Auction: autographed copy of Kristin Tubb's Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different!

Up for auction! Kristin Tubb has generously donated an autographed copy of her charming Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different plus signed book swag for her new book, Selling Hope!

Bid on the auction here!

Auction: A Virtual Author Visit with children's author Suzanne Slade!

Suzanne Buckingham Slade is the author of over 70 books for children. Her works include picture books, biographies, as well as titles about animals, sports, and nature.


Ms. Slade holds a Mechanical Engineering degree and worked in the engineering field several years before starting her writing career. She lives near Chicago with her husband, Mike, and two children, Christina and Patrick. Ms. Slade spends most days doing what she loves – dreaming up new story ideas, reading new children’s books, researching, and best of all – writing! She also enjoys visiting schools and sharing her love of books.

Suzanne has three engaging presentations that she can do in her virtual visit and has generously donated a virtual author visit for auction.

Bid now on a virtual author visit from Suzanne!

Auction: Autographed copy of An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Our own Myra McEntire has generously donated an autographed copy of John Green's An Abundance of Katherines!

Bid on the auction now!

Auction: Autographed copy of Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens!

Up for auction, an autographed copy of Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens -- a book about a romance that moves heaven and earth!

Bid on the Auction Here!

Auction: A Manuscript Critique from Cynthia Leitich Smith!

Acclaimed author Cynthia Leitich Smith has offered up for auction a 10 page manuscript critique to benefit YA Books Central!

Cynthia is the acclaimed author of Rain Is Not My Indian Name, Tantalize, Eternal, Blessed (Feb. 2011), and Tantalize: Kieren's Story (Feb. 2011; a graphic novel) as well as numerous middle grade-YA short stories and books for younger children. She also is on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults.

Cynthia will provide extensive comments on the manuscript, an overview letter, and, if applicable suggest both additional resources for study and marketing strategies.

Bid on the Auction or check out all the auctions!

Review: The Last Summer of the Death Warriors

Francisco X. Stork's new novel, The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, tackles tough issues such as revenge and living/dying with dignity. DQ has been living at St. Anthony's orphanage for several years. Pancho has just recently arrived. DQ was dianosed with brain cancer six months earlier. Pancho's family has died, one by one, first his mother, then his father and finally his older sister Rosa. Rosa was mentally slow and was found dead in a motel room, presumably of natural causes.

DQ wants to live his remaining time with dignty. His mother, back in his life, wants him to try any and every treatment available in the hopes that one will cause the cancer to go into remission. Pancho was to avenge his sister's death.

DQ and Pancho are thrown together because everyone at St. Anthony's has a job and Pancho's job is to be DQ's friend, wheel him around, help him cope with his chemo treatments. They are quite different people, one book educated, one street smart, one extroverted, one introverted. But they learn from each other. Like Marcelo in the Real World, Stork's previous YA novel, The Last Summer of the Death Warriors is well worth reading.

YABC Auctions - Now Live! Authors, Bid on a Book Trailer!

Woot! Okay, the YABC Auctions are now LIVE on the site! There are just a few to start with more to be added, but there's already a COMPLETELY AWESOME one to bid on!

A professionally made BOOK TRAILER of your book! Authors, this has your name written all over it! NoWickiProductions has generously donated a custom book trailer produced to your specifications for auction!

And author Gloria Oliver has donated an autographed copy of her book, In the Service of Samurai!

I'll be posting up a manuscript critique for auction, probably on Monday. And who knows what else!

If YOU have something you'd like to donate for auction, please contact me at kim@yabookscentral.com

Thank you and happy bidding!

YABC Auctions! (Wanna donate?)

As part of our fund raising efforts, YABC will be hosting some auctions where the proceeds will go towards the rebuilding fund. I'll be auctioning off a manuscript critique and possibly some other things as well. If you have anything you would like to donate (really, pretty much anything at all -- books, services, other stuff), please contact me at kim@yabookscentral.com. Every bit helps!

Thank you!

YABC Needs Your Help

You may have noticed the changes we've been making to the site -- well, we've got a lot more planned. But we need your help. We've received the bids back on what it will take to bring the site into the future and serve you better. YABC needs to raise $10,000.

We've started a campaign and every contribution, no matter how small, will help immensely.

Readers, we've given away thousands of books since 1998 and we plan on continuing to give you more (and more, if we can get the site changes implemented). Authors and Publishers, we've promoted you and your books tirelessly, and have even more promotional options planned.

But we really need your help.

Thank you for your patronage all these years and I hope you'll see fit to contribute even just a bit towards our goal.

Please support us by donating here.

