Review: Ready or Not

Ready or Not, Meg Cabot's follow-up to All-American Girl, deals with a question that many teens have...is Sam ready...or not...to take her relationship to the next level. And yes, I mean the next level. As in S-E-X.

Review: Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo

Check out my review of Greg Leitich Smith's Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo, a fun tale of three friends trying to present a united front to that which is the Peshtigo school.

Interview: Clive Barker

This interview is actually from last November. My computer died (and I mean dead - the hard drive failed) in the middle of transcribing it and I had high hopes that the rest of the interview was on my tape recorder (which I finally found and unpacked). But sadly, it was not to be. I figured I'd go ahead and post what I had already transcribed (about 30 minutes worth of an hour and a half conversation). I would like to add that Clive Barker is just really super cool, very friendly, and a wonderful guy. I really enjoyed talking with him.

Here's just a peek:

Kimberly: Well, the next question…do you have any advice for young writers? They often like to look to authors to give them advice.

Clive: Sure, and I look towards them the same way. I mean, I look to Ray Bradbury and the people I adored when I was younger. I definitely sought advice by reading their interviews. I think the thing about the way the world is today is that everything is sort of compartmentalized and unfortunately, people come up to me and I say, you know, “I’m a writer” and they say “What kind of writer are you?” (I say) “Well, I write horror books, and I write some fantasy, and write some books for kids.” “But you can’t do that, you’ve got to be one or the other.” My thing is, take no notice of that. Be as big and as complicated and as rich a writer as you can possibly be. Because I think that the books which will last in people’s imagination won’t be the ones that fit meekly into a compartment. They will be the books…as Melville described Moby Dick, they look like unmade beds. They’re not too weak, they’re not too timid. I always like the raw quality about them and I think that’s something to try and encourage in other writers. Don’t be too polished. Polished is what lounge singers can be. Writers need to have a certain rawness and a certain truth to them. You need to speak from the heart.

Kid's Book Central now live!

You can now get to the site through the new URL of www.kidsbookscentral.com ! I'll be updating logos and things of that sort over the next few weeks, so stay tuned! And be sure to check out the new kid's book reviews as they are posted.

Interview: Chris Crutcher

I've interviewed Chris Crutcher in the past, but it's been a while and so it was time to catch up with him again. So check out the new interview and here's a sneak peek:

What do you envision happening in the YA field over the next 5-10 years?
It's hard to say. There is a large group of talented new writers on the horizon and many of them see young adult literature in the same way they see any other literature, which I think is an important thing. They are telling tough stories, funny stories, in the language kids know and can relate to, and they're doing it with lyricism that rivals some of the best adult literature. I'm hoping what will happen is that the line between the two can be erased to some degree and we can start looking at YA literature with the respect it deserves.

Call for Young Writers

Chicken Soup for the Soul Accepting Stories by Kids
We are accepting stories for Chicken Soup for the Kids Soul Too. Accepting stories about friendship, kindness, honesty, acceptance, responsibility, perseverance, generosity, bravery, gratitude and optimism. Send your TRUE story of a unique childhood experience to mail@lifewriters.com by August 15, 2005. Email Gina Romanello at Gina@lifewriters.com for writing guidelines. We pay $200 for chosen stories! Tell a kid you know to send in his/her true story!

Publishing Opportunity for Teens!
Got a powerful God story? Now accepting true God stories for TRUE Volume 2, the follow-up book to True: Real Stories About God Showing Up in the Lives of Teens. Topics to write about are sexual temptations, teen pregnancy, pressure to drink and do drugs, facing doubt and other teen challenges. We need stories by teens and adults remembering back about how their prayers were answered, they experienced miracles, overcame illness and addiction, and sensed God’s protection. Send stories to true@lifewriters.com. For more info, visit http://www.lifewriters.com/true.homepage.html

Newsletter Posted

The July newsletter has been sent out, and you can also view it online. The lucky subscriber who won the newsletter contest is 'emilyofmystery.'

Site Updates

Just a couple of small site updates today:

• Free Books page - added details about all the ways you can earn free books on the site.
• FAQs - added info on Kid's book reviewers + 3 more Q&As.

