Ack! September Contests!

Okay, I've been in a revision-ing induced fog (though I did get my revisions done and sent off to my editor by the deadline so Yay!). I just now realized that I forgot to get the September YABC Contest pages ready.

And I am sooo going to bed right now. I'm already up past my bedtime and just finally managed to get Little Max asleep. So the pages will have to go up tomorrow, hopefully in the morning.

As reparations for getting them up late, if you happen to read this on the blog and want an extra entry in any of the contests, send me an email at kim@yabookscentral.com with a subject line of [Book Name] Extra Entry.

The contests are...

• The Devouring (15 copies)
• The Forest of Hands and Teeth (5 copies)
• Ballads of Suburbia (5 copies)

Don't forget to go back and enter the regular way too once the contest pages are up :-)

Review: Forest Born

Forest Born by Shannon Hale is the fourth book in the Books of Bayern series. It features the same characters as the first three books (Goose Girl, Enna Burning and River Secrets) as well as adding a new character, Rinna, who is the main character here.

Rinna is 15 years old and has powers that she doesn't understand and can't control. Her brother, Razo, a soldier in the King's army, suggests that she accompany him to the city where he can obtain a position for her as a lady in waiting. She accepts and her adventurous journey begins.

She teams up with Queen Anidori and her 'sisters', Enna and Dasta to defeat the evil Queen of Kel. All four women use their powers in this struggle of good against evil. However, Forest Born is more than an adventure. It is also the story of Rinna, struggling to understand herself and the world around her.

Shannon Hale writes wonderful fantasy stories and I highly recommend all her teen books. Forest Born is no exception. It is well written. The story keeps you interested. The characters are wonderful. Forest Born is a totally enjoyable book.

Sleepless

Imagine if your nightmares were in fact real. You try to stay awake, fearing what will happen if you do fall asleep. Then you find out others in your school are having similar problems. Sleepless will have readers up late with this page turning novel. Read more of my review at YA Books Central.

Review: High Dive

High Dive by Tammar Stein (author of Light Years) tackles the problem of children whose parents are deployed in a war zone overseas. Arden Vogel is 19 and an Army brat. Her mother is a nurse, deployed to Iraq. Her father was killed in an auto accident three years earlier. Arden's only contact with her mother is two 15-minute phone calls a week and their daily e-mails. In between those communications, she doesn't know whether or not her mother is alive.

On a trip to close down their vacation house in Sardinia, Arden meets up with three girls attending the University of Texas who are touring Europe. She joins them in France, an uncharacteristic action for the shy, solitary Arden.

Stein intersperses Arden's adventures with the Texans and her communications with her mother. She deftly explores the lives of Arden and her friends, showing that no one has an ideal life. The emotions of all the girls, including Arden's mother, come through. High Dive is a wonderful book on so many levels.

Review: The Great and Only Barnum

You may have heard of The Great and Only Barnum, but how much do you really know about the man behind the spectacular Barnum & Bailey Circus, with its three rings of acrobats, animal acts, and "human curiosities," such as Siamese twins Chang and Eng, bearded Madame Clofulia, and the gigantic Anna Swan? This fascinating book tells all about the long-ago media darling celebrity's life, including P.T. Barnum's marriage, his drinking, his daughters, friends--and enemies.

The Harrowing

What do you get when you have five college kids who stay at the dorm during Thanksgiving break and decide to break the boredom by playing with an old Ouija board? THE HARROWING by Alexandra Sokoloff will be sure to scare you as these college kids find out maybe it's better to stay bored. Or at least stay in their rooms. Read more of my review at YA Books Central.

Review: Misty of Chincoteague

An oldy but goody, Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry is for horse lovers. Pau and Maureen dream about capturing Phantom in the annual wild horse round up and buying her for their very own. Phantom has eluded capture for two years in a row, but they are sure they can capture and tame her. As luck would have it, Paul in his first year of the round up, sees Phantom and steers her towards the lane to the Pony Pens. Thus starts their exciting adventure.

Henry has written a delightful book. The characters are endearing. The action is exciting. The emotions are real. Misty of Chincoteague is a great read aloud book or a great fun read on your own. You will be taken to another world.

Hot Girl by Dream Jordan

Fourteen-year-old Kate, a foster kid living in Brooklyn, is fairly bored and lonely this summer because her best friend is far away, on a trip in South Africa. Kate makes a new friend named Najeelah, a girl who dresses to impress and has boyfriends galore. When Kate gets a makeover and new-old (hand-me-down) wardrobe from Najeelah, she gets a total confidence boost - enough to start flirting with her crush and long-time friend Charles. But when Najeelah's risky behavior puts Kate in some tricky situations, Kate must decide whether her new friend is worth the risk.

