Book Trailer: SLEEPLESS

I've seen so many great book trailers lately that I can't let them go unmentioned! I'll start with SLEEPLESS.

My review of SLEEPLESS is here, but even better check out the book trailer here:
(These are posted on YouTube, so if you're in a school where it's blocked - you will see a blank white box - sorry!)

Book Trailer: BLISS

My review is here, but I think this trailer may really convey the creep factor much better:
(again - from YouTube)

Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout. GIRL v. BOY

Luisa Perez feels invisible at her high school. The fact that nine other girls have her exact name only increases her generic-ness. But this year, everything changes. Her school begins to participate in a fundraising contest to raise money for literacy. The principal makes the boys compete against the girls in the school to see who can raise the most money. When her English teacher gives her an assignment to write an anonymous column in the school paper to represent the girls she's reluctant, but gives it a shot. He also assigns an anonymous boy to write from their point of view. Their assignment is to talk about the contest, but a battle of the sexes begins and the readers love it. The column becomes hugely popular and even gets syndicated and printed at five other schools. In the meantime, Lu begins dating a boy she really likes, but he doesn't know she writes the column. She's a little afraid of what will happen when he finds out, since she has mentioned him a few times in the paper. As the big fundraising gala approached, she realizes that she won't be invisible anymore when she is revealed as the anonymous writer. Will she be able to handle the spotlight? Will she lose her boyfriend?

This was so much fun! The characters were realistic and enjoyable. Some were even hysterical (Mariah Mendes). I loved the dynamic between Lu and her sister. The jealousy pitted against the "taking care of you" vibe was totally believable. Plus, Lu’s two friends Izzy and Rachel round out the cast of characters nicely. The only thing I wasn't sure about was the fact that the mayor could grant a school two weeks extra vacation. But hey, it's fiction! And frankly if some school could really raise that much money for literacy - maybe it could really happen!

This dynamic duo has written several other books together.

I reviewed THE BLACK SHEEP here. That was a really unique story! (the book has a new cover, but I kinda like this one still)

You can find out more about these authors and their books here.

I have this one on my "to read" list

Favorite Holiday Books.

With the holiday season upon us, I thought I'd share some of my favorite holiday books. (they're mostly Christmas. I can't say I've read any Hanukkah or Kwanzaa books, sorry. It wasn't intentional. If you read any good ones, let me know in the comments)
FAVORITE CLASSIC

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
by Charles Dickens
I guess this one seems obvious. Well, I think the reason I love it so much is because as a language arts teacher, we read this book every year in all my classes. Each time I read it, I discovered more beauty, humor and genius in the language.
Here a just a few of my favorite parts:

The first paragraph! What a way to begin a book:
"MARLEY was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner." (somehow, that cracks me up)

NEXT: When the men come to collect for charity to help the homeless, Scrooge suggests that if they have nowhere to live then they should go live in the prisons.
So, the man says, "Many can't go there; and many would rather die." And Scrooge hits him with "If they would rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
Wow...really tells the reader what kind of man Scrooge is, huh?

THEN: When Marley comes to inform Scrooge of his fate later that night, Scrooge notices the chains Marley is dragging behind him:

"You are fettered," said Scrooge, trembling. "Tell me why?"

"I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. "I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?"

Then Scrooge denies any wrong doings and tells Marley - he was such a good man of business, where Marley replies with:

"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

Wow - Marley has learned his lesson, for sure. Scrooge is next.

And I could go on & on. There are more creepy parts, more sad parts, as well as more funny and happy sections. But, I think you get my point. It's a lovely, lovely friend worth visiting each holiday season. By the way, I know most people prefer the George C. Scott version of the movie, but my personal fav is the Patrick Stewart version. (I love him)

FAVORITE non-YA Holiday Books
Every few years, Mary Higgins Clark & her daughter Carol do a Christmas book. They began the tradition by having characters from each of their own popular books meet each other during the course of a holiday mystery. (they're both mystery writers, if you aren't already acquainted with the authors). Then every few years, they write another book with this combination of characters. They are always amusing, suspenseful and just plain fun to read during this time of year. The most recent in this series was just published a few weeks ago. It's called DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW. I'd recommend reading all of them, but it's certainly not mandatory to enjoy the fun. (the books are totally appropriate for teens)


Another non-YA holiday book that I really love is THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN by David Baldacci. I haven't read any of his other books, but one Christmas, some years back, this book caught my eye when I was browsing for a holiday treat. I read it, loved it, and since it still sticks with me after all these years, that says something. Here's a description from the author's website:

"Disillusioned journalist Tom Langdon must get from Washington to Los Angeles in time for Christmas. Forced to take the train across the country because of a slight "misunderstanding" at airport security, he begins a journey of self-discovery and rude awakenings, mysterious goings-on and thrilling adventures, screwball escapades and holiday magic. He has no idea that the locomotives pulling him across America will actually take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart, as he rediscovers people’s essential goodness and someone very special he believed he had lost."

