Laurisa White Reyes's Blog, page 81
April 28, 2017
BOOK REVIEW: VOICES FROM CHERNOBYL by Svetlana Alexievich
* Book Review: Killing Jesus by Bill O'Reilly
* Book Review: Micro by Michael Crichton
* 99 Cent E-books! - Limited Time!
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VOICES FROM CHERNOBYL: THE ORAL HISTORY OF A NUCLEAR DISASTER
Svetlana Alexievich
Picador/St. Martin's Press
Translated from Russian by Keith Gessen
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award
On April 26, 1986, the worst nuclear reactor accident in history occurred in Chernobyl and contaminated as much as three quarters of Europe. Voices from Chernobyl is the first book to present personal accounts of the tragedy. Journalist Svetlana Alexievich interviewed hundreds of people affected by the meltdown---from innocent citizens to firefighters to those called in to clean up the disaster---and their stories reveal the fear, anger, and uncertainty with which they still live. Comprised of interviews in monologue form, Voices from Chernobyl is a crucially important work, unforgettable in its emotional power and honesty.
MY REVIEW:
I selected Voices from Chernobyl for my book club, which is reading award-winning books. The author, Svetlana Alexievich, was awarded the Nobel Prize last year for her body of work. This particular volume is a collection of first hand accounts by survivors of the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, when a nuclear reactor in Belarus, Russia blew up and spread radioactive particles throughout the region and the world.
Perhaps in my American over-exposed-to-media-violence brain, I was expecting more specific details about the physical affects of the event: gruesome deaths of those sent to clean up the site, deformed babies, etc. There is a little of that, very little, but most of the stories of these people describe their impressions of the event itself: the odd color of the fire, the chaos of evacuation, the fear and lies that surrounded the "Chernobylites". More importantly, these narratives reveal the inner-workings of the Soviet mindset, the trust of the people in their government, the distrust in the scientific community, the "we" versus the "I" mentality--concepts that are so alien to the American way of thinking. This book also exposes how this absolute loyalty to the communist party began to dissolve, greatly in part to the truth behind Chernobyl. It's a history among histories, the story of the beginning of an end.
While Voices from Chernobyl is not the easiest book to get through (many of the narratives are repetitive of each other), it is an important contemporary historical document, and reading it left me with a pit in my stomach and so many questions. I wanted to know more, so much more. And isn't that what good historical literature should do, compel us to seek out answers to the questions that are left unanswered?
CONTENT RATING:
Profanity: High
Violence: Mild
Sexuality: Mild
* Book Review: Micro by Michael Crichton
* 99 Cent E-books! - Limited Time!
______________________________________________
VOICES FROM CHERNOBYL: THE ORAL HISTORY OF A NUCLEAR DISASTERSvetlana Alexievich
Picador/St. Martin's Press
Translated from Russian by Keith Gessen
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award
On April 26, 1986, the worst nuclear reactor accident in history occurred in Chernobyl and contaminated as much as three quarters of Europe. Voices from Chernobyl is the first book to present personal accounts of the tragedy. Journalist Svetlana Alexievich interviewed hundreds of people affected by the meltdown---from innocent citizens to firefighters to those called in to clean up the disaster---and their stories reveal the fear, anger, and uncertainty with which they still live. Comprised of interviews in monologue form, Voices from Chernobyl is a crucially important work, unforgettable in its emotional power and honesty.
MY REVIEW:
I selected Voices from Chernobyl for my book club, which is reading award-winning books. The author, Svetlana Alexievich, was awarded the Nobel Prize last year for her body of work. This particular volume is a collection of first hand accounts by survivors of the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, when a nuclear reactor in Belarus, Russia blew up and spread radioactive particles throughout the region and the world.
Perhaps in my American over-exposed-to-media-violence brain, I was expecting more specific details about the physical affects of the event: gruesome deaths of those sent to clean up the site, deformed babies, etc. There is a little of that, very little, but most of the stories of these people describe their impressions of the event itself: the odd color of the fire, the chaos of evacuation, the fear and lies that surrounded the "Chernobylites". More importantly, these narratives reveal the inner-workings of the Soviet mindset, the trust of the people in their government, the distrust in the scientific community, the "we" versus the "I" mentality--concepts that are so alien to the American way of thinking. This book also exposes how this absolute loyalty to the communist party began to dissolve, greatly in part to the truth behind Chernobyl. It's a history among histories, the story of the beginning of an end.
While Voices from Chernobyl is not the easiest book to get through (many of the narratives are repetitive of each other), it is an important contemporary historical document, and reading it left me with a pit in my stomach and so many questions. I wanted to know more, so much more. And isn't that what good historical literature should do, compel us to seek out answers to the questions that are left unanswered?
CONTENT RATING:
Profanity: High
Violence: Mild
Sexuality: Mild
April 21, 2017
BOOK REVIEW: BONE GAP by Laura Ruby
* Book Review: Killing Jesus by Bill O'Reilly
* Book Review: Micro by Michael Crichton
* 99 Cent E-books! - Limited Time!
