ahead of the school's disciplinary officer, Mr. Needles.The only problem is Desmond just can't stop pulling pranks—like the time he attached a shrieking rubber goblin to the toilet seat in the teachers' bathroom. Mrs. Rubin screamed so loudly her wig flew off! Or the time he put giant motorized worms into the mashed potatoes in the cafeteria. Or the time Desmond and his best friend, Ricky, arranged for a three-headed ghost to crash his sister's slumber party. Rachel still hasn't forgiven him.
And now Desmond has to stay prank-free for the rest of the year, or he won't be able to go on the class trip to Crab Shell Pier, home of the Mountain Full of Monsters ride! It's going to be tough, but Desmond has to try.
Pre-Order Desmond Pucket Makes Monster Magic
INFINITYGLASSMyra McEntire
Egmont USA
304 pp.
Ages 14-17
Publication Date: 8/6/2013
The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.
The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time travelers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.
With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.
But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?
Pre-Order Infinityglass: An Hourglass Novel
QUARANTINELex Thomas Egmont USA416 pp.Ages 14-17Publication Date: 7/10/2012It was just another ordinary day at McKinley High—until a massive explosion devastated the school. When loner David Thorpe tried to help his English teacher to safety, the teacher convulsed and died right in front of him. And that was just the beginning.
A year later, McKinley has descended into chaos. All the students are infected with a virus that makes them deadly to adults. The school is under military quarantine. The teachers are gone. Violent gangs have formed based on high school social cliques. Without a gang, you’re as good as dead. And David has no gang. It’s just him and his little brother, Will, against the whole school.
In this frighteningly dark and captivating novel, Lex Thomas locks readers inside a school where kids don’t fight to be popular, they fight to stay alive.
“As original as The Hunger Games, set within the walls of a high school exactly like yours.” – Kami Garcia, New York Times best-selling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures novels
Order Quarantine #1: The Loners
DC SUPERHEROES: THE MAN OF STEELStone Arch Books/Capstone Press
88 pp.
Ages: 7 - 11
Publication Date: 2013
A solar flare suddenly erupts near astronaut HANK HENSHAW'S space shuttle, killing him. But that wasn’t the end for HENSHAW — he survived, and in the process, developed the ability to fuse his consciousness with machines. HANK blames SUPERMAN for his tragic fate, and is dead set on unleashing all the powers of technology in his bid to break the MAN OF STEEL.
These DC BOOKS for libraries feature the WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER HEROES: SUPERMAN, BATMAN, WONDER WOMAN, GREEN LANTERN and THE FLASH, plus the WORLD’S BIGGEST VILLIANS. And, you can read about the pets of these heroes in DC Super-Pets! Available in full color chapter books and library-bound comics, these books will captivate young readers and give them glowing examples of bravery, loyalty, and true heroism.
Order THE MAN OF STEEL
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's MEGA SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please. a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 28, 2013
SUPER SWAG SUNDAY - DAY #6
* Read about my Kickstarter campaign for my YA novel PETALS* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY#1* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #2 * Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #3* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #4* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #5
Welcome to DAY 6 of the2nd ANNUAL SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!!!
Welcome back to SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you stopped by yesterday then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, every day between now and June 30th, one winner will be chosen to receive a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors! On the last day one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, a collection of first edition books signed by the authors and some other very cool stuff. For a complete list of items in the MEGA SWAG PACK, visit HERE . Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. Then stop by tomorrow for another chance to win. And spread the word!
Congratulations to AZA SAKOIAN! You won Friday's swag pack!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
LOVE AND LEFTOVERS
Sarah Tregay
HarperCollins
448 pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 12/27/2011
My wish is to fall cranium over Converse in dizzy daydream-worthy love. If only it were that easy.
Marcie has been dragged away from home for the summer—from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She’s left behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.
By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this “summer vacation” has become permanent. She has to start at a new school, and there she leaves behind her Leftover status when a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you’ve watched your parents’ affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? Can you even know it until you’ve lost it?
"It all feels realistic and makes for an interesting, attractive novel. A verse novel with real depth to accompany all that white space." - Kirkus Reviews
Order "[A] multilayered debut . . . what she [Córdova] does exceedingly well is capture an authentic 16-year-old male voice and viewpoint . . .the great title, killer jacket, and edgy portrayal of the mythical creatures should cast a wide readership net." - Booklist
Order Love and Leftovers
BRUISEDSarah SkiltonAmulet Books288 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 3/5/2013
When Imogen, a sixteen-year-old black belt in Tae Kwon Do, freezes during a holdup at a local diner, the gunman is shot and killed by the police, and she blames herself for his death. Before the shooting, she believed that her black belt made her stronger than everyone else—more responsible, more capable. But now that her sense of self has been challenged, she must rebuild her life, a process that includes redefining her relationship with her family and navigating first love with the boy who was at the diner with her during the shoot-out. With action, romance, and a complex heroine, Bruised introduces a vibrant new voice to the young adult world—full of dark humor and hard truths.
"Her story is compelling, and readers will stick with her as new insights bring about a believable shift in her behavior This distinctive debut will be appreciated by fans of contemporary fiction."
—Kirkus Reviews
Order Bruised
THE NEPTUNE PROJECT
Polly Holyoke
Hyperion
352 pp.
Ages 10-14
Release Date: 5/21/2013
Nere has never understood why she feels so much more comfortable and confident in water than on land, but everything falls into place when Nere learns that she is one of a group of kids who-unbeknownst to them-have been genetically altered to survive in the ocean. These products of "The Neptune Project" will be able to build a better future under the sea, safe from the barren country's famine, wars, and harsh laws.
But there are some very big problems: no one asked Nere if she wanted to be a science experiment, the other Neptune kids aren't exactly the friendliest bunch, and in order to reach the safe haven of the Neptune colony, Nere and her fellow mutates must swim through hundreds of miles of dangerous waters, relying only on their wits, dolphins, and each other to evade terrifying undersea creatures and a government that will stop at nothing to capture the Neptune kids...dead or alive.
"This suspenseful, undersea dystopia should keep middle schoolers hooked." - Kirkus Reviews
Order The Neptune Project
THE MARBLE QUEENStephanie BlakeAmazon Children's Publishing192 pp.Ages 10-14Publication Date: 12/18/2012
Freedom Jane McKenzie isn’t good at following the rules. She’s good at getting into trouble — and playing marbles. All she wants is to enter the marble competition at the Autumn Jubilee and show the boys in the neighborhood that she’s the best player. First, Freedom has to convince her mother to let her enter. But there’s a new baby on the way, Freedom’s daddy is drinking too much, her little brother is a handful, and her mother is even more difficult than usual. Freedom learns that when it comes to love, friendship, and family, sometimes there are no rules. Set in 1959, The Marble Queen is a timeless story about growing up.
"This one is for keepsies, and it would be perfect paired with a how-to book on marble games." - Kirkus Reviews
Order The Marble Queen
IMPOSTER
Susanne Winnacker
Razorbill
288 pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 5/28/2013
CAN TESSA POSE AS MADISON . . . AND STOP A KILLER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE?
Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI.
When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.
Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep.
Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.
Order Impostor: A Variants Novel
INEVITABLETamara Hart HeinerTamark Books238 pp.Ages 12 - 17Publication Date: 1/30/2013
Visions of death plague Jayne, who thinks watching her boyfriend die is the worst that could happen to her. But when she witnesses a murder, Jayne finds herself caught up in a dangerous world of intrigue and suspense.
As it turns out, she is not the only one doing the stalking. The killer is on to her, and all of her visions of the dying don't reveal how her life will end. Somehow, she must stop the murderer before he arranges Jayne's own inevitable death.
"Special powers, murder, mystery, romance--this book has it all." - D.N. Giles, author of The Sharp Edge of a Knife
Order Inevitable
WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND
Tracy Bilen
Simon Pulse
256 pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 5/1/2012
Sara and her mom have a plan to finally escape Sara’s abusive father. But when her mom doesn’t show up as expected, Sara’s terrified. Her father says that she’s on a business trip, but Sara knows he’s lying. Her mom is missing—and her dad had something to do with it.
With each day that passes, Sara’s more on edge. Her friends know that something’s wrong, but she won’t endanger anyone else with her secret. And with her dad growing increasingly violent, Sara must figure out what happened to her mom before it’s too late…for them both.
"Sharp prose and an increasingly tense plot make this debut a page-turner." - Publisher's Weekly
Order What She Left Behind
VICIOUS DEEPZoraida CordovaSourcebooks384 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 11/1/2012
For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave
He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.
His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he's heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.
Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea...and now it wants him back.
"[A] multilayered debut . . . what she [Córdova] does exceedingly well is capture an authentic 16-year-old male voice and viewpoint . . .the great title, killer jacket, and edgy portrayal of the mythical creatures should cast a wide readership net." - Booklist
Order The Vicious Deep
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Welcome to DAY 6 of the2nd ANNUAL SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!!!
Welcome back to SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you stopped by yesterday then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, every day between now and June 30th, one winner will be chosen to receive a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors! On the last day one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, a collection of first edition books signed by the authors and some other very cool stuff. For a complete list of items in the MEGA SWAG PACK, visit HERE . Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. Then stop by tomorrow for another chance to win. And spread the word!
Congratulations to AZA SAKOIAN! You won Friday's swag pack!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
LOVE AND LEFTOVERSSarah Tregay
HarperCollins
448 pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 12/27/2011
My wish is to fall cranium over Converse in dizzy daydream-worthy love. If only it were that easy.
Marcie has been dragged away from home for the summer—from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She’s left behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.
By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this “summer vacation” has become permanent. She has to start at a new school, and there she leaves behind her Leftover status when a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you’ve watched your parents’ affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? Can you even know it until you’ve lost it?
"It all feels realistic and makes for an interesting, attractive novel. A verse novel with real depth to accompany all that white space." - Kirkus Reviews
Order "[A] multilayered debut . . . what she [Córdova] does exceedingly well is capture an authentic 16-year-old male voice and viewpoint . . .the great title, killer jacket, and edgy portrayal of the mythical creatures should cast a wide readership net." - Booklist
Order Love and Leftovers
BRUISEDSarah SkiltonAmulet Books288 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 3/5/2013When Imogen, a sixteen-year-old black belt in Tae Kwon Do, freezes during a holdup at a local diner, the gunman is shot and killed by the police, and she blames herself for his death. Before the shooting, she believed that her black belt made her stronger than everyone else—more responsible, more capable. But now that her sense of self has been challenged, she must rebuild her life, a process that includes redefining her relationship with her family and navigating first love with the boy who was at the diner with her during the shoot-out. With action, romance, and a complex heroine, Bruised introduces a vibrant new voice to the young adult world—full of dark humor and hard truths.
"Her story is compelling, and readers will stick with her as new insights bring about a believable shift in her behavior This distinctive debut will be appreciated by fans of contemporary fiction."
—Kirkus Reviews
Order Bruised
THE NEPTUNE PROJECTPolly Holyoke
Hyperion
352 pp.
Ages 10-14
Release Date: 5/21/2013
Nere has never understood why she feels so much more comfortable and confident in water than on land, but everything falls into place when Nere learns that she is one of a group of kids who-unbeknownst to them-have been genetically altered to survive in the ocean. These products of "The Neptune Project" will be able to build a better future under the sea, safe from the barren country's famine, wars, and harsh laws.
But there are some very big problems: no one asked Nere if she wanted to be a science experiment, the other Neptune kids aren't exactly the friendliest bunch, and in order to reach the safe haven of the Neptune colony, Nere and her fellow mutates must swim through hundreds of miles of dangerous waters, relying only on their wits, dolphins, and each other to evade terrifying undersea creatures and a government that will stop at nothing to capture the Neptune kids...dead or alive.