Like I said, it's been a few years since I've read it, but I still remember it being really heart-warming and perfect for the holiday season. (it's on the shelf in my library, so totally appropriate for teens)

Last, but certainly not least, my favorite YA Holiday book
LET IT SNOW by Green, Johnson & Myracle. I just reviewed this a few weeks ago, so I'll just refer you there for more info. It's a humorous and lovely holiday gift.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!
Any good holiday book you can recommend? Let us all know in the comments!

Terri Clark. SLEEPLESS

Trinity has an unusual talent. She “dreamwalks.” In other words, she is lucid in her dreams, which means she can control them, but she can’t control the people she encounters and the disturbing things she learns about them. It’s a talent she’d rather not have, especially after the most recent, tragic incident where she witnesses a girl in mortal danger. She called the authorities, but they got there too late to save her. Trinity has felt guilty about it ever since. Now the murderer is visiting her in her dreams and threatens her life. After finding out that the murderer has escaped from the mental hospital, she freaks. She teams up with an unlikely partner to find the murderer before he finds her.
It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a psychological thriller. As an added bonus, it’s love story too. I had a ton of fun getting to know Trinity. She’s an intriguing character. I’ve heard there may be a sequel. I’m all for it, since there is so much more story here.
The writing is awesome; the book really flowed nicely. It has a perfect combination of humor, thriller, coming of age, and love. (Warning: it will keep you up at night! Oh and you may be compelled to get a dreamcatcher after reading)

By the way, I’ve had the pleasure of encountering Terri Clark in her day job, and she’s marvelous. I hope she still has time to write a sequel!

Here’s her website to read more about the her.

John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle. LET IT SNOW

What an awesome Christmas present to me. Three of my favorite authors together delivering a funny and heartwarming holiday tale! This lovely book contains three different stories, but with connecting characters. It's as if there are spotlights shining in three different locations in the same town on Christmas. Then at the end, the spotlights become one as all the stories weave together for the last scene at the Starbucks. The first story is about a girl named Jubilee who has a wrench thrown in her Christmas plans because her parents get arrested. However, the adventure that ensues brightens up her holiday after all. The second story involves a desperate attempt to trudge through a snowstorm to reach fourteen cheerleaders at a Waffle House. The last story is about a girl with a broken heart who learns how to think of others and appreciate her friends.
All three involve love, but not in an overly mushy way. The stories are realistic and the characters feel like real teens. In fact, the characters are so unique and fun that I enjoyed spending time with them. Most of all, I laughed my rear off. In the first story, I bookmarked several funny parts, but I think the funniest part is about what happens to your body when you fall in a frozen creek. (too much to quote here, but original & funny enough that I had to show it to several people). One of the funniest lines in the second story is about a guy with greasy hair. A character says, "I feel like if you wrung out his hair every day or two, you could potentially end America's dependence on foreign oil." There were funny parts in the third story, too, but what I really liked was the realistic portrayal of a girl who is trying, but keeps getting in her own way. Perhaps that just felt a little too familiar to me.This would make a great holiday gift for someone or for yourself. Definitely one I'll have to revisit during future Christmases. Loved it!

All three authors have many other books to choose from. Here are their websites to check them out:
John Green
Maureen Johnson
Lauren Myracle

Lauren Myracle. BLISS

Wow! What a great departure from what Lauren Myracle typically writes (well except for RHYMES WITH WITCHES - I knew that name Lurlene was familiar!).But for the most part I think people associate Myracle's name with her wonderful tween books (Eleven, Twelve etc.) or the TTYL series.
This is quite different from those. It's creepy, chilling, and has the coolest opening line. "Grandmother won't tolerate occultism..." OK, but tell me what grandmother would! That cracked me up. But it was a great way to set you up for the time period of this novel, which is 1969, because she's actually referring to Bewitched - the TV show.
The main character Bliss has been dropped off at her grandmother's house because her hippie parents have had some trouble carting around a teenager in the midst of protesting the war and fleeing to Canada. So, Bliss has been deposited at her grandmother's house for a safer, cleaner environment. Her grandmother enrolls her in a private prep school called Crestview. It's an old school, and Bliss finds out the scary way that a girl killed herself in one of the creepy old buildings. She hears her voice calling to her. The voice implores her to come to her and tells her she is the key. The key to what? Bliss wonders. Bliss tries her best to ignore the creepiness of the new school by forming a few friendships and going about her life. But one girl will not let her and tries to involve Bliss in some really creepy activities.
This book is a delicious blend of late 60's prim, prep school and creepy, bloody ghost story. Plus, who would've predicted that both Andy Griffith and Charles Manson would ever be in the same book! You'll have to read it to find out what I mean. Really, I can't say much more without giving away the juicy parts.
Definitely a fun, entertaining, yet slightly disturbing book worth your time!

Check out Lauren's website here and her blog here

Orson Scott Card. ENDER IN EXILE

If you know me at all, it’s no secret that my favorite author is Orson Scott Card and my favorite series is Ender’s Game. Therefore, I jumped at the chance to read ENDER IN EXILE.

