GoldenGirl: A Bradford Novel by Micol Ostow

In western Philadelphia, there's a wealthy area of suburbs called the Main Line in which the posh and the pretty play by day and party by night. Now, readers can journey there, thanks to The Bradford Novels by Micol Ostow. Set an a private school, these books are filled with blog entries brimming with gossip, secrets, and lies. Fans of the Gossip Girl series and the Pretty Little Liars books will definitely like the Bradford novels. Continue reading this book review at the YABC site!

The blogs are also online, plus websites for their school and favorite hangouts. The main characters also have profiles at networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Learn more about the sites and stuff.

Review: The Girls

A quick synopsis of Tucker Shaw’s The Girls--Peg and Mary are roommates and best friends at Maroon Bell’s School for Girls (MBSG). Amber is the barista at Timberlake, the local Starbucks equivalent, and the local gossip dispenser. Sylvia is the rich, plastic Goth girl troublemaker.

On the Sunday after winter break, Peg overhears Amber saying that Mary's boyfriend, Steve, is cheating on her and going out with Crystal. Should Peg tell Mary? What should a best friend do? Sylvia is also at Timberlake and overhears Amber as well.

Sylvia, forever causing trouble, gives Mary a belated holiday present—a gift card to Timberlake, knowing that Amber will spill the beans about Steve the minute she sees Mary. Once Mary knows, what’s next? Well, that’s actually for you to find out when you read The Girls.

I read The Girls in a day, smiling the whole way through. You’ll like everyone...well, almost everyone. There are a few more wrinkles than I’ve mentioned here. But it’s all good fun. And, since Peg went to culinary school, there are recipes. My only complaint is that there aren’t enough recipes! Anyway, if you want an escape, The Girls is for you. And be sure to read Tucker Shaw's other book Flavor of the Week.

Notice for winners of Dog Lost and What I Saw and How I Lied

Hey everyone! Just an update -- I contacted the publisher and somehow my original emails to them with the prize winners got lost but now they've definitely got them and will be sending out the books shortly. Thanks!

Book Review: Gravity

A book about an Orthodox Jewish girl is not typically of general interest, but Gravity, Leanne Lieberman's debut novell, is an exception. The issues that sixteen-year-old Ellie faces are faced by most teens in one form or another: faith, sexuality and family.

Ellie’s “reborn Jewish” parents are going to Israel for the month of August. Ellie is going to her Bubbie’s (grandmother’s) summer lake cottage. Her older sister, Neshama, is a counselor at an all girl summer camp.

At the lake, Ellie meets Lindsay and is attracted to her immediately. As the story progresses, the reader learns that Ellie has been attracted to girls before but never acted upon it. However, Lindsay initiates a kiss and Ellie is a willing partner. Ellie must determine whether or not she is a lesbian. She must balance this against her religious beliefs and her family.

Most teens grapple with Ellie's issues and Lieberman handles them well. The characters and situations are real. The writing is simple, straight-forward and descriptive. The action is well paced. You as a reader will really like Ellie and Neshama and their family. You will empathize with their feelings and beliefs. You will feel satisfied with the story’s ending. You will enjoy Gravity.

Book Review: Graceling

Graceling, Kristin Cashore's first novel, is hard to put down. Katsa is sixteen years old and a super human fighter. Po is the seventh son of King Ror of Leonid. They meet when Katsa resuces Po's grandfather who has been kidnapped.

In the Seven Kingdoms, there are people who have superhuman talents. Katsa's is her ability to fight. Po's is his ability to know what people are thinking. Together they wander through the Seven Kingdoms searching for Grandfather's kidnappers and trying to understand why he was kidnapped in the first place.

Their wanderings lead to many things: a deep understanding of and love for each other, family tragedy, and discovery of many wonderful things. Po nurtures Katsa, convincing her to revel in her powers, not wallow in them.

Graceling is a wonderful fantasy. It is well written. Its characters are well developed, both the likeable and unlikeable. The description of the locales in which it takes place and the journey are marvelous. If you like to be carried to far away places and enjoy a land that is not your own, Graceling is just the book for you.

An imaginative journey!

If you're looking for a fun road trip to share at bedtime with your little ones, I highly recommend this exuberant picture book by Marjorie Priceman, How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A. You can read my review at the YABC website, http://yabookscentral.com/

Winners of What I Saw and How I Lied!

Dang, sorry everyone! I thought I'd posted these winners before! Here they are:

sharyl guilmette
Timothy Winslow
Samantha Pruitt
Rachel Cornelius
Melissa Darwin
Zara Heflin
Alison Dellenbaugh
Ryan Donovan
Grace Parker
Lela Xhindoli
Christine Pearson
Lisa Schensted
Nancy Collins
Art Beaudet
Bonnie Levy
Denise Neary
Douglas Sutherland, Jr.
Eleanor Barbour
Diana Luce
Teresa Garner
Nancy Sanchez
Brandi Reynolds
Lucile
angela
Danielle Bianchini

Your prizes are being mailed by the publisher! :-)

What is God Like? reviewed...

My review of What Is God Like has been posted. This is a beautifully illustrated picture book--though not for the youngest of readers since the text is very wordy--still it's nicely done.

Book Review: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman (author of Singing the Dogstar Blues) is an amazing book. That's the only thing to say about it. Rather than giving you a summary, I'll just state some points of interest. It takes place in feudal China or Japan. It deals with the Chinese zodiac which is based on 12 animals. In Eon, each animal is a dragon and each dragon has a Dragoneye, a person who can harness the power of the dragon. Lord Ido is the Rat Dragon ascendant, meaning after having served his 12 year apprentice, he's rising to power. He's a vicious, power-hungry man.