Authors and publishers, it would also help us if you choose to do some of your advertising with us. We still have many advertising specials going on (they aren't listed on the website). Please contact us if you are interested in supporting us in this way. Thank you!

Cassie has the ability to see people marked to die. After the death of her grandmother, she is sent to live with an aunt she knows nothing about. But once there Cassie feels that the new surrounding will help as she doesn't know anyone. So if she sees the mark around their heads, she'll be ok. Then she meets someone and things change. The Mark is one of those books that keeps you thinking. What is the responsiblity of those who have paranormal gifts? Should they tell people if their time is up? Or just stay out of it. If anything this book will have you thinking. Read more of my review at YA Books Central.

A Wish After Midnight

Genna wants out of her tough Brooklyn neighborhood where she feels judged by the color of her skin. Then one day she finds herself transported back to 1863 Brooklyn which is even more frightening than the future. Here she's at first mistaken for a slave. She finds that her street smarts are no match in a world where even a mistaken look can land you in jail or even worse--dead. A Wish After Midnight is an engrossing time traveling tale that is sure to generate discussions. Read more of my review at YA Books Central.

Authors & Publishers: Bring out your bookmarks!

YABC is going to be putting together Librarian Care Packages (librarians, take note! More on this soon). If you are an author or a publisher and would like your book swag (i.e. bookmarks, stickers, reading guides, etc.) to be included in these Care Packages, you can send it to us at:

Kimberly Pauley
YA Books Central
PO Box 303
Grayslake, IL 60030

Young Adult Books Central: Connecting Authors and Readers since 1998!

BTW, this is an ongoing thing, so there's no deadline and you can always send in more swag or additional (i.e. new book) swag too!

Vintage Veronica

Size 12 is the average size for American women. But you wouldn't know that with what what the fashion magazines tell us or by the celebs who have dramatic surgery just to get to size 4 or less. Now there's finally a book with a character who isn't obsessed with her weight and is humorous as well. Vintage Veronica is about fifteen year old Veronica who loves working in a consigment store and finds gems among the discards. Along the way she learns who her true friends are in this gem of a story. Read more of my review at YA Books Central

Twitter Only Giveaway Going on Today!

Wanna win a copy of Dreaming Anastasia today?? You know you do! I mean, come on, BABA YAGA is in this book!

This is a Twitter contest. All you gotta do is be following @yabookscental (which you should be doing anyway, people!) and @joypreble (the lovely author) and then tweet:

I'm following @yabookscentral and @joypreble 4 a chance to win Dreaming Anastasia b/c I <3 paranormal mysteries!

Vote for Jumpstart's Read for the Record Campaign Book!

Jumpstart's Read for the Record needs help selecting its official campaign book for 2010. This is Jumpstart's fifth annual Read for the Record, which they describe as "a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the crisis in early literacy through celebrating the joy of reading with children."

Four classic Penguin picture books have been named the finalists:
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Voting only takes a minute, and it's so easy to do. For every vote received, the Pearson Foundation will donate $1 to Jumpstart to support, and I quote, "[Jumpstart's] yearlong efforts to help preschool children in low-income communities develop the crucial language and literacy skills they need to succeed in school and life."

Click here to vote now!

You may also vote via a text message sent from your cell phone. You may vote up to 5 times via text message. Here are the text shortcuts:

BLUE to 90999 – to vote for Blueberries for Sal
DUCK to 90999 – to vote for Make Way for Ducklings
PETER to 90999 – to vote for Peter's Chair
SNOW to 90999 – to vote for The Snowy Day

Book voting will close February 28th, 2010. The winner will be announced March 2nd.

Thanks to Jennifer Stone for the link!

CANDOR: Listen to the Messages

In the model community of Candor, Florida, every teen wants to be like Oscar Banks. The son of the town's founder, Oscar earns straight As, is student-body president, and is in demand for every club and cause.

But Oscar has a secret. He knows that parents bring their teens to Candor to make them respectful, compliant–perfect–through subliminal Messages that carefully correct and control their behavior. And Oscar' s built a business sabotaging his father's scheme with Messages of his own, getting his clients out before they're turned. After all, who would ever suspect the perfect Oscar Banks?

Then he meets Nia, the girl he can't stand to see changed. Saving Nia means losing her forever. Keeping her in Candor, Oscar risks exposure . . . and more.

Candor was a cover to cover, one sitting read for me. The story is told through Oscar’s point-of-view in a riveting present tense voice. The mood is perfect - both creepy and controlled - exactly like the town of Candor.

I described this story to someone as tight. Every page packs an emotional punch that requires a response. Pam Bachorz displays some impressive skills when it comes to storytelling, both from a creative and a mechanical perspective.Oscar appears to be in command of every situation, much like his father. The difference is the haunting vulnerability that lies beneath Oscar's polished surface. It pulled at my sympathy, and as I learned his secrets my heart broke for him.