First of all, it goes without saying that if you like any of the Ender books, you must read this one. The neat thing is, you could really read it anytime. If you just read ENDER’S GAME, this would be a great sequel. But it sort of continues the SHADOW OF THE GIANT timeline too. Or if you’ve already read them all, this is a wonderful way to get to visit the Enderverse again. (I’ve already read the series a few times, so a new book was a welcome gift to me).

Now I’ll get to the review. This picks up right after the war. Most of the children are going back home. But Ender, savior of the world, could end up being a pawn to anyone who gets their hands on him, so rather than be in danger on Earth, he’s sent to govern a new colony in space. Valentine knows she’ll never see him again on Earth, so she decides to join him. Peter had originally wanted him home, so he could use him for his own purposes, but realizes that he’ll be better off without Ender overshadowing him.

This novel tells the story of Ender at that first colony then follows him to another colony where his life is seriously threatened. But it’s really about a boy of thirteen figuring out how to live with the guilt of what he’s done. Several good people try to convince him along the way to forgive himself and move on (Graff, Valentine). However, he is the only one who can do that. It doesn’t matter how many people tell him to do it, he must find a way that works for him.

He finally does find a way. Or at least something that gives him great relief. I was hoping this would be the book where he found the Hive Queen.I loved hearing the story behind the writing of The Hive Queen & The Hegemon. I also enjoyed immensely seeing the interactions and relationship build between Ender & Valentine. I always loved the two of them together (almost as much as Ender & Jane).

One event that I wanted to know more about was how Ender went from "Ender - Savior of the World" to "Ender the Xenocide." It was mentioned in other books, but here we see step-by-step how the public opinion was manipulated. It’s actually pretty scary how easily that type of thing can happen.

This was an enjoyable trip, indeed. In fact, I feel like I want to go back and read more from the series.

If you’re a fan, you won’t need my prompting to read this one. If you’re not yet a fan, begin the journey with ENDER’S GAME and you’ll quickly become one.

Click here for Card's fantastic website.

Melissa De La Cruz. REVELATIONS

This is book 3 in the BLUE BLOODS saga.This series gets better with each installment. I highly recommend this one, if you haven’t read it. It’s really a great vampire saga. After the death of her grandmother, Schuyler is stuck living with her nemesis Mimi Force and her family. Mimi treats her badly, Jack acts like she doesn’t exist and Charles just ignores her. Her grandfather, Lawrence, has taken over as Regis of the Conclave and for some reason young Mimi has a seat on the Conclave. The threat of the Silver Bloods is greater than ever as everyone prepares for a battle they thought ended centuries before. When the Conclave is summoned to Rio under curious circumstances, they are greeted with a shocking surprise.
What I really like about this series is the way the author blends a complex historical world of angels and demons with the modern world of couture and high society. The characters are deeper and the world is more fascinating with each book.
As for this book, identities are revealed and more lore is explained, but many unanswered questions still remain at the conclusion, which leaves me anxiously waiting for the next installment. As depicted at the back of this book, it already has a title: THE VAN ALEN LEGACY. It’s on my list!
This vampire series is very different from TWILIGHT, but definitely worthy of just as much attention.

Check out the author's website here.

Adam Selzer. I PUT A SPELL ON YOU

Another unique & hilarious tale from Adam Selzer. The author takes the fervor that builds up around a spelling bee in a small town and weaves a tale of mystery, corruption and intrigue. The school in this small town is called Gordon Liddy Community School, the main character is Chrissie Woodward, and the principal declares "I am not a crook" near the end. If you're an adult, you're sensing the allusions to Watergate. If you're a kid, you may not be. Nevertheless, you'll enjoy the book either way. In fact, the day I brought the book home, my son grabbed it and commenced to read it all the way through in one sitting. Then a few days later, he read it again. I finally got my chance to read it and I enjoyed it as well.
Chrissie Woodward is the school cop, in a way. She's the hall monitor with all the special privileges that entails. She's been helping the administration by keeping an eye on the students and reporting any wrongdoings. However, as the all-school spelling bee approaches, she begins to witness occurrences that lead her to believe that the principal and teachers may be up to no good. She realizes that the students are actually the ones she needs to be looking out for. Through a series of depositions from the students and Inter-Office memos between the staff, readers are led through the small town of Preston's most memorable all-school spelling bee ever. Corruption will be rooted out!
This book has so many wonderful characters. For example, Mutual Scrivener is a home-schooled kid who is finally allowed to go to public school just because his parents think it's the only way he can enter the bee. They've been preparing him for the bee his whole life. But they're reluctant, because as they've been warning him his whole life, they believe the public school system corrupts and brainwashes kids. So, when Mutual attends his first day, he's actually excited to encounter some excitement for a change. But when he doesn't run into hooligans and gang members on his first day, he's terribly disappointed.
Fun, quirky & highly recommended!

Click here for the author's website.