Eon, is 16 and trying to become the next Rat Dragoneye apprentice. However, there many things that may stop her from achieving her goal, including the fact that she is female. Her loyalty is to the current Emperor and his heir apparent, Prince Kygo, in opposition to Lord Ido.

I can’t rave enough about Eon: Dragoneye Reborn. It will interest both boys and girls. The characters are extraordinary. The action is non-stop. The suspense is chilling. The writing superb. I read the last 200 pages almost non-stop. Simply put, it is a MUST-READ.

Win a LOOK WHO ROCKS Box from Nancy Viau!

Nancy Viau is giving away a box of goodies to four lucky teachers! In Nancy's book, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head, Samantha loves science (especially rocks), but she also loves school and her fourth grade teacher. So Nancy has come up with gift box for teachers and students to share. Go to http://www.nancyviau.com/ and send Nancy an email about a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade teacher who rocks, or about a third, fourth, or fifth grade class that rocks. Please include the school’s name and address, too. Winners will be announced March 1, April 1, May 1, and June 1, and will be notified by email. They'll receive a box filled with:

• One signed copy of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks In Her Head


• A complete rock collection, similar to the one Sam creates for a school project


• Signed bookmarks for everyone


• A teacher’s guide


• Bunny Yum cake mix and icing (You’ll understand how this fits when you read the book.)


• Super-secret Sam stuff


• And...Each of the four winning classrooms will get a chance to know Nancy a little better because she'll chat with them either in person, or via instant message or email!

AND REMEMBER, you don't have to BE a teacher to nominate a teacher and/or a class. Anybody can nominate!! GET ROCKIN'! Drawing ends May 31rst.

Book Review: Let It Snow

Can the worst blizzard in 50 years be the setting for three love stories? You bet it can, if the stories are in Let It Snow. Jubilee's train from Maryland to Florida crashes into a snow drift. With no possibility of continuing the journey for hours, she gets off the train in Gracetown, NC and walks to the local waffle house where she meets Stuart. What about Noah, her boyfriend? Hmmmm!!

What do a bunch of high school cheerleaders attract? Yep. Boys. So Tobin and JP and their female friend The Duke, head on over to the Waffle House to ogle cheerleaders. Actually, that's what Tobin and JP want to do. The Duke just wants hash browns. Or, is that what she really wants?

Finally, there's Addie who just broke up with Jeb (who was on Jubilee's train) because she kissed Charlie after she and Jeb had a fight. Jeb never showed up to her reconciliation invitation. Does he still love her?

This is just a little taste of this delightful book. John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle have written a thoroughly enjoyable book for guys and girls. The stories are fun. The characters are strange but loveable. The writing is wonderful. Winter, spring, summer or fall, this is just a fun-to-read book.

Thank You, God

My review of a picture book, Thank You, God is up now. It's a sweet little book of quotes.

Book Review: 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows

3 Willows by Ann Brashares will not disappoint fans of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants fans. Instead of the four Traveling Pants girls, 3 Willows has three, Ama, Jo and Polly. It's the summer after eighth grade and the Sisterhood is a legend in their Bethesda high school. Ama, Jo and Polly formed their own sisterhood in third grade, but now their friendship is waning.

This summer, Ama, the studious one is mountain climbing in Wyoming. Jo is at her summer house on the shore, but her father won't be coming out on weekends like used to. Polly is babysitting and going to modeling camp for two weeks. Each of the girls has issues they have to face by summer's end.

Of course there are boy issues as well. Jo met a guy who has a girlfriend. Ama's to shy to pursue the boy in her mountain climbing group.

Ann Brashares continues her Sisterhood success with another sisterhood. 3 Willows is easy and fun to read. The characters are likeable. The events are interesting. The conclusions happy and predictable. It's a winning formula. I'm betting there will be a second, third and fourth Willows book as Ama, Jo and Polly make their way through high school.

Site News & February 09 Giveaways!

I've got all kinds of news for you today!

I've updated the FAQs on the site. One in particular that I wanted to point out (especially to authors and publishers) is this one:

Do you ever not review a book sent to you?
Yes. At this point, YABC receives so many books for review that there is no way to review them all, even with all of the (awesome!) volunteer reviewers who work on the site. And for me personally (the YA Books Goddess), I'm also spending as much time as I can on writing and on my baby boy, so I don't have nearly the time I used to have to work on YABC. At times, books will also not be reviewed because the reviewer didn't like it or because it is the umpteenth book in a series (we can't possibly review every book in a series!). Books that are not reviewed eventually wind up in either the Prize Bucket or are donated to a worthy cause.

There are other updates as well, so take a look. And, as always, feel free to suggest a question that needs to be answered. :-)

Now for the good stuff: the Feb 09 Giveaways!! Yay! I've got three great ones for you this month. As always, thank you to the publishers for sponsoring these giveaways and good luck to everyone who enters!

1. Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
2. 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
3. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Be sure to enter by the end of the month!

And, in other news, YABC's sponsor this month is the lovely Allison Van Diepen! Find out about her new book Raven (sweeeeet cover, btw!). Look for the banner ad in rotation on the site.

And in other news...I'm working on trying to add a WYSIWIG editor to the site so you can do fancy stuff like using bold and italics and whatnot when you submit things. Wish me luck! I haven't programmed in a while!