OOOh! Check out the grand prize in this contest!

I am a follower of Beth Revis' blog, Writing It Out. She is a member of the League of Extraordinary Writers (cool name, right??!) and they are hosting an awesome contest this week.

Five days = Five prizes.

PLUS...

One awesome grand prize!! I want...oh, do I want.

Anyway, check it out here.

If You Give Them Pizza, They Will Come...

Today was the December meeting for my Library's Teen Advisory Board. I am pleased to say that I had twelve boys in attendance. Twelve!!

I finally learned my lesson this school year and decided to serve pizza at my TAB meetings. It has made a huge difference! If they smell the pizza, they will come...then I just have to keep them there.

Today, I got twelve boys in the door. (Yes!) I told them they could have the pizza if they stayed for at least twenty minutes. They all reluctantly agreed...

To make it more exciting, I then whipped out

and started asking them questions like:

Would you rather fight off zombies or aliens?

Would you rather be frozen to death or burn to death?

What one superpower would you most like to have?

They went wild. It was funny. They debated, they screamed, they cut each other off...and they promised to come back next month!

Ghost Town

Ghost Town
by Rachel Caine
Morganville Vampires, book nine

While developing a new system to maintain Morganville's defenses, student Claire Danvers discovers a way to amplify vampire mental powers. Through this, she's able to re-establish the field around this vampire-infested Texas college town that protects it from outsiders.

But the new upgrades have an unexpected consequence: people inside the town begin to slowly forget who they are-even the vampires. Soon, the town's little memory problem has turned into a full-on epidemic. Now Claire needs to figure out a way to pull the plug on her experiment- before she forgets how to save Morganville...
(description taken from Amazon.com)

This is a series that I devour. Every time a new book is coming out, I am practically foaming at the mouth to get my hands on it! The best part...every book in the series just seems to get better.

I cannot figure out how Rachel Caine does it. This is one of the best vampire series out there. Period. Claire is one of my favorite heroines ever. She's smart, she's resourceful, she's cute, and she's just...Claire.

For example (as a fellow "smart girl" and a secret zombie lover, I LOVE this quote):
"Well, there are good points about zombie movies. There're usually smart girls in them, for some reason. And the smart girls hardly ever get killed."

Awesome.

Anyway, I could not put Ghost Town down. There were points when I literally considered whether some of the main characters might have to die. I cannot believe how Rachel Caine managed to pull Claire and her friends out of their new(est) dangerous situation. Talk about the suspense...this book is overflowing with it!

If you already read this series, pick Ghost Town up ASAP. If you haven't tried the Morganville Vampires yet, what on Earth are you waiting for? You won't be sorry!

In My Mailbox - December 5, 2010

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

For Review:

Sabotaged by Margaret Peterson Haddix

From the Library:

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

On My Nook:

Spiral X by J.J. Westendarp

Halo

Halo
by Alexandra Adornetto

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.

Is love a great enough power against evil? (description taken from Amazon.com)

I am conflicted about this book.

On the one hand I really love the premise. It is a great story of a "baby" angel coming to Earth, having to fight the forces of evil, and accidentally falling in mortal love while she's here. The characters are well drawn, compelling, and feel like they could jump right off the page.

On the other hand...Adornetto gives us too much. Every thing, person, and place HAD to be described. Every one. Every adverb or adjective I have ever learned was used in this book...in fact, I have an extensive vocabulary and there were several words used here that I had never heard before in my life. Not that that in itself is a bad thing, but when you have to pull out obscure vocabulary to get variety just because of the sheer volume of descriptors you use in a book...whew! Maybe it's a sign to edit.

That's what this book needed...one more edit. As I said, I loved the storyline...but at almost five hundred pages, this book could have been cut down to a more concise version. It may be partially due to the author's youth (she's eighteen) but I hope that Hades, coming out next year, is a little more...well less.

BTW - I love this cover!

Full disclosure: ARC originally received at BEA 2010, but audio book sent for review for AudioFile Magazine.

Discord's Apple

Discord's Apple
by Carrie Vaughn

When Evie Walker goes home to spend time with her dying father, she discovers that his creaky old house in Hope’s Fort, Colorado, is not the only legacy she stands to inherit. Hidden behind the old basement door is a secret and magical storeroom, a place where wondrous treasures from myth and legend are kept safe until they are needed again. The magic of the storeroom prevents access to any who are not intended to use the items. But just because it has never been done does not mean it cannot be done.

