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
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