Pnina Moed Kass. REAL TIME

Wow. What an emotional, moving book. REAL TIME brings together multiple points of view from people from very different backgrounds. You get an up close view of the struggles between the Israelis and the Palestinians. We have Thomas, who is a German teen on his way to volunteer in Jerusalem, as well as research his grandfather’s Nazi connections. Vera left her home in Odessa for a new life in Jerusalem, and she is also escaping a sad past. Also, we have Baruch Ben Tov, a Holocaust survivor, with his own disturbing past. Throw in a few other people such as a suicide bomber, the family members of terrorists, and a doctor who gets interrogated and searched on his way to work, and you have quite a recipe for a profound story. These characters are brought together by a tragedy. We get to see how it affects all the people involved. Sadly, this type of tragedy is all too common in this part of the world. I was amazed at the variety of cultures coming together. Some relating better than others. Some clash and kill, while others intermingle and actually appreciate one another. The novel reads quick, smooth and suspenseful. Even with all the points of view, it never got confusing. Each story was equally intriguing and unforgettable.

Wow.

This is one that will stick with me for a long time, like LIFE AS WE KNEW IT still does to this day.

If the author has a website, I couldn’t locate it. But I found 2 interviews with her about the book, if you’re interested:(don’t read them until after reading the book – otherwise plot points are given away)

Interview #1

Interview #2

Michael A. Banks. ON THE WAY TO THE WEB

Yes, I rarely blog about nonfiction books. But this one really captured my attention. I’ve always been fascinated with computer and Internet history.
Especially when I found out people were online & communicating long before most of us. We tend to think the history of something begins when we encounter it for the first time (sort of egotistical of us).

Anyway, here are some cool facts that I discovered in this book:

*Many people think that the Internet was created to communicate during a nuclear strike – not so.

*People were using Internet forums in the early 80’s

*In 1980, big name newspapers went online in an experiment

*The first novel uploaded to the Internet (before the book was even published) was Ender’s Game in 1983

*Online games were in use the mid 80’s

*The first public Internet service provider opened in 1989

Wow! Can you believe all that was going on in the 80’s & more!

Most of people think of the Internet and the Web as interchangeable terms, but the World Wide Web really began with Tim Berners-Lee and his HTML, which he developed in 1990.

Anyway, there were way more people and companies involved with the evolution of the Internet than most of us realize. This book details all of the main points along the way. And it has a great foreword by Orson Scott Card.

If you are at all curious about the development & history of the Internet, you’ll love this book. There is also a timeline and glossary at the back.

It’s fascinating!

Plus, on the website there is a long list of early 80’s commercials for Internet service providers, like Prodigy and other services like DELPHI and playnet. It’s really fun watching those old videos. Don’t you love going back in time!

If you're interested in not only the history of the Internet & WWW, but also how it has looked over the years, check out some of these sites:
http://www.archive.org/web/web.php
http://www.dejavu.org/
http://www.livinginternet.com/

Jerry Spinelli. SMILES TO GO

There’s something very comfortable about being inside a Jerry Spinelli book. His storytelling is so smooth. You glide along so easily. In his latest, SMILES TO GO, Will Tuppence is a skateboarder, chess player, stargazer, best friend, and big brother to Tabby. Will spends most of his time avoiding his little sister, who annoys him constantly. She shows up at his weekly game night with his best friends, she tries to steal his skateboard, she even shows up a at the high school party he attends down the street. Will is also struggling with the possible love connection between his two best friends, BT (a rebel guy everyone looks up to) and Mi-Su. When he sees the two of them kissing, Will realizes that, hey –wait, maybe he likes Mi-Su! Would she ever kiss him? The novel takes you on a realistic journey of the emotional ups & downs of teen life. It also has a dramatic event that causes Will to realize the importance of what he already has in his life and to stop worrying so much. A worthy read for sure, especially if you’re a Spinelli fan.

Check out Jerry Spinelli’s website here.

Although I like all his books, STARGIRL is still my favorite Spinelli title. Stargirl just spoke to me in a very intimate way. I think it's because of the way it celebrates someone who was 100% herself without conforming to societies rules (and the teenage society can be pretty darn harsh when you don't conform). Stargirl totally did not care what other people thought. How often do you come across people like that in real life?
Did you know Stargirl societies are cropping up in schools everywhere? Pretty cool. Check it out here. Also, Stargirl is under production as a movie. Wow, can’t wait for that!

Suzanne Supplee: Author Interview

Yay! I had the honor of interviewing YA author Suzanne Supplee. I recently reviewed ARTICHOKE'S HEART and I loved it so much that I really wanted to speak with the author. The interview is here:

Q. What was your inspiration for ARTICHOKE’S HEART?

A. I was sitting in the chair at my hairdresser’s, and I had all this glop on my head, and the lighting was bad, and that black cape is always hideous, and there were mirrors everywhere. I couldn’t wait to leave! Suddenly, I had this idea about a girl who couldn’t escape because she worked there. I guess it’s appropriate that Rosie was born in a beauty shop.

