tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13490464982467678212024-02-19T01:50:16.914-08:00Em's Bookshelfteen book reviews, author interviews, and contestsEmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-83088865304568935872010-03-28T18:13:00.000-07:002010-03-28T18:14:56.786-07:00Beth Kephart shares her inspiration for The Heart Is Not a SizeToday, I am delighted to welcome one of my favorite authors, Beth Kephart, to my blog. Beth's new book, <i>The Heart Is Not a Size</i>, will be on bookshelves March 30th and she's here today to share with us the inspiration for the book. Enjoy Beth's post and the pictures that she took in Juarez and please comment below. One lucky commenter will win a copy of <i>The Heart Is Not a Size.</i><br /><br />Beth Kephart (words in blue):<br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(7, 55, 99);">My husband is Salvadoran, and I spent 15 years researching his home. I traveled, took photographs, learned the geography. I lived through monsoons, and I picked coffee, and I traveled in the violent aftermath of the guerrilla wars. I wrote a novel about El Salvador then chose to reconstruct it as a memoir and in the midst of that work, I traveled to Spain to begin work on a novel that takes place in Seville. I love, I am trying to say, those parts of the world that are Spanish influenced, and so, when an opportunity came up to travel to Juarez, Mexico, with my husband, son, and two dozen church friends, I said, Yes. Absolutely. I want to be there.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEpNkjn-lPvgpxr3bA_nH9YL5o00kIrWRHj-64UXNkpO0Ts21elqwXdrFuj8HhUviF5kWK63fqm_uSLF5xFc1sRiJu1oy_98CY9rAjpcIYu-rEGHYAj-GYo14aVU1_WEec_7ShI3HzDZe/s1600-h/Juarez-volunteers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEpNkjn-lPvgpxr3bA_nH9YL5o00kIrWRHj-64UXNkpO0Ts21elqwXdrFuj8HhUviF5kWK63fqm_uSLF5xFc1sRiJu1oy_98CY9rAjpcIYu-rEGHYAj-GYo14aVU1_WEec_7ShI3HzDZe/s320/Juarez-volunteers.jpg" border="0" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: rgb(7, 55, 99);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxg16UB4537NthLzmhile9ogrgfHCy4sCGNFXv5UCOFKByI7-cYLiJtzaY_-L3Pb845ItvwhEMO4uPQgEan3pItLeoPe-rtSMa46Ae_bTPbOkI6tNiU470jn-xrKwds0_p5o7RhQzCGi6/s1600-h/Juarez-house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxg16UB4537NthLzmhile9ogrgfHCy4sCGNFXv5UCOFKByI7-cYLiJtzaY_-L3Pb845ItvwhEMO4uPQgEan3pItLeoPe-rtSMa46Ae_bTPbOkI6tNiU470jn-xrKwds0_p5o7RhQzCGi6/s200/Juarez-house.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />Still, I wasn’t fully prepared for the Juarez that we traveled to in the summer of 2005. I had expected heat and poverty and dust; we were met forcefully by all three. I had expected long lines at border crossings and nights of little sleep. But I had not expected to see children of such substantial beauty emerge from homes that could—and were, while we were there—be blown away by a windstorm.</div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfluAnbfxCpI-5DYdrnoy75hKcLyexdONT33VSRgdCQz1Z5dI_mtiSBZt1XOrs5DuBHb8Kds09R1Ah4ieBsr4iy7oNS9GCBTVyf5M0L5czDfNH1vDw6W6fqAm-aWa85sWdw4nJQkZyUD81/s1600-h/Juarez-boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img style="width: 170px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfluAnbfxCpI-5DYdrnoy75hKcLyexdONT33VSRgdCQz1Z5dI_mtiSBZt1XOrs5DuBHb8Kds09R1Ah4ieBsr4iy7oNS9GCBTVyf5M0L5czDfNH1vDw6W6fqAm-aWa85sWdw4nJQkZyUD81/s1600/Juarez-boys.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dG8hDSdBnM_KUj9Q1jQjTKRWAV0cMkVY1ICPvLVv-EEDKxFp151_dyiIb3vhonIzsVrqmlFlFzEq4Vat5eTNhVhK34bTmyIEnpvsEjGkekHijZGQor8-iN5XV1-sVWS1z_Brz1FEsXQp/s1600-h/Juarez-girl-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img style="width: 162px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dG8hDSdBnM_KUj9Q1jQjTKRWAV0cMkVY1ICPvLVv-EEDKxFp151_dyiIb3vhonIzsVrqmlFlFzEq4Vat5eTNhVhK34bTmyIEnpvsEjGkekHijZGQor8-iN5XV1-sVWS1z_Brz1FEsXQp/s1600/Juarez-girl-1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnbWaeJw4vGNT7ZhZ0_d-mkLENXDlcEvHrkDgOdsFFLa6_e68iMho3t5Og1MlWsR3UBV3HgqrkIjxw8ZMDJ4Kv6IONsFYMOUO5az8Zh8rHmV5TgcelpkwKYQ0uWmjRbbvUwRlxfzlRkPi/s1600-h/Juarez-tires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnbWaeJw4vGNT7ZhZ0_d-mkLENXDlcEvHrkDgOdsFFLa6_e68iMho3t5Og1MlWsR3UBV3HgqrkIjxw8ZMDJ4Kv6IONsFYMOUO5az8Zh8rHmV5TgcelpkwKYQ0uWmjRbbvUwRlxfzlRkPi/s1600/Juarez-tires.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(7, 55, 99);">Juarez to so many of us now is the blaring headlines of drug wars; it is the numbers of children shot dead; it is gang members bursting through hospital doors and killing the doctors who are struggling to save lives. It is the residual of so many young women, gone missing. But to me Juarez will always also be the children who welcomed us with open arms in a squatters’ village—who burst upon dust streets in dresses so rose-red, so violet, so white. Juarez, to me, will be the photographs I took, and it will be this book, </span><i style="color: rgb(7, 55, 99);">The Heart is Not a Size</i><span style="color: rgb(7, 55, 99);">, which means the world to me because there, in </span><i style="color: rgb(7, 55, 99);">Heart</i><span style="color: rgb(7, 55, 99);">, is a world I came to love—a world that taught me something about courage and grace. Juarez is a world that I want to take you to, a world that I want to share.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOhq_JzlRNSidgWA0NB-8-UgyM-T-XZwgnkvAmDPE-NNbb6T01jB2QhWausqjjY5m50vHFswLJ8MduVOgokKHOike9c3WBfFzPs5vDXnr-hJZa2OClNXK1_IYE1imVnmYx6h0sKLXbQxB/s1600-h/Juarez-bracelet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCOhq_JzlRNSidgWA0NB-8-UgyM-T-XZwgnkvAmDPE-NNbb6T01jB2QhWausqjjY5m50vHFswLJ8MduVOgokKHOike9c3WBfFzPs5vDXnr-hJZa2OClNXK1_IYE1imVnmYx6h0sKLXbQxB/s1600/Juarez-bracelet.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="color: rgb(7, 55, 99);"><br />Miss Em, you have given me so much in my writing career. You have given me, again, a platform—and more than most will ever know. Thank you for inviting me here, to your blog, to tell this story with pictures and words.</div></blockquote>Thanks for sharing your story and beautiful pictures with us, Beth!<br /><br />For more about <i>The Heart Is Not a Size</i>, read <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/10/heart-is-not-size-by-beth-kephart-book.html">my review</a> or visit <a href="http://beth-kephart.blogspot.com/">Beth's blog</a> or become a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Heart-is-Not-a-Size/104954629539499">fan on Facebook</a>. Comment below and one lucky commenter will receive a copy of <i>The Heart Is Not a Size</i>. ♥Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-61485462906574526232010-03-12T17:21:00.000-08:002010-03-12T17:21:00.597-08:00The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYoR5QGeGLEq5YW9OB8MoHqY8n9burpwhFz6tpB-FOaO6K6SF3buX4f6w5rveMWfjFs3-dPOACKHhqIV4HWdTv8h2qtXUNw-5hezThJgnBGpEPQkIJmIddJx3wAKQkiEhM8P3S1xhQn_K/s1600-h/ReviewsHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYoR5QGeGLEq5YW9OB8MoHqY8n9burpwhFz6tpB-FOaO6K6SF3buX4f6w5rveMWfjFs3-dPOACKHhqIV4HWdTv8h2qtXUNw-5hezThJgnBGpEPQkIJmIddJx3wAKQkiEhM8P3S1xhQn_K/s400/ReviewsHeader.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffL1FOyI7GV-PpTL3VWBAHL7Eey7-myB9o1hYXQGqKuQhp89Q6no6BzZZIVme_h0DDuZpRUoSYn8DRdEVdVcXXO-0n5-04xWBXzXzwYcxj0ICmkJgW8W31aDzAdkWbwms7xRkLNjQq3jI/s1600-h/reckoning.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffL1FOyI7GV-PpTL3VWBAHL7Eey7-myB9o1hYXQGqKuQhp89Q6no6BzZZIVme_h0DDuZpRUoSYn8DRdEVdVcXXO-0n5-04xWBXzXzwYcxj0ICmkJgW8W31aDzAdkWbwms7xRkLNjQq3jI/s200/reckoning.png" width="132" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(HarperCollins, Hardcover, April 2010)</span><br />
Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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In this third volume of Kelley Armstrong's <i>Darkest Powers</i> trilogy, Chloe is finally beginning to control her ability to raise the dead. The usual cast of characters—Simon, Derek, and Tori—are with her at a safe house and as they began to unravel the mystery of the Edison Group, Chloe also begins to sort out her feelings for Simon and Derek.<br />
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I was hooked on this series after reading the first book, <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2008/10/summoning-by-kelley-armstrong-book.html"><i>The Summoning</i></a>. I loved the whole idea of a psychiatric ward for teens being a front for kids with supernatural powers. Over the course of the series, Chloe has gradually become more comfortable with her necromancy skills, scary as they are. While the second book in the series, <i>The Awakening</i>, fell a little flat for me as it served only to get Chloe and her friends from Point A to Point B with little character or plot development, this third volume has a lot to offer. I enjoyed reading about Chloe's developing feelings for Derek and about her growing confidence in her supernatural abilities.<br />
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However...and this isn't a flaw at all, just an observation...I felt like there was more to Chloe's story. The ending was satisfying, action packed, and closed a lot of plot lines, but throughout this third book, several clues were dropped that perhaps this won't be the last book in the series. For example, Margaret, one of the adults who takes Chloe and her friends in, looks scared when Chloe mentions that the stone in her protective necklace changed colors, but we never find out what the changing colors means. Also, there are several allusions that the Edison Group isn't the only group that Chloe needs to fear. Finally, Chloe meets a demon at one point and his parting words made me think that it wasn't the last she would see of him. I don't mean to imply that this trilogy doesn't feel finished, just that it would be great to extend it into a four or five book series. One can only wish. :)Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-78415808867246776582010-03-10T15:31:00.000-08:002010-03-10T15:31:00.162-08:00Fall Fantasy Flashback...or...Playing Catch-up with ReviewsThis past fall I read a ton of great fantasy books and, sadly, did not have time to review them here. Because I read them so long ago, I can't quite remember all the details of each book so I am going to do mini reviews rather than my normal long review. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxC88olbSP5NHfrY1eWxqIUMfCM54tYUiVV2Ic2hrZ4FPMI14RaODvD26u1KmstSem_IyV6D_gJ3KN_Uz0vzo3za2id6Nj6n6HcdtrLA7Fli7r4uEndsSFigIlh8d282K6NV6WHYIxjLt1/s1600-h/dark%20divine.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxC88olbSP5NHfrY1eWxqIUMfCM54tYUiVV2Ic2hrZ4FPMI14RaODvD26u1KmstSem_IyV6D_gJ3KN_Uz0vzo3za2id6Nj6n6HcdtrLA7Fli7r4uEndsSFigIlh8d282K6NV6WHYIxjLt1/s200/dark%20divine.png" width="132" /></a><b>The Dark Divine by Bree Despain<br />
