The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making - Book Trailer and Giveaway!!

I am officially psyched to read this book! It's gotten great buzz online, the origin story is so cool (it was originally published serially online and then the author was offered the chance to publish it in novel format!) and the storyline sounds great! So, what book am I talking about??


The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
by Catherynne M. Valente

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday. (description from Amazon.com)

Check out the great new book trailer:


So, have I peaked your interest, yet?

I have one copy of this awesome book (thanks to Zietghost Media!) to giveaway to someone.

If you would like to enter, leave a comment with your name and email address below. I will randomly choose a winner on Sunday, June 26th. The winner will be announced and contacted that same day. The winner has until Thursday, June 29th to contact me with a US or Canadian mailing address (per publisher) where they would like the book sent. Good luck!!

YA Spectacular Event in Madison, CT

So, I've been running around like a maniac doing summer reading visits to all the schools in the city where I work and I just have not had the time to put together a complicated post. So...that means that this should have gone up ages ago, but instead I'm just getting to it now...

Anyway, on Thursday, June 9th, I was lucky enough to go to the YA Spectacular event hosted by RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT. It was AWESOME. Though I had to brave a horrific lightning storm, downed trees, and a GPS that just refused to accept the fact that, no, I could not go through that giant roadblock and I MUST turn around, getting to see the awesome and lovely Sara Shepard, Sarah Mlynowski, and Maureen Johnson (OMG...I just met one of my heroes!!!) was beyond worth the near death travel experience.

Upon arriving, I was stoked to find out first of all that the authors had not yet made it (Phew! I was so worried I'd have to sneak in the back like a creepy stalker...) and that a bunch of my librarian pals were there, too!! My librarian/blogger online BFF, Jen from Yabooknerd was saving me a seat (*Thank you, thank you, thank you!), my friends from the Windsor library system, Amy and Andrea, both made it, Bailey from the Newington Library and Mary Kate from the Scotland Library also made it! We are a brave, brave crew of YA Librarians, I tell you! No one was keeping us from these lovely ladies.

After buying a copy of Maureen's new book, The Last Little Blue Envelope, and gossiping like crazy about books and BEA with the other librarians and RJ Julia's ya even coordinator, Jen elbowed me... I looked up to see Maureen Johnson peeking out from behind the curtains onstage like a little kid at their first school play performance. *insert giggles here*

As the ladies were introduced, Maureen continued to peek out and then caused the entire crowd to start giggling as she darted across the stage so that she could peek out from the other side. *more giggles*



After introductions, Sara, Sarah, and Maureen finally came out on stage. They had these tall barstools that the ladies were to sit on and as you can see above, Sara Shepard's dress was just a little short and she was a little cautious at first about getting up on the stool. Maureen kept cracking jokes, though and they quickly settled into their places to read.




To begin with each author read a passage from her newest book. Maureen briefly explained the plot of her book,Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, and then read a funny passage from the sequel (which I am dying to read!). Sarah Mlynowski read a section from her new YA book, ,Ten Things We Did (...And Probably Shouldn't Have)...which I had to sneak out and buy a copy of to get signed! Finally, Sara Shepard read a section from her new book, The Lying Game.

Next, Maureen played Oprah and did a question and answer session roaming through the crowd. I was tweeting like a maniac during the event...here are some of the tweets I sent out (@jessyabookobssd)

Sara Shepard will be putting out 4 more #PLL books...

Whoops! @maureenjohnson admits to dropping phone in toilet at #BEA11

TEN THINGS WE DID is actually based on Sarah Mlynowski's real life experiences...

Strange abandoned fires...Sara Shepard's hobby growing up...

"I love writing all the secrets people have" -Sara Shepard

@maureenjohnson is lurking in the audience taking questions... #yaauthorcreeping

As you can probably tell, it was kind of a wild and crazy Q&A session! Sara Shepard got asked TONS of questions about both the Pretty Little Liars book series and the TV show. Sarah Mlynowski ended up explaining quite a bit about her somewhat wild teen years, and Maureen Johnson was hilarious...even answering a question about how she keeps her socks organized.



