Book Trailer - Out of Sight, Out of TIme

I *lurve* the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter. 

Here is a super fabulous, makes my hands itch for the newest book, what do you mean I can't have it now book trailer for Out of Sight, Out of Time which is book five in the series  and out on Tues., March 13th!! Enjoy.

What's on My Hold List?

Welcome to the March 2012 edition

of

"What's on My Hold List?"

One of the most beautiful things about working in a Library is that I have the ability to put lots of things on hold and read them *before* I buy!! These are some of the books that I'm currently waiting for, though I may buy one or two of them after reading, as well. 

Surrender

by Lee Nichols

Haunting Emma, book three

*This one is still on my hold list...apparently it's taking forever to come in. I may break down and get this one on my nook soon!*

Under the Never Sky

by Veronica Rossi

*Another one that's still on my list, but I believe it is on its way!*

Perception

by Kim Harrington

Clarity, book two

Starters

by Lissa Price

So, these are the books I'm waiting anxiously to get my hands on...what are you waiting for??

Edit - So, I was lazy yesterday when I posted this and didn't even link the books to their Amazon pages and my friend Miss Kim called me out on it.  She suggested that I include the Amazon book description for each title right on the post so that those unfamiliar with the titles would learn what the books are about... SO question for you all... Should I just link to the Amazon pages so you can scope out the ones you want, or should I just include the book description right on the blog post for each one???

Cover Craving...Reached by Ally Condie

Even if you are not a fan of the actual storyline, you cannot help but love the covers that Penguin has created for Ally Condie's Matched series. Each one has gotten better and better!!

I love that the final book in the trilogy has continued the really visually cool theme of the first two covers.  First Cassia is trapped within her societal bubble, then she is breaking free, and now she stands in the shattered remains of what her life used to be...awesome symbolism!  The covers are simple, evocative, and even more stunning in person.  I love the red this time, too!

*sigh* I just want to pet the cover... 

Anxiously Awaiting...The Essence

I gave Kimberly Derting's The Pledge my first GOLD STAR review of 2012 and so I am beyond excited to see the title and cover of its sequel...

Coming January 2013:

The Essence
by Kimberly Derting
sequel to The Pledge

Feyland: The Dark Realm

Feyland: The Dark Realm
by Anthea Sharp

WHEN A GAME...


Feyland is the most immersive computer game ever designed, and Jennet Carter is the first to play the prototype. But she doesn't suspect the virtual world is close enough to touch -- or that she'll be battling for her life against the Dark Queen of the faeries.

TURNS REAL...

Tam Linn is the perfect hero -- in-game. Too bad the rest of his life is seriously flawed. The last thing he needs is rich-girl Jennet prying into his secrets, insisting he's the only one who can help her.

WINNING IS EVERYTHING...

Together, Jennet and Tam enter the Dark Realm of Feyland, only to discover that the entire human world is in danger. Pushed to the limit of their abilities, they must defeat the Dark Queen... before it's too late. (description from Amazon.com)
 
This book has a really great concept. I love that it's a science fiction book that feels like a fantasy novel.  The futuristic setting allows for wrist access chips and sim gaming and grav cars. The cross into the game, Feyland, allowed the author to bring in lots of great fairy creatures...and it's all based on an old English ballad. :)
 
I thought that Jennet and Tam were both good characters, and the secondary characters were well done, too. I loved both Tam's brother, Peter (the bug), and his best friend, Marny. They both added quite a bit to the story, allowing Tam's character to grow beyond a stereotype and into a more well-fleshed out hero. While the Dark Queen and her Black Knight never really become more than the typical "bad guys," her bard helps to add some degrees of morality to the Dark Court.
 
A fun foray into a fantasy video game.
 