Q. I think many girls will relate to Rosemary’s struggles as a teen today, with her worries about her weight and how she looks. How did you write Rosemary so realistically?

A. I decided my own insecurities must be good for something, so I used them!

Q. When thinking back to my own teen years, I don’t remember as much pressure to be skinny. Do you think the pressure on teen girls to look a certain way is worse today than it was in previous generations?

A.I think all generations have pressures. Truthfully, I don’t think this will ever change. What can change, however, is our response to these pressures. We don’t always have to buy into what marketers and advertisers are telling us.

Q. Were your teen years enjoyable?

A. I’m sure most people thought I was happy. I probably looked happy. But I had a lot of burdens as a kid. My dad died when I was five. My mother struggled financially. Deep down I felt lonely and out of place, like Rosie. I wanted two parents, a so-called normal family.

Q. Would you say that you were more like Kay-Kay or Rosemary as a teen?

A. This is a hard question because I get so into my characters that I become all of them in a way. I was probably somewhere in the middle.

Q. While reading the book, I wondered if the Bluebirds were a real organization. Then I saw something about them on your website. Is this a real group for girls? Are they cheerleaders, a dance team, or something else?

A. I came up with the name Bluebirds because years ago, I heard someone talking about their elementary school reading groups. The superstar readers were the Bluebirds. I think the lower group was called the Earthworms. Those names just stuck with me. There were sororities at my high school, and we were always trying to outshine one another. It was silly, of course, but I think we thought we were pretty important at the time.

Q. The southern mannerisms, phrases and names like Rose Warren and Willy Ray felt really authentic. I’m from the south and I recognized several family members. Are you from the south too?

A. Yes, and I love the South. Even though I’ve lived in Baltimore for nearly 20 years, I still think of Tennessee as home. I always tell my daughters they’re half Southern. I also love Flannery O’Connor. She’s my literary hero (I named one of my children after her). When I first read her stories, I remember thinking Hey, I know these people! I also love Truman Capote and Eudora Welty and Lee Smith.

Q. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Rosemary feels at her most vulnerable (in a swimsuit!), yet Kyle shows up at that exact moment and asks her to the prom! It was funny and so sweet. Do you have a favorite scene?

A. This question makes me think of that old Percy Sledge song, “When A Man Loves a Woman.” Kyle loves Rosie. She is smart and funny and real. She doesn’t intimidate him the way those Bluebirds do.

My favorite scene is when Rosie goes to the Bluebirds’ car wash. Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” is playing on the radio, and she’s in her red VW bug and feeling scared but a little powerful, too. She imagines that Julia Roberts and Roy Orbison are in the car with her! I can just see them sitting in the backseat, singing along to the radio and egging Rosie on! I love this particular scene because it’s when Rosie decides these girls don’t have power over her any longer. They may still say ugly things about her and to her, but she’s moved on.

Q. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying – Yummy Cover! Did you have input in creating it? Did you design your website before or after the cover was designed? (I love your website, by the way)

A. The book cover design is by Natalie Sousa, and I don’t know her. In fact, I’ve never even spoken with her, but her design is brilliant! I can’t take any credit for it. My website was designed by Rob Miller, a teacher at my school. If anyone is interested, they can go to my website and click on the link to Rob’s site. He also does beautiful artwork.

Q. What’s your favorite part of being a published author?

A. Hearing from teenagers. I get the best emails from readers. So email me!

Q. Have you started writing your next book?

A. Yes, my next book is Somebody Everybody Listens To, and it’s the story of Retta Jones, a Tennessee River girl who wants leave her small town to become a big-time country music star. I’ve also written a novel for Penguin’s Students Across the Seven Seas series called When Irish Guys Are Smiling. Irish Guys was released this past January, and it’s available in paperback.

Q. Thank you so much for your time! This is one of my favorite books of the year, and I heartily recommend to my students.

I look forward to reading more of your books in the future!

A. Thank you for giving Artichoke’s Heart such a great review and for interviewing me.

It was my pleasure!
Read more about Suzanne Supplee and her books at her website here.

Neal Shusterman. ANTSY DOES TIME

Another sequel. I didn’t plan it this way – really. But this is a sequel you could totally read by itself, without the first book*.