(Egmont, Hardcover, December 2009)</b><br />
In her debut novel, Bree Despain captures the quintessential teen problems—romance, family issues, and faith—all while weaving an exciting fantasy story. The secrets surrounding Grace Divine's childhood friend, Daniel, kept me guessing the whole book and the ending left me waiting for a sequel. <br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMhrsH2Xf39AsqcJbnFwuO6rdW6ErqMHVYe14Ku8q0MteMP647h-rHQ9Jg38Ja7VkwrxJiw9yEzGllwanmrP1mWBYaVYFBgj6cqn2hG2ROe-ILVjcbhCpI-lOFFWMCaxpt2oCgySBFUIE/s1600-h/shiver.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMhrsH2Xf39AsqcJbnFwuO6rdW6ErqMHVYe14Ku8q0MteMP647h-rHQ9Jg38Ja7VkwrxJiw9yEzGllwanmrP1mWBYaVYFBgj6cqn2hG2ROe-ILVjcbhCpI-lOFFWMCaxpt2oCgySBFUIE/s200/shiver.png" width="132" /></a><b>Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater</b><br />
<b>(Scholastic, Hardcover, August 2009)</b><br />
So many good things to say about this one. Stiefvater's mythology was captivating and intriguing and unlike any werewolf story that I've read (granted, I haven't read that many). Because Sam will completely revert to wolf form if it gets too cold outside, the use of temperatures for chapter titles was unique and suspenseful. <i>Shiver</i> is a beautifully written love story and I can't wait to read the sequel, <i>Linger</i>, when it comes out in July.</div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fsvlm_NP6V92i4woiKE-wLWu9idUUNclC7hYIvH6USXpywSVJSG39FCbzjB0oS80zVvneEYNbx4w6RxuWuDAzvCr-Jy7WiHUU7mFO3lP6gHurUCxNsxrDCGs_oUULndMZbHgyCbKPqvd/s1600-h/demon%20king.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fsvlm_NP6V92i4woiKE-wLWu9idUUNclC7hYIvH6USXpywSVJSG39FCbzjB0oS80zVvneEYNbx4w6RxuWuDAzvCr-Jy7WiHUU7mFO3lP6gHurUCxNsxrDCGs_oUULndMZbHgyCbKPqvd/s200/demon%20king.jpg" width="135" /></a><b>The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima<br />
(Hyperion, Hardcover, October 2009)</b><br />
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This novel reminded me of some of favorite fantasy writers, such as Hilari Bell and Tamora Pierce. Set in a world of monarchs and magic, two strangers will have to unite to save a kingdom. Han has grown up in poverty, but the magic silver cuffs that he wears suggests a there is more to this reformed thief than meets the eye. Raisa is a princess in a gilded cage but, more than anything, she wants to escape and become a warrior queen. Thoroughly captivating, this is one of the best fantasy books that I read last year and the sequel, <i>The Exiled Queen</i>, is already on my wishlist even though it doesn't come out until September.<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><b>Have you read any good fantasy books lately?</b></span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-90003209336965688132010-03-07T11:52:00.000-08:002010-03-07T11:52:15.611-08:00The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott Book Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlCkc0O4tvge4wDzbUr6VLV2WebVtomdxlj8iIg8czRz81RgFTsQk_9HHHQNr-EBO_HpcSZlYVdjIZvghOs5KmefQAUoTG3a9ntBZQMT3MDzUhCfwPN6TmpTUetXXQBf3EV4Pn7fFBC2O/s1600-h/ReviewsHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="33" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlCkc0O4tvge4wDzbUr6VLV2WebVtomdxlj8iIg8czRz81RgFTsQk_9HHHQNr-EBO_HpcSZlYVdjIZvghOs5KmefQAUoTG3a9ntBZQMT3MDzUhCfwPN6TmpTUetXXQBf3EV4Pn7fFBC2O/s400/ReviewsHeader.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwjepmdUSw4LDJ97UwrmUwCiQD-ux9BZAcMxkRgMLxs3BW8qTxDMSJfYzYdc1mi9oj4imxpHz2jem1p9JQvJ53xB_OMxRAVUUH_t7CwJNQFsfbp3IPlzilkApYuLCQfV7PvRielIQc0o1/s1600-h/theunwrittenrule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwjepmdUSw4LDJ97UwrmUwCiQD-ux9BZAcMxkRgMLxs3BW8qTxDMSJfYzYdc1mi9oj4imxpHz2jem1p9JQvJ53xB_OMxRAVUUH_t7CwJNQFsfbp3IPlzilkApYuLCQfV7PvRielIQc0o1/s200/theunwrittenrule.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Simon Pulse, Hardcover, April 2010)</span><br />
Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
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Among girlfriends, there is one unwritten rule - do not steal your best friend's boyfriend. When Brianna starts dating Ryan, Sarah is crushed because she's liked Ryan for years. Sarah doesn't intend to steal Ryan from Brianna but as the three begin to hang out more, it's obvious Ryan and Brianna's relationship isn't great. So when Sarah finds out that Ryan likes her back, she kisses him, twice. Can Sarah and Brianna's friendship survive this and is Ryan worth it?<br />
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I've been a big fan of Elizabeth Scott's writing ever since her first book, <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2007/06/bloom.html"><i>Bloom</i></a>. Her characters are real and endearingly flawed. In <i>The Unwritten Rule</i>, Sarah is insecure and she feels lucky that Brianna is her best friend. Though Brianna constantly puts Sarah down, Sarah takes it because, without Brianna, she feels lost. And as for Ryan, let's just say that I enjoyed reading a book where the boy wasn't portrayed as this evil person breaking up a friendship. <i>The Unwritten Rule</i> is an absorbing novel about growing up, finding your own way, and the importance of breaking some rules.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-44220035174482392882010-02-28T14:28:00.000-08:002010-03-06T20:24:00.398-08:00The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting Book Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaouzn2SsFF5nMYX5Q30cyjgyjqtvjeMhRTO8px5Z-6eI-y5T8Zy8GVWwFq69YLSm_K1_1qz7ntqLi-M-Os7gIf6okUkEMW8OFlyiz556zSL2R69rg1mjDxo-7ccJ92-p_pNYxhUkaun5m/s1600-h/ReviewsHeader.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 34px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaouzn2SsFF5nMYX5Q30cyjgyjqtvjeMhRTO8px5Z-6eI-y5T8Zy8GVWwFq69YLSm_K1_1qz7ntqLi-M-Os7gIf6okUkEMW8OFlyiz556zSL2R69rg1mjDxo-7ccJ92-p_pNYxhUkaun5m/s400/ReviewsHeader.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445742414300664386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifshJmxvXG-jRIZbrUPvZiudh8w63gN2amyxzknePsHGFVjSsEYeYZPOxcHv0-AmhsQo9_R7RPzHmDbZDEU2djTe3WD9YBbjxbPsZ7B28MUVoDI2TUg86OtgrwCg1yqPKlUGM_9Rp53HAk/s1600-h/body%20finder.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifshJmxvXG-jRIZbrUPvZiudh8w63gN2amyxzknePsHGFVjSsEYeYZPOxcHv0-AmhsQo9_R7RPzHmDbZDEU2djTe3WD9YBbjxbPsZ7B28MUVoDI2TUg86OtgrwCg1yqPKlUGM_9Rp53HAk/s1600/body%20finder.png" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:x-small;">The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting<br />(HarperTeen, Hardcover, March 2010)</span><br />Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dead bodies seem to call to Violet Ambrose. Ever since she was little and uncovered the body of a teenage girl in the woods, Violet has been able to find dead bodies--mostly, squirrels, mice, cats, and other woodland creatures. Their "imprint" calls to her, through colors, smells, and noises. Violet has learned to deal with her ability, but when a serial killer starts murdering girls in her town, Violet can't escape the horror. Even worse, it looks like the serial killer is targeting Violet.<br /><br /><i>The Body Finder</i> is one of the most exciting, original fantasy books that I've read in awhile. The novel is full of suspense and descriptive passages. Violet's ability to see/hear/smell imprints comes across as spooky but also beautiful. Here's a passage from the beginning of the novel. Violet and her friends are enjoying a lazy summer afternoon at a lake when Violet feels the pull of something dead and sees what looks like the sheen of an oil spill in the water.<br /><blockquote>"Multihued light seemed to be radiating up from beneath the water, centered among the reeds, and then diffusing outward as it reached the surface. Violet had never seen anything like it and she knew that the spectrum of light was defying its very nature by behaving in that way. It could only be one thing. There was something dead down there....The vibrant light continued to play off the waves from below, fading into a fine, colorful mist as it broke through the surface of the water and vanished into the air." (pp. 61-62)</blockquote>The characters in Kimberly Derting's novel are well-written and believable. Violet agonizes over school, family, and her sudden crush on Jay, her best friend. Quite frankly, it was nice to read about a family that was supportive for a change. When confronted with Violet's gift at an early age, Violet's dad believes his daughter instead of shipping her off to a psychiatric ward. He acts like a parent figure and allows Violet to live a relatively normal life. The book also has an incredibly sweet and touching romantic element, for those of you who are romance fans. In the acknowledgments of the book, Kimberly thanks her editor for helping her to "polish <i>The Body Finder</i> into something that sparkles." And sparkle it does. The plot is creative, the characters fully developed, and the writing compelling. And make sure to keep your eyes open for the sequel which will be published in 2011 and titled <i>The Desires of the Dead</i>.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-33661218144828302282010-02-18T18:24:00.000-08:002010-02-18T18:24:02.492-08:00House of Dance Contest at Beth Kephart's Blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CAyVufilh6qZONBx4S3GURNmUQIj74zX-TOS4SzRgTIWPSw8esqxM-WVmNU1X4fSVu1jqTnHzcHrkQ1h8aIDi6NO6bFc6lkBUDZvggrSu2T1Gh4j-MHaJiOrVVa4FgnRV0m-9OPAHSTl/s1600-h/houseofdance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CAyVufilh6qZONBx4S3GURNmUQIj74zX-TOS4SzRgTIWPSw8esqxM-WVmNU1X4fSVu1jqTnHzcHrkQ1h8aIDi6NO6bFc6lkBUDZvggrSu2T1Gh4j-MHaJiOrVVa4FgnRV0m-9OPAHSTl/s1600/houseofdance.jpg" /></a>Beth Kephart is having <a href="http://beth-kephart.blogspot.com/2010/02/house-of-dance-paperback-contest.html">a contest over at her blog</a>. Tell her your definition of dance and two lucky winners will get a paperback copy of her fabulous book <i>House of Dance</i>.<br />