Full disclosure: electronic copy received by author for review

Touch of Power

Touch of Power

by Maria Snyder

Healer series, book one



Show Less

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

 

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life…. (description from Amazon.com)

Maria Snyder wowed me again. I have not ripped through one of her books like this since I originally read Poison Study.  This one is now officially my second favorite of all her books. :)

I loved not only Avry, who was a strong-willed, determined, and compassionate character, but also the fascinating world that she lives in.  The plague that has beseiged their world and what she comes to think may be the cause...

Of course, there is also romance, danger, intrigue, and poison... all elements that combine into a whirlwind of a fantastic read.  The descriptions were wonderful, the world building was great, and the characters touched my heart. Definitely worthy of a GOLD STAR.

I cannot wait to dive into Avry's story again in book two of the Healer series, which sadly does not come out until 2013.  I don't know how I'm going to be able to wait!!

Full disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley

Happy Release Day to Perception!!

Perception by Kim Harrington is finally out today!

I can't tell you how excited I am to read more about Clare, FINALLY.  :P

Every Other Day

Every Other Day
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.


And then every day in between . . . She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism. (description from Amazon.com)

I devoured this book. Gobbled it up unashamedly.  There is just something about Barnes writing style that lent itself absolutely beautifully to this intriguing concept. In fact, with memories of a sleepless night... I give this a GOLD STAR review!!

I loved Kali's character. She was mutlicultural and fabulous. She was strong and yet, often bewildered.  She was unashamed when she had to kick @ss. AWESOMESAUCE. When you find out what she is and how she came to be... very, very cool!

I really have no idea if this book is a standalone or the start of a series, but either way, I'm happy. I loved it all on it's own, and I would HAPPILY read another...and the way it ends...it most definitely could have a very cool sequel.

Love the paranormal?  Looking for something a little different now that there's so much paranormal out there?  Pick this one up, ASAP!!

Full disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley

Cinder

Cinder
by Marissa Meyer
Lunar Chronicles, book one

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .


Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. (description from Amazon.com)

I loved this futuristic sci-fi version of the Cinderella story.  It was *this* close to being a gold star review, except it ended with a HUGE cliffhanger and the next book doesn't come out until NEXT YEAR. Ugh.

I loved Cinder's character. The fact that she is a cyborg was really cool, especially since this doesn't verge so far into sci-fi that I had trouble understanding things. There was no confusion about medical/scientific stuff. YAY! I loved the fact that not only was Cinder's body both hard and soft, but that it reflected her personality so well...

I loved the descriptions of New Beijing.  It was a fascinating dichotomy of the traditional and the futuristic. The fact that the Eastern Commonwealth was at the head of the Earthen Union also felt very possible in humanity's future...and can I mention that the whole Lunar thing was super intriguing? I want to learn more about their history and culture. I'm hoping the next book in the series gives us a more inside perspective there.

All in all, this was book was so close to what my perfect reinvisioning of a fairytale could be it was sort of eerie. I wish that we knew a little more of Cinder's story at the end, but I am SO absolutely looking forward to reading more of her journey in the following books.  I cannot wait for Scarlet to get here!!

Full disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley/Audio book won from Macmillan Audio
*2012 Debut Author Challenge title*

If You Like: Hart of Dixie

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's recommendations are great if you like the CW show, Hart of Dixie.  Hart of Dixie is about a city girl fresh out of med school who experiences a major culture clash when she begins practicing medicine in a small southern town. So, if it sounds up your alley, check out the recommendations here! 

Mini Reviews: The Growing Up Edition

Addie on the Inside

by James Howe 

companion to The Misfits

The Gang of Five is back in this third story from Paintbrush Falls. Addie Carle, the only girl in the group of friends is outspoken, opinionated, and sometimes…just a bit obnoxious.

But as seventh grade progresses, Addie’s not so sure anymore about who she is. It seems her tough exterior is just a little too tough and that doesn’t help her deal with the turmoil she feels on the inside as she faces the pains of growing up. (description from Amazon.com)

Told through a series of poignant poems, this is a beautiful story of a girl just trying to make it through seventh grade. Lots of issues are covered here, but in a really accessible, believable way. A quick read that is well worth checking out!

