The Secret Adventures of WriterGirl

Monday's Muse, 47th edition.

2012-01-30T02:07:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): A Stray Child by Yuki Kajiura [.hack//SIGN soundtrack].

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
Instrument/Music 2.0.

Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph.

High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out—doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sassy Sweet T—and to everyone’s shock, she’s a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ’s awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest—and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize—Sweet T’s dream could turn into Tere’s worst nightmare....

What a Song Can Do: 12 Riffs on the Power of Music edited by Jennifer Armstrong.

Armstrong offers a dozen perspectives on music's life-altering possibilities in this short-story collection. Ron Koertge's "Variations on a Theme" cleverly gives voice to what motivates various students to join a school band and how that decision affects their lives. A gay teen shares his inner struggle to accept his own sexuality in David Levithan's sensitive "What a Song Can Do." The pain of being forced into the role of child prodigy in one musical form until one's own true voice can be heard underlies Jude Mandell's verse selection. Music's connection to life is seen from myriad angles without overpowering the stories, which all have interesting plots and well-developed characters. Brief biographical sketches of the authors are appended and include a description of the importance of music in their lives. This collection will certainly speak to many teens on a very personal level and will open the eyes and the ears of its readers.–Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ, School Library Journal.

Troll Bridge: A Rock 'n' Roll Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple.

A wicked adventure--or deadly…trollble

For sixteen-year-old harpist prodigy Moira, the annual Dairy Princess event in Vanderby is just another lame publicity "op." Moira a dairy princess? Get real. Twelve girls have been selected to have their likeness carved in butter and displayed on the Trollholm Bridge. It's a Vanderby State Fair tradition that has been going on for, like, ever.As far as Moira is concerned, the sooner it's over with the butter--er--better.

About the same time and not far away, three brothers--members of the sensationally popular teen boy band The Griffsons--are in the middle of a much needed road trip to relax from the pressures of their latest tour.

In a flash, however, the kids are suddenly transported to a strange and mystical wilderness where they find themselves in the middle of a deadly tug-of-war struggle between a magical fox named Fossegrim and the monstrous troll Aenmarr of Austraegir. At the heart of the feud is a battle for possession of a mysterious magical fiddle--and an ancient compact between Trollholm and the outer world.

Whatever. All Moira cares about is that eleven of her fellow princesses have been enchanted into a slumber and Moira needs to figure out a way to awaken them…and get home.

Unfortunately for Moira and the Griffsons, nothing in Trollholm is as it seems. Finding a way out of Trollholm may be a lot more difficult than they think.

The Black Canary by Jane Louise Curry.

Growing up in a close-knit, biracial American family with parents and grandparents professionally and personally engrossed in musical pursuits, 13-year-old James feels overprotected and pushed in the direction of their interests. He secretly resents the way his parents' careers absorb their time, and he resists developing his own musical talent. While staying in a London flat, James discovers a mysterious portal, steps through, and lands in Elizabethan times. Forced to fend for himself, he begins to explore his identity apart from his family's expectations, finding within himself an unexpected passion for singing. This is one of the few time-travel fantasies for children with a biracial character, let alone protagonist, and it includes James' acute observations of Elizabethan Londoners' reactions to him. Race, though, is only one of James' concerns as he struggles to survive where even the simple question "Where are you from?" leaves him scrambling to avoid pitfalls. James is a sympathetic character in both worlds, and readers will gladly follow him for the pleasure of his company as well as the need to know what will happen next. A genuinely good story that conveys a sense of darkness and mystery in the textured backdrop of a storied time and place.--Carolyn Phelan, Booklist.

Shanghai Shadows by Lois Ruby.

It's 1939, and the Shpann family has escaped their home in hopes of a better life in occupied China. Ilse, her brother, and their parents are shocked at the small size of their new lodgings, in which they practically live on top of each other and their neighbors; only then does Ilse start to realize that their life here as stateless refugees will be far more harsh than expected. Their family strains to make end meet as her mother finds only part-time work in a bakery, while her musician father cannot find work at all. Ilse soon learns that her brother, Erich, has joined REACT, an underground resistance organization that masterminds sabotage missions and smuggles information. She fears for her brother's safety, but craves adventure herself and talks her way into running occasional missions, as a gutsy if unlikely spy. Life grows tighter and tighter for the Shpanns as they are forced to relocate to Shanghai's Jewish ghetto, but the family always manages to take solace in one another--that is until a mother's secret threatens to tear them all apart. In this gripping historical novel from Lois Ruby, a young gril struggles to grow up while her family struggles just to survive as European Jews against the unforgiving and alien backdrop of World War II China.

The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones.

Mimi Shapiro had a disturbing freshman year at NYU, thanks to a foolish affair with a professor who still haunts her caller ID. So when her artist father, Marc, offers the use of his remote Canadian cottage, she’s glad to hop in her Mini Cooper and drive up north. The house is fairy-tale quaint, and the key is hidden right where her dad said it would be, so she’s shocked to fi nd someone already living there — Jay, a young musician, who is equally startled to meet Mimi and immediately accuses her of leaving strange and threatening tokens inside: a dead bird, a snakeskin, a cricket sound track embedded in his latest composition. But Mimi has just arrived, so who is responsible? And more alarmingly, what does the intruder want? Part gripping thriller, part family drama, this fast-paced novel plays out in alternating viewpoints, in a pastoral setting that is evocative and eerie — a mysterious character in its own right.

Nightsong: The Legend of Orpheus and Eurydice by Michael Cadnum.

Cadnum follows Starfall: Phaeton and the Chariot of the Sun (2004) with another novel-length retelling of a classical myth. With vibrant detail, he embellishes events in the original story, creating a strong sense of place in each scene, from the sun-drenched countryside, where wandering Orpheus first meets the princess Eurydice, to the horrific underworld, where Orpheus travels to reclaim Eurydice after her fatal snakebite. Readers who claim disinterest in the classical myths will be easily swept up by the powerful love story, the perilous quests, the heartbreaking tragedy, and the magic, while romantics and aspiring artists may feel heartened by the well-paced story's messages about art's enduring, healing power. Send readers who want more about classical gods and mortals to Stephanie Spinner's Quiver (2002) and other titles listed in the "Read-alikes: Grrrls of the Ancient World" in the January 2003 issue of --Gillian Engberg, Booklist.

Othello [manga - 7 volumes] by Satomi Ikezawa.