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And speaking of fabulous books, Beth just received some <a href="http://beth-kephart.blogspot.com/2010/02/heart-is-not-size-is-indiebound.html">great news</a> about her upcoming book <i>The Heart Is Not a Size</i>. Stay tuned to this blog for some more <i>Heart</i> related posts as we get closer to it's release date on March 30th.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-47538370885074770042010-02-14T14:50:00.000-08:002010-03-06T20:20:10.160-08:00Every Little Thing in the World by Nina de Gramont Book Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVAF73a5CM7bA65BKlH_3_NB56qXhys001U5ZDqDh1xG13k6A8_ucvceYR22gkjf4jVJhyVLV6G6gdPh7sD0Pzi36obaTIWiGkNsRGQjli_Yv8JLm1rIhvWIljbNuBU2vHoi-32UAbSrr/s1600-h/ReviewsHeader.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 34px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVAF73a5CM7bA65BKlH_3_NB56qXhys001U5ZDqDh1xG13k6A8_ucvceYR22gkjf4jVJhyVLV6G6gdPh7sD0Pzi36obaTIWiGkNsRGQjli_Yv8JLm1rIhvWIljbNuBU2vHoi-32UAbSrr/s400/ReviewsHeader.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445741928917815426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnwyciXIE5c3Q9NBr8hB3T5GqXlkeED59D9mpZA4mzFugmYlWw9hfJMeSRIp6iq9tHKT5-4l6q-uV3hJKLdMX0n3MG8sOlhLumduxBgrkkRAeh8LMCCPAyplvj9JnEkNHBmOy6U7RtM76/s1600-h/everylittlething.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnwyciXIE5c3Q9NBr8hB3T5GqXlkeED59D9mpZA4mzFugmYlWw9hfJMeSRIp6iq9tHKT5-4l6q-uV3hJKLdMX0n3MG8sOlhLumduxBgrkkRAeh8LMCCPAyplvj9JnEkNHBmOy6U7RtM76/s200/everylittlething.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="131" /></a><span style="font-size:x-small;">Every Little Thing in the World by Nina de Gramont</span><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">(Atheneum, Hardcover, March 2010)</span><br />Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When 16-year-old Sydney finds out that she's pregnant, she has no idea what to do. So she keeps it a secret from everyone but her best friend Natalie. Sydney thinks that she just needs time to decide what to do and how to tell her mom. Then her mom enrolls her in a six-week canoe camp in Canada and Natalie invites herself along. Sydney has to make the biggest decision of her life on this trip and Natalie's opinions aren't helping.<br /><br />In my review of Nina de Gramont's first novel <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2008/06/gossip-of-starlings-by-nina-de-gramont.html"><i>Gossip of the Starlings</i></a>, I said that she perfectly captures what is like to be an adolescent on the verge of adulthood. The same holds true for this novel. Sydney is forced to grow up when she finds out that's she is pregnant. The juxtaposition of Sydney's upcoming decision and the carefree world of summer camp illustrate the two worlds that Sydney is straddling. Natalie's desire for Sydney to keep the baby sets up a nice pro-life/pro-choice debate, but it also serves to show how friendships change as we grow up. I thought this novel had great character development, a thought-provoking topic, and a unique setting. I'm excited that de Gramont has ventured into teen literature and I can't wait to see what she writes next.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-51769477169283793752010-01-10T21:08:00.000-08:002010-01-10T21:09:58.817-08:00Cybils Young Adult Fiction Finalists - a Round-up of Reviews<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJVbvWG73lDxwZx9ARKwgY8nWvF3K1dYohnIyc6FJ6mRIPWJk_T6pbCcYMEmH37mwMPltfRD650zZMJvgPRlPmdILH9LWZbEFKh5B4kgUygZ2YHr2xoh_12eC9lLysKND5aRU4nDp16kx/s1600-h/cybilslogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJVbvWG73lDxwZx9ARKwgY8nWvF3K1dYohnIyc6FJ6mRIPWJk_T6pbCcYMEmH37mwMPltfRD650zZMJvgPRlPmdILH9LWZbEFKh5B4kgUygZ2YHr2xoh_12eC9lLysKND5aRU4nDp16kx/s1600/cybilslogo.jpg" border="0" /></a>I'm currently in the process of reading the seven Young Adult Fiction finalists for the <a href="http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/">Cybils award</a> and am really enjoying them. All of the books that I've read thus far deal with major ISSUES, like alcoholism or suicide or abuse. In order to combat the heaviness, I've been reading light, frothy, non-Cybils books in between. This helps me clear my head before moving on to the next book. Unlike last year when I read over 90 nominated novels as a first-round panelist, this year I only have to read seven so it's nice to be able to take my time and savor each book instead of feeling like I have to rush immediately into the next one.<br /><br />Enough about my reading style though...I promised to post other bloggers' reviews of the finalists, since I can't actually review any on my blog until after the winner has been announced. Below are reviews that have come to my attention in the last week. If you've reviewed one of these books and you're not on this list, leave me a comment and a link to your review and I'll add it. (p.s. I have no idea if these are positive or negative reviews. I didn't read them before posting because I didn't want other reviews competing with my own thoughts as I read these books.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcckQ9C-4j6tzHR-P-LVuqE1fdUV13VcBqZMuYKZlU9y9pqL3S4QsmzT9_P1TFKMS4UusZ_T6jmU95J6TVM6dOCJRR-jWy2-F8oN0llFNjfPZl9MerDxO3fZTJBZp1E_XrxYv8gHOwcPlP/s1600-h/blue-plate-special.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcckQ9C-4j6tzHR-P-LVuqE1fdUV13VcBqZMuYKZlU9y9pqL3S4QsmzT9_P1TFKMS4UusZ_T6jmU95J6TVM6dOCJRR-jWy2-F8oN0llFNjfPZl9MerDxO3fZTJBZp1E_XrxYv8gHOwcPlP/s1600/blue-plate-special.jpg" border="0" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">Blue Plate Special</i><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Michelle D. Kwasney</span><br />Reviewed by:<br />Sarah at <a href="http://yalibrariantales.blogspot.com/2009/12/review-blue-plate-special-by-michelle-d.html">YA Librarian Tales</a><br />Sarah at <a href="http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/2009/12/blue-plate-special-by-michelle-d.html">Sarah's Random Musings</a><br />Alea at <a href="http://aleapopculture.blogspot.com/2009/11/blue-plate-special-by-michelle-d.html">Pop Culture Junkie</a><br />Norah at <a href="http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/9780811867801.asp">TeenReads</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinM6k7f9lwiSZhCaLWJiVotdjplZo928pUttjRc-T9IsyM6y7UsnxQ7DKkwPYZLAjmWtSEAcRC4uD_aknASXobd4CiikS1czPt9ltksG6isJXKOSLK6EhvZ4US59ioX_X1_hrb8RfdYzgo/s1600-h/carter-finally-gets-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinM6k7f9lwiSZhCaLWJiVotdjplZo928pUttjRc-T9IsyM6y7UsnxQ7DKkwPYZLAjmWtSEAcRC4uD_aknASXobd4CiikS1czPt9ltksG6isJXKOSLK6EhvZ4US59ioX_X1_hrb8RfdYzgo/s1600/carter-finally-gets-it.jpg" border="0" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">Carter Finally Gets It</i><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Brent Crawford</span><br />Reviewed by:<br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">Sally at <a href="http://readingjunky.blogspot.com/2009/10/carter-finally-gets-it-by-brent.html">Reading Junky</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">Karilee at <a href="http://not-so-cg.blogspot.com/2009/04/carter-finally-gets-it-by-brent.html">Not So Closet Geeks</a><br />Ed at <a href="http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=books.review&review_id=17738">YA Books Central</a><br />Emily at <a href="http://www.emilyreads.com/2009/09/carter-finally-gets-it-review-haiku.html">EmilyReads</a><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIRysBiMwunfMAJSdzBV8MHN9W248-RViXp28pXxdppWBhSkZDsci0yP4uI08RNdM4Tq0zBdE2QDPPiyrDti_KSUsOfwM1baC56NYW-Yn9vxAD46Ld276qP_PmYMHtdY7AZYvN6g28zwS/s1600-h/cracked-up-to-be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIRysBiMwunfMAJSdzBV8MHN9W248-RViXp28pXxdppWBhSkZDsci0yP4uI08RNdM4Tq0zBdE2QDPPiyrDti_KSUsOfwM1baC56NYW-Yn9vxAD46Ld276qP_PmYMHtdY7AZYvN6g28zwS/s1600/cracked-up-to-be.jpg" border="0" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">Cracked Up To Be</i><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Courtney Summers</span><br />Reviewed by:<br />Tirzah at <a href="http://www.thecompulsivereader.com/2009/06/cracked-up-to-be-by-courtney-summers.html">The Compulsive Reader</a><br />Sophie at <a href="http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot.com/2009/03/cracked-up-to-be-courtney-summers.html">So Many Books</a><br />Sarah at <a href="http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/2009/01/cracked-up-to-be-by-courtney-summers.html">Sarah's Random Musings</a><br />Jocelyn at <a href="http://teenbookreview.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/review-cracked-up-to-be-by-courtney-summers/">Teen Book Review</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9JmA4uwr90YgZxFLYDC7Ayned5AKrpr7fN29J95-98ljCMequaDe6EB1oGFF4YbQ0S7HfX43tswlz92ot30H9-ZmnV4xBX8KFsDuf7X27B5XaU_XPBZfBeAPPGhgtIEHpomlQJ5dTesx/s1600-h/how-to-say-goodbye-in-robot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9JmA4uwr90YgZxFLYDC7Ayned5AKrpr7fN29J95-98ljCMequaDe6EB1oGFF4YbQ0S7HfX43tswlz92ot30H9-ZmnV4xBX8KFsDuf7X27B5XaU_XPBZfBeAPPGhgtIEHpomlQJ5dTesx/s1600/how-to-say-goodbye-in-robot.jpg" border="0" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">How To Say Goodbye In Robot</i><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Natalie Standiford</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;">Reviewed by:<br />Tirzah at <a href="http://www.thecompulsivereader.com/2009/09/how-to-say-goodbye-in-robot-by-natalie.html">The Compulsive Reader</a><br />Erin at <a href="http://www.foreveryoungadult.com/2009/12/11/altf4/">Forever Young Adult</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">Sally at <a href="http://readingjunky.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-say-goodbye-in-robot-by-natalie.html">Reading Junky</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://apatchworkofbooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-say-goodbye-in-robot-ya-review.html">A Patchwork of Books</a><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_nGjuVwTgxzEIEq61EGlcYsAix8mcw2jAKAV4kGNcOjbjHEixb5P2cd_Tmeftke1JGnOifd-BgTNxoTNfUwSjg0rB2QwhCCDi5myI_XfiL6CBtfT2dzPROrgY4pca8AyBCo-Z89B3knB/s1600-h/into-the-wild-nerd-yonder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_nGjuVwTgxzEIEq61EGlcYsAix8mcw2jAKAV4kGNcOjbjHEixb5P2cd_Tmeftke1JGnOifd-BgTNxoTNfUwSjg0rB2QwhCCDi5myI_XfiL6CBtfT2dzPROrgY4pca8AyBCo-Z89B3knB/s1600/into-the-wild-nerd-yonder.jpg" border="0" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">Into the Wild Nerd Yonder</i><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Julie Halpern</span><br />Reviewed by:<br />Sarah at <a href="http://yalibrariantales.blogspot.com/2009/10/review-into-wild-nerd-yonder-by-julie.html">YA Librarian Tales</a><br />Sarah at <a href="http://www.greenbeanteenqueen.com/2009/08/into-wild-nerd-yonder-by-julie-halpern.html">Green Bean Teen Queen</a><br /><a href="http://shelfelf.