_____________________________________
BONE GAP
Laura Ruby
HarperCollins
Ages 14 - 17
“With rich characters, captivating world building, and a stunning secret at its heart, BONE GAP is utterly bewitching.” - ALA Booklist (starred review)
Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps.
So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. But Finn knows what really happened to Roza. He knows she was kidnapped by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember.
As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap, acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a tale of the ways in which the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.
MY REVIEW:
Bewitching is a good word to describe Laura Ruby's Bone Gap. From the opening page, I couldn't put it down. The characters are mesmerizing and so real, they could honestly be living right next door. It wasn't until half way through the novel that I realized this is actually a fantasy novel, though that word doesn't quite do it justice. Magical. Mystical. Bone Gap is a nod to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, borrowing it's the underpinnings of its story from Orpheus's attempt to rescue his beloved from the Underworld. Of course, while Bone Gap cleverly weaves in elements from Virgil's myth, it also succeeds in creating a world and dual love story that is both unique and memorable.
If I have to complain about anything, it would be these two things. First, I disapprove of ANY sex between minors in books, especially books written for teens. I believe it is irresponsible of authors to mislead teenagers into thinking sex has no emotional or physical consequences, that it's all about love. This book has teen sex painted as an expression of heartfelt, sincere love with no consideration to the fact that in real life, pregnancy, disease, shame, and heartbreak are often the result.
Second, without giving anything away, the final conflict between the hero and the villain happened too fast, the rescue too easy. Not bad, but there could have been more. Much more.
Other than that, Bone Gap is a great read.
CONTENT RATING:
Profanity: Mild
Sexuality: High (not graphic, but sex between minors does occur)
Violence: Moderate
* Book Review: Micro by Michael Crichton
* 99 Cent E-books! - Limited Time!
_____________________________________
BONE GAPLaura Ruby
HarperCollins
Ages 14 - 17
“With rich characters, captivating world building, and a stunning secret at its heart, BONE GAP is utterly bewitching.” - ALA Booklist (starred review)
Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps.
So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. But Finn knows what really happened to Roza. He knows she was kidnapped by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember.
As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap, acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a tale of the ways in which the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.
MY REVIEW:
Bewitching is a good word to describe Laura Ruby's Bone Gap. From the opening page, I couldn't put it down. The characters are mesmerizing and so real, they could honestly be living right next door. It wasn't until half way through the novel that I realized this is actually a fantasy novel, though that word doesn't quite do it justice. Magical. Mystical. Bone Gap is a nod to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, borrowing it's the underpinnings of its story from Orpheus's attempt to rescue his beloved from the Underworld. Of course, while Bone Gap cleverly weaves in elements from Virgil's myth, it also succeeds in creating a world and dual love story that is both unique and memorable.
If I have to complain about anything, it would be these two things. First, I disapprove of ANY sex between minors in books, especially books written for teens. I believe it is irresponsible of authors to mislead teenagers into thinking sex has no emotional or physical consequences, that it's all about love. This book has teen sex painted as an expression of heartfelt, sincere love with no consideration to the fact that in real life, pregnancy, disease, shame, and heartbreak are often the result.
Second, without giving anything away, the final conflict between the hero and the villain happened too fast, the rescue too easy. Not bad, but there could have been more. Much more.
Other than that, Bone Gap is a great read.
CONTENT RATING:
Profanity: Mild
Sexuality: High (not graphic, but sex between minors does occur)
Violence: Moderate
April 20, 2017
WINNER OF THE $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD ANNOUNCED!
Congratulations to RACHEL for winning my PETALS LAUNCH $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY!
The contest officially ended on April 18th, my dad's birthday. Here he is:
My dad, Ray White, just turned 72. He has honestly been the best father a girl could ever ask for. While I was growing up, my dad never raised his voice at me or my mother. He was kind and patient, forgiving, affectionate, and attentive. I always knew I could talk to my dad about anything. In the 1970s he and my mother built a 2400 sq. ft. log home with their own hands.
Dad spent 40 years as a computer programmer and worked for Bank of America, Global Marine, and finally Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he helped program deep space probes like the Galileo.
Dad has always been a devout Christian. Jesus Christ is the most important person in Dad's life. The next most important person is my mom. Mom became a Type I Diabetic in 1975 and her health has been precarious ever since. But because of my Dad's constant vigilance and love for her, she's had a wonderful life and has been as healthy as a diabetic can be. He takes such good care of her, and has been supportive of everything she's done throughout her life, all her business ventures and traveling and hobbies.
Dad is a storyteller. His stories inspired me to become a writer. He also loves his sixteen grandchildren with fierce devotion. He has tutored all my children in math and will drive them anywhere they need to go at the drop of a hat, even when my little boy, Jarett, asks him to take him across town to the coin store.