Continue reading this review.

Review: The Lost Conspiracy

Hathin and her entire village have a secret. Hathin’s sister Arilou is considered by outsiders to be a Lost, or someone who can disconnect their senses from their body and send those senses all over the island of Gullstruck. The Lost are highly valued, since without them news cannot travel over the huge volcanoes that are located on the island. Without the exchange of news, all commerce and trade would stop and the island would slowly die. The villagers have built an entire community around keeping those outsiders from discovering that Arilou isn’t a Lost, but simply an imbecile. The safety of their village depends on this trickery, since Hathin’s people are Lace and Lace are despised in all of the non-Lace towns. As long as everyone believes Arilou is Lost, outsiders won’t harm her or her village. Hathin’s only duty in the village is to care for Arilou and make sure she does nothing to give away the secret. Read the full review here.

Rembrandt and the Boy Who Drew Dogs

Rembrandt and the Boy Who Drew Dogs is a fun and colorful tale that is filled with illustrations that capture the seventeenth century Holland with glimpses of some of Rembrandt’s paintings. Check out more of my review at YA Books Central.

Review: Wild Things

Wild Things, Clay Carmichael's first YA book, is a joy. It is the story of 12-year-old Zoe, who after her mother's death, is forced to live in Sugar Hill, NC, with her Uncle Henry, who she has never met. Having lived on her own for many years and been disappointed by the adults she's known, Zoe is untrusting of Uncle Henry, thinking he will leave her. Wild Things is Zoe's coming of age story.

It is also the story of C'mere, the cat who has also lived on her own around Uncle Henry's house for a long time. While Zoe must learn to trust Uncle Henry, C'mere must learn to trust Zoe. Told in the first person by Zoe, interspersed are C'mere's thoughts and emotions.

Carmichael has included everything required of a good book: great writing, colorful, feisty characters, action, emotion, surprises. If you feel like smiling, treat yourself with Wild Things.

Dead Girl in Love

Just another day in the life of a Temp Lifer. Linda Joy Singleton once more delivers with Dead Girl in Love, the third book in the Dead Girl series. If you love a good YA paranormal, this one is for you! Check out my review at YA Books Central.

Review: The Demon's Lexicon

I received The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan nestled in one of my muchly anticipated book-laden shipments from Kimberly, YA Book Goddess. When I opened the box I was immediately captured by the rich cover, which features a fierce young man with a talisman around his neck. As I often do when I’m trying to decide what to read first, I read the opening sentence.

“The pipe under the sink was leaking again. It wouldn’t have been so bad, except that Nick kept his favorite sword under the sink.”

Really? How do you put a book down after that?

You don’t. I didn’t.

The opening scene captured me further, featuring a sarcastic exchange between Nick and his older brother, Alan. The witty dialogue is followed immediately by action, when “in through the window came an unkindness of ravens.” (I love that sentence. What a set up! I think I read it ten times.) These birds happen to be possessed by demons. And when the demons are defeated, Nick and Alan are left with a dead magician on their kitchen floor.

And so it begins.

Brennan’s voice is superbly fresh. Whether it’s due to her wordsmith skills or her Irish heritage, I found the cadence of her words to be extremely pleasing. The Demon’s Lexicon features an array of unforgettable characters, but it was Nick who stole my heart. It only took a few pages to become invested in him, worrying and wondering about what was coming next and how he and his friends would fare.

The Demon’s Lexicon serves up some most excellent twists, and I definitely don’t want to give any of them away. Don’t miss this book. I highly anticipate the sequel. Until then, you can discover outtakes and more information at sarahreesbrennan.com.

Furthermore, I will share that I chased a couple of teenagers down the Young Adult aisle at my local bookstore to convince them that they needed to leave with this book in their hands.

They did.

And I’m quite sure they enjoyed it as much as I did.

Highest Recommendations, Reviewed at YABC

BBAW Nomination

Hey! Woot! We've been nominated for Best Kidlit Blog as part of Book Blogger Appreciation Week! We need to send off our top 5 posts as a representative sample of the blog. Do you guys have any favorite posts you'd like to recommend? Would love to hear!

Review: Humongous Book of Cartooning

If you'd love to learn to draw cartoons, the enormous and clearly written Humongous Book of Cartooning is a treasure trove of hints, tips, and inspiration.