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/into-the-wild-nerd-yonder/">Shelf Elf</a><br /><a href="http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/2009/10/into-wild-nerd-yonder-by-julie-halpern.html">The Book Muncher</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokFlFItWDLqJlKxMPLEk0GDbAAOL6lMPPzwtcK7tuivAanrZzuzygNpyWelTxwG-4TRJsOKUNgBhc6WlaTROi_ULrjHQNRxfYKZBSvfqCkIwCgd6FOqPlCKhP1oTp0ph-KMv0Bh18FpGL/s1600-h/north-of-beautiful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokFlFItWDLqJlKxMPLEk0GDbAAOL6lMPPzwtcK7tuivAanrZzuzygNpyWelTxwG-4TRJsOKUNgBhc6WlaTROi_ULrjHQNRxfYKZBSvfqCkIwCgd6FOqPlCKhP1oTp0ph-KMv0Bh18FpGL/s1600/north-of-beautiful.jpg" border="0" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">North of Beautiful </i><span style="font-weight: bold;">by Justina Chen Headley</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: right;">Reviewed by:<br />Tirzah at <a href="http://www.thecompulsivereader.com/2009/03/north-of-beautiful-by-justina-chen.html">The Compulsive Reader</a><br />Priya at <a href="http://priyaganesan.blogspot.com/2009/02/north-of-beautiful_12.html">Book Crumbs</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">Megan at <a href="http://wwwsimplymegan.blogspot.com/2008/10/north-of-beautiful-by-justina-chen.html">SimplyMegan</a><br />Sally at <a href="http://readingjunky.blogspot.com/2009/06/north-of-beautiful-by-justina-chen.html">Reading Junky</a><br /><a href="http://misserinmarie.blogspot.com/2009/02/north-of-beautiful.html">Miss Erin</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://apatchworkofbooks.blogspot.com/2009/02/north-of-beautiful.html">A Patchwork of Books</a><br />Sarah at <a href="http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/2009/01/north-of-beautiful-by-justina-chen.html">Sarah's Random Musings</a><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS3BHCX7rQ6vTjffXyC-SIXGC0HmVSStT_JFnhRIEEqIWCb4qMOlZe845xEY409Bn-cuMWrbG6wMby1sISZUwta2m0W2oXCUB8rChJfWNvBg3IQiuNT08dzv8Zn8D8s-FXrCGw73GSu8k/s1600-h/wintergirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS3BHCX7rQ6vTjffXyC-SIXGC0HmVSStT_JFnhRIEEqIWCb4qMOlZe845xEY409Bn-cuMWrbG6wMby1sISZUwta2m0W2oXCUB8rChJfWNvBg3IQiuNT08dzv8Zn8D8s-FXrCGw73GSu8k/s1600/wintergirls.jpg" border="0" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">Wintergirls</i><span style="font-weight: bold;"> by Laurie Halse Anderson</span><br />Reviewed by:<br />Tirzah at <a href="http://www.thecompulsivereader.com/2009/02/wintergirls-by-laurie-halse-anderson.html">The Compulsive Reader</a><br />Jenny at <a href="http://www.foreveryoungadult.com/2009/11/10/winter-girls-as-a-new-diet-book/">Forever Young Adult</a><br />Priya at <a href="http://priyaganesan.blogspot.com/2009/05/books-ive-been-reading.html">Book Crumbs</a><br />Megan at <a href="http://wwwsimplymegan.blogspot.com/2009/07/wintergirls-by-laurie-halse-anderson.html">SimplyMegan</a><br />Sally at <a href="http://readingjunky.blogspot.com/2009/04/wintergirls-by-laurie-halse-anderson.html">Reading Junky</a><br />Amanda at <a href="http://apatchworkofbooks.blogspot.com/2009/03/wintergirls-review.html">A Patchwork of Books</a>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-66926351655750389062010-01-03T13:44:00.000-08:002010-01-03T13:44:00.844-08:00My 2010 Book WishlistA new year means tons of great new books. Here are some that I'm looking forward to reading (and buying) in 2010.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQh4tLlkG3jupN5-07DYmucDKZiDv_oKexZVn9KYM_36GhW7fNSjnLKoWYsGqmLb88BtfJgCdH6O9D-QGsq2eq-xdBWnT7bFs28aLdSprFxQxB0WfXb7Fk6TRZqUIM9JGF81l_q0w8SNeT/s1600-h/2010books1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQh4tLlkG3jupN5-07DYmucDKZiDv_oKexZVn9KYM_36GhW7fNSjnLKoWYsGqmLb88BtfJgCdH6O9D-QGsq2eq-xdBWnT7bFs28aLdSprFxQxB0WfXb7Fk6TRZqUIM9JGF81l_q0w8SNeT/s320/2010books1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422265446407783154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Heart Is Not a Size</span> by Beth Kephart (already read and loved!), <span style="font-style: italic;">Will Grayson, Will Grayson</span> by John Green and David Levithan, <span style="font-style: italic;">Every Little Thing In the World</span> by Nina de Gramont (already read and loved!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHABU3ynzyCzEPGdGnwp_vABGAtlNvRy-IufOZp27pkboxxwOfIp4jdOq6zIkVUzL5-InWubWtpLbGznYO0JGELbAsaXDiSc2JVqK8HYP5fjL0c9-7qAfXkJEdJOlCnbi6xGMY4v9D944t/s1600-h/2010books2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHABU3ynzyCzEPGdGnwp_vABGAtlNvRy-IufOZp27pkboxxwOfIp4jdOq6zIkVUzL5-InWubWtpLbGznYO0JGELbAsaXDiSc2JVqK8HYP5fjL0c9-7qAfXkJEdJOlCnbi6xGMY4v9D944t/s320/2010books2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422266788865928610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Reckoning</span> by Kelley Armstrong, <span style="font-style: italic;">Linger </span>by Maggie Stiefvater, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Body Finder</span> by Kimberly Derting (already read and loved!)<br /><br />What's on your 2010 book wishlist?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A note about buying books...</span><br />Between my job and this blog, I get a ton of books for free, but I also buy a ton of books. I've already read three of the above books in advance reader copy form. However, when those books hit the shelves, I will buy at least one copy of every one. Why? Because I love books and I think it's important to support the authors of my favorite books. As Beth Kephart <a href="http://beth-kephart.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-i-buy-books-and-always-will.html">recently said</a> on her blog, "I believe in books, and I will pay to keep them coming." Of course, this also means that I'm doing a good job of keeping the bookshelf manufacturing companies in business, too. :)Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-69576892824198423132010-01-02T13:20:00.000-08:002010-01-02T13:42:52.829-08:00Favorite Books of 2009One of my favorite things to do in January is to look back at some of the best books from the previous year. Below are some of my favorite reads in 2009...<br /><br /><a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/01/book-thief-by-markus-zusak-book-review.html">The Book Thief</a> by Marcus Zusak<br /><a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/02/faeries-of-dreamdark-blackbringer-by.html">Blackbringer</a> by Laini Taylor<br /><a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/05/going-bovine-by-libba-bray-book-review.html">Going Bovine</a> by Libba Bray<br /><a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/06/nothing-but-ghosts-by-beth-kephart-book.html">Nothing But Ghosts</a> by Beth Kephart<br /><a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/06/fire-by-kristin-cashore-book-review.html">Fire</a> by Kristin Cashore<br /><a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/07/summer-i-turned-pretty-by-jenny-han.html">The Summer I Turned Pretty</a> by Jenny Han<br /><a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/07/lovestruck-summer-by-melissa-walker.html">Lovestruck Summer</a> by Melissa Walker<br /><a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/08/lips-touch-by-laini-taylor-book-review.html">Lips Touch</a> by Laini Taylor<br /><br />Last year, my blog resolution was to read 200 books. For the second year in a row, I am proud to say that I read over 200 books. This year, I am not going to set a reading quota; instead, my goal is to read more diversely. In addition to the young adult books you see reviewed on this blog, my list of 200 books was filled with adult fiction and a handful of non-fiction. In 2010, I want to read more non-fiction and I also want to work towards my goal of reading all the <a href="http://www.themanbookerprize.com/">Man Booker Prize</a> winners. Usually I read 2-3 of these a year, although in 2009 I only read 1--<span style="font-style: italic;">The Gathering </span>by Anne Enright, a thoroughly depressing book.<br /><br />However, when all is said and done, my only real New Year's Resolution is to pet my cat more. ♥<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5wGk7Rgk4nexV4S2K1cyRBTlW5KvufMhLQR7IczcK26mUI5Iy_gNoMa1KBqhDmij08AnR8ugguvUc1KtUqG2Ji6uwd26Yb6j2Eadjp7sMVsFprlaspeK-lJBt4HXeCrAXJ1Gjy43kBX4/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5wGk7Rgk4nexV4S2K1cyRBTlW5KvufMhLQR7IczcK26mUI5Iy_gNoMa1KBqhDmij08AnR8ugguvUc1KtUqG2Ji6uwd26Yb6j2Eadjp7sMVsFprlaspeK-lJBt4HXeCrAXJ1Gjy43kBX4/s320/015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422260458952399010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Em's Favorite Books of <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2007/12/favorite-books-of-2007.html">2007</a> and <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/01/favorite-books-of-2008.html">2008</a></span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-64320744862061971852009-12-12T19:45:00.000-08:002009-12-12T19:45:39.312-08:00Well, hello thereI've been hibernating. This is one of my favorite times of year, plenty of evenings spent reading by the fire, lots of beautiful holiday decorations to admire, and the joy of spending time with family and friends.<br />
<br />
Here are a few of my favorite holiday treats that I'd like to share with you...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo4cRArv-hWbzL4jO92-uGZHGhmG3xVpETd4ZEXRJOTpqk-4DAMhNOioBxCMCT2urza9bpfWN0VPEC67b69zMgOp5bHEagKPxhjZB8PqXPmm9QENnucCthhUQTBIFbDsnkAYDDLzwGALR/s1600-h/A%20Little%20Princess%201987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo4cRArv-hWbzL4jO92-uGZHGhmG3xVpETd4ZEXRJOTpqk-4DAMhNOioBxCMCT2urza9bpfWN0VPEC67b69zMgOp5bHEagKPxhjZB8PqXPmm9QENnucCthhUQTBIFbDsnkAYDDLzwGALR/s200/A%20Little%20Princess%201987.jpg" width="135" /></a><b>A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett</b><br />
I read this book every year around Christmas. Nothing gets me more in the holiday spirit than the story of little Sarah Crewe and her brave adventures. My copy is from 1987 (cover image shown) and has held up amazingly well. The pages are yellowed and the jacket shows lots of love. Last year, I decided to start collecting copies of this book. Any cover, any condition, any age. But when December rolls around, I always pick up my original copy to read. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLYvX2pVWJAeM7nxuLA_0yssUPe-33g-_RU3ADkMnX7IOUD5aeXZ00itQJEA72HEKI-nIfYT_Qku98xjUBiSB1n-3oNnrtgDuwpD2GtsEgWO3VwIP0egBpo0xuyUbwgWUrmnsaBouzDrB/s1600-h/ghirardelli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLYvX2pVWJAeM7nxuLA_0yssUPe-33g-_RU3ADkMnX7IOUD5aeXZ00itQJEA72HEKI-nIfYT_Qku98xjUBiSB1n-3oNnrtgDuwpD2GtsEgWO3VwIP0egBpo0xuyUbwgWUrmnsaBouzDrB/s200/ghirardelli.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqit5S-W-4ClC4ZSiRc5qrEYRdR8GisrWm8J9iXZDSP6QIG1EB-_RGIRc6WRl32L7OLQOI8bQKiovHGwhH6Mn1ZOkBYMZK8mDRTu4W3MHfjWmBX-pXxocGq0AVTEP43krn93vpTdpy6WVU/s1600-h/candycanelane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqit5S-W-4ClC4ZSiRc5qrEYRdR8GisrWm8J9iXZDSP6QIG1EB-_RGIRc6WRl32L7OLQOI8bQKiovHGwhH6Mn1ZOkBYMZK8mDRTu4W3MHfjWmBX-pXxocGq0AVTEP43krn93vpTdpy6WVU/s320/candycanelane.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Peppermint</b><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Every fall, Ghirardelli makes their delicious Peppermint Bark chocolate. It's got a milk chocolate bottom with a white chocolate topping, chock full of tiny peppermint pieces. Yum! Another holiday favorite is Candy Cane Lane Tea from Celestial Seasonings. Full confession - I scour the grocery stores in November and stock up on this tea so that I have it all year long.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9N4qo2-2dYAanQRNBEXJp7B2fAwZKUHm4pzGWw8s9eIEYSckMfKQ0zmrgS91MszQ5qlEpl84O6Ut_VX5SJMBK2Y_80jVSpfpWEb4gkvaWKZFgwVaWf8pk-4pbiDBNoArJrteu7aehaHVI/s1600-h/grand%20illumination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9N4qo2-2dYAanQRNBEXJp7B2fAwZKUHm4pzGWw8s9eIEYSckMfKQ0zmrgS91MszQ5qlEpl84O6Ut_VX5SJMBK2Y_80jVSpfpWEb4gkvaWKZFgwVaWf8pk-4pbiDBNoArJrteu7aehaHVI/s320/grand%20illumination.jpg" width="227" /></a><b>Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg</b><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">At least once in your lifetime, I recommend going to Colonial Williamsburg for Grand Illumination, which takes place the first Sunday in December. Not only are you greeted by caroling colonials, hot apple cider, and hundreds of fun shops, there is also a huge fireworks display to celebrate the lighting of candles in the windows of Colonial Williamsburg's buildings, shops, and homes.<br />