"This suspenseful, undersea dystopia should keep middle schoolers hooked." - Kirkus Reviews
Order The Neptune Project
THE MARBLE QUEENStephanie BlakeAmazon Children's Publishing192 pp.Ages 10-14Publication Date: 12/18/2012Freedom Jane McKenzie isn’t good at following the rules. She’s good at getting into trouble — and playing marbles. All she wants is to enter the marble competition at the Autumn Jubilee and show the boys in the neighborhood that she’s the best player. First, Freedom has to convince her mother to let her enter. But there’s a new baby on the way, Freedom’s daddy is drinking too much, her little brother is a handful, and her mother is even more difficult than usual. Freedom learns that when it comes to love, friendship, and family, sometimes there are no rules. Set in 1959, The Marble Queen is a timeless story about growing up.
"This one is for keepsies, and it would be perfect paired with a how-to book on marble games." - Kirkus Reviews
Order The Marble Queen
IMPOSTERSusanne Winnacker
Razorbill
288 pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 5/28/2013
CAN TESSA POSE AS MADISON . . . AND STOP A KILLER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE?
Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI.
When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.
Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep.
Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.
Order Impostor: A Variants Novel
INEVITABLETamara Hart HeinerTamark Books238 pp.Ages 12 - 17Publication Date: 1/30/2013Visions of death plague Jayne, who thinks watching her boyfriend die is the worst that could happen to her. But when she witnesses a murder, Jayne finds herself caught up in a dangerous world of intrigue and suspense.
As it turns out, she is not the only one doing the stalking. The killer is on to her, and all of her visions of the dying don't reveal how her life will end. Somehow, she must stop the murderer before he arranges Jayne's own inevitable death.
"Special powers, murder, mystery, romance--this book has it all." - D.N. Giles, author of The Sharp Edge of a Knife
Order Inevitable
WHAT SHE LEFT BEHINDTracy Bilen
Simon Pulse
256 pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 5/1/2012
Sara and her mom have a plan to finally escape Sara’s abusive father. But when her mom doesn’t show up as expected, Sara’s terrified. Her father says that she’s on a business trip, but Sara knows he’s lying. Her mom is missing—and her dad had something to do with it.
With each day that passes, Sara’s more on edge. Her friends know that something’s wrong, but she won’t endanger anyone else with her secret. And with her dad growing increasingly violent, Sara must figure out what happened to her mom before it’s too late…for them both.
"Sharp prose and an increasingly tense plot make this debut a page-turner." - Publisher's Weekly
Order What She Left Behind
VICIOUS DEEPZoraida CordovaSourcebooks384 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 11/1/2012
For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave
He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.
His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he's heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.
Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea...and now it wants him back.
"[A] multilayered debut . . . what she [Córdova] does exceedingly well is capture an authentic 16-year-old male voice and viewpoint . . .the great title, killer jacket, and edgy portrayal of the mythical creatures should cast a wide readership net." - Booklist
Order The Vicious Deep
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 27, 2013
SUPER SWAG SUNDAY - DAY #5
Welcome to DAY 5 of the2nd ANNUAL SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!!!
Welcome back to SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you stopped by yesterday then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, every day between now and June 30th, one winner will be chosen to receive a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors! On the last day one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, a collection of first edition books signed by the authors and some other very cool stuff. For a complete list of items in the MEGA SWAG PACK, visit HERE . Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. Then stop by tomorrow for another chance to win. And spread the word!
Here is a pic of Tuesday's winner, Donna Collins (her daughter is pictured with all the goodies!)
Congratulations to CODY SMITH-CANDELARIA! You won Thursday's swag Pack!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
THE ROCK OF IVANORE
Laurisa White Reyes
Tanglewood Press
356 pp.
Ages 8-12
Publication Date: 5/15/2012
The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn’t tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is at it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.
"Reyes deftly develops her plot and characters and firmly holds readers' attention throughout this exciting and surprising tale." - School Library Journal
Order The Rock of Ivanore (The Celestine Chronicles)
THE LAST ENCHANTERLaurisa White ReyesTanglewood Press400 pp.Ages 8-12Release Date: 10/15/2013
Months have passed since Marcus and Kelvin succeeded in their quest to find the Rock of Ivanore. Kelvin is living as royalty in Dokur, and Marcus is studying magic with Zyll. When Fredric is murdered and Kelvin becomes king, Zyll and Marcus head for Dokur in hopes of protecting Kelvin from meeting the same fate, though it quickly becomes apparent that none of them are safe, and Marcus has had disturbing visions of Zyll's death. With the help of his old friends Clovis and Bryn, joined by new friend Lael, a feisty girl in search of her mother, Marcus uncovers a powerful secret that will change the course of his life forever.
Pre-Order The Last Enchanter (The Celestine Chronicles)
CONTROL
Lydia Kang
Dial
400 pp.
Ages 12-17
Release Date: 12/26/2013
Set in 2150 — in a world of automatic cars, nightclubs with auditory ecstasy drugs, and guys with four arms — this is about the human genetic "mistakes" that society wants to forget, and the way that outcasts can turn out to be heroes.
When their overprotective father is killed in a terrible accident, Zel and her younger sister, Dylia, are lost in grief. But it's not until strangers appear, using bizarre sensory weapons, that the life they had is truly eviscerated. Zel ends up in a safe house for teens that aren't like any she's ever seen — teens who, by law, shouldn't even exist. One of them — an angry tattooed boy haunted by tragedy — can help Zel reunite with her sister.
But only if she is willing to lose him.
"Control blew me away. The twists and turns and suspense made for a thrilling ride. Zel is as authentic a character as I've read in a very long time. Highly recommended" - James Dashner, New York Times bestselling author of The Maze Runner
Order Control
THE ALWAYS WARMargaret Petersen HaddixSimon & Schuster224 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 11/13/2013
For as long as Tessa can remember, her country has been at war. When local golden boy Gideon Thrall is awarded a medal for courage, it’s a rare bright spot for everyone in Tessa’s town—until Gideon refuses the award, claims he was a coward, and runs away. Tessa is bewildered, and she can’t help but follow Gideon to find out the truth. But Tessa is in for more than she bargained for. Before she knows it, she has stowed away on a rogue airplane and is headed for enemy territory. But all that pales when she discovers a shocking truth that rocks the foundation of everything she’s ever believed—a truth that will change the world. Is Tessa strong enough to bring it into the light?
"This dystopian drama examines the human aspect of war, and also how technology may redefine war in the future....plot turns will certainly keep [readers] entranced."—Kirkus Reviews
Read my interview with Margaret Petersen Haddix HERE.
Order The Always War
HYSTERIA
Megan Miranda
Walker & Co.
336pp.
Ages 14-18
Publication Date: 2/5/2013
Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.
In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.
"There is really nothing that has not been done in umpteen, empty, slasher/thrillers; yet here, it all feels fresh, addicting, and smart." - Voya
Read my review of Hysteria HERE.
Read my interview with Megan Miranda HERE.
Order Hysteria
ALIENATED Melissa LandersDisney-Hyperion352 pp.Ages 12-17Release Date: 2/4/2014
Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host the first-ever L'eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she'll have inside information about the mysterious L'eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara's blog following is about to skyrocket.
Still, Cara isn't sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L'eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn't seem more alien. She's certain about one thing though: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.
Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn't just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life-not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.
"Intergalactic exchange students? Yes, please! I fell in love with this story and couldn't put it down." -Jodi Meadows, author of IncarnateOrder Alienated
NOT A DROP TO DRINKMindy McGinnisHarperCollins320 pp.Ages 14-17Release Date: 9/24/2013
Teenage Lynn has been taught to defend her pond against every threat: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most important, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty or doesn't leave at all.
Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. But when strangers appear, the mysterious footprints by the pond, the nighttime threats, and the gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won't stop until they get it. . . .
Fans of classic frontier survival stories as well as readers of dystopian literature will enjoy this futuristic story where water is worth more than gold.
Pre-Order Not a Drop to Drink
THE SCORCH TRIALSJames DashnerRandom House368 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 10/12/2010
The Scorch Trials picks up where The Maze Runner left off. The Gladers have escaped the Maze, but now they face an even more treacherous challenge on the open roads of a devastated planet. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. Can Thomas survive in such a violent world?
"Fans who are already hooked [on The Maze Runner] will gobble this down, particularly those who don't mind anemic female characters and a high body count." - Publishers Weekly
Order The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner, Book 2)
THE SAPPHIRE FLUTE (Book I of The Wolf Child Saga)Karen E. HooverE-bookAges 8-12Publication Date: 6/20/2011
Rasann is a world in dire need. The net of magic that has held her together for eons is eroding and the magi can’t patch it fast enough to prevent disaster. Volcanoes spew, waters rise, famine and flood and desolation threaten the world as they desperately await the coming of the Wolfchild to heal their home.
Three women begin quests for identity and freedom from the ties that have held them: Ember, from her overbearing and prejudice mother; Kayla, from the rigidity of the caste that has oppressed her family; C’Tan, from her dark and evil master, the Guardian S’Kotos. One will discover she is the first white mage born in three millennia, another will become guardian to the a keystone, the sapphire flute, and throughout it all the third will try to destroy them both.
Order The Sapphire Flute: Book 1 of The Wolfchild Saga
THE ARMOR OF LIGHT (Book II in the Wolf Child Saga)Karen E. Hoover E-bookAges 8-12Publication Date: 9/6/2011
Ember has been accepted into the mage academy, but not without cost. She has gained a new enemy, ancient and dark, whose entire purpose is to destroy all white magic and her along with it. After nearly losing her life in a brutal attack, DeMunth is assigned her guardian, and the keystone he wears, The Armor of Light, begins the transition that will make it a true power.
Kayla has lost most everything of importance to her—the people, the prestige, and all she fought for the past ten years. With nothing left to lose, she continues her search for the birthplace of The Sapphire Flute and the Wolfchild she believes to be its player. Her journey will take her to strange, foreign, and often dangerous places, and everything she had thought to be true will be proven wrong.
In a showdown full of betrayal and heroic loss, Ember and Kayla finally meet on the battlefield, fighting a war on two fronts—against C'Tan and her people, and the mysterious enemy bent on destroying all magic—the shadow weavers.
The story is full of power, betrayal, hope, and love. The elements of the universe are coming together, and none can know who will stand in the end.
Order The Armor of Light (The Wolfchild Saga)
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Welcome back to SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you stopped by yesterday then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, every day between now and June 30th, one winner will be chosen to receive a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors! On the last day one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, a collection of first edition books signed by the authors and some other very cool stuff. For a complete list of items in the MEGA SWAG PACK, visit HERE . Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. Then stop by tomorrow for another chance to win. And spread the word!
Here is a pic of Tuesday's winner, Donna Collins (her daughter is pictured with all the goodies!)
Congratulations to CODY SMITH-CANDELARIA! You won Thursday's swag Pack!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
THE ROCK OF IVANORELaurisa White Reyes
Tanglewood Press
356 pp.
Ages 8-12
Publication Date: 5/15/2012
The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn’t tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is at it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.
"Reyes deftly develops her plot and characters and firmly holds readers' attention throughout this exciting and surprising tale." - School Library Journal
Order The Rock of Ivanore (The Celestine Chronicles)
THE LAST ENCHANTERLaurisa White ReyesTanglewood Press400 pp.Ages 8-12Release Date: 10/15/2013Months have passed since Marcus and Kelvin succeeded in their quest to find the Rock of Ivanore. Kelvin is living as royalty in Dokur, and Marcus is studying magic with Zyll. When Fredric is murdered and Kelvin becomes king, Zyll and Marcus head for Dokur in hopes of protecting Kelvin from meeting the same fate, though it quickly becomes apparent that none of them are safe, and Marcus has had disturbing visions of Zyll's death. With the help of his old friends Clovis and Bryn, joined by new friend Lael, a feisty girl in search of her mother, Marcus uncovers a powerful secret that will change the course of his life forever.
Pre-Order The Last Enchanter (The Celestine Chronicles)
CONTROLLydia Kang
Dial
400 pp.