I've known many men in my life, but Dad is the greatest of them all. I always tell my sons, "Follow Grandpa's example. Be like Grandpa," because he is the epitome of a what a good Christian, husband, and father should be.
I love you, Dad.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The contest officially ended on April 18th, my dad's birthday. Here he is:
My dad, Ray White, just turned 72. He has honestly been the best father a girl could ever ask for. While I was growing up, my dad never raised his voice at me or my mother. He was kind and patient, forgiving, affectionate, and attentive. I always knew I could talk to my dad about anything. In the 1970s he and my mother built a 2400 sq. ft. log home with their own hands.
Dad spent 40 years as a computer programmer and worked for Bank of America, Global Marine, and finally Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he helped program deep space probes like the Galileo.
Dad has always been a devout Christian. Jesus Christ is the most important person in Dad's life. The next most important person is my mom. Mom became a Type I Diabetic in 1975 and her health has been precarious ever since. But because of my Dad's constant vigilance and love for her, she's had a wonderful life and has been as healthy as a diabetic can be. He takes such good care of her, and has been supportive of everything she's done throughout her life, all her business ventures and traveling and hobbies.
Dad is a storyteller. His stories inspired me to become a writer. He also loves his sixteen grandchildren with fierce devotion. He has tutored all my children in math and will drive them anywhere they need to go at the drop of a hat, even when my little boy, Jarett, asks him to take him across town to the coin store.
I've known many men in my life, but Dad is the greatest of them all. I always tell my sons, "Follow Grandpa's example. Be like Grandpa," because he is the epitome of a what a good Christian, husband, and father should be.
I love you, Dad.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 19, 2017
COVER REVEAL: KEEPER OF SOULS by Casey L. Bond
Title: Keeper of SoulsAuthor: Casey BondGenre: Paranormal Romance, HorrorCover Designer: Regina Wamba at Mae I Design & PhotographyEditor: Stacy Sanford, The Girl with the Red PenExpected Release Date: May 19th, 2017Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR
Carmen Kennedy finally feels normal. Enrolled in college, she’s making a few friends and taking life one day at a time. Her days are filled with classes, studying, and attempting to be more social, while her nights are filled with terrifying dreams. All of her nightmares have one thing in common: him. She can’t see his face, but a flash of dark feathers is all it takes to remind her of The Keeper of Crows. He isn’t supposed to be real.
There is a world that exists beneath the fabric of our own, a torturous place filled with despair. The Keeper is there; Carmen just has to find out why and if there is a way to help him leave that place. Her sanity and life will be threatened, but she can’t ignore his screams any longer.
When love exists, it doesn’t matter the distance. It finds a way to remind you. Will love be enough to save Michael and Carmen when The Keeper of Souls stands in their way?
Award-winning author Casey L. Bond resides in Milton, West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters. When she’s not busy being a domestic goddess and chasing her baby girls, she loves to write young adult and new adult fiction. You can find more information about Bond’s books via the following links: Website: www.authorcaseybond.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/authorcaseybond Newsletter: http://authorcaseybond.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e812bbce406a10776c6a28162&id=79850847f2Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorcaseybondGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7212486.Casey_L_BondPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/caseyb007Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PmE0pgBookbub Author Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/casey-l-bondFan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1032678336804562/Buy Link: Keeper of Crows: http://amzn.to/2n1dkFH
April 17, 2017
COVER REVEAL: THE BATTLE FOR EARTH by AJ & CS Sparber
Title: The Battle for Earth Author: AJ & CS SparberGenre: YA/NA Paranormal FantasyCover Designer: Regina Wamba at Mae I Design & PhotographyPublisher: Mind’s Eye PressHosted by: Lady Amber's PR
The Jacuzzi tub is not quite up to Olympian standards, but the hot, churning water feels amazing. In a way, the turbulence reminds me of what my life has become. In little more than a year, I’ve gone from being a high school senior to an angel—a member of the angelic royal family, to be precise.
My transformation has brought with it a fair share of adventures—I killed a fallen angel. I healed my best friend from what would have been a fatal knife wound, turning her into an angel in the process. I fell in love with a Warrior angel, blissfully committing myself to him in a traditional angelic binding, only to see him nearly killed the very next day. Then I healed him—triggering a genetic change that made us the most powerful angels in existence. We are like two halves of a raging star. We are the most lethal creatures ever to walk the mortal worlds. We can fly like eagles, bend light to our will, and fill the sky with terrifying bolts of lightning. We hold the power of Thor’s hammer in our hands. We are the wrath of God. And it’s a good thing we are because fallen angels have declared war.