And there are certainly those who will give anything to find a way in.

Evie must guard the storeroom against ancient and malicious forces, protecting the past and the future even as the present unravels around them. Old heroes and notorious villains alike will rise to fight on her side or to undermine her most desperate gambits. At stake is the fate of the world, and the prevention of nothing less than the apocalypse.
(description taken from Amazon.com)

Note: This is an adult title.

I love the storyline for this book. The idea of a magical, sometimes portable storeroom for the world's magic is fantastic. Containing all the items mentioned in the world's favorite tales... *Sigh* I would love to be keeper to such a place of wonder!

Evie, unaware that her father is keeper to the storeroom, comes home to take care of him during his terminal illness and becomes the keeper herself. Evie is a strong, complex character. I loved how Vaughn used her job, comic book writer, as vehicle to the freedom to move and take care of her Dad, to address the current political situations as war broke out around the world, and as a means for keeping in touch with the outer world. Very well done.

Sinon/Alex, her father, Hera, Robin, and the other side characters were also all well written. Sinon was exceptionally well fleshed out and managed to be both modern and yet true to his origins at the same time. His relationship with Apollo was very realistic.

This was one of the most realistic mythologically based books I've read in awhile. The threat of an impending Apocalypse felt imminent. Though it wasn't the happiest ending, Vaughn writes a pragmatic one...and I fully approve!

My only complaint about this book was at the beginning when the chapters are jumping from character to character, you cannot yet see the connections and it was a little disjointed. Once you delve deeper, though, you can see the pattern and it's very well done...

Anxiously Awaiting...

Crossed
by Ally Condie
sequel to Matched!!

Publication date: November 1, 2011

Book Trailer - Across the Universe

I am super excited to read this book! It sounds amazing and it's gotten great reviews...

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it when authors support libraries!!

Check out this link to Sarwat Chadda's (author of Devil's Kiss and Dark Goddess) blog supporting libraries. They are planning to close 250 libraries in the UK...

Cyberia: Prime Evil

Cyberia: Prime Evil
by Chris Lynch
Cyberia, book three

Zane and his animal comrades have foiled Dr. Gristle's terrible plots twice--he can't talk to animals, and he can't get at the heart of what makes them wild. Zane can talk to them. He can understand them. He almost is one. Almost.

Zane keeps getting in Dr. Gristle's way though - and he's being sent as far out of the way as Gristle can get him. In fact, he's being sent right into the middle of a new plot of the bad doctor's--and in his new, utterly foreign surroundings, he's entirely too human.

Just what has Gristle done to make these new animals so angry? Can't they see that Zane is their Friend?

In order to get home, Zane must figure out a way to stop Gristle's new plan and make some new friends before he becomes animal feed--or worse. It's time to defeat the evil Dr. Gristle once and for all! (description taken from Amazon.com)

This was a fun, fast adventure read! Zane is a normal(ish) young teen boy that, luckily, can now speak to animals. His nemesis, Dr. Gristle, is always trying to take advantage of Zane's furry friends and he's having none of it!

I loved the scientific concept of the CattleLivid Converters in this book! What a cool idea - battery power derived from the emotions of the animals. Needless to say, collecting the "acid" for these batteries is done in a way that Zane must stop!

Full of zany antics, wordplay, and new friends/frenemies this was a great ending to the trilogy.

Full disclosure: Book received from SLJ for review.

Misguided Angel

Misguided Angel
by Melissa De La Cruz
Blue Bloods, book five

After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence--with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the seven gates that guard earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silverbloods.

As the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler closer to a terrifying crossroads--and a choice that will determine the destiny of all vampires.
(description taken from Amazon.com)

Though I felt like this particular volume in the series didn't flow quite as smoothly for me, there were a LOT of things I really liked about it.

I really liked delving deeper into the Silver Bloods history, seeing their relationships with humans, and getting a few more details revealed...

I really liked seeing Mimi be, well, Mimi...forceful, smart...yes, a little bitchy, but for good reasons. Plus, she and Oliver become friends and well, I just thought it was super sweet how it developed.

I liked the introduction of Deming Chan, a venator from the Asian Blue Bloods coven. That was cool. Her philosophies and skills were different and added more depth to the world that De La Cruz has built.

I cannot wait for Bloody Valentine and then Lost in Time which comes out in October 2011.

Cover Craving...