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What are your favorite holiday traditions? <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>(images taken from <a href="http://shop.ghirardelli.com/category-exec/category_id/68/nm/Limited_Edition_Peppermint_Bark">Ghirardelli</a> and <a href="http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/detail.html/holiday-teas/candy-cane-lane">Celestial Seasonings</a> and <a href="http://godc.about.com/b/2009/11/10/visit-colonial-williamsburg-for-christmas.htm">about.com</a>)</i></span><br />
</div>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-59708914920479064492009-11-01T20:50:00.000-08:002010-03-06T19:48:20.725-08:00Make a Wish: Books about wishesIn my last post, I reviewed three books that dealt with covert operations. It was fun to review three books at once, so I thought I'd continue with the themed reviews. Now, I turn my attention to two books that I kept getting confused before I read them. Blame it on the titles and the blue covers.<br /><b> </b><br /><b><span style="color:purple;">If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for? </span></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***<br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj2KJ-2EGIfq009GEtwH0qgADezEqBP8Y5tOpRtJA_-zc3tKBXZ1k4ntU_2aWkSPygQ7QaIQ93JFl2UYAh58sTxu23_ob-CiWVHzwIJNbbVJrIGedqNv0jP9bmU0LGFkgxiOL7UtjqKZc/s1600-h/as+you+wish.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj2KJ-2EGIfq009GEtwH0qgADezEqBP8Y5tOpRtJA_-zc3tKBXZ1k4ntU_2aWkSPygQ7QaIQ93JFl2UYAh58sTxu23_ob-CiWVHzwIJNbbVJrIGedqNv0jP9bmU0LGFkgxiOL7UtjqKZc/s200/as+you+wish.gif" border="0" /></a><br /></div><b><i>As You Wish </i>by Jackson Pearce</b><br />(Hardcover, HarperTeen, September 2009)<br /><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" height="15" width="15" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="font-size:xx-small;"></span></a><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" height="15" width="15" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="font-size:xx-small;"></span></a><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" height="15" width="15" /></a></span><span style="font-size:xx-small;"> </span><br />When Viola's boyfriend breaks up with her, Viola feels like her whole person is broken. She no longer fits in at school. When she makes a wish to belong, a jinn appears in her room, saying that he will grant her three wishes. But as Viola's wishes dwindle down, she realizes that her main wish is to always be with Jinn. <i>As You Wish</i> is a thoroughly enjoyable look at what really happens when wishes come true. Viola's revelations about friendship and about herself come across as genuine and heartfelt and the ending will leave you wishing that a jinn would come grant you three wishes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4P90rlR1Q6uELqYeso5bjSRoPxTfXaWOjmVOCEQmIDjZrGqNPFLpxTO4hLPL2WQWavL_dz-fJ5Vh1aCJq4GirZiTatFQuxRD6u5MRvi25GPQMU4yFPJ0HNDOg17t_AR2KbUwOYYs0TWu/s1600-h/wish+alexandra+bullen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4P90rlR1Q6uELqYeso5bjSRoPxTfXaWOjmVOCEQmIDjZrGqNPFLpxTO4hLPL2WQWavL_dz-fJ5Vh1aCJq4GirZiTatFQuxRD6u5MRvi25GPQMU4yFPJ0HNDOg17t_AR2KbUwOYYs0TWu/s200/wish+alexandra+bullen.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><i>Wish </i>by Alexandra Bullen</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">(Hardcover, Scholastic Point, January 2010)<br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" height="15" width="15" /></a></span><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" height="15" width="15" /></a></span><span style="font-size:xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" height="15" width="15" /></a></span><br /></div>Life isn't worth living for Olivia when her twin sister, Violet, dies. Then she comes across a seamstress who makes her magical dresses—dresses that make wishes come true. Olivia wishes for Violet to come back and the next thing she knows, her ghost of a sister is following her around. With Violet back in her life, Olivia doesn't need any more wishes. Touching and heartbreaking, Olivia's story is a glimpse into a family trying to cope after the loss of a child and sister. <i>Wish </i>is filled with the normal teenage drama but it offers a tear-jerking twist and forces the reader to acknowledge that magic can only do so much to make us whole again.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***<br /></div><br />Even though these books have similar titles and covers, they each deal with wishes in a different manner. Whereas the magical seamstress in <i>Wish </i>appears sparingly, the jinn in <i>As You Wish</i> is one of the main characters. <i>As You Wish</i> is a lighthearted look at fairy tales, as opposed to <i>Wish </i>which takes on the darker subject of death and how our lives change when we lose someone we love. If you're looking for similarities, interestingly, the main character of <i>As You Wish</i> is named Viola and the dead twin sister in <i>Wish</i> is named Violet. Neither book seemed as if it was the start of a series; although, <i>Wish </i>does have a beautiful epilogue that leaves open the possibility of a sequel.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-6379546756156138192009-10-31T13:31:00.000-07:002009-10-31T13:39:18.306-07:00Spies, Thieves, and Secret Societies<span style="font-size: small;">Don't we all just love a good mystery? I grew up reading Nancy Drew and it's exciting to read new books that bring back that nostalgia for cloak-and-dagger writing. Here are three books coming out in early 2010 that will have you thinking black jumpsuits, Mission Impossible music, and magnifying glasses.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">***</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_4VY2w6ycFxuZ4pJGGUyHv9g5lD9QydLrxhlVx3RjMe8t62xN70PqLHIbzowutSX68_KoG9Q2LcCv2L56re5G_2AThBsexfd5XGKo1nsoCUC0DbQqWlkCTj0C2xsecsY6Udvf2VGglEn/s1600-h/heist+society.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_4VY2w6ycFxuZ4pJGGUyHv9g5lD9QydLrxhlVx3RjMe8t62xN70PqLHIbzowutSX68_KoG9Q2LcCv2L56re5G_2AThBsexfd5XGKo1nsoCUC0DbQqWlkCTj0C2xsecsY6Udvf2VGglEn/s200/heist+society.jpg" /></a><b><i>Heist Society</i> by Ally Carter<br />
</b>(Hardcover, Disney Hyperion, February 2010)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="17" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" width="17" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="17" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" width="17" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="17" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" width="17" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="17" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" width="17" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Ally Carter is well-known for her <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2007/11/id-tell-you-i-love-you-but-then-id-have.html"><i>Gallagher Girls</i> series</a>, featuring junior spy Cammie the Chameleon. In <i>Heist Society</i>, Carter turns her attention away from spies toward thieves. Kat's family have been thieves and con men for generations. When Kat tries to leave the family business and lead a normal teenage life, she finds herself pulled back into the con world when she has to assemble an all-teenage crew and steal a painting to save her dad. Filled with excitement, cross-continental mayhem, and Carter's trademark humor, <i>Heist Society</i> is going to give the Gallagher Girls a run for their money.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLpyUFdCiOjDJusXyz2ezvFLKxew7hzqMwfXcANZx6gP-ZktJgrO2230vw58VVtTQmO-Hq8H7dsOZ5FG2y-ipN-N45WiqIyaf0kHM7E3u3u8ll2Umyk6tu0c2lg9v-bdORSslVedzLQ11/s1600-h/naughty+list.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLpyUFdCiOjDJusXyz2ezvFLKxew7hzqMwfXcANZx6gP-ZktJgrO2230vw58VVtTQmO-Hq8H7dsOZ5FG2y-ipN-N45WiqIyaf0kHM7E3u3u8ll2Umyk6tu0c2lg9v-bdORSslVedzLQ11/s200/naughty+list.gif" /></a><b><i>The Naughty List</i> by Suzanne Young</b></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Paperback, Razorbill, February 2010)</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="17" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" width="17" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="17" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" width="17" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="17" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" width="17" /></a><br />
</span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;">Tessa is captain of the cheerleading team, a team that also happens to be a group of spies. Tessa and the other girls work undercover to catch the school's cheaters. Responding to text alerts, the squad investigates all boyfriends suspected of cheating. Even though this sounds silly, the book does a great job of examining fidelity and trust in relationships. The spy squad is a bit over the top at times, but readers will find themselves rooting for Tessa when her own boyfriend makes the list of suspected cheaters. Be prepared for somewhat of a cliffhanger ending though as there is a planned sequel, <i>So Many Boys</i>, due out in Summer 2010.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i></i></b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YZsoFYx8CDvrfBsVOCIh0xg1_i_-DCPtGomnJXFuvEkfa7G6DTrQhNY76M9YC2zeopfMl65wzqvz9l1QAa2ZWbWPzOP9yjdKcY36PIkQZx_0GBZUBsBtRZjrLHGpm26b1tWW6lwCHc_X/s1600-h/cinderella+society.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YZsoFYx8CDvrfBsVOCIh0xg1_i_-DCPtGomnJXFuvEkfa7G6DTrQhNY76M9YC2zeopfMl65wzqvz9l1QAa2ZWbWPzOP9yjdKcY36PIkQZx_0GBZUBsBtRZjrLHGpm26b1tWW6lwCHc_X/s200/cinderella+society.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>The Cinderella Society</i> by Kay Cassidy</b><br />
