New Feature: WYSIWIG Editor

Please check this out and let me know if you have any problems at all. I've added a new WYSIWIG (what you see is what you get) editor to the submit reviews form on the website. I'll be adding it elsewhere as well (news items, press releases, author bios, etc.).

I hope this is a feature you'll like! Now you can bold, italicize, use bullets, etc. without hand coding the HTML.

Review: Love, Splat by Rob Scotton

The perfect Valentine for a beloved little one in your life, the rambunctious Splat is back for another adventure in this second book of Rob Scotton's new series!

Review: Harper Lee (Up Close) by Kerry Madden

Harper Lee (Up Close) by Kerry Madden is a rare glimpse into the very guarded and private life of the author of To Kill a Mockingbird.

A book designed to make readers feel intimate with its subject, this one is a must-read for curious people.

Check it out!

Tour Stop: Sarah Mlynowski

After reading a couple of books in the Magic in Manhattan series (http://www.magicinmanhattan.com/), YABC reviewer, Julie Prince, just had to chat with the author, Sarah Mlynowski.

The series stars hilarious teenage witch, Rachel Weinstein, who discovers that her little sister has magical powers. No fair! Rachel wants to be a witch too! Could it be that witchcraft runs in her family?

The newest book in the series, Parties & Potions, is in stores now, and luckily for Julie and YABC readers, Mlynowski is doing a blog tour to spread the word. The perfect opportunity to chat!

The question on Julie's mind was: how did this author take the common story element of a teenage witch and put her own spin on it? So, she asked Sarah Mlynowski to take over this very blog post to respond.

Here's Sarah:

When I took creative writing courses back in college, my teachers always told me how important it was to draw from real life. The more real my stories were, the more readers would relate to my characters and the more convincing the stories would be. It didn’t matter what we were writing—science fiction, romance, fantasy--whatever it was, our stories would be stronger if instead of relying on clichés or assumptions we grounded them with real characters, real details, real feelings.

So when I decided that it was time to start working on a YA novel, obviously I had to write about being a witch. Because, you know—zap, poof—I am one.

Okay, fine, I’m not a witch. But I really, really wanted to write about magic. I have always been obsessed with magic. When I was a kid my two favorite movies were The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. I tapped my Keds together and tried to go home. I attempted to use The Force to open and close my blinds. I made voodoo dolls of my evil ex-boyfriends and poked them in inappropriate places. Unfortunately, I have no magical powers. Zip. Zero. I don’t even have a sixth sense. If I think it’s going to be a beautiful spring day, it’ll almost certainly be earmuff weather.

But what I do have is a younger sister. And no, much to her dismay, she’s not a witch either. But she:

· is a size two
· is a D-cup
· can sing. And I mean, really, Ariel from Little Mermaid sing
· can dance
· has a small, adorable chin
· can get up onstage and repeat memorized lines

I, on the other hand:

· am not a size two
· am not a D-cup
· break mirrors when I am attempting to sign anything, even Happy Birthday
· look like Elaine in Seinfeld when I dance, or like I’ve just stuck my finger into an electric socket
· have a chin the size of a small island
· cannot memorize anything. The one time I was ever in a play, I forgot my one and only line and stood frozen onstage wishing I was back at school, writing a chemistry exam. (And I was no good at Chemistry—who could remember that entire periodic table?)

Anyway, you can see that my little sis has a few advantages. And that’s where I got the idea for Bras & Broomsticks, the first book in my Magic in Manhattan series. I knew I wanted to write about a girl discovering that she has magical powers. Because every girl kind of wishes she discovers she has magical powers, right? I know I did. But what if you found out that yes, witchcraft does exist, but it’s not you who has the supernatural capabilities…it’s your younger sibling?

Now that was something I could relate to.

Julie:

Ha! That does make an awesome premise and it's obvious you had a lot of fun with it. Thanks so much for guest blogging here at YABC!

Sarah's books can be found at http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385736459

or http://www.amazon.com/Parties-Potions-Magic-Manhattan-Mlynowski/dp/0385736452.