When it comes to being a husband and wife (or wife and husband) writing team, there are advantages, or benefits. Chief among them is that you get to practice the love scenes. He writes, she steers, and…well, it’s fun. He is a software designer and she is a doctor of education. AJ and CS Sparber live in the lovely town of Hudson, Ohio, with their son Ryan, their daughter Melanie, and the spirit of an Aussie shepherd named Hunter.Author Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJ_SparberGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14550075.A_J_SparberFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Young-Adult-Books-by-AJ-CS-Sparber-166558160353513/?fref=tsWebsite: http://www.ajsparber.com/Amazon: http://amzn.to/1VVk6KUFan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/171960683269983/
Buy Links: Ariel Rising: http://amzn.to/1VWMKut
Chapter 12Ari is Captured for the second time.“There is nothing the Irish love more than a good story. But this…this tops them all,” Fiona says, as she pours me a second cup of coffee. Freshly showered and dressed comfortably in a halter top over spandex running pants, I scan my surroundings. The kitchen is small, but comfortable, and we’re still invisible behind a staged loop of security footage. I can’t help smiling at her enthusiasm, but its’s a bittersweet smile, because it’s nearly two in the morning, which means I get to play with Angela in about seven hours. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to fight through the pain.”
Fiona leans forward, resting her elbows on the table. “I wish I could get you out of here tonight, but we need to take care of the implant. For our escape to succeed, you need to be at full strength.”
My patience is wearing thin. What if Fiona can’t get a remote? What if she can’t sneak a surgeon into my chambers? “How long before the security system comes back on?”Fiona gives me a puzzled look. “I’m not sure. Any time between now and five o’clock. We’ll get a ten-minute heads up. Why do you ask?”
“I’m going to try to access my abilities.”
Fiona shakes her head vigorously. “That’s not a good idea, Ari.”
She’s probably right. I stand, crossing my arms over my chest. “So, are you going to help me or do I do this alone?”
“Ari, please…”
“I have to try.”
“You are one very headstrong angel,” she says with a smirk.
Sitting on the toilet lid, I stare at a small plastic wastebasket across the room. My objective is to knock it over without touching it, and in order to do that, I’ll need to use the Essence—which is going to trigger the implant, causing me a world of pain.
“You'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind,” Fiona says, with a smirk.
“Ha. You have no idea how much pain Angela’s little gizmo puts out. Now, quiet…I need to concentrate.”
Redoubling my efforts, I hyper focus on the basket. Breathe. I feel the familiar rush as the Essence collects in my cells, filling me with a pulsing energy—a force that begs to be released. But there is resistance. Something is impeding the outward flow, I think, as a wave of pain builds inside me. Thrusting a washcloth into my mouth, I bite down hard. A muffled roar rumbles from deep inside me as the pain intensifies. Fiona moves into my line of sight, her face twisted in panic. “Let it go, Ari! Release it…”
“Too much energy…MOVE” I shout, because I know it’s going to be bad. Really bad.
I release the beast inside me, because it can no longer be contained. Time slows down and I’m nothing more than a helpless observer, watching as the basket I’d been so intently focused on begins to vibrate. No, it’s not the basket…it’s the entire room. I scan my surroundings, trying to find Fiona, but a roiling cloud of debris obscures my vision. I made a hurriquake, I think, which causes me to giggle…and then an overwhelming sense of relief washes over me, because the pain is gone...and so is Fiona.
“Run, Ari!”
Fiona? I didn’t kill her!
I slowly rise to my feet, hanging onto the sink for support. Fiona is sitting, propped up against the far wall of the main room, pointing furiously behind me. I turn. People are jogging up the hall, past still bodies, toward me. I can see them because the wall is gone. What the…
A strong hand grips my arm and I pivot to break the vice-like grip, but I have no strength left.
“Stay still or this will really hurt,” a chillingly familiar voice says.
“No!” I hear Fiona shout, but she’s being restrained by two huge angels. “Don’t hurt her!”
Before I can react or respond, a sharp prick causes me to flinch, as a needle enters the tender skin at the base of my neck.
“Goodnight, princess,” Eloy says with an evil chuckle.
5 STAR REVIEWS OF PETALS!
Reviews for PETALS are starting to come in. I want to thank the blog Just Olga and Her Books for her amazing 5 star review! Here's a quote from the review:"In summary, this is an excellent YA book, well written, with beautiful description of places, people and emotions, exploring issues of identity, survivor’s guilt, grief and death, mixed marriages and families, the role of tradition and culture, with an engaging and sympathetic main character and a good cast of secondary ones. This is a clean book with some Christian religious content and questions although that is not the emphasis of the book. It will appeal not only to readers of YA books but to anybody who enjoys well-written first-person narratives, exploring mixed family relationships, identity and grief, set in a wonderful location."
Read Olga's full review HERE .
Another 5 star review was posted by The Ordinary Housewife:
"If your looking for a young adult book with love and suspense that is written so well that you can feel the emotion bouncing out of the book. I loved reading about Guatemala and the culture and I think that really helped make the book even more wonderful than it already was. The chemistry between Miguel and Carly was amazing and it kept me reading late into the night."
Read full review HERE .
And finally, a couple of 5 star Amazon reviews:
"I loved petals! It put me on the edge of my seat nearly the entire time. I loved the mystery and the romance. Definitely one of my favorites!" "I enjoyed this book and finished it in one reading." These reviews made my day!
Buy Petals HERE .