Review: Front and Center

DJ Schwenk is up to her ears in boyfriends, basketball and college in Catherine Gilbert Murdocks' latest entry in her Dairy Queen trilogy, Front and Center. Having broken up with Brian, a rival school's quarterback, she's dating Beaner, but thinking about Brian. Her brother, Win, is constantly telling her to contact Division I college basketball coaches although she's not sure she wants Division I. Her coach is telling her that she has to be a leader on the court. For a quiet girl like DJ, it's just too much.

I've always liked DJ as a character and Murdock has a nice way of writing, easy going. If you like high school girl dilemmas with some sports and humor and family drama thrown in, then Front and Center is for you.

200 Followers + Important Site News on 15 Reviews Giveaway PLEASE READ

Okay, I'll give ya the good news first!

Woot! We've hit 200 followers! That means it is time for another giveaway! The randomly chosen winner is...Empress Awesome! What're you getting, O Highness of Awesomeness? You're getting...

• A Cat in the Hat temporary tattoo


• Garfield: The Movie Audio Book on CD


• A Series of Unfortunate Events Read with Caution pin


• An assortment of bookmarks


• See You Down the Road by Kim Ablon Whitney, signed


• Choices by Katrina L. Burchett


• ARC of No Girls Allowed


• A YABC magnet

Isn't that coolness? I await your email with further instructions (i.e. your address and name), O Empress.

==================

Important Site News -- PLEASE READ

And now for the not so good news (for you at least, it's good news for me). After much deliberation and a long conversation with my hubby last night, I have decided that I can no longer do the 15 reviews = a free book giveaway. There are many, many reasons for this (the expense and the time being the biggest) and while I hate that I can't do it anymore, I just can't. I have turned over and over in my mind trying to think of some way to continue to support it, but there's just no way unless someone else wanted to take it over (and honestly, I don't see anyone wanting to pick up over $1,500 in postal fees every year). So, after September, that giveaway will no longer be available on the YABC site. It has had a good, long run (over 10 years) but the time, as Marvin K. Mooney knows, has come and it is time for it to Go.

I'm also going to be shutting down the forum & forum giveaway (it's been dying a slow death lately anyway as I haven't been able to devote any time to it). UPDATE: the forum giveaway is going away, but the forum members have responded that they'd like to keep the forum open even without it -- so the forum will continue to exist at http://forums.delphiforums.com/yabookscentral/start

The monthly publisher-sponsored giveaways WILL continue and I will continue to do follower giveaways (blog and Twitter both) as well as periodic special giveaways.

I will be adding a BUNCH more books to the Prize Bucket. I have a big stack of pending review books and I will be first offering the YABC reviewers a "last chance" at them. Whatever they don't want will be going into the Prize Bucket. After September and the final mailings I will take all the Prize Bucket books that are left and do a big giveaway for a school or classroom library (so teachers & librarians, start thinking now).

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the 15 reviews giveaway over the years. I hope that you will continue to visit the site (heck, there are still great giveaways going on every month not to mention all the great reviews). You will still be able to submit reviews, they just won't count towards anything (other than helping other people find a great book!).

Here's a picture of the mailing that's about to go out (and thank you muchly to @bookgoil on Twitter for coming by and helping me get it together -- am very glad I met you at ALA and even more glad you live nearby!). The one half-empty bag will be full by the time I get it ready to go. I'm not sure how many packages / books this mailing is total, but it's a fairly large one!

Candor

Candor is a gripping tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Read more of my review at YA books central.

Looking for a new volunteer: Interview Maven (or your choice of title)

Hi All!
I'm looking for a new YABC volunteer staffer. I need someone to:

a) Post interviews submitted by authors via the "Build an Interview" option and
b) Interview authors (generally via email) and post them
c) Post notifications of new interviews posted on the YABC Blog (i.e. right here) ;-)

This is a non-paying (heck, all positions here are non-paying, but figured I'd state it for the record) position. No set hours required but if you can do a couple a week, that would be great. There's currently a backlog of interviews to be posted, but once those are finished, you could really just pick your own hours every month. You can also pick your own title (suggestions would be: The Interview Maven, The Queen (or King) of Questions), etc. Other reviewers would still be free to conduct interviews (we all do, periodically), but you would be the primary contact.

If you are interested, please email me at kim@yabookscentral.com with your name, your age, why you would like to volunteer for this position and any other questions or comments you might have. Thanks!

Introducing the New Demi-Goddess! Plus All Kinds of Other News!