(Hardcover, Egmont, April 2010)<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="17" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" width="17" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="17" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" width="17" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="17" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" width="17" /></a><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Jess Parker has always lived on the fringes of high school popularity so when she's invited to join an exclusive club called The Cinderella Society, she doesn't hesitate. She soon learns that this secret society has world-reaching goals, the primary one being to triumph over the Wickeds, an evil group that torments innocent high school girls. <i>The Cinderella Society</i> is an interesting twist on high school cliques and Jess Parker is feisty and likeable. Although I have never been interested in sororities, this book was a fun read.<br />
</span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-44786877159199252372009-10-19T19:30:00.000-07:002009-10-19T19:30:42.290-07:00The Heart is Not a Size by Beth Kephart Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERUF_ctuxIqBs5L3_DPRMgAYtyGbcZvNUVM-BeaRFdG0ITBjnk2DHkBRE41lk8aUrdzQECiMSV2bhrFqGLl0APxkEoZ7MB7zgHFVC24ZGWDIOI_8R2SeG4NWKP7dUWISAHpXRHRmUuH9W/s1600-h/heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERUF_ctuxIqBs5L3_DPRMgAYtyGbcZvNUVM-BeaRFdG0ITBjnk2DHkBRE41lk8aUrdzQECiMSV2bhrFqGLl0APxkEoZ7MB7zgHFVC24ZGWDIOI_8R2SeG4NWKP7dUWISAHpXRHRmUuH9W/s200/heart.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Heart Is Not a Size by Beth Kephart</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(HarperTeen, Hardcover, March 2010)</span><br />
Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
Georgia and Riley have been best friends for years. So when Georgia sees a flyer for a community building trip to Juarez, she has no trouble enlisting Riley to join her. Both girls convince their parents that this trip is a good idea, a way to build not just a community, but character. However, in Juarez, Georgia finds that not everything can be carefully managed and secrets can't always be kept.<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Georgia lets us slowly into her life, revealing little details about herself and about Riley and they secrets they keep from each other. I read <i>The Heart Is Not a Size</i> in one sitting; I couldn't put it down until I knew whether Georgia would overcome her panic attacks or whether Riley would admit she had an eating disorder. I also loved that Georgia and Riley reminded me so much of me and my best friend in high school. One smart and serious, the other beautiful and bubbly. For me, this book is a novel about friendship, about the sacrifices we make for our friends, and about how important it is to have that one person you can count on.<br />
<br />
<i>The Heart Is Not a Size</i> is also about a border town called Juarez and Georgia's experiences there. I've never been to Mexico, but it was easy to close my eyes and picture the town. Kephart effortlessly transports the reader to a gritty town inundated with sun and sand. The descriptions of Juarez and it's people are so vivid, and Georgia's desire to help them comes across on every page. The trip is as much an adventure as it is a learning experience for her and for the other teens in her group.<br />
<br />
Like all of Beth Kephart's books, <i>The Heart Is Not a Size</i> is a must-read for teens and for anyone working with teens. Kephart isn't afraid to tackle the big issues like parental pressure, anorexia, and death, and she does it all with compassion, honesty, and beautiful writing. Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-34626658708849823722009-09-09T16:03:00.000-07:002009-09-09T16:03:00.228-07:00Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock Book Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM152HVsK1sSrL1zvFj7DaC2OPE1UQksuN3qgiVNXhwYHd50f02wbFwDoL-KZqGV6Hyzinm7peIChnY3RiEbM3CCnBdIyQFSdS_5m2VEl1XWDiN81JADFzu5SAiT1_7mCDUaZdFaq_PL1U/s1600-h/frontandcenter.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM152HVsK1sSrL1zvFj7DaC2OPE1UQksuN3qgiVNXhwYHd50f02wbFwDoL-KZqGV6Hyzinm7peIChnY3RiEbM3CCnBdIyQFSdS_5m2VEl1XWDiN81JADFzu5SAiT1_7mCDUaZdFaq_PL1U/s320/frontandcenter.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Houghton Miffling, Hardcover, October 2009)</span><br />
Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
D.J. Schwenk knows what it's like to be stressed. Lately, she's feeling it from all sides. She's been overseeing her brother's physical therapy after a football accident left him nearly paralyzed. She's dating her best friend, yet still harboring feelings for her ex. And she's about to make the biggest decision of her life—whether to accept a basketball scholarship to a small, safe school or to risk everything by going to a big, stadium-packed school to play ball. <br />
<br />
This is definitely my favorite D.J. Schwenk novel yet. Whereas <i>Dairy Queen</i> set out to break down stereotypes by having D.J. be the only girl on her high school's football team, <i>Front and Center</i> looks at the pressures that come with high school. D.J. is really good at basketball, but she clams up on the court when the stakes are high. As D.J. learns to be a leader and find her voice, I was rooting for her to go big and accept a scholarship at a top basketball school. Readers will have to pick up this book to find out what choice D.J. makes, though. In <i>Front and Center</i>, Catherine Murdock Gilbert delivers a gripping novel that is completely true to D.J.'s voice and that accurately depicts the college decision-making. I'm only sad that this is the final book in the trilogy...Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-22814656548130119872009-09-07T21:33:00.000-07:002009-09-07T21:33:19.973-07:00Announcing Harlequin Teen and 2 Book Reviews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://harlequinteen.com/teen" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEg31uNKx41BpCoujH1HFSwcrAK0mP3PrYUc_FJtI_e1_Jnjo5b07aNd_9lg5KVPGsPcKKDg3UKh99LNDr8tOvav2MrhNjwXgOH9SHB36LO2fUdn989_RJB15RO-o1swlq9QQVZ6pLK_T/s320/harlequin-teen.jpg" /></a></div>Earlier this summer, Harlequin announced that they would be <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6645137.html?nid=3316">starting a teen imprint</a>. I was supremely excited for two reasons. One, Harlequin is one of the only publishers (if not <i>the</i> only publisher) that has been making money in this recession. Clearly, they know what people like and they are savvy about their book deals and book marketing. Two, <a href="http://harlequinteen.com/teen/">Harlequin Teen</a> signing on some blockbuster authors, including Gena Showalter, P.C. Cast, Rachel Vincent, and, the author I'm most excited about, <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/search/label/Maria%20V.%20Snyder">Maria V. Snyder</a>. So far, I've been able to read two of Harlequin Teen's books, <i>My Soul to Take</i> by Rachel Vincent and <i>Intertwined</i> by Gena Showalter. Both are great additions to the fantasy genre and, since I'd never read anything by either author before this, I'll definitely be checking out their adult titles. See below for my reviews of these two books. The shortened version? I ♥ Harlequin Teen.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zVwnyRyGsJyfxX8dY1POxFro4CU4kuRP81wB3gGKXJHiYikGgV9vleN593URj5BvPe0tEnsWplKBmQSIEviLXNwOoGaAdZOgHwmgxfAoHPN9e03ksUinO-9U1hb_IaFagcViOvjcPSS6/s1600-h/mysoultotake.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zVwnyRyGsJyfxX8dY1POxFro4CU4kuRP81wB3gGKXJHiYikGgV9vleN593URj5BvPe0tEnsWplKBmQSIEviLXNwOoGaAdZOgHwmgxfAoHPN9e03ksUinO-9U1hb_IaFagcViOvjcPSS6/s200/mysoultotake.gif" /></a><b>My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent</b><br />
<b>(Harlequin Teen, Paperback, 2009)</b><br />
Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
Kaylee Cavanaugh can sense when people around her are about to die and, when that happens, she starts screaming uncontrollably. Kaylee has tried to keep this hidden her whole life. Then she meets Nash. Nash doesn't seem to care that she's a bit odd and, more importantly, he has an explanation for her screams. <i>My Soul to Take</i> is a fresh, exciting paranormal book where the main character aren't vampires or a werewolves. Instead, Kaylee and Nash are banshee. Rachel Vincent weaves mythology and mystery into a romantic tale. I loved that Kaylee is a powerful banshee, seemingly more so than her male counterpart, although the two must work together to save their friends. Another great character was the grim reaper, Tod. Hello, love triangles and a fantastic new series.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXvRwnEyBkBaSPzJaJO4Cwl95yTTM5Rr9kLt6CDtWsNaCMfoth2rtmEOoGQr8u0tqyz9-9HInJZACsBT5sTNjb4tsA-3UrbcwxltWOO4k233mAfJ3XBtABeCBKE_yC7wgr0WFqf-Y-xVH/s1600-h/intertwined.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXvRwnEyBkBaSPzJaJO4Cwl95yTTM5Rr9kLt6CDtWsNaCMfoth2rtmEOoGQr8u0tqyz9-9HInJZACsBT5sTNjb4tsA-3UrbcwxltWOO4k233mAfJ3XBtABeCBKE_yC7wgr0WFqf-Y-xVH/s320/intertwined.gif" /></a><b>Intertwined by Gena Showalter</b><br />
<b>(Harlequin Teen, Hardcover, 2009)</b><br />
Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
<br />
Imagine having someone inside your head, talking all day. Aden has four souls trapped inside him, constantly telling him what to do. Not that it's all bad. Aden's souls each have special abilities that have helped save his life in the past. But when he meets Mary Ann, he doesn't want to stay away because when she's around, he can't hear the souls inside him. At first, it was hard for me to keep up with who was speaking in Aden's head. After a couple chapters, though, it became easy to differentiate between the multiple personalities and I marveled at how Gena Showalter was able to highlight each soul to show how Aden was feeling overwhelmed. It soon became clear that Aden's task was to set the souls free. <i>Intertwined </i>features a plot line that I can't get out of my mind and characters that I want to read more about.<br />