I ended up asking how each author balances their online social networking with their writing time. Sara Shepard says she doesn't do any social networking so it's not an issue. Sarah Mlynowski uses her social networking as a reward for finishing her writing goals. Maureen Johnson, who is famous in YA twitter circles for rivaling Libba Bray as a twitter goddess, admitted that she doesn't really even try to keep the social networking in check. "It just works itself out in the end..."

After the Q&A, the authors were kind enough to sign about a million books apiece! The line was HUGE...no kidding. Having been in this situation before, Jen, Mary Kate and I sat calmly and gossiped until the line went down. Jen and I admired the books we'd bought and exchanged (Yes, we are those book dorks that brought books to lend to each other by other authors to a signing...). Finally, the line went down and we headed up to have our fangirl moments.



It was awesome to meet all three authors, but I was definitely BEYOND over the moon to meet Maureen Johnson in person. I had that moment where I almost couldn't spit out what I wanted to say, but I did finally get to tell her that I recommend her Scarlett Martin series to all my teen readers looking for funny contemporary books. I was somewhat disappointed that they weren't selling Suite Scarlett because I would have LOVED to have a signed copy. Then, Maureen made my night, by not only signing my books, but fulfilling my weird request to have her also add the twitter hashtag, #yasaves, as a homage to her part in the outcry online against censorship based on YA becoming "too dark."

This was an awesome event and I am so grateful that RJ Julia put it together. :)

In My Mailbox - June 19, 2011

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!

This was two big weeks' worth of books! I was lucky to get quite a few fantastic books in the mail, to borrow some great reads and to attend the YA spectacular event in Madison, CT.


From the Library:

The Ghoul Next Door by Lisi Harrison

Won:

The Summer Trilogy by Jenny Han
*Thanks to Steph at Steph Su Reads!!*


Sent for Review:

Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
*Thanks to Little, Brown!!*

Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong
*Thanks to Dutton!!*


Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
*Thanks to Zietghost Media!*

Mercy by Sarah L. Thompson
The Break-Up Diaries by Ni-Ni Simone and Kelli London


Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
*Thanks, Tera!!*

Borrowed from Jen at Yabooknerd:

Withering Tights by Louise Rennison
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Crossed by Ally Condie

Bought at R.J. Julia's YA Spectacular Event:

10 Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

Ask Elizabeth

Ask Elizabeth
by Elizabeth Berkley

Ask Elizabeth is the complete guide to teen life; the last and only self-help book they'll ever need. Inspired by the many workshops Elizabeth Berkley has conducted with over 30,000 teen girls across the country, Ask Elizabeth brings the spirit of these conversations to life on the page.

Much like a private diary, the book will be a personal resource that girls can turn to when they seek answers to teen life's toughest questions.

The content contains real and practical advice, anecdotes and wisdom in answer to the most asked questions from girls who participate in Elizabeth's workshops such as: what do you do when you look in the mirror and don't like what you see? or How do you get over a broken heart? Elizabeth, along with a panel of experts, and teen girls themselves advise readers in matters of body image, personal relationships, dating, and much more. (description taken from Amazon.com)

This is another one of those non-fiction books that I really wish had come out when I was still in my teen years. Elizabeth Berkley has managed to tackle a TON of topics that really affect teen girls in a very forthright and un-embarassing way. Part of what makes this such a unique reading experience and what really will draw a teen reader in is the formatting. The book is full of handwritten notes and letters from girls all over...sharing their experiences, their feelings, and the wisdom they have gleaned from their own life experiences. It's like having each of those girls writing directly to the reader...and it does not feel at all as if an adult just made these things up to tell readers what they should do or how they should feel.

