Friday Five

1. I'M NOT HER


This is one amazing read. I didn't get the galley and I couldn't wait so I ordered a copy for my Nook. So glad I did. Love this story of two sisters who are exact opposites and the challenge/struggles that happen when the 'perfect' one, Kristina ends up with bone cancer. I can't say enough great things about this book. Just read it!

YA Books Central review coming soon!

2. BOUND ON EARTH


A friend recommended this book about a LDS woman struggling with her bipolar husband.

My thoughts? I loved the passages that dealt with just this. They were very real. I know as I grew up in a household with a bipolar father who refused to take meds. It was hell and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I did like how the author was able to show how this illness affected not only her but her extended family.

What didn't work is how the author goes back and forth with other POVs in the family. Seriously, I didn't care. This book felt like a collection of short stories thrown together to make a novel. Now if it just stayed with the bipolar issues I think it would have been a great novel especially since I've found hardly any books that show Mormons dealing with hard issues in a realistic way. I can say this as I'm LDS too.

3. POSSESSIONS




One great thing about having a fab publisher like Zumaya is that my publisher Liz does little things for me like send me this book that she got at a Con.

I found my friend YA author Marlene Perez has a book blurb in it. Can't wait to start reading this!

4. PEARL




If you've never read any of Jo Knowles books, then do. Her writing is powerful and she tackles sensitive subjects in such a great way. I just got an email that I'm next on the blogger list to review her new book. I'm very excited!

5. The whole #YAsaves thing has been on my mind since last week. Yesterday Gurdon, the journalist who wrote that WSJ article, was on a radio interview. I listened and grew more and more angry. Why? Here's the link:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/06/09/midmorning3/

First off, you all know my feelings on dark YAs. If someone doesn't like these books, then don't read them. Also it's the parent's responsiblity to know what's out there. And there's tons of lighter, fun YAs out there for their teens to read. I know. I give suggestions to teens in our homeschool group all the time.

But don't, don't, tell us that books that deal with sensitive subjects shouldn't be available to teens. And I'm sorry, reading about abuse, cutting, rape, and other intense subjects is not ADVOCATING doing it.

**Can you see how passionate I feel about this?

Then there's this one mother caller who went on about her 10 year old reading BREAKING DAWN. I'm like, wth is your 10 year old reading that? She didn't even get the scene right when she described it and said it was TWILIGHT. Not. She went on to say the publishing world is trying to force their books on teens.

So much wrong with this interview. I was so angry. The fab Cheryl Rainfield of the amazing book SCARS also weighed in on the interview. And my all time favorite author and hero Ellen Hopkins said she asked if she can be interviewed. You all know how much Ellen's book BURN meant to me.


Ok, now to my guilty pleasure!

If you ever get a chance and you enjoy ice herbal tea, check out Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf store. My favorite tea is Swedish Berries. It doesn't have caffeine and is very nommy. I have them add Splenda to it.