Review: How Angel Peterson Got His Name

A tale of extreme sports and derring-do from Gary Paulsen as he recounts the adventures of his childhood friends in How Angel Peterson Got His Name. Just how do boys make it to adulthood, anyway?

Review: On This Beautiful Island

A colorful and educational picture book from Edwin Fontanez, On This Beautiful Island introduces kids to an ancient people.

Young Writers Needed

I saw this in the Funds for Writer's Newsletter and thought some of my readership might be interested:

YOUNG WRITERS NEEDED!
Ever wished you had someone to talk to about your writing?
Ever get tired of the fact that being under drinking age keeps editors from treating you with respect? Now you have a place to go. We've developed a stable of serious volunteer mentors who want to give back to others and help young writers with their stories, poetry, screenplays, or novels.

C. Hope Clark of FundsforWriters.com fame and Elisabeth Wilhelm, published teen writer and editor of Absynthemuse.com, have teamed up to fill a void. Their mentor program gives young people ages 13 to 22 a chance to be taken seriously. This is their way of giving back to the writing community. Using their own adult/teen combo, they set the example for what mentoring can do for young people. Currently, they have 80 willing mentors and 30 eager teens having a ball.

We need more young writers so we can put these mentors to work!
Learn more at: http://mentoring.absynthemuse.com .
Direct questions to either hope@absynthemuse.com or lis@absynthemuse.com

Review: Ice Cream

Here is a cool treat on a hot summer day! The picture book Ice Cream tells the story of how our favorite dessert in a cone comes to be, beginning with the cow. The author manages to teach many amazing facts in short bits of text, while telling a satisfying tale.

Review: The A-List: Blonde Ambition

Zoey Dean's third A-List installment, Blonde Ambition, is another Hollywood hip story with backstabbing, movie stars, and sexy guy after sexy guy.

Review: Chameleon, Chameleon

Chameleon, Chameleon, a picture book by Joy Cowley, contains beautiful photographs by Nic Bishop. Reptile-lovers will enjoy hearing about the chameleon who leaves his tree home in search of food. The brightly-colored pictures of the journey are enough to make this book a must read.

Review: So Lyrical

Trish Cook's first novel, So Lyrical, is a blast of rock-n-roll, romance, and finding yourself. You'll enjoy Trace's journey to find her dad and herself.

Review: Swear to Howdy

Swear to Howdy is both cute, funny, and serious. Told in thirteen-year-old Rusty's voice, it's a story of his friendship with Joey Banks and how keeping a secret isn't always the right thing to do.

Review: Claws

Will Weaver's Claws is a book that stays with you for a few days after you've read it, thinking 'what if...' It's the story of Jed Berg, who has it all and then loses it all.

This Just in...

Well, today was a banner day at the Post Office. Here's the new incoming books:

• The Principles of Love by Emily Franklin
• Doogie Dork and the Storm by Mavis Tofte
• Dustin Grubbs: One Man Show by John J. Bonk
• The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman
• Grave Robbers by Bill Anders
• Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel
• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
• Always Friends: Kitty
• Always Friends: Rover
• Vampire Plagues: London, 1850 by Sebastian Rook
• Friends, edited by Ann M. Martin and David Levithan
• Maya Miguel: Neighborhood Friends by Crystal Velasquez
• Disappearance by Jude Watson
• Birdland by Tracy Mack
• The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding
• Bone: The Great Cow Race by Jeff Smith
• Chesnut Hill: The New Class by Lauren Brooke
• Johnny Hazard by Eddie de Oliveira
• The Legend of the Wandering King by Laura Gallego Garcia
• There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat by Lucille Colandro
• Clikits: Guide to Life by Robin Wasserman
• One Halloween Night by Mark Teague
• Super Bowl - Super Quarterbacks by Joe Layden
• Tonka: High Speed by Craig Robert Carey
• Rainbow Brite: True Colors by Quinlan B. Lee
• Winx Club: What are Friends For by Ellie O'Ryan
• How to Draw: Batman by Conrad Wells
• Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet by Lisa Desimini
• The Bumpy Little Pumpkin by Margery Cuyler
• Tick-Tock Sharks by Elizabeth Mills

Review: Counting in the Garden

Counting in the Garden by Kim Parker takes children on a colorful journey through a garden filled with flowers as they count from 1 to 10.