Everyone give a warm welcome to Noel, the new Teen Demi-Goddess reviewer for YABC (and a big thank you also to Melanie -- it takes a lot to get to the semi-finalist stage and she did an awesome job)! You can find out more about Noel at the About This Site page on YABC and contact her through teenreviewer@yabookscentral.com.

I'll be drowning Noel in books shortly :-) so look forward to her reviews! I know I am!

In other news...

The YABC Blog is up to 198 followers...you know what that means! Two more followers and another giveaway! What should it be this time....? Hmmmmmmm. You'll have to wait and see (hopefully not for long -- I only need 2 more before I do the giveaway).

I've also added a lot of books to the Prize Bucket and will be sending out notifications today. Take a look!

In a note related to that, I'm thinking seriously about changing the site code so that reviews, rather than waiting to be approved by a person, go "live" immediately. I haven't done this in the past because people would submit junk reviews or have profanity in them (there are always a few chuckleheads out there). However, it's getting to the point that we can't keep up with the submissions for review. Then I wind up answering a ton of emails asking why a particular review hasn't been posted in addition to not having time to get the reviews reviewed/approved! So I'm thinking about making this change. I think I would have to add a "Flag this review" link for inappropriate reviews (i.e. foul language, etc.) and then delete them after the fact. Any thoughts from anyone? I just don't know what else to do.

Review: Secrets of Greymoor

Hattie has been sent to live with her grandmother so Hattie can help her and get a good education. Her grandparents used to be among the richest families in Kingston. Since Hattie’s grandfather wasted away their fortune, however, times have been very hard. Hattie’s grandfather was committed to the Utica Insane Asylum for a long time, but when he dies things get even worse. One day when Hattie checks the mail, she finds a notice of past due taxes. She tries to hide it and loses it, and becomes too afraid to tell her grandmother what she did. Hattie also begins telling the girls at her new school that her family has much more money than they actually do. When she begins telling stories about her servants, and the magnificent party she is going to have, the girls all believe it. After Hattie finds an old book with an inscription from her grandfather, she thinks she might have a way to solve the family’s financial problems once and for all. Read the full review here.

Review: A Tree for Emmy, written by Mary Ann Rodman, illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss

Have you ever passionately loved a tree? Read my review of this lively picture book at Young Adult (& Kids!) Books Central!

Gringolandia

Powerful and gripping, Gringolandia brings to life the horrors of what some political prisoners went through in Chile.

2 Upcoming Books

I've got two upcoming reviews for you. 100% Pure Fake by Lyn Thomas and Binky The Space Cat by Ashley Spires. Both books are published by Kids Can Press.

Laurie Stolarz Contests

Laurie Stolarz is holding two contests related to her books!

First, for the Blue is for Nightmares series:
Answer the following questions based on the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series:

1. What is Drea's favorite snack?
2. What is the name of the fraternity in Red is for Remembrance (the one that sponsors the charity cruise)?
3. Who is Ms. McNeal?
4. Who is Cory?
5. According to PJ, what does BVS stand for?
6. According to Amber, what does T.O.D. stand for?
7. According to Stacey, what does BJD stand for?
8. According to Stacey, what is a Devic crystal?
9. In White is for Magic, what image does Amber lipliner to her face and why?
10. With all the danger surrounding Hillcrest Prep over the past couple of years, what is the nickname that students have given to the school?

Send responses to lauriestolarz@yahoo.com Winners will receive an autographed (and personalized, if you wish) book jacket for Black is for Beginnings.

Deadline: Midnight, Sunday, August 16th, 2009

The second contest involves envisioning a new cover for Project 17 and describing what you have in mind to Laurie. "If you're not an artist, that’s okay," she says. "Describe in as much detail as it takes, what you think the cover should look like, taking the story into account. Describe the scene/picture, background, and any details. Tell me what colors should be used and why. And if there's a particular way you'd like the title and my name listed, tell me that as well. Then, tell me why you chose this as the cover. What about the story makes your cover most suitable?" Send your thoughts to lauriestolarz@yahoo.com If you actually make the cover (drawing it, sketching it, creating it in PhotoShop, whatever you want) and send the JPG to Laurie as well.

Winners (and their English teacher or favorite young adult librarian) will receive an autographed (and personalized if you wish) copy of the paperback version of Project 17. There will be three winners for this contest.

Deadline: Midnight, Monday, August 31st, 2009.

Good luck!

Interview with Maggie Stiefvater, author of New York Times Bestseller, SHIVER

Q: What inspired you to write Shiver?

