Teen Demi-Goddess Semi-Finalists need your vote!

Okay, here are the two final review submissions for the Teen Demi-Goddess semi-finalists. Please read through them carefully and then vote in the poll located in the sidebar.

Melanie's Submission
Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart

The ghosts in this book aren’t things that go bump in the night. Instead, they are far subtler. They are the things in our pasts and our future that keep us awake during the night and wake us up in the morning. Katie D’amore’s mother has died, leaving Katie and her father in a house that is too big. Where her life and laughter once resided there is now only quiet.

This summer, Katie is going to work at the home of the town’s recluse. Miss Martine hasn’t been seen in years, and Katie begins to suspect that the story behind her disappearance might be worth discovering. As she and others go on a journey to discover one truth, they might discover others, including things about themselves.

Katie was a relatable character and sometimes even reminded me of myself. The D’Amores have a neighbor whose child is one of those little terrors. The way Katie handles him is much the way I handle kids. You can tell she hasn’t spent much time around young children. Also, the way she acts around the teenage boys that are working with her at Miss Martine’s is interesting to watch. That shiver that you feel when the guy you like looks at you? I’ve totally been there.

The writing in this book was fantastic. Many times I could see and feel the things described like the feeling of riding a bike down the hill, the wind whipping your face. The road to the ending was interesting, and I definitely wasn’t sure what to expect. As I was reading this book I realized that for me, at least, this book wasn’t so much about the ending but instead the journey there.

Noel's Submission
Swoon by Nina Malkin:

Edward Cullen, beware! Sin has come to town, and he's stealing all your fangirls.

"Love at first sight must be glorious. I wouldn't know, since at first there was no sight. Smell, yeah--the tangy, salty scent of horses. Plenty of other sensations too. But I'll get to that. The point I want to make up front is that by the time I laid eyes on Sinclair Youngblood Powers--in the flesh, that is--I was already in love with him. Nothing could change that. Not even the fact that he was dead."

Candice Moskow is resigned to her new life in the dull little town of Swoon, Connecticut, where nothing ever happens and all the teenagers are cookie-cutter preps. A much different life from her old New York City one, but she can cope. Everything and everyone is normal in Swoon. At least, until her perfect cousin Pen falls from at tree and her soul intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. Dice has long known that she was psychic. Seeing the dead or visions every once in awhile? No big deal. Giving a ghost who is bent on bringing her town to ruins his own body and falling in love with him? Not so good. Dice is the only one who knows his secret, and everyone, including herself and her cousin Pen, is in love with him. How do you go about destroying the love of your life?

Nina Malkin has brought to life a captivating story that is designed to seduce and entrap its readers. Sparkle in the sunlight, he does not, but Sin can charm his way into any heart. What I particularly love about Swoon is Sin's character. Nina has done an amazing job in facing her readers with the true, cruel spirit within Sin, and managing to make them fall for him nevertheless. Swoon is full of mystery, surprises, and romance, with a plot that is sure to keep readers up until the wee hours of the morning to reach the last page. From fights with friends, to parties where things don't quite go according to plan, Swoon has situations that many teens could relate to, with a little added flare. Lovers of the supernatural will devour this book, and fanatics of romance will fall under its spell.

So what are you waiting for? Sin has come to a town near you. Prepare to Swoon.

Review: Helen Keller: Her Life in Pictures

Helen Keller overcame blindness and deafness to communicate in a world dominated by sight and sound. With the help of her teacher, Annie Sullivan, Helen broke through the silence of her childhood learning to sign, speak, read lips, read braille and write. This courageous girl changed from an uncontrollable child to a woman who embarked on a lifetime of adventures inspiring people everywhere.

Continue reading this review.

Author Blogs & Cool Book Blogs

Okay! Since Blogger added some nifty new features (okay, not new exactly since they've been around a while but new to YABC since I'm just now using them), I've deleted the old list of Author Blogs and replaced it with a new list of Author Blogs (see sidebar) that includes a snippet from the blog if possible. I've also added a new list called "Cool Book Blogs" and here's where I need your help. Do you have a book related blog? Or are there some cool ones you read every day? Let me know what they are by posting them here in a comment and I (or [hint, hint] one of the other reviewers here at YABC will add them to our list). There are so many awesome blogs out there now!