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If you want to learn more about Harlequin Teen, visit their <a href="http://harlequinteen.com/teen/">website</a> and their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harlequin-TEEN/92933398050">Facebook page</a>.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-12016339629204785752009-09-07T15:17:00.000-07:002009-09-07T15:17:21.871-07:00Brand-New Emily by Ginger Rue Book Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuXsw5SMBfI3cdwtdYHGNuvmh86Fmhh6XN1DyizRNtmzCPnGqVq5o1TYQePM4EqD59TV-DhP8YUX1cMXpJFWTFtPVV-sFGOKPDsn6zH81aTU_rrKtOlFh4V5jZZ-z2y9AYEk5GwMjQPjf/s1600-h/brandnewemily.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuXsw5SMBfI3cdwtdYHGNuvmh86Fmhh6XN1DyizRNtmzCPnGqVq5o1TYQePM4EqD59TV-DhP8YUX1cMXpJFWTFtPVV-sFGOKPDsn6zH81aTU_rrKtOlFh4V5jZZ-z2y9AYEk5GwMjQPjf/s200/brandnewemily.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brand-New Emily by Ginger Rue</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Tricycle Press, Hardcover, 2009)</span><br />
Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Emily Wood's year at a new middle school isn't starting off so hot. Somehow she's already made enemies with the popular clique - The Daisies. Sick of being bullied, Emily decides to make over her image by hiring a top notch public relations firm. Now, she's wearing the hottest clothes, "dating" a movie star, and hanging out with high schoolers. The ruse may be working, but Emily soon finds out that being popular is hard work.<br />
<br />
<i>Brand-New Emily</i> is a cute, eye-opening look at teen popularity. It was fascinating to read about the marketing tactics that are used on teens, from how certain clothes become fashionable to how powerful and tricky brand loyalty can be. Emily's transformation to "Em" was well-written and believable. The plot may sound unbelieveable, but Ginger Rue writes it with humor and a down-to-earth tone that makes the book a page-turner from beginning to end. I can easily see this being made into a movie. Add a few years to Emily's age and you have the makings of a modern "Clueless" or "Mean Girls."Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-22169012455453018642009-09-01T19:18:00.000-07:002009-09-01T19:18:24.969-07:00The Author Is In...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbdMQWkDthi_SigLXpWCLqGR1HsP6HhkwqTDXYyIL74tFVF7ScvS9O6KV0lH4_dO52p5v9kOuoUOd-3Fhz6yB6Y2YRGPXeRFLy-j7UXHrxG8HHZEHMMDp-CLzNvq4QYJC9m3ZfNZ-GSVU/s1600-h/residence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbdMQWkDthi_SigLXpWCLqGR1HsP6HhkwqTDXYyIL74tFVF7ScvS9O6KV0lH4_dO52p5v9kOuoUOd-3Fhz6yB6Y2YRGPXeRFLy-j7UXHrxG8HHZEHMMDp-CLzNvq4QYJC9m3ZfNZ-GSVU/s200/residence.jpg" /></a></div>Readergirlz, one of my favorite sites, just announced a new program called <a href="http://www.readergirlz.com/residence.html">readergirlz Author In Residence</a>. For four months, readergirlz will host one author as their Author In Residence. Duties include participating in chats, conversing on the readergirlz blog, and serving up some video blogs about the writing life. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40Skm85VswmzxcLJ3bVbz_QqahbRaPGveJ7bP4ZsaWbphXw0A8nkQcUK6EWKm0B1BndbwpkQdROC4KN84EGsdmv0NDmlsaTIJ4I3MXQOizLiVcQ-VZ2ava3IfxDHFQG0sxWBS-MlwXw83/s1600-h/bethkephart+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40Skm85VswmzxcLJ3bVbz_QqahbRaPGveJ7bP4ZsaWbphXw0A8nkQcUK6EWKm0B1BndbwpkQdROC4KN84EGsdmv0NDmlsaTIJ4I3MXQOizLiVcQ-VZ2ava3IfxDHFQG0sxWBS-MlwXw83/s200/bethkephart+%281%29.jpg" /></a>Their first Author In Residence is none other than the fabulous Beth Kephart. Beth is the author of several books for teens, including one of my all time favorite novels, <i>Undercover</i>, and the heart-filling book <i>The Heart Is Not a Size</i> (March 2010). If you're not familiar with Beth's books, I recommend <a href="http://beth-kephart.blogspot.com/">visiting her blog</a>. She posts photos, musings, and writing thoughts almost daily. Kudos to readergirlz for picking a wonderful author to kick off the new program! I can't wait to start watching your video blogs, Beth!Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-37784676775938431702009-08-30T19:53:00.000-07:002009-08-30T20:14:09.550-07:00Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin Book Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45amSkBggqmAhWGYPileS8HnPdJqdLaqnZ2z5gIRjEvF8pSNcd3aFTHZ8oBpuMkNtupCq98IYWrwmdN8OJUAWBh26rHn7A_-KCB7EW_Vn_4Ymvovu-ANUTQfjIR5A9Zt9e51s_W7NLOxN/s1600-h/fade+to+blue.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45amSkBggqmAhWGYPileS8HnPdJqdLaqnZ2z5gIRjEvF8pSNcd3aFTHZ8oBpuMkNtupCq98IYWrwmdN8OJUAWBh26rHn7A_-KCB7EW_Vn_4Ymvovu-ANUTQfjIR5A9Zt9e51s_W7NLOxN/s200/fade+to+blue.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375960902181784610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin<br />(Little Brown, Hardcover, 2009)</span><br />Rating:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sophie Blue is a sarcastic goth girl and Kenny Fade is a popular basketball player. The two have nothing in common, except that they both have needle marks on their arms and they are pretty sure they're losing their minds. Sophie is convinced that her condition is tied to her dad's disappearance a year ago. Will the unlikely duo be able to solve the mystery before they disappear, too?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fade to Blue</span> is a dark, twisty book that is part comic book and part science fiction thriller. A little too twisty for my tastes as I found it to be very confusing at times. I did enjoy the suspense aspect though. It reminded me a lot of the <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/01/cathys-book-and-cathys-key-book-reviews.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Cathy's Book</span> series</a> in that there is a mystery involving a lab and the main character is an artist. However, <span style="font-style: italic;">Cathy's Book</span> incorporates drawings throughout the book, whereas <span style="font-style: italic;">Fade to Blue</span> only has one small section of comics and a page of drawings at the end, almost as if they were added as an afterthought. While <span style="font-style: italic;">Cathy's Book</span> seems stronger to me, I can see the merits in this book. It will appeal to teens that are interested in comics and computer programming as both of those things feature prominently in this book.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-57389398609662980792009-08-30T12:33:00.000-07:002009-08-30T13:08:29.887-07:00Evermore by Alyson Noel Book Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMGJsLjHDRKuB8U2d1DKFJEl2WCc1G_42fUaEPYMLI_yJQMf8x84OGzDWL3LioWr9zQGUYsoG_fOHSBobcKUWSa9d5ySKmxJjs2nBYwRMqUORArOpi7akXQy7OPqipaC7DlFrAJUB4RZU/s1600-h/evermore.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMGJsLjHDRKuB8U2d1DKFJEl2WCc1G_42fUaEPYMLI_yJQMf8x84OGzDWL3LioWr9zQGUYsoG_fOHSBobcKUWSa9d5ySKmxJjs2nBYwRMqUORArOpi7akXQy7OPqipaC7DlFrAJUB4RZU/s200/evermore.gif" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:x-small;">Evermore by Alyson Noel<br />(Paperback, St. Martin's Griffin, 2009)</span><br />Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ever used to be a normal teenager - cheerleader, one of the most popular girls in school, always showing off her long blonde hair. When an accident killed her parents and almost killed her, Ever started to see people's auras and now she goes out of her way to avoid contact with anyone. High school, for Ever, is just a loud mesh of voices and feelings and it's too much for her to bear. Then she meets Damen, a mysterious, rich boy who makes the world go quiet when he touches her. But who is Damen and he is really good for Ever?<br /><br />I've been on a supernatural kick this summer and <i>Evermore </i>kept jumping out at me from the bookshelves. The cover is so beautiful that I just couldn't resist. Written in present tense, this novel has a feeling of immediacy that made it hard to put down. Not only is Ever confronted with this new ability to see auras, but she is also surrounded by people with secrets and it's hard for her to know who to trust. Damen seems wonderful. He is the only one who can shut out the sounds around Ever, but he disappears for long periods of time and Ever knows that he's not telling her everything. My favorite character, though, is Riley, Ever's sister who is now a ghost. Riley is spooky and unnerving, yet compelling in an annoying younger sister sort of way. All in all, this was an exciting book and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, <i>Blue Moon</i>.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-32658033507314874832009-08-04T17:21:00.000-07:002009-08-30T12:53:24.052-07:00Coffehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors Book Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxzaayW4GcHwsRXeCF_GMKX_UfB3SUh5HHR1JcrZc5z6_WmpFWhw6MYXLVqbMxDktoek2x9pLNbFhLcW1o59N9Ge82vfFxUdYcj5meNlDOJ1F4aXsOHVvUeMNDIqTgeAEYeN8c1p3QY8F/s1600-h/coffeehouseangel.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxzaayW4GcHwsRXeCF_GMKX_UfB3SUh5HHR1JcrZc5z6_WmpFWhw6MYXLVqbMxDktoek2x9pLNbFhLcW1o59N9Ge82vfFxUdYcj5meNlDOJ1F4aXsOHVvUeMNDIqTgeAEYeN8c1p3QY8F/s320/coffeehouseangel.gif" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:x-small;">Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors</span><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">(Walker Books, Hardcover, 2009)</span><br />Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Katrina is working hard to save her family's coffee shop, getting up early every morning and working every afternoon and weekend. One morning she spots a homeless guy outside the coffee shop and she leaves some coffee and a pastry for him. Little does she know that her act of kindness was directed at an angel—and that he now must grant her whatever she desires. After a couple of botched wishes, Katrina realizes that all she wants is a certain irresitible angel.<br /><br />I picked up this book, excited for the unique premise. In the plethora of fairy-tale retellings, I haven't yet come across a book where a girl is granted wishes from an angel. Katrina is a compelling heroine and her battle to save her family's coffee shop was the real strength of this book. Her entrepreneurial flair drove the plot of the book and I turned the pages, waiting to see what her next big idea would be. The romance aspect of the novel, which is billed as the main plot line on the back of the book, fell far short of Katrina's quest to save the business. Malcom, the angel, came across as provincial and two-dimensional. He only had a couple of scenes with Katrina and it wasn't at all apparent that he was attracted to her until the last couple of scenes. I love coffee, teen entreprenuers, and the idea of a wish-granting angel but, in the end, I wasn't really all that infatuated with <i>Coffeehouse Angel</i>.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-71312723864157385892009-08-02T12:20:00.000-07:002009-08-30T18:33:30.822-07:00Lips Touch by Laini Taylor Book Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTjEqIQIjqYlFHJtCjIDb44EzjUFAo6epET9HRqYb3pZ4PsF7UjSWEF_dllj72YgnWba-qQQE6kyypIJ6g34BjJ1STXwsR9VsCml6b5uENiNk9LBq0GaMOApx2MYFIdq-cRWq1Fh4X4_T/s1600-h/lipstouch.