Ages 12-17
Release Date: 12/26/2013
Set in 2150 — in a world of automatic cars, nightclubs with auditory ecstasy drugs, and guys with four arms — this is about the human genetic "mistakes" that society wants to forget, and the way that outcasts can turn out to be heroes.
When their overprotective father is killed in a terrible accident, Zel and her younger sister, Dylia, are lost in grief. But it's not until strangers appear, using bizarre sensory weapons, that the life they had is truly eviscerated. Zel ends up in a safe house for teens that aren't like any she's ever seen — teens who, by law, shouldn't even exist. One of them — an angry tattooed boy haunted by tragedy — can help Zel reunite with her sister.
But only if she is willing to lose him.
"Control blew me away. The twists and turns and suspense made for a thrilling ride. Zel is as authentic a character as I've read in a very long time. Highly recommended" - James Dashner, New York Times bestselling author of The Maze Runner
Order Control
THE ALWAYS WARMargaret Petersen HaddixSimon & Schuster224 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 11/13/2013For as long as Tessa can remember, her country has been at war. When local golden boy Gideon Thrall is awarded a medal for courage, it’s a rare bright spot for everyone in Tessa’s town—until Gideon refuses the award, claims he was a coward, and runs away. Tessa is bewildered, and she can’t help but follow Gideon to find out the truth. But Tessa is in for more than she bargained for. Before she knows it, she has stowed away on a rogue airplane and is headed for enemy territory. But all that pales when she discovers a shocking truth that rocks the foundation of everything she’s ever believed—a truth that will change the world. Is Tessa strong enough to bring it into the light?
"This dystopian drama examines the human aspect of war, and also how technology may redefine war in the future....plot turns will certainly keep [readers] entranced."—Kirkus Reviews
Read my interview with Margaret Petersen Haddix HERE.
Order The Always War
HYSTERIAMegan Miranda
Walker & Co.
336pp.
Ages 14-18
Publication Date: 2/5/2013
Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.
In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.
"There is really nothing that has not been done in umpteen, empty, slasher/thrillers; yet here, it all feels fresh, addicting, and smart." - Voya
Read my review of Hysteria HERE.
Read my interview with Megan Miranda HERE.
Order Hysteria
ALIENATED Melissa LandersDisney-Hyperion352 pp.Ages 12-17Release Date: 2/4/2014Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host the first-ever L'eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she'll have inside information about the mysterious L'eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara's blog following is about to skyrocket.
Still, Cara isn't sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L'eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn't seem more alien. She's certain about one thing though: no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.
Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn't just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life-not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.
"Intergalactic exchange students? Yes, please! I fell in love with this story and couldn't put it down." -Jodi Meadows, author of IncarnateOrder Alienated
NOT A DROP TO DRINKMindy McGinnisHarperCollins320 pp.Ages 14-17Release Date: 9/24/2013Teenage Lynn has been taught to defend her pond against every threat: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most important, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty or doesn't leave at all.
Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. But when strangers appear, the mysterious footprints by the pond, the nighttime threats, and the gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won't stop until they get it. . . .
Fans of classic frontier survival stories as well as readers of dystopian literature will enjoy this futuristic story where water is worth more than gold.
Pre-Order Not a Drop to Drink
THE SCORCH TRIALSJames DashnerRandom House368 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 10/12/2010The Scorch Trials picks up where The Maze Runner left off. The Gladers have escaped the Maze, but now they face an even more treacherous challenge on the open roads of a devastated planet. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. Can Thomas survive in such a violent world?
"Fans who are already hooked [on The Maze Runner] will gobble this down, particularly those who don't mind anemic female characters and a high body count." - Publishers Weekly
Order The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner, Book 2)
THE SAPPHIRE FLUTE (Book I of The Wolf Child Saga)Karen E. HooverE-bookAges 8-12Publication Date: 6/20/2011Rasann is a world in dire need. The net of magic that has held her together for eons is eroding and the magi can’t patch it fast enough to prevent disaster. Volcanoes spew, waters rise, famine and flood and desolation threaten the world as they desperately await the coming of the Wolfchild to heal their home.
Three women begin quests for identity and freedom from the ties that have held them: Ember, from her overbearing and prejudice mother; Kayla, from the rigidity of the caste that has oppressed her family; C’Tan, from her dark and evil master, the Guardian S’Kotos. One will discover she is the first white mage born in three millennia, another will become guardian to the a keystone, the sapphire flute, and throughout it all the third will try to destroy them both.
Order The Sapphire Flute: Book 1 of The Wolfchild Saga
THE ARMOR OF LIGHT (Book II in the Wolf Child Saga)Karen E. Hoover E-bookAges 8-12Publication Date: 9/6/2011Ember has been accepted into the mage academy, but not without cost. She has gained a new enemy, ancient and dark, whose entire purpose is to destroy all white magic and her along with it. After nearly losing her life in a brutal attack, DeMunth is assigned her guardian, and the keystone he wears, The Armor of Light, begins the transition that will make it a true power.
Kayla has lost most everything of importance to her—the people, the prestige, and all she fought for the past ten years. With nothing left to lose, she continues her search for the birthplace of The Sapphire Flute and the Wolfchild she believes to be its player. Her journey will take her to strange, foreign, and often dangerous places, and everything she had thought to be true will be proven wrong.
In a showdown full of betrayal and heroic loss, Ember and Kayla finally meet on the battlefield, fighting a war on two fronts—against C'Tan and her people, and the mysterious enemy bent on destroying all magic—the shadow weavers.
The story is full of power, betrayal, hope, and love. The elements of the universe are coming together, and none can know who will stand in the end.
Order The Armor of Light (The Wolfchild Saga)
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 26, 2013
SUPER SWAG SUNDAY - DAY #4
* Read about my Kickstarter campaign for my YA novel PETALS
* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY#1
* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #2 * Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #3
Welcome to DAY 4 of the2nd ANNUAL SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!!!
Congratulations to LAURA DONER! You won Wednesday's Swag Pack!
Welcome back to SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you stopped by yesterday then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, every day between now and June 30th, one winner will be chosen to receive a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors! On the last day one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, a collection of first edition books signed by the authors and some other very cool stuff. For a complete list of items in the MEGA SWAG PACK, visit HERE . Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. Then stop by tomorrow for another chance to win. And spread the word!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
TOUCHING THE SURFACE
Kimberly Sabatini
Simon Pulse
352 pp.
Ages 14-18
Publication Date: 10/30/2012
When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.
Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed.
As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.
“Soulful and inventive. A thoroughly original vision for what happens next.” —Daisy Whitney, author of The Mockingbirds
Order Touching the Surface
BREAKING POINTKristen SimmonsTom Doherty Assoc.400 pp.Ages 13-17Publication Date: 2/12/2013
After faking their deaths to escape from prison in Article 5, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.
Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper's true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….
Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.
With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back?
“An adrenaline-pumping ride into a terrifying future. I have no nails left.” - Anne Greenwood Brown, author of Lies Beneath
Read my review of ARTICLE 5 HERE.
Read my interview with Kristen Simmons HERE.
Order Breaking Point (Article 5)
THE SINISTER SWEETNESS OF SPLENDID ACADEMY
Nikki Lofton
Penguin Young Readers
304 pp.
Ages 8-12
Publication Date: 8/21/2012
Spooky twists and soaring prose make this foodie update on Hansel and Gretel an unforgettable must-read.
Lorelei is bowled over by Splendid Academy—Principal Trapp encourages the students to run in the hallways, the classrooms are stocked with candy dishes, and the cafeteria serves lavish meals featuring all Lorelei's favorite foods. But the more time she spends at school, the more suspicious she becomes. Why are her classmates growing so chubby? And why do the teachers seem so sinister?
It's up to Lorelei and her new friend Andrew to figure out what secret this supposedly splendid school is hiding. What they discover chills their bones—and might even pick them clean!
Mix one part magic, one part mystery, and just a dash of Grimm, and you've got the recipe for a cozy-creepy read that kids will gobble up like candy.
"Loftin anchors her characters and creates a fantasy that feels simultaneously classic and new." - Publisher's Weekly
Read my interview with Nikki Lofton HERE.
Order The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy
TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWARTLeanna HeiberSourcebooks336 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 11/1/2012
I'm coming for you.
The whispers haunt her dreams and fill her waking hours with dread. Something odd is happening. Something...unnatural.
Possession of the living. Resurrection of the dead. And Natalie Stewart is caught right in the middle. Jonathon, the one person she thought she could trust, has become a double agent for the dark side. But he plays the part so well, Natalie has to wonder just how much he's really acting.
She can't even see what it is she's fighting. But the cost of losing her heart, her sanity...her soul.
"Readers...will enjoy not only the dark, supernatural mystery and then-daring romance but also the Victorian setting of elegant houses, beautiful gowns, and historical yet surprisingly contemporary New York City." - Booklist
Order The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy
THE MEMORY OF AFTER
Lenore Appelhans
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
304 pp
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 4/9/2013
Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.
Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.
Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.
“Appelhans’ storytelling is well paced, tantalizing the reader with hints, and the compelling theme of the necessity of facing the wrongs of the past in order to move forward into the future will appeal to teens.” - Booklist
Order The Memory of After (Memory Chronicles, The)
CRASHLisa McMannSimon Pulse256 pp.Ages 14-17Publication Date: 1/8/2013
If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.
Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.
What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.
The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.
"McMann is on her way to becoming the next queen of supernatural thrillers." - Kirkus Reviews
Read my interview with Lisa McMann HERE.
Order Crash (Visions)
THE UNWANTEDS #2: ISLAND OF SILENCE
Lisa McMann
Aladdin
432 pp.
Ages 8-12
Publication Date: 9/4/2012
Following the life-altering events at the conclusion of The Unwanteds, the stark world of Quill and the magical haven of Artimé are now home to whoever wants to live there, whether they are Wanteds, Unwanteds, or Necessaries.
In Artimé, Alex Stowe and his friends continue to hone their artistic magical spells while welcoming newcomers, wondering how long this peace between Quill and Artimé will last. Alex is stunned when Mr. Today comes to him with a very special request—one Alex questions his readiness for, until circumstances offer a dramatic answer.
And back in Quill, Aaron Stowe, Alex’s twin, faces a very different path. Devastated by his loss of status after Justine’s defeat and seething with rage toward Alex, Aaron is stealthily planning his revenge and return to power.
Alex and Aaron’s separate stories proceed with suspenseful pacing, colliding in a stunning climax that elevates sibling rivalry to epic proportions and leaves the fate of both worlds hanging in the balance.
"A cliffhanger ending with plenty of unsolved mysteries ensures the return of readers in the next installment." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Island of Silence (Unwanteds, The)
THE BINDING STONELisa Gail GreenFuzzbom Publishing247 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 5/12/2013
Tricked into slavery by the man she loved, the Djinni Leela has an eternity to regret her choices.
Awakened in the prison of her adolescent body, she finds a new master in possession of the opal that binds her. But seventeen-year-old Jered is unlike any she's seen. His kindness makes Leela yearn to trust again, to allow herself a glimmer of hope.
Could Jered be strong enough to free her from the curse of the Binding Stone?
"Genies like you've never seen them, THE BINDING STONE is a wild ride of treachery and deception. For my first wish, I'd like a sequel, please." - Lisa Desrochers, author of the PERSONAL DEMONS trilogy
Order The Binding Stone (The Djinn Series)
(ebook)
THE MYSTERY AT MARLATT MANOR
Anne Loader McGee
Vendera Publishing
176 pp.
Ages 10-14
Publication Date: 3/10/2011
When thirteen-year-old Mallory Gilmartin sees a light in the top window of the deserted mansion on Dark Hollow Hill, she is convinced it is connected to a young girl who mysteriously disappeared from there some fifty years earlier. Plagued by sudden nightmares and a voice that calls to her for help, Mallory must uncover the truth behind why someone seems so desperate to buy the worthless, old house. In a race against time, she is soon caught up in a devious plot involving the Marlatt family and their strange past.