April 14, 2017
BOOK REVIEW: KILLING JESUS by Bill O'Reilly
KILLING JESUSBill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard
Holt, Henry & Co.
Audio Book
Millions of readers have thrilled to bestselling authors Bill O'Reilly and historian Martin Dugard's Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln, page-turning works of nonfiction that have changed the way we read history.
Now the anchor of The O'Reilly Factor details the events leading up to the murder of the most influential man in history: Jesus of Nazareth. Nearly two thousand years after this beloved and controversial young revolutionary was brutally killed by Roman soldiers, more than 2.2 billion human beings attempt to follow his teachings and believe he is God. Killing Jesus will take readers inside Jesus's life, recounting the seismic political and historical events that made his death inevitable - and changed the world forever.
MY REVIEW:
O'Reilly has written a series of books like this, Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Reagan. I haven't read the others yet, so I was expecting some unique insights into the death of Jesus, something I didn't know already. While Killing Jesus is an evocative narrative of the life and death of the most famous man in history, it was little more than that--his story. O'Reilly does delve into historical details of the Roman and Jewish leaders who were involved, including Herod, Ciaphas, and Pontias Pilate, as well as some who were only barely connected, like Ceasar and Tiberius. I am certain O'Reilly and Dugard did their homework, but there was nothing here I didn't already know from reading the Bible and from my basic knowledge of Ancient Roman history. Also, some of their details (such as claiming Mary Magdelene was a prostitute) are clearly taken from common assumption than from expert Biblical resources.
If you're looking for a contemporary re-telling of Jesus' life, then O'Reilly's is an excellent choice. The narrative is modern and provides plenty of description to pique a reader's interest. For someone not already familiar with the New Testament, this would be a good introduction to it. However, for those who are devout in the faith, as I am, this book may leave you feeling disappointed. I was honestly expecting more, especially about why and how the death of Jesus affected the world the way it has.
O'Reilly does add some information at the end about Jesus's twelve apostles and their eventual fates, which was interesting, but again, while not mentioned in the Bible, most Christians are already familiar with these stories. So I have to say that the book would be more valuable for someone unfamiliar or at least not well-versed with the history of Christ. Otherwise, for me, it was just another Jesus story.
April 11, 2017
WINNER ANNOUNCED - MIDDLE GRADE GIVEAWAY!
CONGRATULATIONS TO JOVITA REED FOR WINNING THE MIDDLE GRADE BOOK BUNDLE GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 4, 2017
YOUNG ADULT SCAVENGER HUNT 2017!!!
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are eight contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the PINK TEAM--but there is also a red team, an orange team, a gold team, a green team, a teal team, a blue team, a purple team, and a pink team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!
If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.
*SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE*
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've hidden my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the PINK TEAM, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by APRIL 9th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME: I live in Southern CA, I am the author of ten books, I teach English at College of the Canyons, and I am the mother of 5 children. Did you catch that I have 5 kids???
*SCAVENGER HUNT POST*
Today, I am hosting GRETCHEN MCNEIL on my website for the YA Scavenger Hunt! Gretchen McNeil is the author of the standalone YA horror novels POSSESS, TEN (a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, a Romantic Times Top Pick, a Booklist Top Ten Horror Fiction for Youth, a finalist for Washington state’s 2015 Evergreen Young Adult Book Award and Vermont’s 2014-2015 Green Mountain Book Award, and was nominated for “Best Young Adult Contemporary Novel of 2012″ by Romantic Times) and 3:59, as well as GET EVEN and GET DIRTY, part of her mystery/suspense series Don't Get Mad, all with Balzer + Bray for HarperCollins. In 2016, Gretchen will publish two novels: RELIC, a YA horror novel, with HarperCollins/EpicReads Impulse on March 8, 2016, and in the fall, I'M NOT YOUR MANIC PIXIE DREAM GIRL, her first YA contemporary, with Balzer + Bray. Gretchen also contributed an essay to the Dear Teen Me anthology from Zest Books.Find out more information by checking out Gretchen's Blog HERE . And you can order her book HERE.
*EXCLUSIVE CONTENT*
SUMMARY: Beatrice Maria Estrella Giovannini has life all figured out. She's starting senior year at the top of her class, she’s a shoo-in for a scholarship to M.I.T., and she’s got a new boyfriend she’s crazy about. The only problem: All through high school Bea and her best friends Spencer and Gabe have been the targets of horrific bullying.So Bea uses her math skills to come up with The Formula, a 100% mathematically guaranteed path to social happiness in high school. Now Gabe is on his way to becoming Student Body President, and Spencer is finally getting his art noticed. But when her boyfriend Jesse dumps her for Toile, the quirky new girl at school, Bea realizes it's time to use The Formula for herself. She'll be reinvented as the eccentric and lovable Trixie—a quintessential manic pixie dream girl—in order to win Jesse back and beat new-girl Toile at her own game.