You gotta love a book that begins with a parade float that, well,... floats away. Antsy and a few of his friends see the beginning of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade debacle on TV. So, they hop on the subway to watch in person. The giant cartoon raccoon has blown away, along with three balloon handlers hanging on. The float finally gets caught up in the Empire State Building. Shortly after watching the events unfold right in front of his eyes, Antsy, hears some news from an unusual classmate, Gunnar. Gunnar tells Antsy that he has an incurable disease and will die in the coming months. After an act of kindness gets out of hand, Antsy begins to really help Gunnar with his last few months and get a quite a bit of attention for it. But as Antsy gets to know Gunnar and his family, he finds out that circumstances are really more serious than he thought. Plus, he has his own family drama. Antsy’s father now owns a restaurant, which is great, except that it keeps him so busy that Antsy hardly ever seems him. When he does see him, Antsy ends up screwing up and making him mad. He’s from a family of “fixers,” but he wonders how he can fix all of these dramas.
This was a quirky, funny, sad, heart-warming and wonderful. I marked so many great spots that I wanted to quote here, but if I did that, I would have to practically copy the whole book here, which is illegal. The events are really unexpected, but I think what I like best in this book is the cast of characters. They are so distinctive and lovable in their own ways. The dialogue between Antsy and his friends is right on. The curmudgeon Mr. Crawley is perfectly mean, but awesome. Kjerston is understandable in her desire to “reclaim her youth,” at sixteen. Even the minor character Skaterdud made me smile in his perfectness. Great! Loved it! Read it! (yes, that's Skaterdud not Skaterdude - read the book)

*You should still read the first one, though.

Click here to read my review.

A tidbit for ya...
Notice on the cover how the author's last name is different on each book. The first one has the "e" in his last name upside down. In the sequel, he has the "e" printed like this ë. Both relate to the story in the book. But, can you imagine how that conversation went with his publishers: "yeah, I'd like to turn the "e" upside down in my last name, yeah- right on the cover of the book. I know this will perplex people. Just do it."

Adam Selzer. PIRATES OF THE RETAIL WASTELAND

Adam Selzer is hilarious! This is the sequel to HOW TO GET SUSPENDED AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE. Leon and the gifted pool are assigned their next project. He and Anna and his group decide to make another film. (If you remember in the first book, they made an avant garde sex-ed film that caused much uproar at school). This time, the kids are all real mad about what’s happening to the old downtown section of town. Stores are closing because of the new mall & Mega-Mart that opened up in the new area of town. Their favorite coffee shop, Sip, is located in the old downtown. However, in the new area of town Wackfords (reads a lot like Starbucks) has opened and threatens the existence of Sip. So Leon hatches a rebellious plan to help Sip from closing its doors.

This one was a smidge less funny than the first book, but still great. The action and the dialogue is hysterical. Leon’s parents are so quirky (dad conducts science experiments on himself & ends up with a green mohawk). You really have to wonder what it would be like to live with them.

Completely worth the read, but please read the first one first.

Click here for my review.

Here’s the website for Adam Selzer, so you can read more about him, if you’re interested. He calls himself a writer, rock star, tour guide, ghost buster and all-around smart-aleck, which totally makes sense!

Deborah Hopkinson: Author Interview

I'm thrilled to be hosting Deborah Hopkinson on the first stop of her Blog Tour! You probably know her from her many, spectacular historical fiction books. She's been winning awards since her very first book, SWEET CLARA AND THE FREEDOM QUILT, which won the International Reading Association award in 1994. Her books have won ALA recognition, as well as many state awards. Deborah was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Massachusetts and a master's in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii. She is a great supporter of education and loves to do school visits. Plus, she has a ton of great resources for teachers and librarians on her website.

Click here to see a few of my favorite books by Deborah.

Here is her brand new book: ABE LINCOLN CROSSES A CREEK


Let's get on with the Interview! (several of the questions were contributed by students)

Q: When did you get started writing? Did you write as a child?

A: As a girl I loved to read fiction, and I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. I didn’t write much as a child, although I did keep a journal. It wasn’t until I had a little girl of my own that I began writing.

When I began taking my daughter, Rebekah, to the library I suddenly realized that picture books were short enough for a busy working mom to try. And so I did!

I think reading is the best preparation you can make for being a writer. And remember, most of us have to do some kind of writing whatever job we get. 

It’s all practice!

Q: Are you a full time writer or do you work in another occupation in addition to writing?

A: No, I am not a full time author. I work in philanthropy, which means I raise money to help others. I do lots of writing in my day job too.

Q: Since most of your books are picture books and younger reader chapter books, what made you decide to write INTO THE FIRESTORM, your middle school/YA novel?

A: Actually, before I wrote Into the Firestorm I had written a longer fiction piece for middle grade readers, a Dear America diary called Hear My Sorrow. I also wrote two longer nonfiction books for older readers. So it was a natural step to try a novel for middle grade readers. I love history and couldn’t resist the opportunity to learn more about the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire in 1906, which forms the setting for Nick’s story in Into the Firestorm.

Q: I was surprised to read that you didn't like history much as a child. But I know what you mean. History in textbooks isn't the same as reading stories about history. What inspired you to write historical fiction?

A: The part of history I did like was being able to learn on my own and do research. I actually wrote a really long term paper in the sixth grade about horse racing! I didn’t study history much in college, though. But when I began to search for topics to write about I returned to history. Historical fiction and nonfiction are great ways to learn more about ordinary people who lived before us who often did extraordinary things!

Q: Do you enjoy the research involved with writing historical fiction?