Yaya is timid, apologetic, and socially awkward. She feels like herself only when she can hang out in gothic dress with other fans of her favorite band on Sundays. However, inside Yaya lurks Nana, the vibrant, aggressive, fearless side of her personality. When Yaya gets a headache or sees her reflection, Nana comes out to get revenge on anyone who hurt her. And although Nana knows about Yaya, Yaya always wakes with no memory of what just happened. Ikezawa's art is polished and skillful, though it bears a more-than-passing resemblance to Miwa Ueda's "Peach Girl" books(Tokyopop), luminous eyes and all. Still, this is a fun romp and original in its own way.–Susan Salpini, TASIS–The American School in England, School Library Journal.

Heartsinger by Karlijn Stoffels (author) and Laura Watkinson (translator).

A deeply romantic and hopeful fairy tale about the power of love and of music.

Mee was born with a great gift: the ability to sing other people's stories and heal their pain. But Mee also carries his own pain -- his failure to reach his deaf mother and heal her grief at his father's death. As he travels the country, he eases many people's sorrows, but he cannot connect with anyone himself.

Mitou also has a gift: spreading joy through a few notes from her accordion. When she hears about Mee--who was born on the same day she was--she knows that surely they belong together, each of them helping others through their music.

Amplified by Tara Kelly.

When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it. . . .

Feature Fun Friday - LIBRARY MONTAGE

2012-01-27T06:58:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Anchor by Mindy Gledhill.

I so wanted to do a video just like this, but it looks like someone beat me to it. But don't worry, I think they did a better job (especially in the beginning). Mr. Bean, Cookie Monster, Indiana Jones are all represented here. Are there any more library movie scenes they missed? And have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

Time For A Contest! For Darkness Shows The Stars ARC Giveaway!

2012-01-25T09:20:00.001-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): A New Name... A New Life by John Williams [Memoirs of Geisha soundtrack].

So I promised you a contest, and boy will I deliver.

I have for you today, for your clamoring pleasure , a copy of FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS by Diana Peterfreund. And let me tell you, it was good. The kind of good where I stayed up until 3:00 in the morning to finish because if my family interrupted me one more time I was going to rip someone's head off. And that would have been messy. And I would have felt bad later. Probably. Yeah, that kind of good.

It hit every point of deliciousness that I've been craving in a book for the last little while. For those of you who don't know it is post-(post?)-apocalyptic retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. So you already know there is going to be emotional turmoil! misunderstandings! sexual tension stretched to its breaking point! And of course a squee/swoon-worthy happy ending. After your heart has been crushed and wrung out through one of the old-fashioned laundry wringers, of course. There were parts in the book I was mentally screaming at the characters. I was inventing conversations everywhere of what they should be saying to each other because it was obvious they liked each other so why don't they just spit it out already? That doesn't happen very often and nothing I can remember to that degree. Guilty pleasure or not, this was exactly the book I needed right now.

And can I say this, and again very slowly? STAND-ALONE FANTASY. You have not IDEA how much I've needed one of these. No waiting for the next books, no agonizing cliff-hanger. I'll buy the book right there from those two words alone, thank-you-very-much. And as much as I hate to part with it (there may be claw marks in the ARC, I apologize), it can now be yours. Because this book deserves to get as much hype and attention before its release on June 12, 2012.*

I'm making this one simple. Just be a follower and leave a comment with your email below! That's it.

US only (I'm sorry my amazing international followers. I promise an international contest is coming!)

Ends 2/11/12 11:59 EST

*It's not required of course, but it would be wonderful if after you are done that you pass it on to someone else. You know, that whole karma thing. :)

Monday's Muse, 46th edition.

2012-01-23T12:23:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Take Me Away by Globus.

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
Instrument/Music.

Good Enough by Paula Yoo.

How to make your Korean parents happy:

1. Get a perfect score on the SATs.
2. Get into HarvardYalePrinceton.
3. Don't talk to boys.*

Patti's parents expect nothing less than the best from their Korean-American daughter. Everything she does affects her chances of getting into an Ivy League school. So winning assistant concertmaster in her All-State violin competition and earning less than 2300 on her SATs is simply not good enough.

But Patti's discovering that there's more to life than the Ivy League. To start with, there's Cute Trumpet Guy. He's funny, he's talented, and he looks exactly like the lead singer of Patti's favorite band. Then, of course, there's her love of the violin. Not to mention cool rock concerts. And anyway, what if Patti doesn't want to go to HarvardYalePrinceton after all?

Paula Yoo scores big in her hilarious debut novel about an overachiever who longs to fit in and strives to stand out. The pressure is on!

*Boys will distract you from your studies.

Notes From the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick.

After drinking some vodka and taking his mom's car for a spin to his father's girlfriend's house, who just happens to be his former third-grade teacher, 16-year-old Alex Gregory finds himself on his neighbors' lawn with police yelling at him and a broken gnome under his car. It is hard to believe that Alex would do anything like this; most of the time he hangs out with his friend Laurie, a sassy petite karate expert, and plays guitar in the school jazz band. He is also trying to get over his parents' recent split. For drinking and driving, Alex is sentenced to 100 hours of community service at a nursing home with Solomon Lewis. Sol is a difficult, crotchety, eccentric old man with emphysema who lashes out at Alex in strange Yiddish phrases. Soon Alex grows found of Sol, who teaches him something about the guitar, respecting the elderly, and taking responsibility for his actions. Alex's voice is fresh and funny, but doesn't downplay the serious situations. The other characters in the book are well defined and add interesting touches to the story. Fans of Sonnenblick's Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie (Turning Tide, 2004) will be pleased with this follow-up book in which Steven and Annette make a few brief appearances.–Shannon Seglin, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA, School Library Journal.

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez.

Grammy-winning, world-touring violinist Carmen Bianchi, 17, has outgrown child-prodigy status. To transition to an adult career as a virtuoso soloist, she must win the Guarneri Competition. If she loses, she'll be just another former prodigy.