Authors, if you're blog is not listed and you'd like it to be, you can also post it here for someone to add. Or, if you're already listed but the link is incorrect, let us know. :-)

Ivy in Bloom: the Poetry of Spring from Great Poets and Writers of the Past

Ivy is a little girl surrounded by winter's gloom. But with the help of classic poetry by Emily Dickinson, e.e. cummings, Longfellow, Wordsworth, and many others, her gloomy days turn into beautiful springtime. Written by Vanita Oelschlager and illustrations by Kristin Blackwood. Read my review at the YABC website!

YABC Teen Reviewer Semi-Finalists!

I am happy to (finally) announce the semi-finalists for the YABC Teen Reviewer spot! (Yes, I know it has been forever and a day). They are...

Melanie Foust and Noel Furniss!

Thank you to everyone who submitted an application. We (all the YABC reviewers) had a very tough time narrowing it down and, in fact, couldn't get it down to just one person. So, I've asked Melanie and Noel to each submit a new review for you -- the YABC site visitors -- to vote from. I'll be posting more soon regarding that, so please keep an eye out (we'll need your votes!!)

I'm also still accepting applications for the YABC Tween Reviewer, so if you are between the ages of 9 and 13, get your application in!!

Welcome to a new YABC reviewer!

Welcome to Kim Bacciella to YABC as a new reviewer!

Kim Baccellia - ixtumea@yabookscentral.com (MG, YA, emphasis on paranormal, urban fantasies, historicals, graphic novels, fantasies, and edgy contemporary) *I also love good multicultural stories.

Kim Baccellia loves reading. Her grandfather used to always tease her to be careful as reading too much would sure lead to other things! Kim is the author of the crossover multicultural fantasy EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA. Her YA paranormal CROSSED OUT is coming later this year. She's also shopping around an upper MG fantasy. She keeps a blog at http://kbaccellia.livejournal.com

She's a former first grade teacher who now volunteers at son's school and library. Kim also loves to quilt, practice yoga, do genealogy, and watch chick flicks. And she can't wait to see NEW MOON later this Fall as she admits to be a big Jacob fan!

All reviewer bios can be found at http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=home.about at any time :-)

Tween Demi-God or Demi-Goddess

After hearing from some people, I've decided to also add a TWEEN Demi-God or Demi-Goddess to the YABC website. This reviewer would need to be between 9 and 13 years of age and would be reviewing age-appropriate books. Given that they are younger, they would need to have parental approval and supervision. Interested? This is another semi-permanent position (i.e. yours until you get too old for it (13) or decide you don't want to do it anymore). You would need to submit at least one review to the site a month, but can (of course!) do more. You can receive as many free books as you do reviews. :-) You can be a girl or a boy, but your parent must also give me their approval in writing (email is fine). You would also have the opportunity to interview authors via email.

If you want to apply, email me at kim@yabookscentral.com with:

Your Name
Your Age
Why you want to be the Tween Demi-God or Demi-Goddess
Why you think you would be the best candidate for the job
How many reviews you'd like to do a month
What type of books do you like to read
And a sample review (any book)

Thanks! And good luck!

Teen Demi-Goddess

Okay, yes, I'm *finally* in the process of picking the next semi-permanent teen-demigoddess (i.e. position is yours until you turn 18 OR you decide to quit). More soon on that! Just wanted to at least post an update that it was finally happening!

In other news...hit 100 followers on Twitter and will be giving something away. Up to 170 something here on the blog (that's the Google followers, not the RSS followers, which is a lot more, but I have no way of knowing who those people are). Remember, when we hit 200 there will be another giveaway there too!

Will also be adding a TON of new books to the Prize Bucket very soon. I'm paring down my to-be-reviewed stack to one bookshelf and the rest are going into the Bucket or to another reviewer!

So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother) by Micol and David Ostow

Ready for a new read? Not sure if you want a regular novel or a graphic novel next? Pick up SO PUNK ROCK (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother), a novel by Micol Ostow with art by David Ostow, and learn how you can rock - in a totally kosher way, of course.

Ari Abramson wants to be cool. He thinks being in a band will help, so he recruits three other kids from his Jewish day school: his best friend Jonas, who is cool without even trying, a classmate named Yossi because he has drums, and Yossi's younger sister, Reena, who has a surprisingly good singing voice. Together, they form the Tribe. Soon, they can play a ska version of Hava Nagila. Kind of.

Continue reading this review.