Passion
by Lauren Kate
Fallen series, book three (prequel)

Before Luce and Daniel met at Sword & Cross and fought immortals at Shoreline, they lived many lives. . .

Publication date: June 14, 2011

*This cover has not been confirmed, but I like it nonetheless!

2011 Audio Book Challenge

I am happy to report I will be joining the Audio Book Challenge again this year! You all know how obsessed I am with audio books, so again I'm going to go for Obsessed (20).

Curious: 3 Audio Books

Fascinated: 6 Audio Books

Addicted: 12 Audio Books

Obsessed: 20 Audio Books

2011 is hosted by Teresa's Reading Corner.

NaNoWriMo Wrap-Up

Sadly for 2010, a participant is what I will stay...not a winner.

*sad face*

As of the final day, I have just about 20,000 words for this WIP...and it is most definitely a WIP. This is my first time trying to write sort of a dystopian/adventure book and I think I keep psyching myself out. Oh well.

I plan to spend the rest of the year figuring out my blocked plot points, then I am GOING to finish it!! I will let you know when it's done. For now...poor Jen and Becca in my writers' group are going to have their work cut out for them as readers.

So You Want to Write a Novel?

This is hilarious! Just a little something to share...

Runaway

Runaway
by Meg Cabot
Airhead trilogy, book three

Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.

With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope. . .what's the point of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.

Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved--since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed--this time, permanently?

Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running. (description taken from amazon.com)

It honestly amazes me how Meg Cabot was able to make the fantastic premise for this trilogy so, well...believable. Really! I have thoroughly enjoyed these books and am almost sad to see Em Watts' story finished. She is a fun character to follow.

Without being spoiler-y, I will say that though readers may suspect what the nefarious Robert Stark is up to, the depths of his evil-doing surprised both Em and me! Cabot threw in a good twist with his plan and I was happy to see the resolution.

The one and only thing I would have changed...I felt like it wrapped up too soon in the end. There was a lot of build-up, then the plot reveal, the resolution, and then...boom...ending. I would have liked just a little more fleshing out of Em and Christopher's relationship finally coming together. *Sorry for the minor spoiler, but we all saw that coming, right?!*

All in all - an enjoyable conclusion to a fun, fashionable sci-fi trilogy.

In My Mailbox - November 28, 2010

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

For Review:

Oddly Enough by Bruce Coville

From the Library:

Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire by Margot Derwin

On My Nook:

Switched by Amanda Hocking

One Year Anniversary!

I just realized that my first post was on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009, so as of Wednesday, I have been officially blogging for a full year! :)

Thanks to everyone in the blogging community for making it fun and interesting and worth keeping up with...and here's to another year!

Bright Young Things

Bright Young Things
by Anna Godbersen

The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star. . . .

Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is ­Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the ­illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart. (description from Amazon.com)

I really enjoyed Godbersen's Luxe series and was very excited when I found out her new series would be set during the 1920s. I've been fascinated with flappers, Prohibition, and the "Roaring Twenties," since I was a teenager. Godbersen did not disappoint!

Her descriptions of New York City in the '20s can only be described as lush. What's really fantastic, though, is it's not the "Roaring Twenties" through rose-tinted glasses. There is luxury here, of course, but Godbersen also introduces the seedier underbelly of the setting. It is brilliantly done.

The three girls are all similar, yet different enough to be very interesting. As Diana, Elizabeth, and Penelope, were connected and their lives wove in and out of each others', so too will the lives of these new girls. So far, I love Letty's hope, Cordelia's bravado, and Astrid's je ne sais quoi.

The prologue tells you straight off that by the end of the year, one girl will be married, one will be famous, and one will be dead. At this point, I can't even begin to speculate which will be which...but I will be reading to find out!

The Mermaid's Mirror

The Mermaid's Mirror
by L.K. Madigan

Lena has lived her whole life near the beach – walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves – the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching.

As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf.

But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport.

Yet something lures Lena to the water … an ancient, powerful magic. One morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman – with a silvery tail.

Nothing will keep Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.

And soon … what she sees in the mermaid’s mirror will change her life …
(description from Amazon.com)

This was an extremely well written and enjoyable fantasy book. Lena is a truly believable teen...keeping secrets from her parents, trying to please everyone to the best of her ability, loving her younger brother... I was really happy to also see that each of Lena's parents, her father, her mother, and her stepmother, were loving, supportive well-rounded characters.