A: I guess most kids will think I am a real nerd, but the truth is I could do research all day long! I love poking into libraries, finding old books no one has checked out in years, poring over maps, and looking on the Internet. Of course, the very best research takes place when I have the chance to actually go someplace and see it with my own eyes! I remember walking up the old stone stairs to Jubilee Hall of Fisk University, where my book A BAND OF ANGELS is set, and getting shivers just thinking that the young people in my book probably walked up and down these very same stairs long ago.

Q: After researching so many time periods for your books, is there a time in American history that you're particularly fond of?

A: Most of my books are set during the 1800s, and it really was a fascinating time in American history. So many dramatic events happened, including the Civil War, and the beginnings of the suffrage movement, as well as the arrival of many immigrants. The more I write about this period the better I understand how our country came to be.

Q: Which do you like writing better: picture books or chapter books?

A: Well, since I still have a full time job, I do like writing picture books, partly because they are shorter and easier to concentrate on when I come home tired from work!

Q: My students are always curious about how illustrators are selected for picture books. Can you tell us a little about that process? Do you get to have some input?

A: In most cases, a book’s editor chooses the artist for the book. The author may have some input but may not make the final decision. Sometimes, though, it’s possible to get together with an illustrator and come up with an idea. For instance, illustrator James Ransome and I put our heads together to come up with the theme of building the Empire State Building in SKY BOYS How They Built the Empire State Building.

Q: Did you have any favorite authors while growing up?

A: My favorite books growing up were The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin, and Jane Eyre, written by Charlotte Bronte. I still love these books. In fact, I have a tape of The Secret Garden in my car to listen to right now!

Q: Who are some of your favorite authors now?

A: I have many favorite authors! I like reading books for young readers by Deborah Wiles, Cynthia Rylant, Christopher Paul Curtis, and Lois Lowry. And I still read Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen a lot!

Q: What do you enjoy most about being a successful, published author?

A: It is a wonderful feeling to create something new, like a book. But it’s even better to be able to share that book with kids. I love meeting young people and talking about books. And luckily, being an author means I get to do that a lot.

Q: Tell us about your new book, ABE LINCOLN CROSSES A CREEK. Did something inspire you to write this story?

A: The year 2009 is the 200^th anniversary of Abe Lincoln’s birth. My new book tells a story about Abe as a boy most people don’t know: how he was rescued from downing when he was seven by his friend, Austin Gollaher. I think it’s a fun book about two boys getting into trouble that that kids today will like – especially the pictures!

Thanks so much for taking time away from your busy schedule to answer some questions for my students and readers! We’re looking forward to reading your new book.

Read more about Ms. Hopkinson on her website or blog:

WEBSITE: www.deborahhopkinson.com
BLOG: www.deborahhopkinson.blogspot.com

Thanks again to Deborah Hopkinson for appearing, courtesy of Provato Marketing, for other stops on the tour please check

http://www.provatoevents.com

Suzanne Supplee. ARTICHOKE'S HEART

Rosemary feels like her life would be perfect if only she were skinny. And everyone around her seems to echo that sentiment. Her mother buys her a treadmill for Christmas, and her Aunt buys her tickets to a weight-loss seminar. It’s even more difficult when Rosemary works at her mom’s beauty salon, since Rosemary feels anything but beautiful. Watching all the skinny, pretty girls from school traipsing in and out everyday only makes her feel worse about herself. Then a few dramatic events happen to make Rosie reevaluate her life. She begins to stick to a plan that makes her begin to lose weight. But, she must do more than lose weight to lose her “fat” image of herself. Along with a few good friends, she does begin to find her value and begin to hope for the future.

Okay, I have to admit that the chocolate on the cover is what grabbed my attention! But this book is really lovely and well-written. It’s so honest about how many teenage girls feel about themselves, whether they are overweight or not. It’s also honest in the way it shows how you really can be loved by friends and boys, even if you aren’t perfect. That is such a wonderful sentiment for teenagers (and older girls) to learn and to internalize.

What a wonderful, inspirational book. The atmosphere and the southern charm really warmed my heart. Plus, it was funny!

Check out the author’s website here
And her blog here

I’m looking forward to more from this charming author!

Deborah Hopkinson. INTO THE FIRESTORM

Back when I was a classroom teacher, I used to tell my language arts students that reading historical fiction is like taking a trip back in time. This is a trip back in time to a major natural disaster. It takes place in 1906 in San Francisco. Nicholas Dray has just become an orphan. He grew up Texas, picking cotton since he was a small child. Since he’s all alone, he decides it’s a good time to make his way to “the Paris of the Pacific”, as his teacher used to call San Francisco. After several days of bad luck, he finally meets a man that offers him a job and a place to stay. The kind Mr. Pat allows Nick to watch his stationery store while he goes out of town for a few days. The very first night of Nick’s new job, an earthquake strikes. An earthquake alone was bad enough, but then fires break out in various places in the city. The fires spread quickly, since the water mains are broken from the earthquake and limit the amount of usable water. People are evacuating their homes and leaving town. The remainder of the novel is an account of Nick making heavy decisions for such a young kid. How will he help his neighbors, a young girl and her pregnant mother, evacuate if necessary? How will he protect the store or its valuables? How will he ever find Mr. Pat’s dog, Shakespeare, who ran off? Should he go back home to Texas? You really feel the desperation and sense of loss that must have clouded the city through Nick and the other characters.