Reflecting on the peculiar fame belonging to classical-music prodigies, Jeremy King—another ambitious ex-wunderkind with an equally intimidating resume—tells Carmen, "You're a god to two percent of the population and a nobody to everyone else." Carmen embodies this strange dichotomy. She's homeschooled, has never dated, lacks close friends and depends on anti-anxiety drugs. She also has a vocation she loves, a Stradivarius violin and a posse of adults dedicated to advancing her career. Chief among these is Carmen's mother and manager, Diana, whose operatic career ended early. As the competition approaches, Carmen and Jeremy—each ardently competitive and deeply smitten—form a deep but wary bond that Diana, ruled by anxious passions and an iron determination to win, bitterly opposes. Carmen's struggles to succeed with integrity remind readers that "virtue" is the root of "virtuosity," a fragile truth often lost when valuable prizes are at stake.

Former child violin prodigy Martinez brings this overwrought world to tense, quivering life and guides readers through it confidently. A brilliant debut.--Kirkus.

Fires of the Faithful by Naomi Kritzer.

For sixteen-year-old Eliana, life at her conservatory of music is a pleasant interlude between youth and adulthood, with the hope of a prestigious Imperial Court appointment at the end. But beyond the conservatory walls is a land blighted by war and inexplicable famine and dominated by a fearsome religious order known as the Fedeli, who are systematically stamping out all traces of the land’s old beliefs. Soon not even the conservatory walls can hold out reality. When one classmate is brutally killed by the Fedeli for clinging to the forbidden ways and another is kidnapped by the Circle--the mysterious and powerful mages who rule the land--Eliana can take no more. Especially not after she learns one of the Circle’s most closely guarded secrets.

Now, determined to escape the Circle’s power, burning with rage at the Fedeli, and drawn herself to the beliefs of the Old Way, Eliana embarks on a treacherous journey to spread the truth. And what she finds shakes her to her core: a past destroyed, a future in doubt, and a desperate people in need of a leader--no matter how young or inexperienced....

The Clockwork Three by Matthew Kirby.

An enchanted green violin, an automaton that comes to life, and a hidden treasure . . . THE CLOCKWORK THREE is a richly woven adventure story that is sure to become a classic!

Giuseppe is an orphaned street musician from Italy, who was sold by his uncle to work as a slave for an evil padrone in the U.S. But when a mysterious green violin enters his life he begins to imagine a life of freedom.

Hannah is a soft-hearted, strong-willed girl from the tenements, who supports her family as a hotel maid when tragedy strikes and her father can no longer work. She learns about a hidden treasure, which she knows will save her family -- if she can find it.

And Frederick, the talented and intense clockmaker's apprentice, seeks to learn the truth about his mother while trying to forget the nightmares of the orphanage where she left him. He is determined to build an automaton and enter the clockmakers' guild -- if only he can create a working head.

Together, the three discover they have phenomenal power when they team up as friends, and that they can overcome even the darkest of fears.

Vanished by Sheela Chari.

Eleven-year-old Neela dreams of being a famous musician, performing for admiring crowds on her traditional Indian stringed instrument. Her particular instrument was a gift from her grandmother—intricately carved with a mysterious-looking dragon.

When this special family heirloom vanishes from a local church, strange clues surface: a tea kettle ornamented with a familiar pointy-faced dragon, a threatening note, a connection to a famous dead musician, and even a legendary curse. The clues point all the way to India, where it seems that Neela’s instrument has a long history of vanishing and reappearing. Even if Neela does track it down, will she be able to stop it from disappearing again?

Sheela Chari’s debut novel is a finely tuned story of coincidence and fate, trust and deceit, music and mystery.

Sky by Roderick Townley.

Alec Schuyler has two immediate problems: what to do with the rest of his life, and what to do about Suze Matheson. She's his date for the Winter Dance. And she's got trouble of her own. The English teacher, Mr. "Call me Mark" Truscott, has made a move on her, a move which Sky has witnessed from his hiding place in a coat closet.

Fifteen-year-old Sky is not one for making scenes -- or even speaking up. Instead he speaks through his music, his jazz piano. This novel, in three sets and an encore, plays all the chords and paradiddles of Sky's life -- at the moment, the life of a runaway in New York City, 1959. So how come he's hiding in a tenth-grade homeroom coat closet?

Since his mother died, Sky and his father have had their umpteenth fight about the future. Like many a kid, Sky must leave home to get home. For him it's the world of Beat poetry and cool jazz. Along the way, he discovers an unexpected guide -- a blind musician who shows Sky how to see -- and learns what he has to lose to gain his own voice.

Feature Fun Friday - A Look Inside Scholastic.

2012-01-20T08:27:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Remember Me by Josh Groban.

This is a fascinating look at the inner workings of Scholastic Headquarters. I can't tell you if the store or the roof is my favorite place (though I did love catching a glimpse of David Levithan, editor of The Hunger Games). Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

A Comic With No Name - let's change that.

2012-01-19T08:43:00.001-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Anywhere But Here by SafetySuit.

First off, I have an excellent and squee-inducing giveaway coming next week (let's just say it's an ARC for a special book not out for another five months), so you're gonna want to keep your eyes peeled for that. *nods head*

But right now, I need your mad internet hacking skillz.

See this picture? This comic must be named.

It's a comic I found on tv tropes (fantastic website if you haven't been there, especially if you are writing any kind of story. Or if you just like going "oh my gosh! That is so true!" That too).

I love this comic. It makes me laugh and giggle in all sorts of ways. But here's the clincher. I can't remember the name of the it. I've gone through ooooodles of link on tv tropes (yes, there is much enjoyment to be had) and have tried quoting the line directly into google to see if that popped up anything. Nope. Nada. Zilch.

So I turn to you now. Do you know of where this may have come from? I would be forever grateful. *bows* Because this is just too funny to go on nameless.

(Oh, and keep the recipes coming! There are some loud cries for Narnian food out there. So keep them coming!) :D

This is dummy post. You have been warned.

2012-01-16T10:04:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): You Were There by Michiru Oshima [Ico soundtrack].

Feel free to skip this post. This is filler. You know, like how you would tweak the margins just a tenth of an inch more on each side and suddenly your college paper was half a page longer? I'm looking at you. *peers*

There is no purpose to this, other than to hear me ramble and see how freewriting in my mind works (it's kind of a scary place), and also, mainly, to get it so the form in the next blog post (and all it's glorious instructions) on how to nominate your favorite fictional food recipe won't be obscured by links on the right.

This template is pretty. But we do have our spats.

Taking up space...

Taking up space...

(I'm singing this by the way)

...

(No, seriously, I am)

Taking up space...

Taking up SPAAAAAAAACE!!!!! :D

(Hmm... Songs about space... Reminds me of this video):

(Yes, this is how my mind works. Feel free to be frightened. Or join me. I have cupcakes and licorice over here).