Unfortunately, being a manic pixie dream girl isn't all it's cracked up to be, and “Trixie” is causing unexpected consequences for her friends. As The Formula begins to break down, can Bea find a way to reclaim her true identity and fix everything she's messed up? Or will the casualties of her manic pixie experiment go far deeper than she could possibly imagine?
DELETED SCENE from I'M NOT YOUR MANIC PIXIE DREAM GIRL
Some people—and I’m not naming names—but “some people” (notice my air quotes?) might consider me to be just a teensy bit of a control freak.
Which is total b.s.
Mostly b.s.?
Okay, fine. It’s completely true.
I mean, I know how it looks: Beatrice Maria Estrella Giovannini has some difficulty loosening her grasp. But it’s not a personal problem, and labeling me as a “control freak” (maybe I should lay off the air quotes?) implies some deep-rooted sense of inadequacy and overpowering self-confidence issues that are only soothed by micro-managing my friends’ lives.
But the truth is, I’m doing them a favor.
Do you remember us freshman year? You probably don’t. Spencer, Gabe, Valerie, and I were invisible: marginalized, picked on, ostracized. We were just faceless nerds to you, mirroring your own fears of not fitting in.
If that had been the worst of it, we could have survived. We had each other; it wasn’t the worst of all possible worlds. But then Gabe got his ass kicked after gym class one day, and everything changed.But we couldn’t let it continue for four long years of high school. No freaking way. We had to come up with a plan to make things better.
And by “we” I mean “me.”
When my friends asked for my help, begged me to problem solve the horror that was our high school social lives, I morphed into problem solving mode, using the one thing I’m really, really good at. Math. And I came up with The Formula (trademark pending.)
(1) Find the niche. (2) Play the role. (3) Fill the void.
Applying The Formula, my friends’ lives were transformed.
Spencer, the quiet artist, labeled “gay” despite no evidence of homosexuality, was teased mercilessly in the locker room for being undersized and nonathletic. Gabe, who actually was gay and not exactly hiding it, routinely got his ass kicked due to an unstoppable flow of witty comebacks and a loudly professed penchant for table top role playing games. Valerie, the Jersey transplant who was too tall, too loud, too brash and always accidentally offending someone, found herself completely shunned.
The Formula worked for all of them.
It helped them find a way to fit in, to use their strengths to fill a socially acceptable need, to craft their high school personae in such a way that you’d never remember the wimp, the geek, and the blabbermouth that they had been, and only see them as the important, irreplaceable cogs that they had become.
It sounds super awful when I lay it out like that: asking my friends to change their personalities to fit in. What kind of Machiavellian sociopath does that? But they’d asked for my help, and I gave it. And sociopathic or not, I was trying to protect them from the misery that had been freshman year.It worked for awhile. But I screwed something up along the way.
And I don’t know if I can fix it.
__________________________________________________________________
And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me, LAURISA WHITE REYES, and more! To enter, you need to know that my special number is [5]. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the PINK TEAM and you'll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, JENNIFER M. EATON! <!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--</style></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></div>
April 3, 2017
MIDDLE GRADE BOOK SALE AND GIVEAWAY
* Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card! Hurry! Ends 4/18.
* Book Review: MICRO by Michael Crichton
* Enter to win a MEGA SCI-FI/FANTASY BOOK BUNDLE! Ends 4/10!
____________________________________
For a limited time only, grab top notch middle grade books at their lowest prices ever, including AWARD WINNING TITLES, like The Storytellers and Ennara and the Fallen Druid! Also, one lucky winner will receive a bundle of 6 of the titles listed below! Scroll down to enter. But hurry! The giveaway ends on April 10th!!!
THE ROCK OF IVANORE (Book I: The Celestine Chronicles)
by Laurisa White Reyes
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook)
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.
THE LAST ENCHANTER (Book II: The Celestine Chronicles)
by Laurisa White Reyes
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook)
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.
THE STORYTELLERS
2016 Spark Award Winner
for Best Non-Traditional Middle Grade Book
by Laurisa White Reyes
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook)
12-year-old Elena Barrios' father has AIDS, a new disease in 1992 with a 100% fatality rate. Rather than face certain ridicule and ostracism, Elena tells her friends anything but the truth, fabricating stories about him being a writer and researcher. But the reality is Elena resents her father’s illness and can’t face the fact that he is dying.
When she is befriended by an older black woman named Ang who tells stories about her own father and the history of prejudice against African Americans in the years before the civil rights movement, Elena is transported into these stories, allowing her to experience them first hand. With Ang's help, Elena discovers the value of every individual, but will that be enough to help her say good-bye to the person she values the most?
ENNARA AND THE FALLEN DRUID
2013 Moonbeam Silver Medalist
for Best Preteen Book
by Angela ShelleySale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $5.00 (print)
Ennara has always been told she'd have legendary magic when she grew up, but she felt like the most normal girl in the world... Until one night when she is attacked by a shadowy demon on her farmstead. Suddenly, Ennara is thrust into a world of magic, alchemy, and monsters, and she is charged with a quest to find an ancient sword that can end the shadowy curse--just as it ended the Fallen Druid centuries ago. To succeed, Ennara must confront pirates, servants of the Fallen Druid, and those who would use her magic for their own ends. In the end, she must learn to rely on the strengths of her friends and herself, and the deepest truths of life in the world of medieval Lan.