Visit the website: http://www.kosherpunkrock.com/

Review: I Want a Dog!

In the delightful picture book I Want a Dog!, Lisa manages to figure out a great solution to her canine craving in a creative way that makes everyone happy (including the reader!), in spite of her parents' firm repetition of their mantra: "Our apartment is too small for a dog."

Hidden Voices Winners

The winners of the Hidden Voices contest from last month are...

Heidi Durham
Billy Hartman
B. Henderson
Christopher Harner
Michelle Levy

as chosen by random numbers tweeted to me! :-) Want to help choose contest winners and also be entered to win cool stuff? (Yay, I'm on a giveaway spree, what can I say?), follow me on Twitter!

Review: Chasing Blue (Canterwood Crest) by Jessica Burkhart

The second book in the CANTERWOOD CREST SERIES re-introduces Sasha Silver, her horse Charm, and more of the cast of characters sure to keep tweens turning pages.

Read the review here.

Don't delay. Read EYES LIKE STARS. NOW!

All her world’s a stage.

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.

She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

Until now.

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev is full to bursting with masterful world building, quirky characters, and tempting hints of mystery. Added bonuses are a handsome pirate who tastes of salt and chocolate and a water spirit with a fair complexion and silver hair who smells of something darkly tempting. Those are just a few of the reasons you’ll want to read until your eyelids need to be propped open with toothpicks.

For an irresistible mix, throw in four snarky fairies with a penchant for trouble, tasty cupcakes from the Green Room, and the ability to cue a scene change from The Little Mermaid to clean up your bedroom after you dye your hair Cobalt Flame blue.

Oh. And I mustn’t forget the jazz hands.

Don’t delay. Read it. NOW. Knock people down to get it if you must, and then block out a day or two to sink into the Theatre Illuminata, where all the characters from every play ever written are bound by a magical, ancient book.

You might not want to resurface.

The word on the street (or Twitter at least) is that not since Hogwarts has there been such an enchanting story world as the one built by Lisa Mantchev in Eyes Like Stars. The blue-haired Bertie will capture your heart and tickle your funny bone. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You’ll wish for your very own set of fairy enforcers.

And you might even develop a sudden desire to read Shakespeare.

HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.

You can discover more about Eyes Like Stars and author Lisa Mantchev here:

http://lisamantchev.com/

An Awesome Book!

Check out this (truly) awesome book from Dallas Clayton: An Awesome Book!

Returned Books

*Sigh* I hate to do this, but I think I have to make a new policy. If a book is returned to me and it had been sent out to the address I was given (I will double check it), I will no longer try to track you down and get an alternate address. Instead, the book is going back in the Prize Bucket. I've just been spending way too much time trying to do that when I've got soooo many other things to be doing (like sending out new prize books! or working on a book! or doing reviews!).

If this happens to you (not that you'd know, exactly, since you wouldn't have received the book, but if you contact me because you haven't received your book, I'll tell ya why.) you can pick another book out of the Prize Bucket. If the book you originally requested is still there, you can request it, but it will be like going back in line.

Hope you guys find this to be fair. Running this site is always a balancing act. :-)

Review: King of the Screwups

King of the Screwups by K. L. Going is the perfect summer read. Liam Gelleris a royal screwup and right before his senior year in high school, he does the ultimate screwup. He gets caught by his father drunk and making out with a girl on his father's desk. Rather than deal with another screwup, Liam's dad decides to send him off to his paternal grandparents, who hate Liam.

Instead his mother convinces her gay, cross-dressing, trailer park-living, DJ, glam-rock band brother-in-law Pete (who Mr. Geller hasn’t spoken to in 17 years) to take Liam. Thus, Liam moves from posh Westchester to sticks of Pineville, NY. It makes for an interesting school year. But...it doesn't mean that Liam doesn't continue to screwup. Only his screwups are funny, rather than serious, in most cases.

King of the Screwups is chock full of funny and mean characters, sad and happy screwups, great action and lots of fun. Some characters you'll love and some you'll hate. But either way, you won't be wishy washy about them. So, sit back, stop screwing around and read King of the Screwups.

Reviews: I Need my Monster and I'm Really Not Tired (Flashlight Press)

Flashlight Press hits back-to-back home runs with their new titles,
I Need my Monster written by Amanda Noll, illustrated by Howard McWilliam and
I'm Really not Tired written by Lori Sunshine, illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler

Both books are beautifully illustrated and include fun, original text that will engage young readers and keep them interested in these bedtime stories night after night!