Even as an adult reader, there were some great pieces of advice to internalize. It took me right back to my teen years and in some spots showed me that I still have a lot of the same insecurities. This is a book to flip through every once in awhile to just mull over again...and to see what things strike you at that moment. I have a feeling every reading will be just a little different as readers grow and change.

The Black

The Black
by D. J. MacHale
Morpheus Road, book two

Cooper Foley always had a knack for finding trouble, but nothing he’s ever experienced could have prepared him for his latest adventure: He has landed square in the middle of a border war between the worlds of the living and the dead.

At the end of The Light, Book One of the Morpheus Road trilogy, Marshall Seaver learned the truth about what happened to his missing best friend, Cooper. Now, the mystery continues to unfold, only this time through Cooper’s eyes.

What did Marshall’s terrifying encounters with Gravedigger have to do with spirits from another existence? Who is Damon, and what role did he play in Cooper’s dilemma? Most importantly, what is the mysterious Morpheus Road? (description taken from the author's website)

When I got The Light to review for SLJ, I was not that excited. Horror isn't normally my thing. I was pleasantly surprised, though, and even though there were some gruesome moments, I ended up really liking it. So, when I got The Black to review, I was happy to be able to continue the story.

I was really excited when I realized that this second book was from Marsh's friend, Cooper's point of view. While the first book took place in our reality, the Light, and Marsh was haunted, the second book takes place in the second stage of the Morpheus Road, the Black.

MacHale has created an interesting new world with different stages of life and the afterlife. The Black is sort of like purgatory and is different for each person. I loved seeing how different spirits' visions of the Black touched and interacted. It was really cool to see how Cooper's relatives and neighbors were able to coexist without generational differences in the Black.

While the first book was super creepy, partially since Marsh made such a great victim, this second book delved more deeply into the actual world and even though it had creepy moments, it was more thoughtprovoking and definitely sets things up for a grand finale in the third book.

The thing that really cemented for me how much I loved this book was Cooper's voice. He's a really snarky, anti-authority kind of guy, but he's also loyal and caring to a fault. As things heat up for Cooper, he buckles down and does exactly what he thinks is right, even if no one else agrees. I think that the final book goes back to Marsh's voice and I will miss Cooper. (Plus Nick Podehl narrated and though I think it's funny that every D. J. MacHale book I've ever listened to has been narrated by him, he does a great job. He was REALLY good as Cooper)

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for SLJ

Bite Club

Bite Club
by Rachel Caine
Morganville Vampires, book ten

After discovering that vampires populate her town, college student Claire Danvers knows that the undead just want to live their lives. But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble.

There's a new extreme sport getting picked up on the Internet: bare- knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against each other-or humans. Tracking the remote signal leads Claire- accompanied by her friends and frenemies-to discover that what started as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville... (description from Amazon.com)

I love this series. They are fun, funny, and Claire is one of my all time favorite heroines. She is smart and brave, more brave than a LOT of other characters could ever conceive to be...

Since this is book ten, I don't want to get into a lot of plot stuff. It would be too spoilery. What I will say is that sections of this book are from Shane's point of view. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of books that jump from one character to another...I tend to like one narrator throughout, however, I really liked getting to see inside Shane's head.

Seeing what Shane thought brought a whole new dimension to his relationship with Claire. One of the things I like best about this series is Claire and Shane's relationship. It is romantic and feels meant to be, but it's not unrealistically all sunshine and rainbows. This book truly tested their relationship and what comes out on the other end is truer by far than many other fictional relationships.

If you aren't reading this series, I would recommend you give the first book, Glass Houses a try.

Telecasting my Summer Reading Program talk

My favorite part of my job is actually going into classrooms to see students, to tell them about the library, to discuss awesome books, and to encourage them to join the summer reading program.

This year, over a six week period, I personally spoke to over 2, 590 students at 15 different schools in our city. Some of these visits were classroom to classroom, some were assemblies, and one was a telecast! This was a definite first for me, but I kind of liked doing it!