Order The Mystery at Marlatt Manor
ANNI'S ATTICAnne Loader McGeeVendera Publishing256 pp.Ages 10-14Publication Date: 11/1/2012
In 1861, as the American Civil War escalates, eleven-year old Jennine is reluctantly taken by her father to live in Savannah, Georgia, with the twelve-year old cousin she despises- Annise Loreal Bouvoir.
While awaiting the return of her father from his covert Nothern military duties, Jennine and Annise soon find themselves caught up in the family's espionage and Underground Railroad activities. As Jennine comes to love and admire her independent and fearless cousin she also re-examines her arrogant attitude toward Negro slaves, in particular the handsome mulatto boy who works in the family's cotton plantation.
For more than three years, as the horror and deprivations of the war continue, the two cousins find comfort and joy in each other's company, and the mysterious treasures of a long-forgotten secret attic.
Order Anni's Attic
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY#1
* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #2 * Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #3
Welcome to DAY 4 of the2nd ANNUAL SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!!!
Congratulations to LAURA DONER! You won Wednesday's Swag Pack!
Welcome back to SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you stopped by yesterday then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, every day between now and June 30th, one winner will be chosen to receive a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors! On the last day one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, a collection of first edition books signed by the authors and some other very cool stuff. For a complete list of items in the MEGA SWAG PACK, visit HERE . Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. Then stop by tomorrow for another chance to win. And spread the word!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
TOUCHING THE SURFACEKimberly Sabatini
Simon Pulse
352 pp.
Ages 14-18
Publication Date: 10/30/2012
When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.
Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed.
As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.
“Soulful and inventive. A thoroughly original vision for what happens next.” —Daisy Whitney, author of The Mockingbirds
Order Touching the Surface
BREAKING POINTKristen SimmonsTom Doherty Assoc.400 pp.Ages 13-17Publication Date: 2/12/2013After faking their deaths to escape from prison in Article 5, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.
Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper's true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….
Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.
With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back?
“An adrenaline-pumping ride into a terrifying future. I have no nails left.” - Anne Greenwood Brown, author of Lies Beneath
Read my review of ARTICLE 5 HERE.
Read my interview with Kristen Simmons HERE.
Order Breaking Point (Article 5)
THE SINISTER SWEETNESS OF SPLENDID ACADEMYNikki Lofton
Penguin Young Readers
304 pp.
Ages 8-12
Publication Date: 8/21/2012
Spooky twists and soaring prose make this foodie update on Hansel and Gretel an unforgettable must-read.
Lorelei is bowled over by Splendid Academy—Principal Trapp encourages the students to run in the hallways, the classrooms are stocked with candy dishes, and the cafeteria serves lavish meals featuring all Lorelei's favorite foods. But the more time she spends at school, the more suspicious she becomes. Why are her classmates growing so chubby? And why do the teachers seem so sinister?
It's up to Lorelei and her new friend Andrew to figure out what secret this supposedly splendid school is hiding. What they discover chills their bones—and might even pick them clean!
Mix one part magic, one part mystery, and just a dash of Grimm, and you've got the recipe for a cozy-creepy read that kids will gobble up like candy.
"Loftin anchors her characters and creates a fantasy that feels simultaneously classic and new." - Publisher's Weekly
Read my interview with Nikki Lofton HERE.
Order The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy
TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWARTLeanna HeiberSourcebooks336 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 11/1/2012I'm coming for you.
The whispers haunt her dreams and fill her waking hours with dread. Something odd is happening. Something...unnatural.
Possession of the living. Resurrection of the dead. And Natalie Stewart is caught right in the middle. Jonathon, the one person she thought she could trust, has become a double agent for the dark side. But he plays the part so well, Natalie has to wonder just how much he's really acting.
She can't even see what it is she's fighting. But the cost of losing her heart, her sanity...her soul.
"Readers...will enjoy not only the dark, supernatural mystery and then-daring romance but also the Victorian setting of elegant houses, beautiful gowns, and historical yet surprisingly contemporary New York City." - Booklist
Order The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy
THE MEMORY OF AFTERLenore Appelhans
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
304 pp
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 4/9/2013
Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.
Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.
Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.
“Appelhans’ storytelling is well paced, tantalizing the reader with hints, and the compelling theme of the necessity of facing the wrongs of the past in order to move forward into the future will appeal to teens.” - Booklist
Order The Memory of After (Memory Chronicles, The)
CRASHLisa McMannSimon Pulse256 pp.Ages 14-17Publication Date: 1/8/2013If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.
Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.
What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.
The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.
"McMann is on her way to becoming the next queen of supernatural thrillers." - Kirkus Reviews
Read my interview with Lisa McMann HERE.
Order Crash (Visions)
THE UNWANTEDS #2: ISLAND OF SILENCELisa McMann
Aladdin
432 pp.
Ages 8-12
Publication Date: 9/4/2012
Following the life-altering events at the conclusion of The Unwanteds, the stark world of Quill and the magical haven of Artimé are now home to whoever wants to live there, whether they are Wanteds, Unwanteds, or Necessaries.
In Artimé, Alex Stowe and his friends continue to hone their artistic magical spells while welcoming newcomers, wondering how long this peace between Quill and Artimé will last. Alex is stunned when Mr. Today comes to him with a very special request—one Alex questions his readiness for, until circumstances offer a dramatic answer.
And back in Quill, Aaron Stowe, Alex’s twin, faces a very different path. Devastated by his loss of status after Justine’s defeat and seething with rage toward Alex, Aaron is stealthily planning his revenge and return to power.
Alex and Aaron’s separate stories proceed with suspenseful pacing, colliding in a stunning climax that elevates sibling rivalry to epic proportions and leaves the fate of both worlds hanging in the balance.
"A cliffhanger ending with plenty of unsolved mysteries ensures the return of readers in the next installment." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Island of Silence (Unwanteds, The)
THE BINDING STONELisa Gail GreenFuzzbom Publishing247 pp.Ages 12-17Publication Date: 5/12/2013Tricked into slavery by the man she loved, the Djinni Leela has an eternity to regret her choices.
Awakened in the prison of her adolescent body, she finds a new master in possession of the opal that binds her. But seventeen-year-old Jered is unlike any she's seen. His kindness makes Leela yearn to trust again, to allow herself a glimmer of hope.
Could Jered be strong enough to free her from the curse of the Binding Stone?
"Genies like you've never seen them, THE BINDING STONE is a wild ride of treachery and deception. For my first wish, I'd like a sequel, please." - Lisa Desrochers, author of the PERSONAL DEMONS trilogy
Order The Binding Stone (The Djinn Series)
(ebook)
THE MYSTERY AT MARLATT MANOR Anne Loader McGee
Vendera Publishing
176 pp.
Ages 10-14
Publication Date: 3/10/2011
When thirteen-year-old Mallory Gilmartin sees a light in the top window of the deserted mansion on Dark Hollow Hill, she is convinced it is connected to a young girl who mysteriously disappeared from there some fifty years earlier. Plagued by sudden nightmares and a voice that calls to her for help, Mallory must uncover the truth behind why someone seems so desperate to buy the worthless, old house. In a race against time, she is soon caught up in a devious plot involving the Marlatt family and their strange past.
Order The Mystery at Marlatt Manor
ANNI'S ATTICAnne Loader McGeeVendera Publishing256 pp.Ages 10-14Publication Date: 11/1/2012In 1861, as the American Civil War escalates, eleven-year old Jennine is reluctantly taken by her father to live in Savannah, Georgia, with the twelve-year old cousin she despises- Annise Loreal Bouvoir.
While awaiting the return of her father from his covert Nothern military duties, Jennine and Annise soon find themselves caught up in the family's espionage and Underground Railroad activities. As Jennine comes to love and admire her independent and fearless cousin she also re-examines her arrogant attitude toward Negro slaves, in particular the handsome mulatto boy who works in the family's cotton plantation.
For more than three years, as the horror and deprivations of the war continue, the two cousins find comfort and joy in each other's company, and the mysterious treasures of a long-forgotten secret attic.
Order Anni's Attic
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 25, 2013
SUPER SWAG SUNDAY - DAY #3
* Read about my Kickstarter campaign for my YA novel PETALS* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY#1* Read book spotlights from SUPER SWAG SUNDAY DAY #2 * Book Review: SCARLET by Marissa MeyerWelcome to DAY 3 of the2nd ANNUAL SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!!!
Welcome back to SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you stopped by yesterday then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, every day between now and June 30th, one winner will be chosen to receive a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors! On the last day one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, a collection of first edition books signed by the authors and some other very cool stuff. For a complete list of items in the MEGA SWAG PACK, visit HERE . Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. Then stop by tomorrow for another chance to win. And spread the word!
Congratulations DONNA DARK COLLINS. You won Tuesday's Swag Pack!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
TRUTH OR DARE
Jacqueline Green
Little Brown Books for Young Readers
389 pp.
Ages 15-17
Publication Date: 5/14/2013
When a simple round of truth or dare spins out of control, three girls find it's no longer a party game — it's do or die.
It all started on a whim: The game was a way for Tenley Reed to reclaim her popularity, a chance for perfect Caitlin "Angel" Thomas to prove she's more than her Harvard application. Loner Sydney Morgan wasn't even there; she was hiding behind her camera, as usual. But when all three start receiving mysterious dares long after the party has ended, they're forced to play along — or risk exposing their darkest secrets.
How far will Tenley, Caitlin, and Sydney go to keep the truth from surfacing? And who's behind this twisted game?
Set against the backdrop of Echo Bay, an isolated beach town haunted by misfortune, Truth or Dare is a highly charged debut that will keep readers in suspense from beginning to end.
"Good intrigue designed for the chick-lit crowd." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Truth or Dare
PLASTIC POLLYJenny LundquistAladdin231 pp.Ages 9-13Publication Date: 3/19/2013
Popularity has its pitfalls, and Polly is discovering them firsthand in this middle-grade M!X novel.Polly Pierce likes being the second-most popular girl at Winston Academy, right after her BFF, Kelsy. Popularity comes with special privileges, like a seat at the best table in the cafeteria and a coveted spot on the planning committee for the school’s big talent show competition, Groove It Up! And since all Polly has to do is agree with whatever Kelsy says, being popular is easy—even if kids do call her “Plastic Polly” behind her back.
But when a freak accident takes Kelsy out of the picture, Polly is suddenly in charge of the Groove It Up! committee. She’s not prepared for her new status—and neither is anyone else. Backstabbing friends, an intimidating crush, and diva demands from an injured Kelsy all threaten to derail Polly’s plans. Can she prove to everyone—and herself—that she has a personality of her own?
"Lundquist carefully sets up obstacles to showcase Polly's step-by-step evolution, making the trip both dramatically and emotionally credible. Readers will surely be saying, ‘Polly, you go girl.'- Kirkus Reviews
Order Plastic Polly
Read my interview with Jenny Lundquist HERE.
SEEING CINDERELLA
Jenny Lundquist
Aladdin
240 pp.
Ages 9-13
Publication Date: 3/20/2012
Magical realism and a modern Cinderella story makes for a fun and relatable M!X read.Sixth grade is not going well for Calliope Meadow Anderson. Callie’s hair is frizzy, her best friend, Ellen, is acting weird, and to top things off, she has to get glasses. And her new specs aren’t even cute, trendy glasses—more like hideously large and geeky. But Callie soon discovers that her glasses have a special, magical perk: When she wears them, she can read people’s thoughts. Crazy glasses aside, Callie has more drama to face when she’s cast as the lead in the school play—and instead opts to be an understudy, giving the role of Cinderella to Ellen. Can Callie’s magic glasses help her see her way to leading lady, or is she destined to stay in the background forever?