If you want to follow the rest of Sarah's blog tour, check out these links:

Teen Book ReviewJocelyn PearceWednesday 1/14http://teenbookreview.wordpress.com/

The Well Read ChildJill TulloThursday 1/15http://wellreadchild.blogspot.com/

Shopping DiaryMelissa de la CruzFriday 1/16
http://melissa-delacruz.com/index.php/diary/

Page FlipperChelsea SwiggettTuesday 1/20http://thepageflipper.blogspot.com/

E. LockhartWednesday 1/21http://www.theboyfriendlist.com/

BildungsromanAllieThursday 1/22http://slayground.livejournal.com/

Ally's BlogAlly CarterMonday 1/26http://www.allycarter.com/blog.html

CynsationsCynthia Leight SmithTuesday 1/27http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/

Random Buzzers1/28 - 2/6http://www.randombuzzers.com/

Review: The Sweetheart of Prosper County

The Sweetheart of Prosper County follows fifteen year old Austin Gray from one Christmas to the next. Next year she wants to be the Sweetheart of Prosper County and be the hood ornament on the lead car in the no-Jesus Christmas parade. However, there are problems. The reigning queen, Sundi Knutt has curves in all the right places. Austin is as straight and thin as an arrow. Also, you need to have won a blue ribbon in the Prosper County Fair and Austin hasn't done that. Thirdly, you need to get voted in and Austin doesn't know any of the kids in the FFA, Future Farmers of America, the group from which the Sweetheart is chosen.

So, Austin sets upon a plan: join the FFA, raise a rooster and enter him in the fair and become shoo-in for Sweetheart. The question is whether her best friend Maribel will support her (of course she will) and whether Austin will get derailed by the razzing of town pest, Dean Ottmer, or by her over protective mother.

The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander is a cute, make you smile book that takes place in Big Wells, rural Texas. You'll like the place, Austin and the other characters (especially the Elvis Impersonator...excuse me Elvis Performing Artist) and the action. So, entertain yourself by reading this book. Yeee-hawwwwww!!!

Review: 3-D Atlas and World Tour

3-D Atlas and World Tour is more vacation than book.

Review: Kids in the Holiday Kitchen

Don't be fooled by Kids in the Holiday Kitchen. We aren't just talking the holidays that happen in December.

Born to Read

Judy Sierra's newest picture book, Born to Read, is one I'm a little conflicted over, but it is sure to charm many children.

Books are for Reading

Are books for reading...or eating? A cute new book -- with teethers! -- for any little peanut cutting some teeth. Check out Suzy Becker's Books are for Reading.

9 Lives Trilogy: I Will Survive

In the first book of the 9 Lives Trilogy: I Will Survive, Joshua (who has FAS) narrowly escapes disaster many times to finally end up with his "forever family"

Looking for the Next YABC Teen Demi-God or Demi-Goddess

So, some of you might be wondering what the heck happened with the YABC Teen Demi-God or Goddess search that usually kicks off in December? Well, I thought we'd do something a bit different this year. Rather than the official teen reviewer of YABC being a yearly position, I'd like to make it a more permanent fixture. Kind of.

Basically, whoever applies and is accepted for the official YABC Teen Reviewer Demi-God or Demi-Goddess spot is the Demi-God or Demi-Goddess until they either a) quit (for some unknown reason (I guess snail mail life sometimes takes precedence, huh?), b) or are no longer a teen (i.e. they turn twenty), or c) I have to ask them to step down (like if things aren't working out for some unknown reason...which hopefully won't ever happen!).

So...would YOU like to be the next Official YABC Teen Reviewer?

Here are the requirements:

• Be between the ages of 13 and 19
• Be able to contribute at least one (but preferably more) reviews a month to YABC
• Be able & willing to check your YABC teenreviewer@yabookscentral.com email inbox at least once a week
• (Optional) Interview authors

You get...

• Your bio on the website
• Bragging rights :-)
• A YABC email address
• The opportunity to learn about the latest books & authors
• As many free books as you can review and possibly some other "swag" as well

If you are interested, email me at kim@yabookscentral.com with the following:

• Your name
• Your age
• Why you want to be the next Official YABC Teen Reviewer
• Why you think *you* would be the best candidate for the job
• How many reviews you think you can do a month
• A sample review (can be one you posted previously on YABC)

Good luck, everyone!