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTjEqIQIjqYlFHJtCjIDb44EzjUFAo6epET9HRqYb3pZ4PsF7UjSWEF_dllj72YgnWba-qQQE6kyypIJ6g34BjJ1STXwsR9VsCml6b5uENiNk9LBq0GaMOApx2MYFIdq-cRWq1Fh4X4_T/s320/lipstouch.gif" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:x-small;">Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor</span><br /><span style="font-size:x-small;">(Hardcover, Scholastic, October 2009)</span><br />Rating:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><br /><blockquote><br />"Kissing can ruin lives. Lips touch, sometimes teeth clash. New hunger is born with a throb and caution falls away."</blockquote><br /><i>Lips Touch</i> offers a trio of fairy-tale-esque stories, centered around the power of a kiss. In "Goblin Fruit," beautifully different Kizzy is tempted by a boy who is not all he seems and whose kiss could mean her ruin. Anamique's voice can kill humans or sway devils in "Spicy Little Curses Such as These." In "Hatchling," Esme's eyes change colors and, all of sudden, she has memories of kissing a fanged hunter.<br /><br />Reading <i>Lips Touch </i>is like slipping into a dark fantasy, one where the lines between truth and fiction blur and magic taints every breath. Whereas Laini's first novel <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/02/faeries-of-dreamdark-blackbringer-by.html"><i>Blackbringer</i></a> was for a middle grade audience, this collection is geared towards a teen audience. Temptation, lust, and love seep into each story, and it's easy to imagine yourself as one of the main characters...ordinary girls who are faced with extraordinary circumstances. Each of the three stories are short enough to read in one sitting; although, I would recommend rereading each one because of all the rich details. It's very hard to pick a favorite story of the three. Currently, I'm leaning towards "Spicy Little Curses Such As These" because the mythology of India fascinates me. All three stories could easily be spun into their own novels but I enjoyed the short story form used. It leaves the endings (and even some beginnings) open to the imagination which makes the stories all the more interesting.<br /><br />p.s. The book that I read is an ARC and doesn't have the final artwork on the inside pages. However, <a href="http://www.jimdibartolo.com/">Jim Di Bartolo</a>'s sketch art looks amazing and I can't wait to see it in its final color form! <br /><br />p.s.s. Laini is expecting a baby girl any day now! Go visit <a href="http://growwings.blogspot.com/">her blog</a> to see all her cute baby clothes and toys, and make sure to say hi while you're there!Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-15641697214087934022009-07-25T10:57:00.001-07:002009-08-30T13:08:42.998-07:00Playing With the Boys by Liz Tigelaar Book Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXE3gS3cI5IrWqIy6uHAAu5hYs34VOWOwmB25ZBAuuYtRJtmJO0QN-ql9_8P-UKz9RENA9lVzkE2LBBxc-mdhG7PMzL3aFdP1VWIdbzuanv2v3WGGFB43n6c7QKqQD8mBzFYj5MMmkfh2/s1600-h/playingwiththeboys.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXE3gS3cI5IrWqIy6uHAAu5hYs34VOWOwmB25ZBAuuYtRJtmJO0QN-ql9_8P-UKz9RENA9lVzkE2LBBxc-mdhG7PMzL3aFdP1VWIdbzuanv2v3WGGFB43n6c7QKqQD8mBzFYj5MMmkfh2/s320/playingwiththeboys.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362463618745708578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Playing With the Boys by Liz Tigelaar<br />(Paperback, Razorbill, $8.99)</span><br />Rating:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lucy Malone is a soccer player. So when she moves to a new town and tries out for her school's team, she's devastated when she doesn't make the cut. Lucy is convinced that soccer was her only chance to make new friends. Then the soccer coach suggests that she try out for place kicker on the boy's football team. With nothing to lose, Lucy tries out...and puts the boys to shame! Now Lucy is battling against the football coach, her teammates, and her dad to keep her spot on the team.<br /><br />I can't believe I waited so long to read this book! I loved Liz Tigelaar's <a href="http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2007/08/pretty-tough.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pretty Tough</span></a> about two sisters who try out for the same soccer team. Before I read <span style="font-style: italic;">Pretty Tough</span>, I didn't know much about soccer. <span style="font-style: italic;">Playing With the Boys</span> was pretty much the same experience but insert football as the sport. Luckily, Liz writes about sports in a way that even the most clueless will be able to follow along. Lucy plays football but her story really centers around her new friendships, crushing on the wrong boy, and finding her place at a new school. It's all about girl bonding and girl power. As with her first book, Liz Tigelaar shows that you can be pretty <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> tough.<br /><br />Read Little Willow's 2008 <a href="http://slayground.livejournal.com/373527.html">interview with Liz</a>.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-23302295421692320732009-07-12T16:15:00.000-07:002009-08-30T13:09:00.242-07:00The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan Book Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtpDbbOIXzgDKrFG1KORsfc6i1EBLtYonb_zivRLmU0c2YnRo8EDHg_6rxKSMUFfJ-PxXLBccJNe6pn-fAlfd-dCDkgvQPPmNF2KSq-zLqoHdxAwmmBiFfyUIyOgULZNBGimyymCSLk3Z/s1600-h/demonslexicon.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtpDbbOIXzgDKrFG1KORsfc6i1EBLtYonb_zivRLmU0c2YnRo8EDHg_6rxKSMUFfJ-PxXLBccJNe6pn-fAlfd-dCDkgvQPPmNF2KSq-zLqoHdxAwmmBiFfyUIyOgULZNBGimyymCSLk3Z/s320/demonslexicon.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352582982234912338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan<br />(McElderry Books, Hardcover, 2009)</span><br />Rating:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Nick and his brother Alan have always relied only on each other. Ever since their dad died at the hands of a magician, the two have taken care of each other and stayed one step ahead of the evil magicians. That changes when Mae and Jamie come to Nick for help. Jamie has been marked by a demon and Nick and Alan are his only hope. Nick is so used to walling himself off from people that he is caught off guard by his feelings for Mae. But more importantly, he needs to protect Alan from the magicians that are seeking them.<br /><br />Nick's isolated nature comes through the page and, at first, I found it hard to connect with him as a character. He pushes everyone away from him and his attitude towards Jamie and Mae was so frustrating. It was easy to get wrapped up in the setting and the magic of the story and then Nick would say or do something to make me want to shake him. As the story unravels, Nick's dislike of people is explained and my earlier inability to connect with him seemed like pure genius on the part of Sarah Rees Brennan. Alan, Mae, and Jamie are easy to like characters and I want to know the rest of their story. And as for Nick, well, I have a feeling that I'll be able to connect better with him in the sequel. The demons and magic in this story are seductive and dark. It was no stretch of the imagination to believe that the world depended on Nick and Alan's actions. Given the exciting ending, it will definitely be interesting to see where Sarah Rees Brennan takes the story next.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1349046498246767821.post-20107327990206398952009-07-07T17:22:00.000-07:002009-08-30T18:33:46.042-07:00The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han Book Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyst54qQDRHVGuk52tHaWDoOebJ5YKnMfsqGmgHhuJN7dVSOtSIgkdWp3o089Pu-L2ske9UxzPZKuxlnm8T6OeAuH_VPE8bY59gu1hGwfN3Z07yjqGJXJApwbhjvEcaiBiLSdkMy04Lb5/s1600-h/summerthatiturnedpretty.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyst54qQDRHVGuk52tHaWDoOebJ5YKnMfsqGmgHhuJN7dVSOtSIgkdWp3o089Pu-L2ske9UxzPZKuxlnm8T6OeAuH_VPE8bY59gu1hGwfN3Z07yjqGJXJApwbhjvEcaiBiLSdkMy04Lb5/s320/summerthatiturnedpretty.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352542705566895074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han<br />(Simon & Schuster, Hardcover, 2009)</span><br />Rating:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356395686184386" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGgKjE32ISgYmB21YM_vuXSRwqnGaRHz4KUaJvvHwwNG5A4rKNb-mj6FxYx_06oNF5HCg1izBSpDxDF90m6MI1Q4gxZ8JojpVqfxKmQjfRgUMLbqabCUfPhT1dLAXmdwzP9t2GEpDQny9/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356573216732050" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OqEM5bbsknj6JlsE_zhRXe-TH3IhVS0Cl9TKiABkfBRr_4lFqwyZoxVjd5wNI8OfSqXLuVrdR8AcXYnNPdkDsADjpt094yacd2gmalchbhfqngc9pM0JhJBlydQRR4MDCkqr1QIYRxI6/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s1600-h/starfish.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209356476228955666" style="cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyu3vZELrKeI9HTZrEvWCi8cu2Yue1mF0sEwnZAEtH5adwElcN2MZtzxsugtLRNGu7Up8ELFHp_RMKZkxIY5c-Ff4Okygae6ffX1AuQky0Fgk0Ip2aFkGz67jRfNkWzN_d9LAj4h3-aAN/s320/starfish.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some of Belly's best memories were made in the summer. Every June, she and her parents head to her mom's best friend's beach house and they stay until August. This summer, though, her dad isn't going and Belly's appearance has changed a lot since last summer. She's afraid that this summer will be different, that the two boys that she's know forever will be different. Jeremiah and Conrad have shared every summer with her but this summer everything changes.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Summer That I Turned Pretty</span> is filled with the nostalgia of summer and youth. Reading it, you can feel the sand between your toes and the rush of a summer night's kiss. Belly has had a crush on Conrad for most of her life, mostly just a silly little girl's crush on a boy who has been the hero of her summers. Jenny Han captures the innocence of a first love and the encroaching realities of adulthood. The part that I loved the most though was that Belly wasn't shaped by one talent. She plays tennis and she writes stories but neither of those things define her; more importantly, she's a girl in the middle of growing up, faced with tough decisions and the fear that this summer will irrevocably change her life for the worse. This is one of my favorite books of the summer because it so fully evokes the feeling of freedom and possibilities that summer brings. Plus, I wouldn't mind spending summers with Jeremiah and Conrad...Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00041695477739391198noreply@blogger.com11