"Callie is able to step outside herself and help others in this light-hearted, enjoyable story." - Voya
Order Seeing Cinderella
MY LIFE AFTER NOWJessica VerdiSourcebooks304 pp.Ages 13-17Publication Date: 4/2/2013
The last thing Lucy ever expected was to end up as another teen statistic. Lucy had a plan: become a Broadway star, start a life with her leading man Ty, make her family proud. But in a matter of days, Lucy loses Ty, her starring role, and her parents drop a bomb she never saw coming.
Suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of. And now her life will never be the same. What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family? Off script and without the comforts of her simple high school problems, Lucy must figure out how to live, and even embrace, her new life. Now...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.
"Lucy's journey toward accepting her diagnosis is realistically handled, complete with highs and lows." - Kirkus Reviews
Order My Life After Now
EMPTY
K.M. Walton
Simon Pulse
241 pp.
Ages 14-17
Publication Date: 1/1/2013
A girl tumbles into a downward spiral when a romantic encounter turns violent in this heartwrenching novel from the author of Cracked.
Dell is used to disappointment. Ever since her dad left, it’s been one letdown after another. But no one—not even her best friend—understands all the pain she’s going through. So Dell hides behind self-deprecating jokes and forced smiles.
Then the one person she trusts betrays her. Dell is beyond devastated. Without anyone to turn to for comfort, her depression and self-loathing spin out of control. But just how far will she go to make all of heartbreak and the name-calling stop?
""Bullying has become a hot topic in YA lit, and Walton offers a sensitive portrayal. Recommend to parents as well as their teens for facilitating self-examination and open lines of communication."- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Order Empty
PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIALKara TaylorSt. Martin's Press336 pp.Ages 12 -17Release Date: 7/30/2013
Anne Dowling practically runs her exclusive academy on New York’s Upper East Side—that is, until she accidentally burns part of it down and gets sent to a prestigious boarding school outside of Boston. Determined to make it back to New York, Anne could care less about making friends at the preppy Wheatley School. That is, until her roommate, Isabella’s body is found in the woods behind the school. When everyone else is oddly silent, Anne becomes determined to uncover the truth no matter how many rules she has to break to do it. With the help of Isabella’s twin brother Anthony, and a cute classmate named Brent, Anne discovers that Isabella wasn’t quite the innocent nerdy girl she pretended to be. But someone will do anything to stop Anne’s snooping in this fast-paced, unputdownable read—even if it means framing her for Isabella’s murder.
"A whirlwind of secrets, lies, and scandals. I whipped through the pages, frantic to discover the killer." –Jill Hathaway, author of Slide
Pre-Order Prep School Confidential
TARNISH
Katherine Longshore
Viking Juvenile
448 pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 6/18/2013
Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out. Newly arrived to the court of King Henry VIII, everything about her seems wrong, from her clothes to her manners to her witty but sharp tongue. So when the dashing poet Thomas Wyatt offers to coach her on how to shine at court—and to convince the whole court they’re lovers—she accepts. Before long, Anne’s popularity has soared, and even the charismatic and irresistible king takes notice. More than popularity, Anne wants a voice—but she also wants love. What began as a game becomes high stakes as Anne finds herself forced to make an impossible choice between her heart's desire and the chance to make history.
"Teens with a love of history will not be able to resist this skillful retelling of the remarkable achievement of Anne Boleyn, who rose from tarnished foreign outcast to the king's bride." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Tarnish
TASTE TESTKelly FioreWalker & Company352 pp.Ages 12-17Release Date: 8/27/2013
Nora Henderson has been basting baby back ribs for as long as she could reach the counter of her dad's famous barbecue joint. When she's accepted to Taste Test, a teen reality cooking competition, Nora can't wait to leave her humble hometown behind. On set, run-ins with the maddeningly handsome and talented son of a famous chef, Christian Van Lorten, make Nora wonder if it's him or the win she really wants, but as she and Christian emerge as front-runners for the final prize, Nora can't ignore the mysterious accidents plaguing the kitchen arena. Someone is conducting eliminations of their own, and if Nora doesn't stop them, she could be next to get "chopped" for good.
With romance and intrigue as delectable as the winning recipes included in the story, this debut novel will be devoured by all.
"Readers will spot the romance potential immediately, but the story stretches out that prospect for as long as possible. Contestants may lose, but readers won't." - Kirkus Reviews
Pre-Order Taste Test
PRETTY GIRL 13
Liz Coley
HarperCollins
352 pp.
Ages 14-17
Publication Date: 3/19/2013
Pretty girl
13 when she went missing
lost to her family to her friends to the world
found but still missing her self
In Liz Coley's alarming and fascinating psychological mystery, sixteen-year-old Angie Chapman must piece together the story of her kidnapping and abuse. Pretty Girl-13 is a disturbing—and ultimately empowering—page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope, and love.
"Readers interested in psychological explorations will appreciate and admire Angie's struggles and journey." - School Library Journal
Order Pretty Girl-13
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Welcome back to SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you stopped by yesterday then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, every day between now and June 30th, one winner will be chosen to receive a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors! On the last day one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, a collection of first edition books signed by the authors and some other very cool stuff. For a complete list of items in the MEGA SWAG PACK, visit HERE . Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. Then stop by tomorrow for another chance to win. And spread the word!
Congratulations DONNA DARK COLLINS. You won Tuesday's Swag Pack!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
TRUTH OR DAREJacqueline Green
Little Brown Books for Young Readers
389 pp.
Ages 15-17
Publication Date: 5/14/2013
When a simple round of truth or dare spins out of control, three girls find it's no longer a party game — it's do or die.
It all started on a whim: The game was a way for Tenley Reed to reclaim her popularity, a chance for perfect Caitlin "Angel" Thomas to prove she's more than her Harvard application. Loner Sydney Morgan wasn't even there; she was hiding behind her camera, as usual. But when all three start receiving mysterious dares long after the party has ended, they're forced to play along — or risk exposing their darkest secrets.
How far will Tenley, Caitlin, and Sydney go to keep the truth from surfacing? And who's behind this twisted game?
Set against the backdrop of Echo Bay, an isolated beach town haunted by misfortune, Truth or Dare is a highly charged debut that will keep readers in suspense from beginning to end.
"Good intrigue designed for the chick-lit crowd." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Truth or Dare
PLASTIC POLLYJenny LundquistAladdin231 pp.Ages 9-13Publication Date: 3/19/2013Popularity has its pitfalls, and Polly is discovering them firsthand in this middle-grade M!X novel.Polly Pierce likes being the second-most popular girl at Winston Academy, right after her BFF, Kelsy. Popularity comes with special privileges, like a seat at the best table in the cafeteria and a coveted spot on the planning committee for the school’s big talent show competition, Groove It Up! And since all Polly has to do is agree with whatever Kelsy says, being popular is easy—even if kids do call her “Plastic Polly” behind her back.
But when a freak accident takes Kelsy out of the picture, Polly is suddenly in charge of the Groove It Up! committee. She’s not prepared for her new status—and neither is anyone else. Backstabbing friends, an intimidating crush, and diva demands from an injured Kelsy all threaten to derail Polly’s plans. Can she prove to everyone—and herself—that she has a personality of her own?
"Lundquist carefully sets up obstacles to showcase Polly's step-by-step evolution, making the trip both dramatically and emotionally credible. Readers will surely be saying, ‘Polly, you go girl.'- Kirkus Reviews
Order Plastic Polly
Read my interview with Jenny Lundquist HERE.
SEEING CINDERELLAJenny Lundquist
Aladdin
240 pp.
Ages 9-13
Publication Date: 3/20/2012
Magical realism and a modern Cinderella story makes for a fun and relatable M!X read.Sixth grade is not going well for Calliope Meadow Anderson. Callie’s hair is frizzy, her best friend, Ellen, is acting weird, and to top things off, she has to get glasses. And her new specs aren’t even cute, trendy glasses—more like hideously large and geeky. But Callie soon discovers that her glasses have a special, magical perk: When she wears them, she can read people’s thoughts. Crazy glasses aside, Callie has more drama to face when she’s cast as the lead in the school play—and instead opts to be an understudy, giving the role of Cinderella to Ellen. Can Callie’s magic glasses help her see her way to leading lady, or is she destined to stay in the background forever?
"Callie is able to step outside herself and help others in this light-hearted, enjoyable story." - Voya
Order Seeing Cinderella
MY LIFE AFTER NOWJessica VerdiSourcebooks304 pp.Ages 13-17Publication Date: 4/2/2013The last thing Lucy ever expected was to end up as another teen statistic. Lucy had a plan: become a Broadway star, start a life with her leading man Ty, make her family proud. But in a matter of days, Lucy loses Ty, her starring role, and her parents drop a bomb she never saw coming.
Suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of. And now her life will never be the same. What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family? Off script and without the comforts of her simple high school problems, Lucy must figure out how to live, and even embrace, her new life. Now...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.
"Lucy's journey toward accepting her diagnosis is realistically handled, complete with highs and lows." - Kirkus Reviews
Order My Life After Now
EMPTYK.M. Walton
Simon Pulse
241 pp.
Ages 14-17
Publication Date: 1/1/2013
A girl tumbles into a downward spiral when a romantic encounter turns violent in this heartwrenching novel from the author of Cracked.
Dell is used to disappointment. Ever since her dad left, it’s been one letdown after another. But no one—not even her best friend—understands all the pain she’s going through. So Dell hides behind self-deprecating jokes and forced smiles.
Then the one person she trusts betrays her. Dell is beyond devastated. Without anyone to turn to for comfort, her depression and self-loathing spin out of control. But just how far will she go to make all of heartbreak and the name-calling stop?
""Bullying has become a hot topic in YA lit, and Walton offers a sensitive portrayal. Recommend to parents as well as their teens for facilitating self-examination and open lines of communication."- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Order Empty
PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIALKara TaylorSt. Martin's Press336 pp.Ages 12 -17Release Date: 7/30/2013 Anne Dowling practically runs her exclusive academy on New York’s Upper East Side—that is, until she accidentally burns part of it down and gets sent to a prestigious boarding school outside of Boston. Determined to make it back to New York, Anne could care less about making friends at the preppy Wheatley School. That is, until her roommate, Isabella’s body is found in the woods behind the school. When everyone else is oddly silent, Anne becomes determined to uncover the truth no matter how many rules she has to break to do it. With the help of Isabella’s twin brother Anthony, and a cute classmate named Brent, Anne discovers that Isabella wasn’t quite the innocent nerdy girl she pretended to be. But someone will do anything to stop Anne’s snooping in this fast-paced, unputdownable read—even if it means framing her for Isabella’s murder.
"A whirlwind of secrets, lies, and scandals. I whipped through the pages, frantic to discover the killer." –Jill Hathaway, author of Slide
Pre-Order Prep School Confidential
TARNISHKatherine Longshore
Viking Juvenile
448 pp.
Ages 12-17
Publication Date: 6/18/2013
Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out. Newly arrived to the court of King Henry VIII, everything about her seems wrong, from her clothes to her manners to her witty but sharp tongue. So when the dashing poet Thomas Wyatt offers to coach her on how to shine at court—and to convince the whole court they’re lovers—she accepts. Before long, Anne’s popularity has soared, and even the charismatic and irresistible king takes notice. More than popularity, Anne wants a voice—but she also wants love. What began as a game becomes high stakes as Anne finds herself forced to make an impossible choice between her heart's desire and the chance to make history.
"Teens with a love of history will not be able to resist this skillful retelling of the remarkable achievement of Anne Boleyn, who rose from tarnished foreign outcast to the king's bride." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Tarnish
TASTE TESTKelly FioreWalker & Company352 pp.Ages 12-17Release Date: 8/27/2013Nora Henderson has been basting baby back ribs for as long as she could reach the counter of her dad's famous barbecue joint. When she's accepted to Taste Test, a teen reality cooking competition, Nora can't wait to leave her humble hometown behind. On set, run-ins with the maddeningly handsome and talented son of a famous chef, Christian Van Lorten, make Nora wonder if it's him or the win she really wants, but as she and Christian emerge as front-runners for the final prize, Nora can't ignore the mysterious accidents plaguing the kitchen arena. Someone is conducting eliminations of their own, and if Nora doesn't stop them, she could be next to get "chopped" for good.