Book Review: Vibes

How would your life be different if you were a high school co-ed and could read peoples minds? In Vibes, Amy Kathleen Ryan's second novel, Kristi is just such a person. She knows that her friend Jacob thinks a lot about her ginormous gazungas. She knows that the word "sick" comes into his mind when gorgeous Gusty Peterson passes her in the hall. Then again, she doesn't need to read minds to know that her ex-best friend Hildie and anorexic beauty Eva Kearns-Tate (aka Evil Incarnate) both hate her.

Kristi is a loner. It's she and her cat. Her mom works all hours and her dad ran away two years ago. So, she's had little in the way of rewarding, trust building human contact recently.

This is all about to change. Kristi’s mother becomes Chief of Surgery working normal hours. Her father decides to pay a visit after two years. And she’s partnered with Gusty for the school’s self improvement Character Education Project. What else can happen?

Vibes is a joy to read. The characters are great. The story is fun and funny and sad. The writing is descriptive. You get the feeling that Ms. Ryan enjoyed writing Vibes as much as you'll enjoy reading it. So pick it up. You won't regret it.

Questions from Little Hearts

My review of Questions from Little Hearts is up now. It's a picture-book collection perfect for Christian parents wanting to share stories with their little ones.

Shipment Notice: 1/8/09 (and previously...)

The following were mailed out today:

Katherine Burgess > > > > Read and Learn Bible
Katherine Burgess > > > > Quilt of Belonging
Nadine-Stella Achenjang > > > > Hot Girl
Cara Vrana > > > > Sucks to Be Me signed to Cara
Dara Nikolova > > > > Murkmere
Jill Lear > > > > The Dragon in the Sock Drawer
Judy Brittle > > > > Cabo & Coral
Lexi Henshel > > > > Swede Dreams
Jane Moran > > > > Crispin
Megan Earley > > > > Hershey Herself
Megan Earley > > > > Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians
Liz Campbell > > > > The 13th Reality
Dwan Proctor > > > > Strange Relations
Nurin Chatur > > > > Cupcake
Cheyenne Schroeder > > > > The Lab
Sherry Prasad > > > > Cracked Up to Be
Rachael Stein > > > > The Wright 3
Rachael Stein > > > > Hell Week
Vanessa M. > > > > Read My Lips
Lauren Becker > > > > The Center of the Word

And these were mailed out previously (all should have been received by now):

Lauren Becker > > > > Generation Dead
LaTonya M. Baldwin > > > > Things I Have to Tell You
Hillary Krajewski > > > > Breaking Dawn
Denise Tran > > > > Wherever Nina Lies
Avni Gupna > > > > Generation Dead
Linh Tran-Phuong > > > > The Center of the Universe
Joan > > > > Too Many Curses
Joan > > > > Triskellion

I do have more to send, I just couldn't carry any more at once! And geez, it was cold! 16 degrees today! Poor little Max didn't like that one bit!

Review: This Full House

This Full House by Virginia Euwer Wolff is the final book of the Make Lemonade Trilogy. In the book are the same characters (LaVaughn, Jolly and her children, Annie and Myrtle, Patrick and Jody). LaVaugh is a senior in high school and a student in the advanced program, Women in Medical Science. Her professor, Dr. Moore, is energetic and committed. Rumors abound that she lost a baby daughter, thus her commitment to furthering women in the profession. LaVaughn sees many similarities between Dr. Moore and Jolly, LaVaughn's 17 year old single mother friend. Could they be related?

In another story line, Annie gets pregnant by one of her evangelical friends who decides fatherhood is not for him. LaVaughn and Myrtle must get her through the pregnancy.

Of course, Patrick is still around and hung up on LaVaughn and Jody is still around as LaVaughn tries to undo her crush on him.

While twice the length of the other books in the trilogy, This Full House is still quite readable, although somewhat repetitive. LaVaughn is her own person. She goes where her conscience tells her to go. Her concern about getting into college is realistic. Her indecision about friends and family and life is normal for a seventeen year old. Wolff has again scored big with this book. Her fans and LaVaughn's fans won't be disappointed.