Basically, one of our middle schools had me come in and do the summer reading program talk over their morning announcements. I got to sit in a little room off of their media center and talk directly into a camera that fed live into every classroom in the building.

It was awesome because I was literally speaking to every student in the building at once...plus the teachers and administration! I showed the brochure they would be receiving, outlined our leveled program, and then also mentioned all of the fun, non-summer reading related programs we have at the library throughout the summer. 20 mins and done!

The only thing I missed was the actual student reactions. I tend to feed off of their energy, tailoring each visit to how they are reacting to what every I mention, and I couldn't really do that here. Thankfully, this telecast was almost my last "visit" and so I'd done the talk about 50 times already, so I basically knew it inside and out.

I think more schools will be asking to do this kind of thing in the future. Has anyone else done something like this? What were the reactions from students/teachers?

Winner #2 - BEA ARC Giveaway!

I am pleased to announce that the SECOND winner of the BEA ARC giveaway (via random drawing at random.org) is...

Zareen!!

Zareen, check your email...you have until Friday, June 17th to contact me with your mailing address and the ARC title that you want (your choices are shown below). Congratulations again!

If You Like: Space Edition

"If You Like…” is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love.

This week is for astronomy geeks...lol! If you love space adventures, aliens, and more, check it out here! (PS - I also added something I forgot in the comments...my fave TV show - duh! - Torchwood)

Hourglass

Hourglass
by Myra McEntire

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened? (description from Amazon.com)

What a debut! This is one of those books that I put down and was afraid to pick anything else up...nothing was going to sit right for awhile...McEntire gave other books a lot to live up to!!

That's why this book is getting a GOLD STAR REVIEW!




I loved this book...hot buttered biscuits, did I love this book! It's got adventure, it's got time travel, it's got "ghosts," it's got romance, it's got betrayal, it's got jealousy...oh yeah, did I mention the romance?

In amongst the time traveling awesome adventure is some hot, hot romance. Not only does Emerson have one HAWT soul mate, but she's got another suitor that I just want to reach through the book and snatch up. How lucky can one girl get? The best part...it's not the focus of the book. Yes, you will be fanning yourself at some moments...maybe even drooling, but the adventure and mystery is the real story.

Emerson doesn't let romance get in her way. Not even when things seem impossible to work out in every aspect of her life. The romance is integral and consuming, but also shoved to the back burner when more important things occur. Emerson is one delicate-looking, snarky, tough cookie that isn't gonna let anyone...not even a heartthrob...tell her how to live her life. She makes her own choices.

*sigh* I want to go home and dive right back into this one now...and I hardly have time to reread anything these days, so Ms. McEntire that is the highest praise I can give you! I will be rereading Hourglass soon...very soon...and I will be purchasing my own copy...AND I will be desperately trying to flatten out the (now very mushed) cover poster that I got at BEA to put on the wall in my office.

Full disclosure: ARC borrowed from Jen at YABOOKNERD - *Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!*

Ruby Red Winner!

I am pleased to announce that the winner of the RUBY RED giveaway (via random drawing at random.org) is...

Carol M!!

Carol, check your email...you have until this Wednesday, June 15th to contact me with your mailing address so the publisher can send you your copy of Ruby Red. Congratulations again!

Into the Gauntlet

Into the Gauntlet
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
The 39 Clues, book 10

Throughout the hunt for the 39 Clues, Amy and Dan Cahill have uncovered history's greatest mysteries and their family's deadliest secrets. But are they ready to face the truth about the Cahills and the key to their unmatched power? After a whirlwind race that's taken them across five continents, Amy and Dan face the most the difficult challenge yet- a task no Cahill dared to imagine. When faced with a choice that could change the future of the world, can two kids succeed where 500 years worth of famous ancestors failed? (description from Amazon.com)

What a great "end" to the series! Having waited a little bit to read it, I know that there is a whole secondary series beginning, so this isn't truly the end, (and boy am I glad!) but it came to a really good point in this book.