CAMP OMIGOSH
by Wade Bradford
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $12.55 (print)
Connor's summer is off to a rough start: the camp bus almost crashes, his cabin mates don't trust him, and the girls on the other side of the camp constantly outsmart him. But when he and his friends Tasha, Parker, and Kimberly investigate the mystery surrounding the "Ghost of Dead Billy," they begin a hilarious adventure that is worlds away from your typical campfire story.
TWEAKS: THE BEGINNING
by Terry Deighton
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook)/$5.99 (print)
Henry Johnson has a best friend, a crush, a life-long enemy, and no idea his life is a science project.Then other people’s thoughts start popping into his head. He thinks he’s going crazy until he discovers he’s one of several kids with genetically modified abilities, including the school bully. To find out how they got tweaked, Henry faces betrayal, his parent’s abduction by a greedy scientist, and becoming frenemies with the bully. Can the Tweaks use their new abilities to avoid the greedy scientist on their trail?
CLEOPATRA'S LEGACY SERIES
Books 2, 3 and 4
by Dorine White
[Book 1: THE EMERALD RING is available HERE ]
THE RUBY PENDANT (Book 2)
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $7.99 (print)
Welcome to New Orleans, home of Mardi Gras, jazz music, and voodoo. 8th grader Melanie Belaforte is home for Spring break and itching for excitement. Late one night she discovers a hidden chamber and a secret journal in her deceased Aunt Florence’s bedroom. The diary contains the writings of a mad woman, along with vague clues to the whereabouts of a ruby necklace that once belonged to Cleopatra. The ruby bestows upon the wearer the power to hear other people’s thoughts- even the thoughts of the dead! And so the hunt begins. Melanie, her best friend Sybil, and a haunting specter unravel clues that take them from crumbling graveyards, to the busy streets of the French Quarter, and then into murky swamps, all to find the prize. But they need to watch out, because a murderous cult is matching them step for step, and they won’t give up, ever.
THE DIAMOND LOOKING GLASS (Book 3)
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $7.99 (print)
The world knows it as a cartoon with dancing teacups and broomsticks. To twelve year old Claire La Fleur, it is family history, and the power behind Belle’s mirror is real. Every ten years her family gathers to see if the mirror will awaken, and for the last two hundred years it has slept. This time, Claire’s touch awakens the magic within the diamond looking glass, a direct portal to the past and a way to communicate with Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt. The lure of power brings with it many perils, and a betrayal close to home thrusts Claire into a treacherous underworld. To protect the mirror, she travels into the Louvre museum in the dark of night, searches abandoned subway tunnels, and walks the catacombs of the dead.
THE SAPPHIRE BLADE (Book 4)
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $7.99 (print)
Travel with past heroes and a new adventurer to the historical romps of London and the scorching sands of Alexandria. Fourteen-year-old Akmir, raised from birth to sacrifice everything in the pursuit of Cleopatra’s magic gemstones, holds within his hands the secret location of the fifth and final mystic gem: the blue sapphire. His quest leads him to England, where four other gemstone searchers: Sara, Melanie, Kainu and Claire, are on the hunt. A pawn of the Roman Brotherhood, Akmir must choose his own path, whether to follow in his father’s brutal footsteps or stay true to his mother’s Egyptian heritage. Clues, puzzles, and danger rule the day. What will happen when the power of all five gemstones are brought together? This is a battle for life and death, and only one side can win.
THE MAGICIAN'S DREAM by LeAnn Mathis
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $5.95 (print)
Franklin dreams of a life with equality, but thinks it will never happen. When he transfers to a new school and meets Maddie, he realizes he has access to more power than he thought. It's the 60s and time to make some changes.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
* Book Review: MICRO by Michael Crichton
* Enter to win a MEGA SCI-FI/FANTASY BOOK BUNDLE! Ends 4/10!
____________________________________
For a limited time only, grab top notch middle grade books at their lowest prices ever, including AWARD WINNING TITLES, like The Storytellers and Ennara and the Fallen Druid! Also, one lucky winner will receive a bundle of 6 of the titles listed below! Scroll down to enter. But hurry! The giveaway ends on April 10th!!!
THE ROCK OF IVANORE (Book I: The Celestine Chronicles)by Laurisa White Reyes
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook)
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.
THE LAST ENCHANTER (Book II: The Celestine Chronicles)by Laurisa White Reyes
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook)
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.