With romance and intrigue as delectable as the winning recipes included in the story, this debut novel will be devoured by all.
"Readers will spot the romance potential immediately, but the story stretches out that prospect for as long as possible. Contestants may lose, but readers won't." - Kirkus Reviews
Pre-Order Taste Test
PRETTY GIRL 13Liz Coley
HarperCollins
352 pp.
Ages 14-17
Publication Date: 3/19/2013
Pretty girl
13 when she went missing
lost to her family to her friends to the world
found but still missing her self
In Liz Coley's alarming and fascinating psychological mystery, sixteen-year-old Angie Chapman must piece together the story of her kidnapping and abuse. Pretty Girl-13 is a disturbing—and ultimately empowering—page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope, and love.
"Readers interested in psychological explorations will appreciate and admire Angie's struggles and journey." - School Library Journal
Order Pretty Girl-13
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please. a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 24, 2013
SUPER SWAG SUNDAY - DAY #2
Welcome to DAY 2 of the2nd ANNUAL SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!!!
Congratulations KIERA D. You won Monday's Swag Pack!
Welcome back to SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you stopped by yesterday then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, every day between now and June 30th, one winner will be chosen to receive a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors! On the last day one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, a collection of first edition books signed by the authors and some other very cool stuff. For a complete list of items in the MEGA SWAG PACK, visit HERE. Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. Then stop by tomorrow for another chance to win. And spread the word!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
MONSTERS (Book III of the ASHES TRILOGY)
Ilsa J. Bick
Egmont USA
688 pp.
Ages 14 & up
Release Date: 9/10/2013
The Changed are on the move. The Spared are out of time. The End...is now.When her parents died, Alex thought things couldn't get much worse—until the doctors found the monster in her head.
She headed into the wilderness as a good-bye, to leave everything behind. But then the end of the world happened, and Alex took the first step down a treacherous road of betrayal and terror and death.
Now, with no hope of rescue—on the brink of starvation in a winter that just won't quit—she discovers a new and horrifying truth.
The Change isn't over.
The Changed are still evolving.
And...they've had help.
With this final volume of The Ashes Trilogy, Ilsa J. Bick delivers a riveting, blockbuster finish, returning readers to a brutal, post-apocalyptic world where no one is safe and hope is in short supply.A world where, from these ashes, the monsters may rise.
*Read my review of ASHES (The Ashes Trilogy Book I)
Order Monsters: The Ashes Trilogy
THE KEY AND THE FLAME
Claire Caterer
Margaret K. McElderry Books
468 pp.
Ages 8 - 12
Publication Date: 4/2/2013
In this middle-grade fantasy adventure, a gusty girl unlocks a magical universe—and the danger that lies within.
Eleven-year-old Holly Shepard longs for adventure, some escape from her humdrum life. That is precisely what she gets when she is given an old iron key that unlocks a door—in a tree.Holly crosses the threshold into a stunning and magical medieval world, Anglielle. And as she does so, something unlocks within Holly: a primal, powerful magic. Holly is joined on her journey by two tagalongs—her younger brother Ben, and Everett, an English boy who hungers after Holly’s newfound magic and carries a few secrets of his own.When Ben and Everett are sentenced to death by the royals, whose fear of magic has fueled a violent, systemic slaughter of all enchanted creatures, Holly must save them and find a way back home. But will she be able to muster the courage and rise above her ordinary past to become an extraordinary hero?
"The book’s pace is sprightly, and Holly’s adventures are exciting without being too scary." - Publisher's Weekly
Order The Key & the Flame
THE EMERALD RING (Book I Cleopatra's Legacy)
Dorine White
Cedar Fort
183 pp.
Ages 8-12
Publication Date: 5/14/2013
Sara Bogus's life turns upside down when she discovers an emerald ring that once belonged to Cleopatra. The fun of discovering the ring's unique abilities turns to fear when she finds out a dangerous cult bent on restoring Rome to power is after the ring. Forced to choose between keeping the ring and saving her friends, Sara learns the price of bravery in this electrifying read!
*Read my review of THE EMERALD RING
Order the emerald ring dorine white
LOSING ITErin FryAmazon Children's Publishing272 pp.Ages 10 - 14Publication Date: 9/4/2012
Bennett Robinson loves baseball, especially watching Dodgers games with his dad while munching on burgers and fries - the perfect “game food.” Baseball even helped Bennett and his dad cope with his mom’s death from cancer. But there’s no way Bennett could ever play baseball. Bennett is fat, the kind of fat that gives you belly button sweat stains and makes it tough to get off a sagging couch. But on one perfect, baseball-watching day, everything changes. Bennett’s dad is taken away on a stretcher, and Bennett doesn’t know if he will live or die. Now Bennett has to move in with know-it-all Aunt Laura, who’s making it her personal mission to Get Bennett Healthy - and take over his life. It’s time for Bennett to step up to the plate. Because maybe there are some things he can do . . . like talk to a girl, run a mile, and maybe even save his own life. Erin Fry explores the issue of obesity with heart, depth, and humor in this unforgettable debut novel.
"Fry's purposive debut is reminiscent of Chris Crutcher's works, but for a younger audience. An energizing and ultimately uplifting tale of the power to change." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Losing It
VIGILANTE NIGHTS
Erin Richards
F+W Media
304 pp.
Release Date: 7/18/2013
A "\good boy\" will do anything for vengeance when a gang rite kills his twin sister. Will Lucas win, or follow his sister Silver into the darkness?
After a hideous car wreck, Lucas wakes from a coma to find that his world is gutted. Not only is his beloved twin sister, Silver, gone forever, but Lucas is broken in body and spirit. He will never be a college athlete, and is robbed of what he now realizes was the most important bond of his life. Although they weren't identical twins, Lucas and Silver shared a bond so fierce it defied reason, and was nearly supernatural.
After her death, that bond seems to endure when Lucas sees Silver everywhere he turns. Either he's crazy, or Silver is trying to tell him something about the California gang initiation they stumbled into that cost Silver her life. Lucas is bent on revenge, turning on Raymond, Silver's former boyfriend; the one Lucas never wanted her to date. He forms a posse of vigilantes to take out the gangsters responsible for Silver's death, but he risks not only his own life, but the love of the new girl on his block, who knows more about Lucas and Silver than can be accounted for by mere chance.
"This book grabs you from page one and doesn't ever let go!" --Georgia McBride, author of Praefatio
Pre-Order Vigilante Nights
RUSHEve SilverHarperCollins368 pp.Ages 14-17Publication Date 6/11/2013
Rush pulls you headlong into the thrilling, high-stakes world of Eve Silver's teen series The Game, about teens pulled into and out of an alternate reality in which battling aliens is more than a game—it's life and death. This teen debut novel offers science fiction and gaming fans romantic thrills at a breakneck pace.
Seventeen-year-old Miki Jones's carefully controlled life spirals into chaos after she's run down in the street, left broken and bloody. She wakes up fully healed in a place called the lobby—pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game in which she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures.
There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says that the game is more than that, and that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn't. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.
"Mind candy for those teen readers who love the thrill of the game." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Rush: The Game: Book 1
REUNITED
Hillary Weisman Graham
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
336 pp.
Ages 12 & up
Publication Date: 6/4/2013
1 concert. 2,000 miles. 3 ex-best friends. Can a road trip restore harmony?
Alice, Summer, and Tiernan used to be best friends—as well as the self-proclaimed biggest fans of the band Level3. But when the band broke up, so did their friendship.
Now, four years later, they’ve just graduated from high school. When Level3 announces a one-time reunion show in Texas, Alice impulsively buys tickets and invites her two former friends along for the trip. Reluctant at first, both girls agree to go, each with her own ulterior motive. But old resentments and other roadblocks—from unintended detours to lost concert tickets—keep getting in the girls’ way. Will their friendship get an encore, or is the show really over?
"Fans of teen-targeted television and movies, as well as popular music fans, will also enjoy this book." - Voya
Order Reunited
PARADIGMHelen StringerCreateSpace396pp.Ages 14-17Release Date: 8/22/2013
The story begins one hundred years from now in a future in which nearly all today’s dire warnings have become reality, the America of Paradigm has been reduced to a few powerful city states and the vast Wilds where local strongmen battle for power over a scattered, impoverished people.
Sam Cooper was taken to the Wilds by his parents when he was five. He’s now seventeen and has been alone for six years, getting by through a combination of wit, gambling and barter. When his erstwhile friend, Nathan, suggests they try their luck in one of the city states, Sam is reluctant – his parents had warned him about such places. However, he eventually agrees to travel to Century City, setting into motion a chain of events in which he discovers who is really in control of this not so brave new world as well as the reason his parents tried to hide him as far away as they could. On the way he meets the mysterious Alma, a Maori warrior who repeatedly saves his life, but who has secrets of her own; Rob, a would-be revolutionary leading a small group of followers plotting global change from a small house among the rubble of San Francisco; and the deliciously psychotic Carolyn Bast.
Pre-Order Paradigm
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations KIERA D. You won Monday's Swag Pack!
Welcome back to SUPER SWAG SUNDAY! If you stopped by yesterday then you know what to do. If you're just joining us, visit HERE first to find out what's going on. But in a nutshell, every day between now and June 30th, one winner will be chosen to receive a SUPER SWAG PACK filled with all sorts of book goodies signed by 50+ of today's hottest YA/MG authors! On the last day one very lucky winner will receive the MEGA SWAG PACK, a collection of first edition books signed by the authors and some other very cool stuff. For a complete list of items in the MEGA SWAG PACK, visit HERE. Be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of this post for a chance to win today's prize. Then stop by tomorrow for another chance to win. And spread the word!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
MONSTERS (Book III of the ASHES TRILOGY)Ilsa J. Bick
Egmont USA
688 pp.
Ages 14 & up
Release Date: 9/10/2013
The Changed are on the move. The Spared are out of time. The End...is now.When her parents died, Alex thought things couldn't get much worse—until the doctors found the monster in her head.
She headed into the wilderness as a good-bye, to leave everything behind. But then the end of the world happened, and Alex took the first step down a treacherous road of betrayal and terror and death.
Now, with no hope of rescue—on the brink of starvation in a winter that just won't quit—she discovers a new and horrifying truth.
The Change isn't over.
The Changed are still evolving.
And...they've had help.
With this final volume of The Ashes Trilogy, Ilsa J. Bick delivers a riveting, blockbuster finish, returning readers to a brutal, post-apocalyptic world where no one is safe and hope is in short supply.A world where, from these ashes, the monsters may rise.
*Read my review of ASHES (The Ashes Trilogy Book I)
Order Monsters: The Ashes Trilogy
THE KEY AND THE FLAME
Claire CatererMargaret K. McElderry Books
468 pp.
Ages 8 - 12
Publication Date: 4/2/2013
In this middle-grade fantasy adventure, a gusty girl unlocks a magical universe—and the danger that lies within.
Eleven-year-old Holly Shepard longs for adventure, some escape from her humdrum life. That is precisely what she gets when she is given an old iron key that unlocks a door—in a tree.Holly crosses the threshold into a stunning and magical medieval world, Anglielle. And as she does so, something unlocks within Holly: a primal, powerful magic. Holly is joined on her journey by two tagalongs—her younger brother Ben, and Everett, an English boy who hungers after Holly’s newfound magic and carries a few secrets of his own.When Ben and Everett are sentenced to death by the royals, whose fear of magic has fueled a violent, systemic slaughter of all enchanted creatures, Holly must save them and find a way back home. But will she be able to muster the courage and rise above her ordinary past to become an extraordinary hero?