This was a fast paced, exciting novel. What a devastating event. It’s one of the worst natural disasters in American History. It left half the population homeless and so much of the city destroyed. Usually, I find it difficult to pick up a historical fiction novel, unless I’m already interested in that time period. But, this one grabbed me from page one. I enjoyed my trip through time. In my opinion, a good historical fiction novel, like this one, leaves you with the feeling you were there.

This author has written many historical fiction books. To find out more, click here for her website.

***I have the pleasure of interviewing this author. I will be posting that interview the week of Sep 21. She has a new book coming out on Sep 9:

In Knob Creek, Kentucky, in 1816, seven-year-old Abe Lincoln falls into a creek and is rescued by his best friend, Austin Gollaher.

In the meantime, I thought I’d share a few of my other favorites by Ms. Hopkinson:

APPLES TO OREGON: being the (slightly) true narrative of how a brave pioneer father brought apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries (and children) across the plains
(yes, that's the full title!)

A pioneer family moving to Oregon decides to take part of their orchard with them. They carefully place apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries in a big wooden wagon and head off on their journey. Along the way, they have obstacles such as rivers to cross, droughts, hailstorms, and Jack Frost. All through it, one daughter, Delicious, helps her father to protect the precious plants. He loves the plants so much you wonder when he says that “we got to find a water hole or my babies are done for” if he is thinking of his kids or his plants. They finally make it to Oregon with the plants intact, and they live to a ripe old age. The whimsical illustrations depict the light hearted tall tale well. They really made me laugh out loud numerous times. My favorite is when the kid’s feet are shown dangling out of the apple trees. The author’s consistent use of alliteration like “peaches are plummeting” and “plums are plunging” make this an excellent read aloud.

THE KLONDIKE KID: Sailing for Gold

I loved the size and length of this book. I think it’s a great way for advanced readers to get longer books, yet still have pictures. The cliffhanger ending is a wonderful way to keep kids interested in the series. The plot was well-paced. The illustrations are simple black and white sketches of meaningful scenes. The main character is endearing. The secondary characters are interesting.

A FEW MORE

SHUTTING OUT THE SKY:Life in the tenements of New York 1880-1924

















SKY BOYS: How the built the Empire State Building

Clare B. Dunkle. THE SKY INSIDE

The cover grabbed me from the beginning on this one. I didn't even read the book jacket description. I just dove right in!

Martin and his family live in a “perfect world.” It was designed by the previous generation because the world was in chaos. Very few, lucky people were chosen to live in the newly created suburbs under these domes. The sky is painted on. The fake snow & flowers are stuck to windows to designate the changing of seasons. They even play music of birds singing (there are no real animals). Every so often, the newest crop of engineered babies is advertised so that couples who are ready can order their baby. However, the Wonder Babies, the latest crop of babies, are asking too many questions. Perhaps they were bred too smart for their own good. One of these babies is Martin’s little sister Cassie, and when they come to take all of these babies away, Martin’s world turns upside down. He starts investigating and finding out information that freaks him out. Then he decides he must do something. It isn’t right to just take a whole generation away. This is an amazing futuristic novel with intriguing ideas about what science can and should do. Oh, did I mention Martin has the coolest dog ever! I don’t want to tell you too much & give the fun stuff away, but you will absolutely love his dog. Martin is pretty cool too.

I was most impressed at the freshness of this book, especially since this sort of topic has been done many times. The idea of an idealistic futuristic society with hidden massive problems has been done for a long while. And that can be really tiresome. But, Ms. Dunkle was successful in keeping this new & fresh!

Click for more information about this wonderful author and her other books:

AFTER you read the book, check out this great interview with the author:

I was excited to read that the she has just finished the sequel to THE SKY INSIDE called THE WALLS HAVE EYES. I’ll keep on the lookout for that one!

Lauren R. Weinstein. GIRL STORIES

HYSTERICAL! That’s really the most accurate word to describe this graphic novel. However, that would make for a short blog entry, so here’s more:

This is a collection of comics that originally ran on gurl.com and generated a huge response from readers. The comics are brief episodes of Lauren’s life. They include a wide variety embarrassing moments of a typical teenager’s life. As the back of the book says, you shall find within the pages of this book teenagers, rock stars, fashion tips, friends, skaters, punks, sports, and more. You’ll also find an embarrassingly honest and funny description of what a lot of girls go through in their teenage years. It really is like reading a diary. If you’re a teen, you’ll relate. If you’re not, you’ll relate too and hopefully remember back to your teenage years with more than a few giggles. And the art is sooo wonderful! It completely adds to the hysterical nature of the episodes. Loved it!!

Website for the book http://www.girlstoriescomics.com/

Author’s blog http://www.laurenweinstein.com/