Without ruining things for anyone, I will just say that I love the adventure, puzzles, fun facts, and family in this series. Yes, I say family, because even as this family is fighting, clawing, and scheming their way around each other for clues, people like Nellie (the au pair) are becoming part of the Cahill family and members from different branches of the family...ones who never mingled before...are drawing alliances and coming together as a larger extended family.

In fact, the end of this book is all about if Dan and Amy can bring the family together or not, essentially to save the world from power hungry Cahills! What happens made me smile. I really loved all of the revelations about the younger Cahills...from all branches...in this final book.

There, no spoilers. I will just finish with - IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN READING THIS SERIES...START NOW! It's sooooo good. (And they are really quick reads!)

Winner #1 in the BEA ARC Giveaway!!

I am pleased to announce that the FIRST winner of the BEA ARC giveaway (via random drawing at random.org) is...

Ashly at Lost in the Stacks!!

Ashly, check your email...you have until Monday, June 13th to contact me with your mailing address and the two ARC titles that you want. Congratulations again!

Don't forget, I'll be choosing the second ARC winner on Wed, June 15th! Good luck. :)

Winner! Everlasting by Alyson Noel

I am pleased to announce that the winner of the copy of Alyson Noel's Everlasting (via random drawing at random.org) is...

Robyn!!

Robyn's favorite book in the Immortals series is Evermore, which also happens to be my favorite. There was just something so magical about the introduction to not only Ever, but the world of this series. :)

Robyn, check your email...you have until Monday, June 13th to contact me with an address that I can pass on to the publisher. Congratulations again!

Ruby Red - Book Trailer and Giveaway

So, there's been huge buzz online for the first book in a new time travel trilogy. The first book, Ruby Red, came out May 10th.



Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.



Sound like Ruby Red might be right up your alley?

Here's a chance to win a copy! Leave me a comment...with your name, email address, and where and when you would visit if you could time travel.

Entries must be received by Sunday, June 12th. I'll randomly pick one winner from the comments on Monday, June 13th and they will have until Wed., June 15th to get me their adress (US/Canada only...per publisher) so that we can get your book sent out to you!

Supernaturally

Supernaturally
by Kiersten White
Paranormalcy, book two

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal. (description taken from Amazon.com)

First off, ummm...can I just gush about how much I love this cover?! I tweeted mid-read about how hard a time I had finishing the book, not because I wasn't loving it, but because I kept closing the book to pet the cover! Yes...really. I pet it because it is just sooooo pretty. I can't wait until it is sitting all lovely right next to my copy of Paranormalcy on my bookcase. *sigh* Does anyone know where I could get a poster of the cover...no? Wishful thinking. I'd love to put that up next to the poster of Myra McEntire's Hourglass that I got from BEA this year.

Okay...enough about the GORGEOUS cover...

I loved this book. I loved the first and I was soooo happy to not be disappointed at all in the second. I started out the book giggling and pretty much ended the same way. When a book begins with "Oh, bleep. I was going to die." and you start laughing two lines later, you know you have a winner!

*Slight Spoilers Ahead!*

I love the romance between Evie and Lend. They have a sweet romance that, yes, has its rocky moments, but never truly wavers. Lend is a great boyfriend...he may disagree with Evie's choices, but he never tells her she can or cannot do something...just that she must be honest with him about her decisions. Lend truly wants Evie for, well...Evie.

Though I love Lend, my heart really went out to the new boy in this book. No, no! I swear he's not competing with Lend for Evie's affection. He's just, well...Jack. And that is quite a character to behold. Another teen whose life was tainted by contact with faeries, Jack is kind of all over the place. Literally. He can open doors to the faerie paths and delights in making mischief. His emotional baggage, though, makes for a potentially dangerous loose cannon.