Fighting Ruben Wolfe

by Markus Zusak

sequel to The Underdog

The working class family of Cameron Wolfe and his brother Ruben isn't having much luck these days. Their dad has just lost his job and is too proud to go on welfare. Their older brother has moved out of the house in disgust. Which leaves them open to suggestion when a local boxing promotor signs them up for illegal bouts. But it's more than the meager winnings that draws the two brothers in. Soon they find themselves fighting for something else. Is it pride? Love? Or just the experience of winning for once? (description from Amazon.com)

 

I was surprised how much I loved this story.  It may seem to be about two brothers who decide to box on the side for money, but really it's about a family struggling to make it through a recession.  A family of survivors, fighters, that come together to beat all the odds!

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for SLJ

How to Save a Life

by Sara Zarr

Jill MacSweeny just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she's somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.

 

Mandy Kalinowski understands what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she's sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It's harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy--or as difficult--as it seems. (description from Amazon.com)

 

A touching story that made me cry over and over again. Jill was a phenomenal character and I was surprised how much I ended up liking Mandy, too.  Love transcends all...

 

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for AudioFile magazine

 





Terrific Threes and Super Storytime: Dads!

So, I've decided to try something new. Some of you may know that aside from just being a blogger, I'm also a Librarian. Just before the new year, I started a new job as a Youth Services Librarian, which means that aside from just doing teen services, I'm also doing two weekly storytimes (for ages 3-5) and a monthly pajama storytime.

Since I've started doing these storytimes, I've found it immensely helpful to read the "set-up" from other storytimes on other blogs to get ideas...so I want to "pay it forward." I'm going to try to put up as many storytimes as I can so that maybe someone else will get ideas for their storytimes!

Let me know if you have any format suggestions, etc!!

This was one of the Terrific Threes and Super Storytimes I did in February.

Theme: Dads!

Opening Song: 3's - BINGO/4/5's - Heggity Peggity

*rhythmically clap hands or slap hands on legs*

Heggity Peggity bumble-bee,

won't you share your name with me,

(Child says name)

(Group repeat's child's name twice)

*repeat for entire group*

 

Read:

3's - My Dad by Anthony Browne/4's - My Dad's Job by Peter Glassman
My Father the Dog by Elizabeth Bluemle

Action Rhyme:

Here is the little boy ready for his nap              

(hold up 1 finger)

Lay him down on his daddy's lap                       

(lay finger in other palm)

Cover him up so he won't peep                         

(close hand over fingers)

Rock him til he's fast asleep                               

(rock hands)

 

       

Action Song:

5 little ducks went out one day, over the hills, far away,

Father duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack,"

but only 4 little ducks came back...

*repeat until you get to 1 little duck*

1 little duck went out one day, over the hills, far away,

Father duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack,"

but none of the little ducks came back...

Father duck went out one day, over the hills, far away,

Father duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack," 

and ALL of the little ducks came back!!

Read:

3's - Daddies by  Lila Prap/4's - My Dad by Anthony Browne

Flannelboard: The Pet
*A story about a child that goes to the zoo to look for a pet, and decides that Daddy makes the best "pet" of all.*

 

Action Song: My Daddy Works with One Hammer

My daddy works with one hammer, one hammer,

one hammer, (pound one fist on ground)

My daddy works with one hammer,

and now he works with two! (pound two fists on ground)

My daddy works with two hammers, two hammers,

two hammers, (pound two fists on ground)

My daddy works with two hammers,

and now he works with three! (pound two fists and stomp one foot)

My daddy works with three hammers, three hammers, 

three hammers, (pound two fists and stomp one foot)

My daddy works with three hammers,

and now he works with four! (pound two fists and stomp both feet)

My daddy works with four hammers, four hammers,

four hammers, (pound two fists and stomp both feet)

My daddy works with four hammers,

and now he needs a nap! (collapse onto ground)

Read:

The Daddy Book by Todd Parr

Dance: "I Caught Daddy Watching Cartoons" from CD, Big Rock Rooster

Craft: Collage Tie

Supplies needed:

tagboard (precut into simple tie shape)

string (precut)

collage pieces (precut) *we used old wallpaper samples*

gluesticks

single hole punch

It was so much fun to see the kids decorate these "ties" and then either wear them home or vow to make their Dads wear them!!