"The book’s pace is sprightly, and Holly’s adventures are exciting without being too scary." - Publisher's Weekly
Order The Key & the Flame
THE EMERALD RING (Book I Cleopatra's Legacy)Dorine White
Cedar Fort
183 pp.
Ages 8-12
Publication Date: 5/14/2013
Sara Bogus's life turns upside down when she discovers an emerald ring that once belonged to Cleopatra. The fun of discovering the ring's unique abilities turns to fear when she finds out a dangerous cult bent on restoring Rome to power is after the ring. Forced to choose between keeping the ring and saving her friends, Sara learns the price of bravery in this electrifying read!
*Read my review of THE EMERALD RING
Order the emerald ring dorine white
LOSING ITErin FryAmazon Children's Publishing272 pp.Ages 10 - 14Publication Date: 9/4/2012Bennett Robinson loves baseball, especially watching Dodgers games with his dad while munching on burgers and fries - the perfect “game food.” Baseball even helped Bennett and his dad cope with his mom’s death from cancer. But there’s no way Bennett could ever play baseball. Bennett is fat, the kind of fat that gives you belly button sweat stains and makes it tough to get off a sagging couch. But on one perfect, baseball-watching day, everything changes. Bennett’s dad is taken away on a stretcher, and Bennett doesn’t know if he will live or die. Now Bennett has to move in with know-it-all Aunt Laura, who’s making it her personal mission to Get Bennett Healthy - and take over his life. It’s time for Bennett to step up to the plate. Because maybe there are some things he can do . . . like talk to a girl, run a mile, and maybe even save his own life. Erin Fry explores the issue of obesity with heart, depth, and humor in this unforgettable debut novel.
"Fry's purposive debut is reminiscent of Chris Crutcher's works, but for a younger audience. An energizing and ultimately uplifting tale of the power to change." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Losing It
VIGILANTE NIGHTSErin Richards
F+W Media
304 pp.
Release Date: 7/18/2013
A "\good boy\" will do anything for vengeance when a gang rite kills his twin sister. Will Lucas win, or follow his sister Silver into the darkness?
After a hideous car wreck, Lucas wakes from a coma to find that his world is gutted. Not only is his beloved twin sister, Silver, gone forever, but Lucas is broken in body and spirit. He will never be a college athlete, and is robbed of what he now realizes was the most important bond of his life. Although they weren't identical twins, Lucas and Silver shared a bond so fierce it defied reason, and was nearly supernatural.
After her death, that bond seems to endure when Lucas sees Silver everywhere he turns. Either he's crazy, or Silver is trying to tell him something about the California gang initiation they stumbled into that cost Silver her life. Lucas is bent on revenge, turning on Raymond, Silver's former boyfriend; the one Lucas never wanted her to date. He forms a posse of vigilantes to take out the gangsters responsible for Silver's death, but he risks not only his own life, but the love of the new girl on his block, who knows more about Lucas and Silver than can be accounted for by mere chance.
"This book grabs you from page one and doesn't ever let go!" --Georgia McBride, author of Praefatio
Pre-Order Vigilante Nights
RUSHEve SilverHarperCollins368 pp.Ages 14-17Publication Date 6/11/2013Rush pulls you headlong into the thrilling, high-stakes world of Eve Silver's teen series The Game, about teens pulled into and out of an alternate reality in which battling aliens is more than a game—it's life and death. This teen debut novel offers science fiction and gaming fans romantic thrills at a breakneck pace.
Seventeen-year-old Miki Jones's carefully controlled life spirals into chaos after she's run down in the street, left broken and bloody. She wakes up fully healed in a place called the lobby—pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game in which she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures.
There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says that the game is more than that, and that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn't. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.
"Mind candy for those teen readers who love the thrill of the game." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Rush: The Game: Book 1
REUNITED Hillary Weisman Graham
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
336 pp.
Ages 12 & up
Publication Date: 6/4/2013
1 concert. 2,000 miles. 3 ex-best friends. Can a road trip restore harmony?
Alice, Summer, and Tiernan used to be best friends—as well as the self-proclaimed biggest fans of the band Level3. But when the band broke up, so did their friendship.
Now, four years later, they’ve just graduated from high school. When Level3 announces a one-time reunion show in Texas, Alice impulsively buys tickets and invites her two former friends along for the trip. Reluctant at first, both girls agree to go, each with her own ulterior motive. But old resentments and other roadblocks—from unintended detours to lost concert tickets—keep getting in the girls’ way. Will their friendship get an encore, or is the show really over?
"Fans of teen-targeted television and movies, as well as popular music fans, will also enjoy this book." - Voya
Order Reunited
PARADIGMHelen StringerCreateSpace396pp.Ages 14-17Release Date: 8/22/2013The story begins one hundred years from now in a future in which nearly all today’s dire warnings have become reality, the America of Paradigm has been reduced to a few powerful city states and the vast Wilds where local strongmen battle for power over a scattered, impoverished people.
Sam Cooper was taken to the Wilds by his parents when he was five. He’s now seventeen and has been alone for six years, getting by through a combination of wit, gambling and barter. When his erstwhile friend, Nathan, suggests they try their luck in one of the city states, Sam is reluctant – his parents had warned him about such places. However, he eventually agrees to travel to Century City, setting into motion a chain of events in which he discovers who is really in control of this not so brave new world as well as the reason his parents tried to hide him as far away as they could. On the way he meets the mysterious Alma, a Maori warrior who repeatedly saves his life, but who has secrets of her own; Rob, a would-be revolutionary leading a small group of followers plotting global change from a small house among the rubble of San Francisco; and the deliciously psychotic Carolyn Bast.
Pre-Order Paradigm
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning.Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 23, 2013
SUPER SWAG SUNDAY - DAY #1
* Read about my Kickstarter campaign for my YA novel PETALS* Book Review: ISAAC'S STORM by Erik Larson* Book Review: SCARLET by Marissa Meyer* Win a real EMERALD RING! Interview w/Dorine White, author of THE EMERALD RING
Welcome to the 2nd ANNUAL SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!!!
If you participated last year, then you'll know all about it. If this is your first time, then you're in for a real treat. SUPER SWAG SUNDAY is actually a week long event culminating in the biggest book promo giveaway ever! Every day this week, Monday June 24th through Saturday June 30th, I will be spotlighting several of today's best books for kids and teens. Blog visitors can enter the daily giveaway for a chance to win one of 6 SUPER SWAG PACKS, consisting of more than 50 promotional items including bookmarks, postcards, wristbands, stickers, jewelry, key chains, pencils, lip balm, a compass, pencils, tote bags, posters, and tons more! Many items are autographed by the authors!
On the last day, SUPER SWAG SUNDAY, one last name will be drawn to win the MEGA SWAG PACK, which includes everything in the swag packs PLUS all of the following: signed copies of The Always War by Margaret Petersen Haddix, The Unwanteds: Island of Silence by Lisa McMann, The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, Losing It by Erin Fry, Evertaster: The Buttersmith's Gold by Adam Sidwell, Starters by Lissa Price, Hysteria by Megan Miranda, original artwork from Fishtale by Catherine Masciola, a signed Losing It water bottle, T-shirts from OyMG! by Amy Fellner Dominy and Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini, a guitar pick from Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt, and a heart-shaped necklace from Love and Leftovers, a Dragonwitch pencil, a Margaret Petersen Haddix promo pin, an ARC of Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick & camo backpack, a hard copy of Quarantine by Lex Thomas, and a signed poster of The Binding Stone by Lisa Gail Green. (Some items not pictured below.) Whew!
Entering the giveaways is easy! Stop by this blog each day and check out the spotlighted books. Then enter that day's rafflecopter form which includes links to the authors' Facebook and/or Twitter pages. The winner will be announced the following morning. Each day is a fresh chance to win!
So, let's get on with it, shall we? Without further ado . . . I bring you SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
BROTHERHOOD
A. B. Westrick
Viking
Ages 10-14
Release Date: 9/12/2013
The year is 1867, and Richmond, Virginia, lies in ruins. By day fourteen-year-old Shadrach apprentices with a tailor and sneaks off for reading lessons with Rachel, a freed slave, at her school for African-American children. By night he follows his older brother to the meetings of a brotherhood, newly formed to support Confederate widows and grieving families like his. As the true murderous mission of the brotherhood—now known as the Ku Klux Klan—emerges, Shad is trapped between his pledge to them and what he knows is right. In this unflinching view of the bitter animosity that stemmed from economic and social upheaval in the South during the period of Reconstruction, it’s clear that the Civil War has ended, but the conflict isn’t over.
“A boy struggling to come of age in a ruined world reaches in all the wrong directions for being and belonging in this story that uncovers a trove of hidden history.”- Richard Peck, Newbery-winning author of A Year Down Yonder
Pre-Order Brotherhood
EVERTASTER: THE BUTTERSMITH'S GOLDFuture House Publishing Adam SidwellAges 8-12
Everyone knows the most coveted treasure of the Viking Age was blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins so succulent that if you sniffed just a whiff, you'd want a whole bite. If you bit a bite, you'd want a batch; if you snatched a batch, you'd stop at nothing short of going to war just to claim them all.
Young Torbjorn Trofastsonn comes from the clan that makes them. He's a Viking through and through, he's thirteen winters old, larger than most respectable rocks, and most of all, a Buttersmith. That's what he thinks anyway, until a charismatic merchant makes Torbjorn question his place among the muffin-makers. When Torbjorn lets the secret of his clan's muffin recipe slip, he calls doom and destruction down upon his peaceful village and forces his brother Storfjell and his clansmen to do the one thing they are ill-prepared to do: battle for their lives.
"Wonderfully talented writing; funny." Orson Scott Card, author of Ender's Game
Order The Buttersmiths' Gold (Evertaster Series)
AUDITION AND SUBTRACTION
Amy Fellner Dominy
Walker & Company
Ages 10-14
Publication Date: 9/4/2012
Read my review of Audition & Subtraction HERE.
Best friends Tatum and Lori are used to doing everything together-including a clarinet/flute duet for District Honor Band auditions. But all that changes when Michael transfers to their middle school, and into their band. Suddenly, not only is he competition for Tatum's spot on stage, but he's stealing Lori, too. Tatum doesn't like change no matter its form: not with her good friend Aaron, who seems to believe her fib that they're secretly boyfriend and girlfriend. And not with her mom either, who, to cope with a separation from her dad, is performing in community theater, of all things! Amy Fellner Dominy composes an equally heartwarming and humorous story of how holding tight to the status quo can mean missing out on the future-and how often times the best way to move forward is by going solo.
"Tatum's maturing recognition of her own self-worth and realistic outcomes--sadly not everything works out the way she would wish--make this a satisfying and believable read." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Audition & Subtraction
OyMGAmy Fellner DominyWalker & CompanyAges 12-17Publication Date: 5/10/2011
Ellie Taylor loves nothing better than a good argument. So when she gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, she's sure that if she wins the final tournament, it'll be her ticket to a scholarship to the best speech school in the country. Unfortunately, the competition at CSSPA is hot-literally. His name is Devon and, whether she likes it or not, being near him makes her sizzle. Luckily she's confident enough to take on the challenge-until she begins to suspect that the private scholarship's benefactor has negative feelings toward Jews. Will hiding her true identity and heritage be worth a shot at her dream?
Debut author Amy Fellner Dominy mixes sweet romance, surprising secrets, and even some matzo ball soup to cook up a funny yet heartfelt story about an outspoken girl who must learn to speak out for herself.
"Readers who like their frothy romance with a bracing dash of serious social issues will be clamoring for seconds." - Kirkus Reviews
Order OyMG
DRAGONWITCH (TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD #5)
Anne Elizabeth Stengl
Bethany House
Ages: 12-17
Publication Date: 9/6/2012
A New Tale Is Added to this Christy Award-Winning Fantasy Saga!