*Spoilers end*

Essentially, all of the things I loved about Paranormalcy are found again in its sequel. What's even better is that this is the middle book in a trilogy and it has a full and complete plot, awesome characters, and a wonderful, funny tone. I love Kiersten White's writing...sweetness wrapped up in a little tart. I have no doubts that I will love book three when it finally arrives!

Full disclosure: ARC received from publisher for review

Wings of the Wicked Book Trailer

I loved Courtney Allison Moulton's debut Angelfire. The sequel, Wings of the Wicked is due out Winter 2012...

Check out the beautiful and intriguing trailer...


...and it ends with the awesome cover that was revealed today!
I can't wait for this to come out next winter! :)

The Iron Witch

The Iron Witch
by Karen Mahoney
The Iron Witch, book one

When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed Donna Underwood’s father and drove her mother mad. Her own nearly fatal injuries were fixed by alchemy—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. Now seventeen, Donna feels like a freak, doomed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. Only her relationship with her best friend, Navin, is keeping her sane.

But when vicious wood elves abduct Navin, Donna is forced to accept her role in the centuries-old war between human alchemists and these darkest outcasts of Faerie. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous guy with faery blood running through his veins and secrets of his own, Donna races to save Navin—even if it means betraying everything her parents fought to the death to protect. (description taken from Amazon.com)

I think when I read this book I may have been in a funky mood. There were parts I really loved, but I just couldn't get into it. I've heard such great things...every review I've read has been good, so I think I may just have been overloaded on this type of book...

Anyway, what I liked:
*The awesome way that the alchemists repaired Donna's arms by infusing them with iron. Everytime I pictured the silver swirls on her arms, all I could think was AWESOME!
*The boys. Both of them. I liked Xan and his revealed secret about having fairy blood and I liked Navin, Donna's "normal" friend. PS - Did I mention that he's Indian...very cool!
*Alchemy. I've always been fascinated with it...and I love how it was mixed with magic in this story.

*Sigh* I really did like a lot of the elements of this story! I'll have to make sure to read the second book in the series, The Wood Queen, to see if it really just was that I was in a funky mood when I read this one...

If you Like...Summer

"If You Like…” is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love.

Summer is my favorite time of the year. I love the heat. I love the summer clothes. I love how everyone seems happier somehow. This week's If You Like is full of titles celebrating summer...check it out!

Gemini Night

Gemini Night
by Bonnie Hearn Hill
Star Crossed, book three

Starting her junior year, Logan McRae is excited about her internship at CRUSH magazine. But she is not so excited about her new boyfriend Jeremy’s travel abroad in Ireland. Logan’s in over her head trying to balance school, love, and friends, while trying to solve an astrological mystery—the fate of a Gemini is star-crossed.

Will Logan find out who is in danger before the CRUSH Halloween costume party? Can she prove to the publisher she deserves her own astrology column? And will her relationship with Jeremy survive the distance? Only time will tell as Logan continues to reach for the stars! (description taken from Amazon.com)

This was a fun, easy read. The overall plotline was interesting with a good twist and the pages interspersed between the real chapters containing astrology knowledge were really cute and intriguing. I like the way the book was structured with Logan's "columns" about how to interest each individual type of guy (ie. Taurus, Virgo, Pieces, etc.) in between the major chapters. I liked the "handwritten" notes that Logan made to herself as the story moved along.

I liked Logan and all of her friends. I especially liked the way that Logan and her two best friends, Chili and Paige, always supported and stood up for one another. They were a group I would have loved to have hung out with in highschool.

And, though at some points I was actually distracted by Logan's references to peoples' signs (ie. - "Way to go, Gemini" or "That's because he's a Taurus..."), I did find myself thinking about what signs each of the character was...as well as many of my friends and family. It made me want to go out and get a copy of Fearless Astrology to start reading more.

Overall a fun, light read.

Full disclosure: Review copy received from publisher

Anxiously Awaiting... (With a little Cover Craving on the side! lol)

Here's two books that I'm super excited to have come out...plus I just wanted to look at their great covers again...