A Mystery for Every Reader...at the Hub!

Check it out! Today, over on The Hub's blog, I've got a mystery for every YA reader...

Mini Reviews: The Haunted Edition

Texas Gothic

by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Show More

Show Less

Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face. (description from Amazon.com)

A fun read. Amy is snarky-type hilarious. I loved the romance in this one, too!

*2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge title*

Arise

by Tara Hudson

sequel to Hereafter

A stranded spirit, and a love story that crosses the divide between the living and the dead…In this hauntingly lovely sequel to HEREAFTER, Amelia – still trapped somewhere between life and death – continues to fight for her relationship with her mortal love, Joshua.Looking for answers, they visit some of Joshua’s relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia just ends up with more questions… and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together.Then Amelia meets other spirits in-between and begins to seriously consider joining them. Caught between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the nether world can choose for her. (description from Amazon.com)

I loved this sequel. Dark, romantic, haunting...and set in the ultimate haunted location, New Orleans! This one will make you go, "Say, what?!" I *need* book three, ASAP!!

Publication date: June 5, 2012

Full disclosure: ARC received to review for VOYA

Ghostopolis

by Doug TenNapel

Imagine Garth Hale's surprise when he's accidentally zapped to the spirit world by Frank Gallows, a washed-out ghost wrangler. Suddenly Garth finds he has powers the ghosts don't have, and he's stuck in a world run by the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, who would use Garth's newfound abilities to rule the ghostly kingdom. When Garth meets Cecil, his grandfather's ghost, the two search for a way to get Garth back home, and nearly lose hope until Frank Gallows shows up to fix his mistake. (description from Amazon.com)

I was surprised how much I actually liked this graphic novel. It's easy to read, the drawings are creepy, but very clear, and the storyline was cool. 

Anxiously Awaiting... Hidden!

Hidden

by Sophie Jordan

Firelight series, book three

Publication date: Sept. 11, 2012

A dangerous journey.
Shattered bonds.
Undying passion.

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control.  As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Anxiously Awaiting...Tiger Lily!

Tiger Lily

by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Publication date: July 3, 2012

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy Darling, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair....

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily, proud and fierce, wild and misunderstood, doesn’t believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell. Bonding over their shared sense of adventure, their competitive nature, and their courageous spirits, the two form an unlikely friendship and an even more unlikely romance. Then Wendy Darling—a girl who is everything Tiger Lily is not—arrives on the island, and Tiger Lily discovers how far she is willing to go to keep Peter with her, and in Neverland.


OMG. I feel like I have been waiting forever for this book.  I always wanted more of Tiger Lily's story... and this sounds sort of like a thriller... AND I love this cover!!

Pajama Storytime: Wolf Moon

So, I've decided to try something new. Some of you may know that aside from just being a blogger, I'm  also a Librarian.  Just before the new year, I started a new job as a Youth Services Librarian, which means that aside from just doing teen services, I'm also doing two weekly storytimes (for ages 3-5) and a monthly pajama storytime. 

Since I've started doing these storytimes, I've found it immensely helpful to read the "set-up" from other storytimes on other blogs to get ideas...so I want to "pay it forward." I'm going to try to put up as many storytimes as I can so that maybe someone else will get ideas for their storytimes!

Let me know if you have any format suggestions, etc!!

This was the Pajama Storytime I did in January. 

Theme: Wolf Moon

(The Wolf Moon is the name given by Native Americans to a full moon that occurs in January.)