And THERE. That should hopefully be enough. What are you waiting for? Go nominate a recipe you want me to invent! *shoos*

I Have a Hankering To Invent Something

2012-01-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): My Eyes by Neil Patrick Harris and Felicia Day [Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog].

So. As you may know, I like to invent recipes. Particularly fictional food recipes. Call it an obsession, a desire to blend mediums. Or that fact that I love food. Take your pick. :)

I have already given you Lamp and Plum Stew from The Hunger Games as well as two kinds of ambrosia from Percy Jackson (one I did not invent, but you'll see why if you clicky both links). And so now I have a need, an itch, to do something again. It's been far too long.

So I've created a form just for you. I'm leaving it up for a week and then I'll announce the winner and then all around deliciousness WILL BE OURS!!! *ahem*

Put as many recipes as you would like to see. Seriously, go to town with it. If you think of something I haven't given in the prompts all the better. I'm so excited. This is going to be fantastic.

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Feature Fun Friday - The Joy of Books

2012-01-13T04:11:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): It's a Life by Burkhard Dallwitz [The Truman Show soundtrack].

Best. Stop-motion book video. Ever. That is all that needs to be said. (oh yes, and I looove the dancing books. I must include that). Bravo to Sean Ohlenkamp, his wife, and every volunteer who re-shelved those books night after night for who knows how many nights. Kudos and bravo.

Review: Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge

2012-01-11T07:16:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Falling In Love at a Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg (great song by an unknown artist).

My reviews are a bit different than most. As an undercover superhero (ordinary girl extraordinaire), my purpose is to try and uncover hidden gems lost from the familiar radar. Because of this, I have set up some guidelines for myself (just like the pirate code). :)

I will focus on YA and Children's literature (with very rare exceptions).
I will not review any book that is one of the top 25,000 bestselling books (based on Amazon ranks).
I will try and aim for books 100,000 or larger.
I will review recent books or books of great merit (preferably both).

Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge
Published: May 1, 2011
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 192
Current Amazon Rank: #279,172
Author's Website:
Want it? Find it here.

The First Line:

Sketchbook Rule #1 - No more excuses! Buy a sketchbook and draw a few pages each week.

My Take:

Proportionally, if you haven't been able to glean from my reviews, you can tell I like graphic novels. Everything from Flight to Crogan's Vengeance to The Arrival and everything in between. It's like a love-fest between two great mediums and the best graphic novels know how to stretch to the limits of both their mediums. Page by Paige is no exception.

Paige Turner (pun intended. Her parents are writers and hoping she will be too) has just moved to New York City from Virginia and is trying to adjust while feeling lost on almost every level. The graphic novel is her sketchbook as she draws her way through and tries to make sense of her life, who she is, what she wants to be, and forge a new path for herself.

The story is most lacking in serious conflict. Even the conflict between her mother has a quick resolution, but overall, I didn't really mind. It isn't what this story/sketchbook is about. It is her journey through the inner pieces of herself and that sets a different pace. So don't expect an Attack of the Squid Monsters From Space! (though actually, that sounds like a fun graphic novel. Please someone, tell me if such a work exists). It made this story refreshing, in that sense (also, a couple instances of mild language for my gentle readers).

I was most taken with the illustrations and how she blended art and story into one. The art becomes an integral part of grasping deeper levels and meanings as Paige draws out her inner and outer self, often coexisting side by side (or upside down). Laura Lee Gulledge's way of manipulating the panels is wonderful and it was often through these extraordinary displays of creativity that I found myself, understanding perfectly what Paige was saying in a way that words were not needed.

I quite enjoyed this book and its foray into a young girl's mind and her journey to discovering herself. And right after I finished reading it, my sisters swiped it from under my hands and read it within the same day.

The Final Word:

Not fast paced or even full of any kind of intense conflict, but the creativity of the illustrations is something not to be missed. Watching this young girl struggle to find herself, I often found pieces of me instead.

You Don't Know What Regret Is When the Empire is Involved

2012-01-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Cello Wars (Radio Edit) by The Piano Guys (No joke. This was all itunes).

This may be my favorite fanmade demotivator poster ever made. I need a short story on this character now (and the saddest thing is, I never gave him a second glance when watching the movies. Did you?)

And since I am still on a Piano Guys kick, here is a link to their Star Wars song since it popped up so pleasantly in my itunes shuffle.

Monday's Muse, 45th edition.

2012-01-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Both Sides Now by Haley Westenra.

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
New.

New World Order by Ben Jeapes.

Jeapes departs from his usual high-tech, military sf to create an action-packed, low-tech sf-alternative history for the Civil War in the seventeenth-century England. Jeapes employs alien invaders, under the leadership of Dhon Do, to end the English Civil War. The incursion produces a predictable clash of cultures that results in improbable alliances: Charles II and Cromwell, and Dhon Do and his half-English son, Daniel, who sympathize with the conquered English. Jeapes' characterization is first-rate. Both historical and fictional characters are well realized, especially Dhon Do and Daniel, thoughtful men, clearly conflicted about their duties in a new world order--definitely not stock teen action-adventure heroes. The riveting story has enough twists and turns, battles and bloodshed to intrigue even hardcore sf fans, but readers will also get a painless lesson in English history. Give this to teens who have read Harry Turtledove's Guns of the South, in which South Africans from the future alter the outcome of the U.S. Civil War. --Chris Sherman, Booklist.

Chu Ju's House by Gloria Whelan.

One girl too many . . .

When a girl is born to Chu Ju's family, it is quickly determined that the baby must be sent away. After all, the law states that a family may have only two children, and tradition dictates that every family should have a boy. To make room for one, this girl will have to go.

Fourteen-year-old Chu Ju knows she cannot allow this to happen to her sister. Understanding that one girl must leave, she sets out in the middle of the night, vowing not to return.

With luminescent detail, National Book Award-winning author Gloria Whelan transports readers to China, where law conspires with tradition, tearing a young woman from her family, sending her on a remarkable journey to find a home of her own.

Paradise by Joan Elizabeth Goodman.