The Son of Neptune
by Rick Riordan
Heroes of Olympus, book two
Publication Date: Oct. 4, 2011


Clockwork Prince
by Cassandra Clare
The Infernal Devices, book two
Publication Date: Dec. 6, 2011

The WSJ, "Age Appropriate" Censorship, and #Yasaves

I don't know if you're all already on Twitter...if you are than I am sure you've already seen the Wall Street Journal controversy and it's followup responses under the Twitter hastag, #Yasaves.

If not, then here's the condensed version...
Yesterday, the WSJ debuted an opinion article titled, "Darkness Too Visible" by Megan Cox Gurden. (Here's the link.) Basically, she trashes all YA as being too dark, too real to the point that there are no "age appropriate" books for teens anymore.

Say what?

I'm sorry, but obviously the author and the woman whose situation she quotes are not actually LOOKING at the YA books before they trash them. YA is an age group...not a genre. Which means...huh...there are about a hundred different types of YA books. That means that there IS a book out there for every teen reader. I swear!

As a YA Librarian, the most important part of my job is to connect the teen readers (and the adults now that are branching into YA :P) to the right book. That is what I am here for...there are so many choices that it can sometimes be difficult for a reader to determine what's right for them. (This was actually my first response to the article - ummm...instead of just wandering the bookshelves at a bookstore, you could talk to a Librarian to get some recommendations...)

The reason that Reader's Advisory is such a huge part of my job? Because every reader is different. Their needs are different, their tastes are different, their reading levels are different... It's my job to figure out how to mesh all of these factors together to come up with the right book.

For some, it's a book that is sweet and funny. Full of dreams, funny situations, and not too much beyond a gentle kiss... This reader might love SUITE SCARLETT by Maureen Johnson or SLEEPAWAY GIRLS by Jen Calonita.

For others, it's a science fiction book that features a male character...This reader might love ENDER'S GAME by Orson Scott Card or EPIC by Connor Kostick.

For others, it's what we might term a "problem book," something dealing with abuse, because they've lived through it or someone they know has had to deal with it... For this reader it might be a book like THE RULES OF SURVIVAL by Nancy Werlin or A CHILD CALLED IT by Dave Pelzer.

Each teen needs a different book. It may be because they know someone dealing with some issue. It may be a safe way for them to explore a life issue without actual experimentation. It may be that it was recommended by a friend. It may be that they are dealing with something they don't want to talk about. For whatever reason, it is up to me and other Librarians and book sellers to provide them with THAT book.

YA books have exploded in the last few years. There is more choice available than ever...and yes, a lot of these books reflect the life that teens are facing now. It is only adults who bury their heads in the sand that cannot acknowledge that even if THEIR TEEN does not need or want to read a specific book, that it will not be the perfect fit for someone else's teen.

For every happy teen living in a suburban house with the perfect life, there is at least one teen living on the street, or heck even in the suburban house next door that maybe has a life that is reflected in these new DARK YA books. They need them.

The overall point is that YA covers all gamuts. It covers all genres. It covers LIFE. There are light books, there are dark books, there are fantasy titles, and realistic fiction. There are nonfiction books dealing with sex, drugs, abuse, school topics, biographies...need I go on?

To say that an entire age group of books is now worthless and should be avoided is just pure closed-minded censorship. What the author really needs to do is explore all that YA has to offer! Become more informed instead of just running off at the mouth.

To see more opinions than just mine, check out the #Yasaves hashtag on Twitter or check your favorite authors' blogs, as many, many, many people out there have already put out responses and opinions on this topic.

In My Mailbox - June 5, 2011

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!

Won:

The Girl Who Was on Fire ed. by Leah Wilson
*THANK YOU to Teens Read and Write!!*

For Review:

Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley

From the Library:

Kiss of Death by Lauren Henderson
Graveminder by Melissa Marr

On My Nook:

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa


Did anyone get anything super exciting this week??