THE STORYTELLERS2016 Spark Award Winner
for Best Non-Traditional Middle Grade Book
by Laurisa White Reyes
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook)
12-year-old Elena Barrios' father has AIDS, a new disease in 1992 with a 100% fatality rate. Rather than face certain ridicule and ostracism, Elena tells her friends anything but the truth, fabricating stories about him being a writer and researcher. But the reality is Elena resents her father’s illness and can’t face the fact that he is dying.
When she is befriended by an older black woman named Ang who tells stories about her own father and the history of prejudice against African Americans in the years before the civil rights movement, Elena is transported into these stories, allowing her to experience them first hand. With Ang's help, Elena discovers the value of every individual, but will that be enough to help her say good-bye to the person she values the most?
ENNARA AND THE FALLEN DRUID
2013 Moonbeam Silver Medalist
for Best Preteen Book
by Angela ShelleySale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $5.00 (print)Ennara has always been told she'd have legendary magic when she grew up, but she felt like the most normal girl in the world... Until one night when she is attacked by a shadowy demon on her farmstead. Suddenly, Ennara is thrust into a world of magic, alchemy, and monsters, and she is charged with a quest to find an ancient sword that can end the shadowy curse--just as it ended the Fallen Druid centuries ago. To succeed, Ennara must confront pirates, servants of the Fallen Druid, and those who would use her magic for their own ends. In the end, she must learn to rely on the strengths of her friends and herself, and the deepest truths of life in the world of medieval Lan.
CAMP OMIGOSHby Wade Bradford
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $12.55 (print)
Connor's summer is off to a rough start: the camp bus almost crashes, his cabin mates don't trust him, and the girls on the other side of the camp constantly outsmart him. But when he and his friends Tasha, Parker, and Kimberly investigate the mystery surrounding the "Ghost of Dead Billy," they begin a hilarious adventure that is worlds away from your typical campfire story.
TWEAKS: THE BEGINNINGby Terry Deighton
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook)/$5.99 (print)
Henry Johnson has a best friend, a crush, a life-long enemy, and no idea his life is a science project.Then other people’s thoughts start popping into his head. He thinks he’s going crazy until he discovers he’s one of several kids with genetically modified abilities, including the school bully. To find out how they got tweaked, Henry faces betrayal, his parent’s abduction by a greedy scientist, and becoming frenemies with the bully. Can the Tweaks use their new abilities to avoid the greedy scientist on their trail?
CLEOPATRA'S LEGACY SERIES
Books 2, 3 and 4
by Dorine White
[Book 1: THE EMERALD RING is available HERE ]
THE RUBY PENDANT (Book 2)Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $7.99 (print)
Welcome to New Orleans, home of Mardi Gras, jazz music, and voodoo. 8th grader Melanie Belaforte is home for Spring break and itching for excitement. Late one night she discovers a hidden chamber and a secret journal in her deceased Aunt Florence’s bedroom. The diary contains the writings of a mad woman, along with vague clues to the whereabouts of a ruby necklace that once belonged to Cleopatra. The ruby bestows upon the wearer the power to hear other people’s thoughts- even the thoughts of the dead! And so the hunt begins. Melanie, her best friend Sybil, and a haunting specter unravel clues that take them from crumbling graveyards, to the busy streets of the French Quarter, and then into murky swamps, all to find the prize. But they need to watch out, because a murderous cult is matching them step for step, and they won’t give up, ever.
THE DIAMOND LOOKING GLASS (Book 3)Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $7.99 (print)
The world knows it as a cartoon with dancing teacups and broomsticks. To twelve year old Claire La Fleur, it is family history, and the power behind Belle’s mirror is real. Every ten years her family gathers to see if the mirror will awaken, and for the last two hundred years it has slept. This time, Claire’s touch awakens the magic within the diamond looking glass, a direct portal to the past and a way to communicate with Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt. The lure of power brings with it many perils, and a betrayal close to home thrusts Claire into a treacherous underworld. To protect the mirror, she travels into the Louvre museum in the dark of night, searches abandoned subway tunnels, and walks the catacombs of the dead.
THE SAPPHIRE BLADE (Book 4)
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $7.99 (print)
Travel with past heroes and a new adventurer to the historical romps of London and the scorching sands of Alexandria. Fourteen-year-old Akmir, raised from birth to sacrifice everything in the pursuit of Cleopatra’s magic gemstones, holds within his hands the secret location of the fifth and final mystic gem: the blue sapphire. His quest leads him to England, where four other gemstone searchers: Sara, Melanie, Kainu and Claire, are on the hunt. A pawn of the Roman Brotherhood, Akmir must choose his own path, whether to follow in his father’s brutal footsteps or stay true to his mother’s Egyptian heritage. Clues, puzzles, and danger rule the day. What will happen when the power of all five gemstones are brought together? This is a battle for life and death, and only one side can win.
THE MAGICIAN'S DREAM by LeAnn Mathis
Sale Price: .99 cent (ebook) / $5.95 (print)
Franklin dreams of a life with equality, but thinks it will never happen. When he transfers to a new school and meets Maddie, he realizes he has access to more power than he thought. It's the 60s and time to make some changes.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