In 1542, when sixteen-year-old Marguerite is selected by her uncle, the Sieur de Roberval, as one of the young women to accompany him on his voyage to the New World, she seizes the chance to escape the oppressive household of her father. Marguerite persuades her forbidden young lover, Pierre, to join the voyage so they can be wed when they reach Canada. But when Marguerite and Pierre are caught together on the ship, they are banished to the tiny, wild Isle of Demons, off the coast of Quebec—and their voyage to freedom becomes a fight for their very survival. Inspired by the true story of Marguerite de La Rocque, Paradise is a gripping novel of adventure, courage, love, and hardship.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.

Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen.

Jessica thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a car accident. She's not comforted by the news that she'll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg. Who cares about walking when you live to run?

As she struggles to cope with crutches and a first cyborg-like prosthetic, Jessica feels oddly both in the spotlight and invisible. People who don't know what to say, act like she's not there. Which she could handle better if she weren't now keenly aware that she'd done the same thing herself to a girl with CP named Rosa. A girl who is going to tutor her through all the math she's missed. A girl who sees right into the heart of her.

With the support of family, friends, a coach, and her track teammates, Jessica may actually be able to run again. But that's not enough for her now. She doesn't just want to cross finish lines herself—she wants to take Rosa with her.

The Ring by Bobbie Pyron.

Pyron’s debut introduces Mardie, a 15-year-old who drinks, smokes pot, does poorly in school and generally disappoints her family. Stumbling across the boxing class at her stepmother’s gym isn’t an instant fix, but when she does hit rock bottom (getting arrested for shoplifting shortly after she catches the boy she’s been seeing cheating on her), it offers her a lifeline to help put her life back together. Inspired by her coach, Kitty, Mardie focuses on boxing and her mandated community service at a home for special needs children, becoming physically and emotionally grounded. Mardie’s journey is far from smooth, as her family’s internal struggles and her falling-out with her best friend dominate much of her time. Although the action sequences are well written, it’s Mardie’s character development that will hook readers: she’s plenty capable of making mistakes, but just as able to eventually learn from them. It’s standard problem novel material, but Pyron does an admirable job of conveying teenage troubles while generally avoiding the feel of an after-school special, and hits at social issues like racism and homophobia without proselytizing. Publisher's Weekly.

Feature Fun Friday - ThePianoGuys "Bach is Back"

2011-12-23T07:06:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Tua Bethlehem Def by Aled Jones.

No, this hasn't a thing to do with books, but this is just too [insert word of epic praise here] not to share. And besides, it's fun to break out of the mold sometimes. :) And if you think this is good, check out their other ones (like... actually, just all of them). Happy Holidays!

(psst. Watch for 2:35. He throws the bow to himself. And they have outtakes).

Review: BookSpeak! Poems About Books by Laura Purdie Salas

2011-12-22T09:07:00.001-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): And Thou Bethlehem by Mychael Danna [Nativity Story soundtrack].

My reviews are a bit different than most. As an undercover superhero (ordinary girl extraordinaire), my purpose is to try and uncover hidden gems lost from the familiar radar. Because of this, I have set up some guidelines for myself (just like the pirate code). :)

I will focus on YA and Children's literature (with very rare exceptions).
I will not review any book that is one of the top 25,000 bestselling books (based on Amazon ranks).
I will try and aim for books 100,000 or larger.
I will review recent books or books of great merit (preferably both).

BookSpeak! Poems About Books by Laura Purdie Salas (author) & Josee Bisaillon (illustrator)
Published: October 25, 2011
Publisher: Clarion Books
Pages: 32
Current Amazon Rank: #216,438
Author's Website: here
Want it? Find it here.

The First Line:

Calling All Readers

My Take:

This book is a wonderful little gem, especially for any readers/lovers of words in your life. It is both more and exactly what it seems. The illustrations are vivid and whimsical, but also offer a hidden depth the more you lose yourself in them. Another thing I loved, like Zorgamazoo the typography plays a key part, making this a visual feast. And the words. These seemingly simple poems are something to savor, a joy to let them roll over your tongue and drift over your mind.

There are 21 poems here, each one taking on a different personality of aspect of a book, say, a character left on a cliffhanger, a cover, an index, or a bookplate.

Book Plate

I don't need your napkin.
I'm not your soup bowl's mate.
I don't want your peas or bread.

I'm not that kind of plate!

Write your name upon me.
I'm a paper love tattoo.
Paste me in your book to show

that I belong to you.

--Laura Purdie Salas, all rights reserved

These voices, like the index arguing why it is the best while gently slamming the table of contents or the banter of the middle part of a novel with the beginning and the end both surprised and delighted me. I have at least one other book of poetry based on books (I really need to review it for you soon) but I knew I had to have this one the moment I finished reading it. There was something that resonated about these words and made only brighter by the illustrations. Often I had to set the book down and pause for a moment after reading one. A beautiful collection and highly recommended if you love pictures or poems. (And not a bad gift if you don't get what you want for Christmas). ;)

The Final Word:

Wonderful, unique illustration enhance an even more powerful set of poems touching every aspect of a story. It positively delighted me. Fun, thoughtful, and powerful, I knew I had to have this one the moment I finished.

See Concept Art for The Girl Who Was On Fire

2011-12-20T14:50:00.001-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): I Saw Three Ships by Jon Schmidt.

My brain is scrambled and a half, but I'm hoping to do a full week of posts for you. And here I have a real treat. Two, in fact. You know how I love when mediums bridge gaps between each other. InStyle recently reached out to some of their favorite fashion designers to see how they would visualize the iconic first costume Katniss wore and the one that gave her the nickname "the girl who was on fire" - the fire dress. Yes, that's right. Professional artists who are no doubt at the height of their career conceptualizing a YA book. Some of their interpretations stick true to the description while others take a much more interpretative approach (below are Tadashi Shoji, Charlotte Ronson, and Nicole Miller's conceptual art, from right to left). Either way it is a fascinating look at some very talented individuals and a bit of a geekfest. Which is not a problem by me. (For those wanting to hunt for the "How to Create a Book Character Costume" I'll link to it right here and save you a step so you can start your 2012 planning early). I think a literary fashion show would be fantastic, but that could just be me. Anyone have any connections to Milan?

The other little pre-Christmas delight. The British Library is releasing ebooks of some of its most beloved treasures in their original folio prints (appropriately titled "ebook Treasures."). 75 titles over the next two years with ones like a "Medieval Bestiary," Lewis Carrol's "Alice's Adventures Underground," William Tyndale's translation of "The New Testament" and the just recently released William Shakespeare's "First Folio" - printed seven years after his death including audio extracts from the plays with 17th century pronunciation already available? Well worth the British price for those that are research fiends or book lovers alike in my opinion. I don't have an ereader yet, but this is just one more temptation for me.