Opening Song: If You're a Wolf and You Know It

If you're a wolf and you know it, howl at the moon...

If you're a wolf and you know it, growl at the night...

If you're a wolf and you know it, scratch your fleas...

If you're a wolf and you know it, do all three...  

Read:

Wolf! Wolf! by John Rocco

Wolf's Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza



Action Song: 10 Little Gray Wolves

1 little, 2 little, 3 little gray wolves...

4 little, 5 little, 6 little gray wolves...

7 little, 8 little, 9 little gray wolves...

10 little gray wolves rolling in the snow

(Repeat - running through the woods... howling at the moon)

Flannelboard: The Three Little Pigs

Read:

The Dog Who Cried Wolf by Keiko Kasza

Footprints in the Snow by Mei Matsuoka

Dance: "Mister Moon" from CD, Where is Thumbkin?

Craft: Wolf Howling in the Night Sky

Supplies Needed:

blue construction paper

white construction paper (pre-cut moons)

brown construction paper (pre-cut howling wolves)

gluesticks 

chalk

The kids had a blast glueing on their wolves and moons, but I think they had the most fun drawing their stars in the night sky with the chalk!!

Why We Broke Up

Why We Broke Up

by Daniel Handler

I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.

Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped. (description from Amazon.com)

 

It's funny. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about this book, but once I actually sat down to read it, I fell right in and enjoyed it...whole hog. I had prepared to feel ho-hum about it, but I really enjoyed the whole experience. 

 

I liked the feel of the pages, the weight of the book, and the pictures of items that accompanied each chapter.  I loved the concept of one gigantic letter, full of relationship vignettes that add up to the demise of a couple. ...And, I, unlike a lot of other people, totally got Min.  I felt like it was listening to myself when I was still in high school.

 

I knew what I loved, I liked my friends, and yet... when the guy came along that was into everything else, I was not assertive enough to make it clear that I was into different things or that I really loved my friends and everything they were into...

 

Min may have been way too complacent at times in her relationship with Ed, but I felt that was totally believable! Regrettable, but believable.  I also understood, well...most of the time, how Ed liked Min, even though he totally had no clue as to who she really was...

 

Though this book was sad, it was also hopeful. In the sense that Min was growing and learning from her relationship's demise.  I think she'll become a stronger person from the experience.

 

Full disclosure: ARC received at BEA 2011

Troy High

Troy High

by Shana Norris

Homer’s Iliad, the classic tale of love and revenge, is shrewdly retold for teens in Troy High.

Narrated by Cassie, a shy outsider at Troy High, the story follows the Trojans and Spartans as they declare war on the football field. After the beautiful Elena—who used to be the captain of the Spartan cheerleaders—transfers to Troy High and falls madly in love with Cassie’s brother Perry, the Spartans vow that the annual homecoming game will never be forgotten. Off the football field, an escalating prank war fuels tensions between the schools.

The stakes are raised when Cassie is forced to choose between the boy she loves (a Spartan) and loyalty to her family and school. Troy High will seduce readers with its cast of mythic proportions. (description from Amazon.com)

Show More

Show Less

This may not become an epic classic, like the Iliad on which it's based, but I actually really enjoyed reading this book.  Not only was it a fun contemporary read with a main character that I just could not help but root for, but it also was really fun trying to remember who the characters were from the Iliad and trying to match them up with Troy High. 

While this book is loosely based on the classic tale, there are some things that were definitely changed and it really does have a great modern feel - if you had no idea what it was based on, you really wouldn't be missing anything, you could just enjoy it as is... - and in reality, I liked the ending of THIS tale a whole lot more.  :P

If you have time for just a breezy sort of book, you may want to pick this one up!

For a little fun, here's the cute book trailer:

Book Trailer: The Curse Workers Series by Holly Black

This is a cool trailer for a cool series.  I can't wait until Black Heart finally comes out in April!
Just a little something to keep you going until then...