Read the rest of my review at YA Books Central here.

Manic Mondays: Jen Calonita Book Giveaways

Mark your calendars for Manic Mondays! Starting in March and going through June, I'm going to be giving away one book by Jen Calonita on the first Monday of the month. The giveaways will be open to all residents of the United States and Canada.

It's free to enter and easy to win. On those first Mondays, I'll post the contest announcements here at Bildungsroman, and the first person to comment wins a free book! Here's the giveaway schedule:

March 1st: Broadway Lights (Brand-new hardcover! The newest in the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series.)
April 5th: Family Affairs (Paperback. The third in the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series.)
May 3rd: Sleepaway Girls (Paperback. Stand-alone title.)
June 7th: Reality Check (Brand-new hardcover! Stand-alone title.)

Not only do I read Jen's books, but I'm also her webdesigner & webmaster. Visit jencalonitaonline.com to learn more about Jen and her books!

Best of the Best: Teens @ Arapahoe Library

 

Our Best of the Best Winner this week is a Teen Library site from the Arapahoe Library District in Colorado that has built a wonderful resource for teen readers. Check it out!

The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez

Sonia Rodiguez wants to be the first in her family to graduate from high school and then go on to college. Her father supports her dreams while others in her familia feel she's full of herself and is going against her Mexican culture. The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez gives readers a strong character who fights against the odds of achieving her dreams. Read more of my review at YA Books Central.

Epitaph Road

Here's another winning Egmont book! Can you tell I love their books? It's been thirty years since the Elisha plague has wiped out 97% of the male population. Now women are in positions of leadership and power. Kellan is one of the few males in this world. He feels isolated and misses his outcast father. Then rumors circulate that Elisha might reappear. Kellan sets out to find his father to warn him but along the way he stumbles on something even worse. Epitaph Road is one of those stories that keeps you on the edge of your seat, while you follow Kellan on the path to finding his father and the truths he discovers in his so-called perfect society. Read more of my review at YA Books Central.

Winners: The Wish Stealers

Here are the winners of The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas!

Christy Hawkes
Allyson Foley
rae norsworthy
Bethany Fetzer
Patty Magyar
Nancye Davis
Christina Sapyta
Renee Welch
Cathy  McMahon
Dongyi Chen

Congrats to all the winners!

Best of the Best: Author and Blogger Cheryl Rainfield

I'm pleased to announce this week's winner of the Best of the Best from YABC: Cheryl Rainfield!

Do you have a site (author, book blogger, whatever) you'd like to nominate as one of the Best of the Best? Comment here or e-mail it to me and I'll check it out.

Winners of Dream Life!

The winners of Dream Life by Lauren Mechling are...

Kellie Conklin
Ashley Fore
Amanda Tempel
Sabrina Horande
Emily Lehmann


Congrats to all the winners!

Winners of Evil? !!

Congrats to the following winners of the Evil? giveaway on YA Books Central held last month!

Lisa Vance
Kayla Potega
Amanda M. Padgett
Kenna McKee (who had the BEST entry ever)
Shirley Qiu

Be sure to enter this month's current giveaways, as well as the monthly Kindle giveaway!!

Dirty Little Secrets

Lucy's mother has a secret. She's a hoarder. Lucy has lived in shame fearing others will find out about the junk and trash that is inside her home. The one time she was careless, someone at her private school found out and she ended up with the title 'garbage girl'.

Now she only has two more years till she graduates. She can't wait to get out and start her own life. Then a horrific event happens that changes everything. Dirty Little Secrets is sure to generate discussion on hoarders and the children that live in that situation. Read more of my review at YA Books Central.

My Soul To Save

Sometimes even a Banshee's scream can't help the dead. This is what Kaylee finds when she attends the concert of teen pop star Eden who drops dead without Kaylee's scream. She later finds out that Eden has no soul. My Soul To Save continues the tale of Kaylee Cavanaugh, modern day Bean Stidh, who's scream announces someone's death. Now, along with her boyfriend Nash and his grim reaper brother Tod, they set out to try to save Tod's ex girlfriend, pop star Addison, who only has a few more days to live before she has to pay the consequence of selling her own soul. Can Kaylee help her in time? Read more of my review at YA Books Central.

Announcing Best of the Best!

New for the new year is YA Books Central's Best of the Best Award, which will be given out to the best book blogger and author websites we come across.

You can see information about the award and the list here: http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=articles.main

And read about The Page Flipper, the very first recipient of the Best of the Best award! Congrats to Chelsea! And stay tuned for future winners!