Get Well, Good Knight

Get Well, Good Knight is the adorable easy reader sequel to Good Night, Good Knight , and is another fun read-aloud. This time, those little dragons are under the weather. The Good Knight promises to make them feel better and--after a few disastrous cures--he finally does!

Good Night, Good Knight

In Good Night, Good Knight, a charming easy reader, which also functions as a great read-aloud picture book, a Good Knight endeavors to get three little dragons to go to sleep. Children will relate to the jammie-clad dragons, while parents will see themselves as the Good Knight!

Company's Coming

Company's Coming and you'll never guess who it is--two guests from outer space who drop in on Shirley and Moe. They're invited to dinner, which causes quite a hubbub among Shirl and Moe's relatives--and the FBI!--in this quirky picture book.

To Market, To Market

Kids (and their readers) should adore this picture book, a brand new take on the old nursery rhyme. In To Market, To Market, the middle-aged shopper brings home animals that turn her house into happy chaos--as we see in the wonderful illustrations. Luckily, there's a perfect solution to make everyone satisfied.

Review: The Seven Silly Eaters

If you've ever tried to feed a picky eater, you'll sympathize with poor Mrs. Peters who must warm milk to a perfect temperature, squeeze lemonade (pink!), and on and on for her brood. The Seven Silly Eaters is a delightful warm, loving, and funny read-aloud told in rhyme.

Review: Throwback

Throwback, by Dave Conifer, is the story of a nineteen year-old who goes back to high school under a fake identity to try and reclaim his former wrestling glory. A good read, and I learned a ton about wrestling.

Review: Pete's A Pizza

Pete's a Pizza instead of a glum boy who cannot go outside to play on a rainy day, thanks to the joyful game Pete's dad makes up. This is a simple story with charming illustrations--and is one of my favorite picture books.

Review: The Squishiness of Things

It's rough being a genius who knows everything (not like I would know)--and then be stymied by something as simple as one hair. Sure, I stumbled over a few words but The Squishiness of Things looks and reads like a slyly funny classic. Check it out!

Review: The Alphabet Keeper

This picture book celebrates wordplay, incorporating a hilarious adventure story about runaway letters of the alphabet. I love The Alphabet Keeper for its creativity, subtle phonics lessons, and wacky illustrations.

What I'm Reading Now

• Throwback
• How Angel Peterson Got His Name
• Lulu Dark Can See Through Walls
• Gingerbread

Some old, some new. Look for those reviews (and many others) soon.

Bio: Terry Collins

Author bio for Terry Collins has been updated by the author on the site.

Petition to Stop Poetry Award Scams

There's a petition going around to try and stop Poetry.com and others of their ilk from duping unsuspecting poets out of money. Basically, what they (allegedly) do is accept every poem sent to them and then try to sell you a $30+ book and other items commemorating your 'reward.' Please see Poetry Scams for more info (it's a wee bit vitriolic, but overall it's right).

Interview: Kate Brian

Kate Brian is the author of this month's publisher-sponsored give away: Lucky T and the soon to be released Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys. Get the scoop on her in this interview.

What were your favorite authors when you were growing up?
I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder and Lucy Maud Montgomery. I read Little House in the Big Woods and Anne of Green Gables and all the books in their series over and over again. I think I was supposed to be born in the 1800's as a precocious girl with braids. Of course, then I wouldn't have that IPOD.

Review: Uglies

Scott Westerfeld's Uglies is a must-read for science fiction fans and a very thought-provoking novel about the nature of beauty, honor, and trust. I highly recommend this one.

Review: Dad, Are You the Tooth Fairy?

Jason Alexander's (he of Seinfeld fame) Dad, Are You the Tooth Fairy? is a surprisingly touching tale about the nature of the real tooth fairy.

Review: Russell the Sheep

The perfect bedtime picture book, Russell the Sheep is the delightful tale of a sheep who can't sleep. Will he EVER get some Z's?

Interview: Emily Franklin

My interview with Emily Franklin, author of the new Principles of Love (Love Bukowski, isn't that a great name?) is now up!