Submissive to her father's will, Lady Leta of Aiven travels far to meet a prospective husband she neither knows nor loves--Lord Alistair, future king of the North Country.
But within the walls of Gaheris Castle, all is not right. Vicious night terrors plague Lord Alistair to the brink of insanity. Whispers rise from the family crypt. The reclusive castle Chronicler, Leta's tutor and friend, possesses a secret so dangerous it could cost his life and topple the North Country into civil war.
And far away in a hidden kingdom, a fire burns atop the Temple of the Sacred Flame. Acolytes and priestesses serve their goddess to the limits of their lives and deaths. No one is safe while the Dragonwitch searches for the sword that slew her twice...and for the one person who can wield it.
Order Dragonwitch (Tales of Goldstone Wood)
LOOKING FOR MEBetsy RosenthallHoughton Mifflin HarcourtAges 10 - 14Release Date: 9/13/2013
One of twelve siblings growing up in Depression-era Baltimore, Edith isn’t quite sure of who she is. Between working at her father’s diner, taking care of her younger siblings, and living in the shadow of her more mature sisters, she feels lost in a sea of siblings. When a kind teacher encourages Edith to be a teacher herself one day, Edith sees prospects for a future all her own. Full of joy, pain, humor, and sadness, this novel in verse is an enduring portrait of one family’s pursuit of the American dream.
Order Looking for Me
IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS
Cat Winters
Amulet Books
400p
Ages 12 - 17
Publication Date: 4/2/2013
In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?
Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.
"Winters strikes just the right balance between history and ghost story, neatly capturing the tenor of the times, as growing scientific inquiry collided with heightened spiritualist curiosity."
—Kirkus Reviews
Order In the Shadow of Blackbirds
FISHTALECatherine Masciola & Hans BauerAmazon Children's Publishing208 pp.Ages 11 - 12Publication Date: 11/6/2012
What might have been an ordinary fishing trip becomes an unforgettable adventure when twelve-year-old Sawyer Brown pursues a legendary giant catfish and a stolen ring that may hold the key to his mother’s life
Sawyer’s family runs a catfish farm in rural Mississippi. When his widowed mom gets sick after a pond “cat” swallows her wedding ring, Sawyer is sure the missing ring is to blame. Strange clues and a local myth convince him that the pond cat has become a meal for a far more challenging catch. He sets out with two friends and his stowaway little sister to solve the secret of the ring.Journeying deep into a remote bayou, the foursome must rely on their wits and each other to navigate the teeming swamp, outsmart a sneaky poacher, and overcome their differences in pursuit of a colossal catfish. But this is no ordinary fish. This is Ol’ One Eye — the biggest, oldest, smartest, and meanest darn cat that ever swam the Yazoo River! And before long, the adventurers aren’t sure who is chasing who.
"A persuasive Southern dialect, bits of cornball humor, and a dash of magic combine in a charming, larger-than-life fish story." - Publisher's Weekly
Order Fishtale
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
For a chance to win today's SUPER SWAG PACK, just fill out the rafflecopter form below.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning. Then come back every day this week for more chances to win!U.S. only, please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Welcome to the 2nd ANNUAL SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!!!
If you participated last year, then you'll know all about it. If this is your first time, then you're in for a real treat. SUPER SWAG SUNDAY is actually a week long event culminating in the biggest book promo giveaway ever! Every day this week, Monday June 24th through Saturday June 30th, I will be spotlighting several of today's best books for kids and teens. Blog visitors can enter the daily giveaway for a chance to win one of 6 SUPER SWAG PACKS, consisting of more than 50 promotional items including bookmarks, postcards, wristbands, stickers, jewelry, key chains, pencils, lip balm, a compass, pencils, tote bags, posters, and tons more! Many items are autographed by the authors!
On the last day, SUPER SWAG SUNDAY, one last name will be drawn to win the MEGA SWAG PACK, which includes everything in the swag packs PLUS all of the following: signed copies of The Always War by Margaret Petersen Haddix, The Unwanteds: Island of Silence by Lisa McMann, The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, Losing It by Erin Fry, Evertaster: The Buttersmith's Gold by Adam Sidwell, Starters by Lissa Price, Hysteria by Megan Miranda, original artwork from Fishtale by Catherine Masciola, a signed Losing It water bottle, T-shirts from OyMG! by Amy Fellner Dominy and Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini, a guitar pick from Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt, and a heart-shaped necklace from Love and Leftovers, a Dragonwitch pencil, a Margaret Petersen Haddix promo pin, an ARC of Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick & camo backpack, a hard copy of Quarantine by Lex Thomas, and a signed poster of The Binding Stone by Lisa Gail Green. (Some items not pictured below.) Whew!
Entering the giveaways is easy! Stop by this blog each day and check out the spotlighted books. Then enter that day's rafflecopter form which includes links to the authors' Facebook and/or Twitter pages. The winner will be announced the following morning. Each day is a fresh chance to win!
So, let's get on with it, shall we? Without further ado . . . I bring you SUPER SWAG SUNDAY!
TODAY'S BOOK SPOTLIGHTS
BROTHERHOODA. B. Westrick
Viking
Ages 10-14
Release Date: 9/12/2013
The year is 1867, and Richmond, Virginia, lies in ruins. By day fourteen-year-old Shadrach apprentices with a tailor and sneaks off for reading lessons with Rachel, a freed slave, at her school for African-American children. By night he follows his older brother to the meetings of a brotherhood, newly formed to support Confederate widows and grieving families like his. As the true murderous mission of the brotherhood—now known as the Ku Klux Klan—emerges, Shad is trapped between his pledge to them and what he knows is right. In this unflinching view of the bitter animosity that stemmed from economic and social upheaval in the South during the period of Reconstruction, it’s clear that the Civil War has ended, but the conflict isn’t over.
“A boy struggling to come of age in a ruined world reaches in all the wrong directions for being and belonging in this story that uncovers a trove of hidden history.”- Richard Peck, Newbery-winning author of A Year Down Yonder
Pre-Order Brotherhood
EVERTASTER: THE BUTTERSMITH'S GOLDFuture House Publishing Adam SidwellAges 8-12Everyone knows the most coveted treasure of the Viking Age was blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins so succulent that if you sniffed just a whiff, you'd want a whole bite. If you bit a bite, you'd want a batch; if you snatched a batch, you'd stop at nothing short of going to war just to claim them all.
Young Torbjorn Trofastsonn comes from the clan that makes them. He's a Viking through and through, he's thirteen winters old, larger than most respectable rocks, and most of all, a Buttersmith. That's what he thinks anyway, until a charismatic merchant makes Torbjorn question his place among the muffin-makers. When Torbjorn lets the secret of his clan's muffin recipe slip, he calls doom and destruction down upon his peaceful village and forces his brother Storfjell and his clansmen to do the one thing they are ill-prepared to do: battle for their lives.
"Wonderfully talented writing; funny." Orson Scott Card, author of Ender's Game
Order The Buttersmiths' Gold (Evertaster Series)
AUDITION AND SUBTRACTIONAmy Fellner Dominy
Walker & Company
Ages 10-14
Publication Date: 9/4/2012
Read my review of Audition & Subtraction HERE.
Best friends Tatum and Lori are used to doing everything together-including a clarinet/flute duet for District Honor Band auditions. But all that changes when Michael transfers to their middle school, and into their band. Suddenly, not only is he competition for Tatum's spot on stage, but he's stealing Lori, too. Tatum doesn't like change no matter its form: not with her good friend Aaron, who seems to believe her fib that they're secretly boyfriend and girlfriend. And not with her mom either, who, to cope with a separation from her dad, is performing in community theater, of all things! Amy Fellner Dominy composes an equally heartwarming and humorous story of how holding tight to the status quo can mean missing out on the future-and how often times the best way to move forward is by going solo.
"Tatum's maturing recognition of her own self-worth and realistic outcomes--sadly not everything works out the way she would wish--make this a satisfying and believable read." - Kirkus Reviews
Order Audition & Subtraction
OyMGAmy Fellner DominyWalker & CompanyAges 12-17Publication Date: 5/10/2011Ellie Taylor loves nothing better than a good argument. So when she gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, she's sure that if she wins the final tournament, it'll be her ticket to a scholarship to the best speech school in the country. Unfortunately, the competition at CSSPA is hot-literally. His name is Devon and, whether she likes it or not, being near him makes her sizzle. Luckily she's confident enough to take on the challenge-until she begins to suspect that the private scholarship's benefactor has negative feelings toward Jews. Will hiding her true identity and heritage be worth a shot at her dream?
Debut author Amy Fellner Dominy mixes sweet romance, surprising secrets, and even some matzo ball soup to cook up a funny yet heartfelt story about an outspoken girl who must learn to speak out for herself.
"Readers who like their frothy romance with a bracing dash of serious social issues will be clamoring for seconds." - Kirkus Reviews
Order OyMG
DRAGONWITCH (TALES OF GOLDSTONE WOOD #5)Anne Elizabeth Stengl
Bethany House
Ages: 12-17
Publication Date: 9/6/2012
A New Tale Is Added to this Christy Award-Winning Fantasy Saga!
Submissive to her father's will, Lady Leta of Aiven travels far to meet a prospective husband she neither knows nor loves--Lord Alistair, future king of the North Country.
But within the walls of Gaheris Castle, all is not right. Vicious night terrors plague Lord Alistair to the brink of insanity. Whispers rise from the family crypt. The reclusive castle Chronicler, Leta's tutor and friend, possesses a secret so dangerous it could cost his life and topple the North Country into civil war.
And far away in a hidden kingdom, a fire burns atop the Temple of the Sacred Flame. Acolytes and priestesses serve their goddess to the limits of their lives and deaths. No one is safe while the Dragonwitch searches for the sword that slew her twice...and for the one person who can wield it.
Order Dragonwitch (Tales of Goldstone Wood)
LOOKING FOR MEBetsy RosenthallHoughton Mifflin HarcourtAges 10 - 14Release Date: 9/13/2013One of twelve siblings growing up in Depression-era Baltimore, Edith isn’t quite sure of who she is. Between working at her father’s diner, taking care of her younger siblings, and living in the shadow of her more mature sisters, she feels lost in a sea of siblings. When a kind teacher encourages Edith to be a teacher herself one day, Edith sees prospects for a future all her own. Full of joy, pain, humor, and sadness, this novel in verse is an enduring portrait of one family’s pursuit of the American dream.
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IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDSCat Winters
Amulet Books
400p
Ages 12 - 17
Publication Date: 4/2/2013
In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?
Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.
"Winters strikes just the right balance between history and ghost story, neatly capturing the tenor of the times, as growing scientific inquiry collided with heightened spiritualist curiosity."
—Kirkus Reviews
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FISHTALECatherine Masciola & Hans BauerAmazon Children's Publishing208 pp.Ages 11 - 12Publication Date: 11/6/2012What might have been an ordinary fishing trip becomes an unforgettable adventure when twelve-year-old Sawyer Brown pursues a legendary giant catfish and a stolen ring that may hold the key to his mother’s life
Sawyer’s family runs a catfish farm in rural Mississippi. When his widowed mom gets sick after a pond “cat” swallows her wedding ring, Sawyer is sure the missing ring is to blame. Strange clues and a local myth convince him that the pond cat has become a meal for a far more challenging catch. He sets out with two friends and his stowaway little sister to solve the secret of the ring.Journeying deep into a remote bayou, the foursome must rely on their wits and each other to navigate the teeming swamp, outsmart a sneaky poacher, and overcome their differences in pursuit of a colossal catfish. But this is no ordinary fish. This is Ol’ One Eye — the biggest, oldest, smartest, and meanest darn cat that ever swam the Yazoo River! And before long, the adventurers aren’t sure who is chasing who.
"A persuasive Southern dialect, bits of cornball humor, and a dash of magic combine in a charming, larger-than-life fish story." - Publisher's Weekly
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