Read the YABC reviews here and here.

Review: Also Known as Harper by Ann Haywood Leal

Also Known as Harper by Ann Haywood Leal
gives a glimpse into what it's like to lose everything that used to be important and trying to keep what little you have left.

Harper Lee Morgan is just the character to give readers a glimpse of what some people must deal with, while keeping spirits high and hopeful.

Read the full review here.

Follow me on Twitter...if, you know, you're into that...

If you happen to be on Twitter, I've finally broken down and started an account. I feel like a bit of a twit, but there you go. You can follow me at: http://twitter.com/kimberlyrpauley

I'll probably be posting YABCish stuff there, as well as my own stuff. Maybe I'll even have a follower contest. Lots of authors seem to do that. 'S fun, yeah?

Drive Me Crazy

If you’re looking for a beach read that’s pure, carefree fun, pick up Drive Me Crazy by Erin Downing.

Kate and her two best friends are headed out on a road trip and she’s looking forward to some quality girl time – and to Lucas, the special boy waiting for her in Love, Wisconsin.

When the girls pick up an extra traveler, things go south for Kate. Kate and Adam were friends when they were younger, but for the past few years he’s done nothing but rub her every kind of wrong. Now she has to spend three irritating days in a car arguing with him, when all she can think about is Lucas and the special kiss they shared at the end of last summer.

But once they reach Love, Kate finds herself thinking more and more about her time with Adam and less and less about her relationship with Lucas. The road to romance is full of twists and turns. Will Kate go in the right direction?

A truly refreshing read, Drive Me Crazy is part of the romantic comedies line from Simon Pulse. Visit their blog at PulseRoCom.com.

A Garden of Opposites

A Garden of Opposites is a visual feast of bright colors and contrasting images for little eyes.

Along with the traditional open/closed and inside/outside found in most opposite books, Nancy Davis has made the charming addition of plain/fancy adorable butterflies and asleep/awake newborn baby birds.

The last page is an interactive fold out including all the pictures from the previous text and more. Eye-catching illustrations and sturdy pages will be a sure hit with toddlers.

A perfect snuggly read for a lazy afternoon with that special little one in your life.

Boo!

There Was An Old Monster! is a fun, spooky spin on There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. (Which, honestly, was spooky enough – I mean, she eventually swallows a horse. Shouldn’t an old lady know better?)

The monster in this story starts his journey by swallowing a tick that makes him feel sick. Our hapless hero then tries everything from ants to a lizard to a lion to end his affliction.

Sadly, the lion doesn’t work out too well.

A thoughtful addition to this rendering of the man versus beasts story is an actual download of the song available on the Scholastic website, allowing kids to learn the song and sing along.

There Was An Old Monster! is written by Caldecott Medalist Ed Emberley and his daughter Rebecca. The song is written and performed by Adrian Emberley, Rebecca’s daughter. It’s a family affair and fun for the family! Check it out!

Review: Liar

You can’t trust anything Micah tells you. She’s a compulsive liar, and has tried to convince the kids at her school that she’s a boy, that her dad is an arms dealer, and more. When her boyfriend Zach mysteriously dies, of course Micah is viewed with suspicion by people at school and the cops. Eventually even her parents come to view her with suspicion, due to the secret family curse. Read the full review here.

Review: Fire

Fire, Kristin Cashore's prequel to Graceling, is an engrossing fantasy. Monsters come in all sizes, shapes, colors and animals...birds, horses, people. Fire is a beautiful woman with firey red hair. Her talent is the mind. She can read peoples minds, cause them to unblock their minds and shed their hidden thoughts. The sight of her causes men to fall in love with her and be reviled by her at the same time.

Fire's father, Cansrel, was also a monster, known for his cruelty. Fire swore she would not be like that...use her mind for evil. But when she is asked by the king of The Dell, her homeland, to probe into the minds of prisoners of war, she is torn apart. She wants to help her king, yet feels like to do so would be using her talent for evil.

Fire, has everything a good fantasy needs: great characters, a lot of action, some romance, some mystery. Cashore's writing is as good as it was in Graceling. Her descriptions of events and actions and people is wonderful. The story line is interesting. Fire is required reading for fantasy fans and it may convert non-fantasy readers as well.