Feature Fun Friday - Simon's Cat "Double Trouble"

2011-12-16T12:59:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Rocking Carol by Roger Whitaker.

Because I love storytelling in all of its forms, I'm sharing a new delight with you I've just discovered. More than likely a fair few of you already know of this since his videos do average more than 6,000,000 views apiece. It is called Simon's Cat and it may be my new favorite treat if I am being a very good girl that day, which may or may not include things like showering on that list. This one is called Double Trouble, and I'm told this is what cat's really do act like. Anyone care to corroborate? :) Have a great weekend, everyone!

A Most Wonderful Giveaway

2011-12-14T13:57:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Atmosphere by Mree.

For those of you who don't know Beth Revis, you should. Not only is she an amazing, vivacious person, she also writes some good books. Her second book is launching in less than a month and she has a contest unlike any I've ever seen.

Not only does she have books, ARCs and customized swag bursting out the seams (I so have dibs on that limited edition koi print, personally done by her former student who was the inspiration for a key character in her book. How cool is that?!), but she also has something very special going on for this contest.

I want to spread the love simply for the reason that she is matching every. entry. with a full dollar donation to World Vision. She is up to 1,200 entries already and no sign of stopping. That is some serious commitment, and one of the reasons I love her so much as an author and a person. It's incredible. I've never seen a giveaway quite like it (if you have, please tell me. I would love to compile a post of amazing authors who do things like this on a reference post). So if for no other reason than you wanting a very easy but very real way to help someone across the world this season, go enter her contest. And you can win stuff some great stuff on top of it. There is no losing here. It's not even a contest. You just sign up. I'm not getting an "extra entry" for posting this.

Ah, I love this time of year. It puts me in such a good mood!

Happy Everything that you might be celebrating. :)

Monday's Muse, 44th edition.

2011-12-12T21:10:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Reminiscence by Michiru Oshima [Fullmetal Alchemist soundtrack].

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
Eleventh.

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch.

In an America devastated by war and plague, the only way to survive is to keep moving.

In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing--and their lives--forever.

The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery by Graeme Base.

This picture book is a puzzle mystery written in verse. When Horace the elephant turns 11, he decides to throw an elaborate birthday party and invites 11 friends. The animal guests arrive in costume, and entertain themselves with a variety of activities until it is time to eat. When the 11th hour arrives, however, they are horrified to find that the entire feast has been eaten. All guests protest their innocence, and Horace comes through with sandwiches to save the day. What remains is for readers to discover the culprit. "The Inside Story," a sealed section of pages containing the solution to the mystery and explanations of the plethora of clues and puzzles in the book, follows the story. Intricate watercolor and acrylic paintings in vibrant colors crowd each page, assaulting readers with activity and detail. Both text and paintings are framed by black-and-white decorative borders that provide still more detail. After either breaking a code through careful observation (very, very careful, one must assume) or checking "The Inside Story," readers will uncover the identity of the villains. They are hidden everywhere: in the borders and in the body of the illustrations, but only very patient, persistent children will be motivated to detect every one of them. --Corinne Camarata, Port Washington Public Library, NY, School Library Journal.

[WriterGirl's Note: This is a completely awesome book. I stayed up all night figuring this out. The second I realized one of the borders of the pictures was in Morse code, I was hooked. I had to find every clue. And the pictures are gorgeous. They are something to be lost in. WriterGirl out.]

Discordia: The Eleventh Dimension by Dena K. Salmon.

For Lance (level 19 zombie sorcerer), and his friend, MrsKeller ( level 23 hobgoblin brigand), life’s a battle, and then you die. And then you rez. And then you battle again. At least that’s how it is in Discordia, the addictive online game that makes real life seem dreary in comparison.

At his new school, Lance feels weird and out of place, but in beautiful and complex Discordia, his zombie sorcerer is doing great: leveling fast, learning new skills, and making friends. He’s even met a level 60 toon, TheGreatOne, who has recruited him and MrsKeller into his guild: Awoken Myths.

Lance wishes he could spend all his time in the game – until TheGreatOne transports Lance and MrsKeller to the real Discordia, the perilous world in the eleventh dimension which inspired the game. Before they’re allowed to leave, they must complete a high-level quest that may determine Discordia’s survival – and Lance’s, too.

If they don’t get out soon, Lance could permanently mutate into the character he plays in the game: a zombie. The friends accept TheGreatOne’s quest and meet Rayva, a runaway who may have been lured into Discordia against her will. The three make their way through a country on the brink of war, fighting monsters, traitors and spies – yet their greatest danger may be Lance himself.

The Rules of Magic - The ULTIMATE Chart

2011-12-09T07:41:00.001-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): A New World by Harry Gregson-Williams [Kingdom of Heaven soundtrack]

This is so amazingly cool, I can't not share. For fantasy writers or lovers anywhere, hear my voice and unite! io9 has put together perhaps the coolest thing since sliced bread. The Rules of Magic from 50 of some of the most well known fantasies in books and movies (okay, I'm not sure you can argue Hocus Pocus in there, but it is still cool they have it!). Places like Narnia, The Abhorsen Trilogy, Mistborn, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Earthsea and Blue Sword are all there! And more, oh so much more. I'm getting giddy just thinking about it. (clicky picture to embiggen. And it's only a sample ^_^).

Review - Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

2011-12-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Smooth Criminal by 2CELLOS.

My reviews are a bit different than most. As an undercover superhero (ordinary girl extraordinaire), my purpose is to try and uncover hidden gems lost from the familiar radar. Because of this, I have set up some guidelines for myself (just like the pirate code). :)

I will focus on YA and Children's literature (with very rare exceptions).
I will not review any book that is one of the top 25,000 bestselling books (based on Amazon ranks).
I will try and aim for books 100,000 or larger.
I will review recent books or books of great merit (preferably both).

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
Published: November 11, 2010
Publisher: Dial
Pages: 352
Current Amazon Rank: #101,327
Author's Website: here
Want it? Find it here.

The First Line:

For the record, I wasn't around the day they decided to become Dumb.