When Lena learns of the merfolk, she travels to their world. L.K. Madigan does a lovely job describing their village. It's tangible and believable. The merfolk have interesting day to day lives and customs. Each merperson that Lena meets is just as well thought out and presented as her human friends.

*I do have to say that though, I really, really enjoyed this book and felt the merfolk were really well-done, they felt a little..."darker"...than I prefer. Not that it detracted from the plot of the story, at all! I just like to imagine merfolk as slightly more magical.

I do not want to spoil the ending at all, but I will say that it was realistic and touching and totally fit the tone of the book. I really enjoyed this one.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

This year I've been participating in the 2010 Debut Author Challenge and it's been a blast, so of course I decided to sign up again for this coming year's 2011 Debut Author Challenge!!

Hosted by The Story Siren, the challenge is to read at least 12 books by authors debuting their first middle grade or young adult book in 2011. My list of books I'd like to read for this challenge in 2011 (so far) are:

1. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
2. XVI by Julia Karr
3. The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
4. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
5. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
6. A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
7. Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach
8. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
9. Clarity by Kim Harrington
10. Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
11. Hourglass by Myra McIntyre
12. Die for Me by Amy Plum
13. Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Anyway, this is my list so far, with way more to add later, I'm sure!

Avalon High - the Movie

Avalon High: the movie
based on the book, Avalon High by Meg Cabot



The newest Disney TV movie is based on the book, Avalon High.

Ellie, new to Avalon High, suddenly catches the eye of Avalon High's football star, Will. While their friendship develops into potentially something more, Ellie discovers that Will may just be the reincarnation of King Arthur. As stated in a prophecy, Ellie, her new best friend Miles, and her parents must protect Will so he can fulfill his destiny.

This movie was really cute and the cast was great. Ellie was phenomenal and I loved the fact that she was strong...a strong runner, a strong academic, and a strong woman. She was awesome. Jen (played by the cute girl from Castle) and Lance were both good, and Will was really well acted, though he was almost too pretty for me. My favorite character, though, was Miles. He was just the right amount of comic relief for the story... :)

I really enjoyed the movie and might even get it for myself when it comes out on DVD eventually. It's been awhile since I read the book, though, and I've read some internet buzz that confirmed for me that the ending was changed. Don't get me wrong, I liked the movie, a lot, but now I have to go back and reread the book!!

What did you all think of the movie? Love the book more?

In My Mailbox - November 21, 2010

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

From the Library:



Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani
Pop by Gordon Korman
Ghost Town by Rachel Caine



I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb
Avalon High by Meg Cabot (to reread)

Stylish Blogger Award

by Actin' Up With Books

1.Thank and link back to the person who awarded this to you.
2.Share 7 things about yourself.
3.Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered great blogs.
4.Contact those bloggers and let them know about their award.

Seven things about me:

1. I am a proud "Ravenclaw."
2. I have a fascination with the end of the world...hence a HUGE love of dystopian books.
3. I will not eat blue foods.
4. I am allergic to mangoes.
5. I have the same full name as a famous author! *squee*
6. I am currently writing my second (unpublished) book.
7. I got my black belt in Kempo Karate when I was in high school.

Blogs I recently discovered and love:

Carrie's Procrastinatory Outlet: http://carrie-me.blogspot.com/
The Daily Snark: http://chloeneill.blogspot.com/
The Undercover Book Lover: http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/
Alice: Journey of a Fake Writer: http://alicejourneyofafakewriter.blogspot.com/
All About {N}: http://bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
Booknerds Are Pretty Too: http://booknerds-are-pretty-too.blogspot.com/
Carrie Harris: http://carrieharrisbooks.blogspot.com/
Classic Case: http://www.theclassiccase.com/
Gail Carriger: http://gailcarriger.livejournal.com/
Lisa and Laura Write: http://lisa-laura.blogspot.com/
LovLivLife Reviews: http://lll808.blogspot.com/
Reading Vacation: http://readingvacation.blogspot.com/
Squeetus Blog: http://oinks.squeetus.com/
Beth Revis, Writing It Out: http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/
YA Bookie Monster: http://yabookiemonster.blogspot.com/

Movie Review - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part One

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part One (Rated PG-13)
from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Voldemort's power is growing stronger. He now has control over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to finish Dumbledore's work and find the rest of the Horcruxes to defeat the Dark Lord. But little hope remains for the Trio, and the rest of the Wizarding World, so everything they do must go as planned. (plot summary taken from imdb.com)

Trying to be as spoiler-free as possible, I swear!