How did the name ‘Love Bukowski’ come to you?
Love (her name and her back story) came to me in a rare moment of rush hour calm. I liked the contradiction between her rather cutesy first name and her long, literary last name. Then I tried to figure out what her parents were like if they’d given her “Love” as a name for any particular reason - which you find out much later in the series.

Interview: Gary and Louis Gallegos

My interview with the quiet and shy (their words, not mine!) guys Gary and Louis Gallegos is now up. Authors of the new comic book anime adventure The Wandering Schoolgirl, the brothers once both worked for Walt Disney Animation.

What is the process for writing a comic book-style book?
Pretty much like writing a regular book at first. Coming up with the idea, characters and story. Making plot outlines and writing a script. Then comes designing the look of the characters and the world they occupy. Followed by storyboarding the scenes and actual production of the drawings. Even though the script contained dialogue, we actually added most of the dialogue as we were drawing the pictures. We enjoy improvising.

The authors have also kindly offered to donate 5 books to give away in December, so keep an eye out for that! We're going to have a blast of give aways around the Holidays!

New Logo! and Call for Logos!

New temporary logo up...



Let me know what you think. I'd love it if people send in some new logos. Shoot, and if I use it, you can have a book. The only limitation is that the height needs to be around 100 pixels and the width around 300. I'd love to see what you come up with.

Site Update: Kids & YA Reviews

Well, finally! I've made a major site change to split out the Kid's book reviews from the YA book reviews. So now, you'll find the following review categories:

» YA Book Reviews Young Adult (sometimes called teen, sometimes called juvies) book reviews, primarily by the YA Books Goddess, Kimberly Pauley (no, I don't make my husband call me that). These are books that will appeal primarily to those aged 10 and up, though there is crossover especially on the borderline.

» Kid's Book Reviews Kid's book reviews, including picture books, early readers, and all that jazz. Primarily targeted for those aged 1 - 8. For information on the reviewers, see the About This Site page. [Soon to be filled with reviews from our lovely new reviewers: Terry Miller Shannon, Kim Peek, Terrance McArthur, and Tasha Saecker!!]

» Reader Book Reviews Read hundreds of book reviews submitted by readers like yourself or submit your own to share your opinion.

Love to hear your comments on the change!

Do Chain Stores Change How Kids Think About Books?

Interesting article on the Book Standard by Rachael Deahl about how chain stores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders are conditioning kids on the books they buy (and killing smaller, more personal stores, perhaps in the process).

Excerpt:
“Chains on campus create brand loyalty among students,” says Jennifer Chang Coupland, an assistant professor of marketing at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. According to Coupland, the chain retailers on the Penn State campus, including a Barnes & Noble–run college bookstore and food storefronts from Sbarro and Panda Express, are getting early consumer buy-in. It’s the “mere exposure effect,” Coupland explains, by which people exposed repeatedly to a brand name become unconsciously attached to it. They see it, interact with it and, after time, come to identify with it.

Check out the full article.

Kid's Book Reviewers Found!

Not only have I found someone to do reviews of kids books for the site, I found 4 somebodies! And not just anybodies, either. These are some book-loving people. Please welcome:

• Tasha Saecker, a librarian and experienced blogger
• Kim Peek, an aspiring writer and cool blogger
• Terry Miller Shannon, a picture book author and experienced reviewer
• Terrance V. McArthur, a librarian and forum regular

Stay tuned for a brand new section on the site!

Review: Storky

Storky: How I Lost My Nickname and Won the Girl is Debra Garfinkle's first book. Told through Mike's (Mike "Storky" Pomerantz) journal, you'll both laugh and cry along with him.

Review: The Wandering Schoolgirl

My review of Gary and Louis Gallegos' The Wandering Schoolgirl, a comic book novel about a girl who is transported into the world of anime, is now up.

Outgoing...and Incoming

Today's outgoing:

• Teen Angst? Nah
• The Dating Game
• The Go Ask Alice Book
• Princess in the Spotlight
• No Body's Perfect
• Crystal of the Dragons
• I am the Messenger

New Incoming...