My Take:

I love this book. There are so many reasons why I love this book that it is hard to know where to begin. How about because it features a deaf main character, which I've never heard of before (and in fact I've only read one other novel that had a deaf character in it at all. And it wasn't very good. Believe me), plus, though not pictured on the cover (they pretty much captured Piper by the way) there are two POC - "person(s) of color", or different ethnicities - portrayed in the book, one who is the love interest? Or the fact that Antony John really did his research, not only in rock history and culture, but also on Deaf culture? He nailed it, in fact.

You see, I took sign language for three years in high school. My teacher, who had a deaf sister, made sure we integrated Deaf culture (yes, there is such a thing) into our studies. And let me tell you, Mr. John did his homework.

Not only did he brush up on places like Gallaudet University, he also understood the conflicts that often exists on so many levels in this community. For example, to learn sign language or no signing? Lip reading only or in conjunction with sign? Cochlear implant (a device to help some deaf regain partial hearing) or no? Does it destroy your identity or fix you? DOES something need to be fixed? Not only did he understand it, he integrated it into the story and I loved that. It made the story that much richer. I am really trying not to go overboard on all there is, but I am positively bursting because again, I have never seen a book like this, and not only that, one that handles the topic so well and yet so naturally. It never felt like a lesson on Deaf culture, it felt like a story, with one heck of a protagonist.

Here is a little blip from the description glimpsing into some of the characters:

How can Piper possibly manage one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl?

(Can I also just say that it is awesome he made Piper's family an active part of her life? No parents vanishing mysteriously here. Yay for dodging that trope bullet). And I loved her brother, Finn. In fact, I loved almost every character in this book.

But beyond hitting all of these points so well (in my opinion), the story rocks. I mean, a deaf girl who agrees to find a paying gig for a high school rock band she can't even tell if they are any good? It sounded amazing. It was amazing. And Piper's voice rings out loud and clear from the very first page.

Granted, I didn't get all of the rock history references, but he does an admirable job of navigating the novices like me through. He made me want to look up more about Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain after I was done. And also worthy of nit-picky note, Piper also does something to alter her appearance partway through the book and it felt sudden to me, but I grew to accept it by the end.

This story is tight and clean and moves at a great clip (beware, there is some language for my gentle readers). This is a fantastic story I would recommend highly to almost anyone. It is different than anything else you've read.

The Final Word:

A top notch read that is so unique and vastly refreshing than anything else I've come across. In fact, I am hard pressed to find another book to compare it to. Fun, engaging and so wildly different. I would love to see more stories like this.

Feature Fun Friday - Hugo Trailer

2011-12-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Patapan - God Rest Ye - Monneye/Roth by Mannheim Steamroller.

This movie looks so good. I've been dying to see it since I first saw the trailer (I'm always a bit wary until I see a trailer for a book adaptation) and for the life of me, I cannot figure out why it has made only 15.4 million. Total. That is the death sentence for movies. What isn't there to grab you and suck you in? A visual feast, a romp of clean adventure, Jude Law as a father (hee) and a score by the same man that did Lord of the Rings? Sold! I'm worried for it. If going head to head with Arthur Christmas and Arthur Christmas is winning, I fear for my love of good clean movies in the future. You bet I'm seeing it this week. Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

EDIT: All names have now been corrected. Thank you, Alysa!

(Based on the Caldecott winner The Invention of Huge Cabret).

A Reader's Thanks

2011-12-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Life in Technicolor ii by Coldplay.

Last week was Thanksgiving and twitter for a brief time became abuzz with what, and who, we are grateful for as readers. These are just a few I managed to collect.

Last Minute NaNoWriMo Inspiration

2011-11-30T15:21:00.001-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Friday, I'm In Love by The Cure.

This is why writer friends are so awesome. Tell me that does not inspire a story of tiny mayhem. :)

While still being adorable.

I will now only cut my tongue depressors for log cabin replicas with miniaturized saws. I really should feature more of her creations more often.

By the way, those books in the background? I recommend Novelist's Boot Camp. I haven't reviewed it in a few years but I remember it being extremely useful. It was a fun format to boot (get it? Pun?). Nothing to inspire you like a Drill Sergent making metaphors to kick your butt in gear. Just in case you need that last little push for NaNoWriMo (you can do it!). Have a great Wednesday! YOU CAN MAKE IT!

Monday's Muse, 43rd edition.

2011-11-28T21:46:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Outside the City by Young Galaxy.

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
Courage.

When Courage Came To Call by L. M. Fuge.

Everything changed when the first bomb fell. Now there is the Resistance. Now there are the rules. RULE ONE. We do our work under the cover of darkness. RULE TWO. If you trust me, I will trust you. RULE THREE. We work for the good and safety of Zamascus. This will include killing. Imm is about to find out if he has what it takes to survive - and what it will cost him.

Peeled by Joan Bauer.

As a high school journalist living in upstate New York apple country, Hildy Biddle finds herself needing to get to the core of a problem plaguing her town. The town newspaper has been revived by Pen Piedmont, whose stories spread apprehension centered around the local "haunted" house. Ominous notes are posted on the house, and a psychic moves into town to further stir anxieties. Hildy and her staff find support from a washed up newsman, Baker Polton, but a dead body, a frightened child, and worried orchard owners edge the town toward unhealthy panic. Summoning courage from the memories of her journalist father; a new student, Zach, who is determined to see things scientifically; and restaurant owner Minska who grew up during the solidarity movement in Poland, Hildy determinedly digs for the truth to save her town from being swallowed by greedy developers. Bauer again presents readers with a strong protagonist who wrestles hope from a situation fraught with tribulations. Hildy is surrounded by a finely drawn cast of major and minor characters, from the feisty Elders Against Evil squad to the wise Minska and cynical wordsmith Polton. Bauer uses apple farming as an apt metaphor for the world, where one must deal with what cannot be changed but work tirelessly to make the best of it. In a time when journalism too often flaunts sensationalism, Hildy and crew demonstrate ethics and determination in a story that is wonderfully teachable, highly readable, and ready to delight Bauer fans, old and new. ---Mary Ann Darby, VOYA.

By These Ten Bones by Clare B. Dunkle.

A bone-chilling tale of werewolves and love, set in medieval Scotland

A mysterious young man has come to a small Highland town. His talent for wood carving soon wins the admiration of the weaver's daughter, Maddie. Fascinated by the silent carver, she sets out to gain his trust, only to find herself drawn into a terrifying secret that threatens everything she loves.