I loved the newest installment in the Harry Potter movie franchise. I felt like the Director did a really great job with putting in just the right amount of flashback-type scenes, action, and emotional play. It was a great decision to split this book into two movies. It allowed them to hit on a lot more of the details!

Ron and Hermione and Harry were all put through the wringer in this movie, physically and emotionally, and it was portrayed excellently. The camping scenes were great...I could almost see my own breath at moments! There were more steamy scenes in this movie, and while I love the emotion...um, Daniel Radcliffe is kind of an awkward kisser, at least in my own opinion!


*Spoiler Alert*
One scene I was really sad to have left out... when Harry goes to Godric's Hollow and sees the house where he was born...they did not have the sign that popped up showing all of the supportive messages left for Harry. THAT was my favorite part of the whole book!
*End Spoiler*


Oh well, other than that...it was GREAT! I cannot wait to go see the final conclusion in July.

...from a faithful Ravenclaw...

The Hollow

The Hollow
by Jessica Verday

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead…and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity. (description from Amazon.com)

After having met Jessica Verday on the Ghost and Graves tour at the Otis Library in Norwich, CT, I had to read this book. The setting, in Sleepy Hollow (yes, of the famous legend!) made this book! It was just the right amount of spooky and fit beautifully with the grieving tone of Abbey's mourning.

Abbey spends her time making perfumes, preparing her business plan, and hanging out at the graveyard. (The descriptions of the perfume making process totally drew me in and now I really want to go and try it out myself!) Though others think her a "freak," Abbey's withdrawal makes sense and feels right. Plus, what everyone else doesn't know is that she's no longer hanging out at the graveyard or by the Crane River alone.

I really liked Abbey's relationship with her parents, her new friend Ben, and with Nicholas and Katie, the cemetery caretakers. Each felt spot-on for the point Abbey's at in her life. The only relationship I sometimes questioned was the one that develops with Caspian...in part because Verday does some excellent foreshadowing and I kept picking up on the fact that things were not as they seem! I liked the romance, but sometimes Abbey just got a little melodramatic for me...I also felt like there were moments when I wanted her to be bolder, but then again there were moments when she was way more direct than I ever could be!

All in all, I will definitely need to read The Haunted A.S.A.P. since this one ended with a great cliffhanger. If you love the paranormal, check this book out...and then you might even want to reread The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I know I'm going to... :)

Full disclosure: Book signed by author at event, audio book sent to review for AudioFile

Awesome Hunger Games Video

OMG. I had to post this awesome video that Mockingjay.net posted. It's an amateur done scene from "The Hunger Games" and it totally blew me away. I hope this is what the movie is actually like....

In My Mailbox - November 14, 2010

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

For Review:

The Dark Deeps by Arthur Slade

The Youngest Templar: Orphan of Destiny by Michael P. Spradlin

From the Library:

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle

Misguided Angel by Melissa De La Cruz

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

2010 CLA YA Section Annual Meeting - Taking Your Tech Up a Notch

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I am Co-Chair of the Young Adult section of my state's library association. So, part of my responsibilities is to set up the annual meeting for all Young Adult Librarians in Connecticut. We had our 2010 meeting this past Wednesday.

We did a full day of programming last year, so this year we decided to concentrate on how better to use technology to reach our teen patrons. "Taking Your Tech Up a Notch" was a full day meeting and I'm proud to say was wildly successful!

The day started off with a Skype session with YA author, Paul Volponi. We were able to talk about his books (including Rikers High,Response, and Hurricane Song), his experiences skyping with classes, and his own reading/writing habits. It was a lot of fun and we were able to show how simple it is to set up a skype visit with an author through the Skype An Author Network.

After our skype session, we had lots of "flash" tech presentations. Each 15 min. presentation was by a different Librarian on a different tech topic. We learned about creating a Facebook page for your Teen Department, using Twitter to alert teens, and also using an SMS email service to text teens alerts.

We also discussed switching to an online Summer Reading Program, creating award winning videos with teens, creating awesome book trailers, utilizing Overdrive to download audio books and e-books, great online (and FREE!) softwares like Wordle.

All in all, it was a great day. I got some new ideas for the future and I think everyone else did, too! I cannot wait to see what gets planned for next year...and I think I'll be happy to just be attending. I am still tired! :)