• Make Me a Pop Star by Michelle Tauber
• Jailbait by Leslea Newman
• Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo by Greg Leitich Smith
• Tofu and T. Rex by Greg Leitich Smith
• How the Russian Snow Maiden Helped Santa Claus by Gail Buyske

MJ Rose - Good Cause Blog-A-Thon

From author M. J. Rose's blog:
Introducing the first "GOOD BOOKS/GOOD CAUSE BLOG-A-THON" campaign

The goal of this two-week campaign is to connect book lovers with a good cause and a great summer read via the vidlit for THE HALO EFFECT. I've secured pledges from real-life supporters - my publisher, agent, family and friends – who will collectively donate $5 to the nonprofit literacy organization, Reading Is Fundamental , for each website or blog that links to the Vidlit for THE HALO EFFECT before July 19. The goal is to get at least 500 blogs to link and raise $2500+ for the charity.

Author Bios: Sherry Shahan & Barbara Watkins

New bios from authors Sherry Shahan and Barbara Watkins have been posted. Check 'em out.

Reinstating the Forum Contest

I'm in the mood to give away more books, so I'm going to reinstate the forum contest I used to run. Basically, every post you make in the forum gives you an entry. At the end of the month I get the list of everyone who posted and how many posts they made, dump it in a spreadsheet, and generate a winner using a randomizing function in Excel. So it's super easy to enter. All you have to do is post.

To sign up for the forum (it's run on Delphi's software), go to http://forums.delphiforums.com/yabookscentral/start and start posting away! Just make sure that you put in your correct e-mail address in your Delphi profile, since that's how I will be notifying you if you're the winner.

So now there are 4 ways, count 'em - 4 ways, to win/earn books on the site:

1. Forum Contest - every post is an entry
2. Newsletter Contest - random drawing from subscribers
3. Write Reviews - every 15 you submit earns a book
4. Monthly Publisher Sponsored Giveaway - this month - Lucky T

Wanted: Kid's Book Reviewer

I'm looking for someone (or more than one, maybe) to review picture books and early readers for Young Adult Books Central. I'm afraid I can't afford to pay anything for it, but what I can do is:

• Set you up with the publishers I normally work with to get all the free review copies you can handle. And I'd start you off with a box of picture books I've been meaning to get to.
• Your byline would appear on all reviews you write.
• I will create a separate section on the site called "Kids Book Corner" or something of that nature, so that your reviews would be highlighted and not mixed in with the general reader reviews received. We could discuss that if you have ideas for what you'd like to call it.
• Your bio would appear on the "About This Site" page.
• You would retain copyright, if you happen to want to place the review somewhere else (though it will remain up on the site).

What I'm looking for is someone to write at least one review a week. No set word count, but something around the length of my normal YA reviews. I would set you up with an admin account so you would be able to do all of it via the Web.

If you're interested, please e-mail me at kim@yabookscentral.com and tell me a) why you're interested and b) any qualifications you have. Thanks!

Holey Toledo, Submissions!

Well, I'd finally caught up (nearly) on the books and reviews people had submitted to the site, approving over 60 book reviews yesterday. Then I check this morning and overnight someone or multiple someones have submitted an additional 63 authors and 224 books. Yikes! I've never had that many submissions in one day before. So, it'll take me a while to get them all approved. Be on the lookout for a ton of new books added to the site.

Anyone want to volunteer to help? ;-)

Review: Lucky T

My review of Kate Brian's Lucky T (you can enter to win a copy this month) is now up. Selfish and self-absorbed in the beginning of the book, Carrie grows up on a trip to India to locate her lucky t-shirt after her mother accidentally donates it to a charity.

Cynthia's Attic?

Someone submitted a book to the database called Cynthia's Attic: The Search for the Missing Locket with no author noted. I can't locate a book by that title anywhere, so if you were the one who submitted it (or have heard of it), please e-mail me with some more information.

Contest: Win Lucky T by Kate Brian

July's giveaway officially kicked off today (newsletter subscribers got an extra chance to enter - hint, hint, you should subscribe to the newsletter...). Enter to win a copy of Kate Brian's new novel Lucky T.

I'm giving away 5 copies, kindly supplied by Simon & Schuster. Contest ends July 31, 2005.