A: I would like to say that I was inspired to write Shiver by some overwhelming belief in true love, but here’s my true confession. I wrote Shiver because I like to make people cry. I had just finished reading The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger for the second time, and I cried for the second time. I should tell everyone now that I am not a big crier at books. I am kind of a serial career non-crier actually. If you look up shadenfreude on Wikipedia, you’ll see a picture of me with a snide smile on my face. And so the fact that this book had made me cry not once but twice, and not just cry but storm around the house doing the seven stages of grief, it really kind of inspired in me this desire to do the same thing to other people. And so with Shiver, I wanted to write a book that would make someone sneak a peek of it in their cubicle, and then mascara would run down their face, and they could shake their fist at the sky and curse me to the heavens.

See the rest of Maggie's interview here.

SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater

Ever since I heard Shiver will debut at number nine on the New York Times bestsellers list, I’ve had reviewer’s block. Yes, it is an unsavory cousin of writer’s block, but worse somehow. Because Maggie Stiefvater has written a beautiful, touching, amazing book, and I feel less than worthy to sum it all up a few paragraphs, much less in a neat little reviewer’s package.

But I’ll try.

Shiver has two first-person narrators, Sam and Grace. Grace watches the wolves in the woods behind her house every winter. She has a favorite, the one with yellow eyes. He watches back.

Sam lives two lives; during the winter he’s a wolf, while he spends his summers as a human. And he’s been in love with Grace for quite a while.

Maggie Stiefvater wastes no time in throwing her reader into the deep end of Sam and Grace’s complicated relationship. We know the obstacle that has to be overcome almost immediately. We feel the same insurmountable pressure they feel. Yet the reader doesn’t feel shorted by knowing too much too soon - more grateful that we have the freedom to sink into the life and depth and emotion that Maggie magically infuses into every page, every paragraph, every sentence.

Her sensory images seduce you into the story. Set aside some time. Shiver is one of those rare works of art you’d continue reading if your house were burning down around your ears, because if it’s not happening on the page, it’s not happening in real life. It’s a book you’ll carry around – emotionally – for weeks after you’re done reading. Two visuals come to mind that will always haunt me. One of a mother who seems to be more proud of the paint smears on her arms that identify her as an artist than she is of her daughter. The other, frozen tear tracks on a child’s face, and a parent finally choosing to be a parent.

You’ll fall head-over-heels in love with these characters. And then you’ll wish they were real so you could have them over for dinner.

Especially Sam.

People will compare Shiver to other – wildly popular – books in this genre. I think if that makes people read Shiver, great. But if you are one who doesn’t care for other – wildly popular – books in this genre, you should still read Shiver.

Grace and Sam have so much depth, so many levels, and luckily, so much more to say. (Insert plug – and plea for advance reader copies – for books two and three here.) A caution, Shiver does involve (closed door) werewolf nookie.

I hope you enjoy reading it the first time. I'll enjoy reading it again.

And again.

Most highest of high recommendations.

Fun Manga Drawing Book

For those who ever wanted to learn how to draw manga characters, Xtreme Art Ultimate Book of Trace-and-Draw Manga is a crash course in learning to draw 80 different characters. Check out my review at YA Books Central.

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have is a hilarious fun read. Check out my review at YA Books Central.

Review: Metamorphosis: Junior Year, by Betsy Franco, with drawings by Tom Franco

Ovid has a lot on his mind. Life. Love. Identity. Art. Read my review of this illustrated poetic novel at Young Adult Books Central!

Review: Max Spaniel: Dinosaur Hunt, written and illustrated by David Catrow

This dog is adorable, even if he insists he's not really a dog. Read my review of Max Spaniel's first hilarious adventure!

Review: Too Many Toys, written and illustrated by David Shannon

Read my review of this exuberant picture book at Young Adult (& Kids!) Books Central!

50 Book Giveaway + The Sweet Life of Stella Madison by Lara M. Zeises

To celebrate the release of her newest book for teens, The Sweet Life of Stella Madison, author Lara M. Zeises is having a 50 Book Giveaway. There are a ton of ways to enter and win. Learn more about the giveaway at her blog!

If you're in or near Delaware, you should attend the book release party:

Saturday, August 8th @ 2 PM
Release party for THE SWEET LIFE OF STELLA MADISON by Lara M. Zeises
Borders
101 Geoffrey Drive, Newark, DE
Reading, Q&A, and signing (and possibly cupcakes!)

Review: Good Night World by Adam Gamble, illustrated by Cooper Kelly

A simple board book for a simply good night!