There is an evil presence in the carver's life that cannot be controlled, and Maddie watches her town fall under a shadow. One by one, people begin to die. Caught in the middle, Maddie must decide what matters most to her-and what price she is willing to pay to keep it.

Wringer by Jerry Spinelli.

When Palmer LaRue turns nine, he becomes one of the guys. Now a member of a popular gang, with the cool nickname of Snots, life is looking very good, except for one thing. He is now only a year away from becoming a wringer, one of the 10-year-old boys who break the necks of wounded birds in the town's annual pigeon shoot. Unlike his pals who can't wait for that privilege, Palmer dreads it. To make matters worse, a stray pigeon shows up at his window, and soon he is feeding and sheltering it in his room. His life becomes a balancing act of hanging out with the guys, who hate pigeons, and attending to his new pet, Nipper, and Palmer is required to go to great lengths to keep the two worlds apart. When he turns 10, and the pigeon shoot rolls around, the boy is forced to take a stand, and eventually has to rescue Nipper from being killed. Spinelli's characters are memorable, convincing, and both endearing and villainous; and they are involved in a plot that, from the first page, is riveting. The story is told in language simple enough for young readers, yet elegant enough for adults. There is humor, suspense, a bird with personality, and a moral dilemma familiar to everyone: how does one stand up for one's beliefs when they will be very unpopular? A wide audience will enjoy this thought-provoking book.---Tim Rausch, Crescent View Middle School, Sandy, UT, School Library Journal.

The Voices of Silence by Bel Mooney.

Life is hard for Flora Popescu and her parents, living in Bucharest during Nicholas Ceauescu's cruel regime. Food is scarce, water and electricity are erratic, and the family's one-room apartment is cramped and cheerless. A new student, Daniel, well-dressed and shod, appears at school and has lunches of which Flora can only dream: meat, cake, soft bread, and chocolate. From the first, Daniel befriends Flora and shares his food, but her best friend, Alys, doesn't trust Daniel, and she and Flora become estranged. Tensions mount in the Popescu household, and in the city; Flora's father decides to flee the country and return later for his family. After he departs, the people begin to rise against Ceauescu, and fighting breaks out in the city. Many are killed, but Flora, with the help of Alys and other rebels, escapes, without knowing the fate of her father, or what role Daniel may have played in the uprising. Mooney paints a chilling picture of life under the repressive Eastern European governments of the late 1980s. Her sensitive and empathetic tale will keep readers in suspense until the final page. --Kirkus.

Hawksong by Amelia Atwater Rhodes.

Danica Shardae is an avian shapeshifter, and the golden hawk’s form in which she takes to the sky is as natural to her as the human one that graces her on land. The only thing more familiar to her is war: It has raged between her people and the serpiente for so long, no one can remember how the fighting began. As heir to the avian throne, she’ll do anything in her power to stop this war—even accept Zane Cobriana, the terrifying leader of her kind’s greatest enemy, as her pair bond and make the two royal families one.

Trust. It is all Zane asks of Danica—and all they ask of their people—but it may be more than she can give.

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins.

Well-educated American boys from privileged families have abundant options for college and career. For Chiko, their Burmese counterpart, there are no good choices. There is never enough to eat, and his family lives in constant fear of the military regime that has imprisoned Chiko s physician father. Soon Chiko is commandeered by the army, trained to hunt down members of the Karenni ethnic minority. Tai, another "recruit," uses his streetwise survival skills to help them both survive. Meanwhile, Tu Reh, a Karenni youth whose village was torched by the Burmese Army, has been chosen for his first military mission in his people s resistance movement. How the boys meet and what comes of it is the crux of this multi-voiced novel. While Perkins doesn t sugarcoat her subject coming of age in a brutal, fascistic society this is a gentle story with a lot of heart, suitable for younger readers than the subject matter might suggest. It answers the question, "What is it like to be a child soldier?" clearly, but with hope. --Kirkus.

My Adventure with a Very Special Book

2011-11-21T12:11:00.001-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Actress in Time Layers by Susumu Hirasawa [Millenium Actress soundtrack].

So. There was this really good book I read. So good in fact, I couldn't put it down, even to go on an adventure to Disney World. So it came along for the ride and we had an adventure together.

Which book, might you ask? It was A MILLION SUNS by Beth Revis, which comes out in less two and a half months (I'm so excited! *bubbles inside*). It is REALLY good. It is just like the first one with twists and turns and more than a few jaw-dropping moments (I think this may have happened literally at one point). It is fantastic. You're going to want to get your hands on this one as soon as you possibly can. If this is any indication of her writing level and progress, I cannot wait to see her growth over the next few years.

First up, this quote, which of course you managed to guess accurately right off the bat. Yes, yes, well done. *grumbles* The only thing you could have done to make it more specific is name what wall this was on. Good gracious. *facepalm* And while true, this is from the American Adventure in Epcot, I really think this quote captures a lot of the heart and spirit behind the mission of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and Godspeed itself. But not all. I have two more quotes to tease you with before this post is up. ;)

First up, Amy and Elder went toe-to-toe with one of the biggest baddies in all of sci-fi. Yep, Darth Vadar himself. I don't think Elder got the significance of the meeting, but Amy knew what she was doing and didn't hesitate. She's a fierce thing. Luckily, there was no loss of hand or limb, and no choke hold to speak of on this encounter.

This may of course had something to do with the fact that they met a friendly ally to help them out of the sticky situation.

Amy's fiery passion is one of the things I love about her. And probably why she passed Jedi Academy so quickly.

Pretty name badge. *strokes*

After that, this guy didn't even phase them. But a guard is the least of their worries in A MILLION SUNS. Imagine of the worst possible worst case scenario, and you are probably not far off. No joke, you are in for a roller coaster of a ride with this one.

And after all that, they stopped in for a quick bite to eat here (appropriate, yes?) :) (By the way, this place is fantastic. Not only do you eat in a car while watching old sci-fi B-movies from the 50's, the food is so good. Best burger I've had in Disney World. So atmospheric, so much fun. I was in geekery 7th heaven). ^_^

Speeder bike race, of course. (I will let you decide who won). ;)

This space suit turned out to be more appropriate than I imagined. Not saying a word more on this one. *zips lips*

"Mickey Mouse and the Orbiting Nightmare" - oddly appropriate. :) (I was giddy when I found this one. I giggled. Out loud). And I love how Mickey is looking at them. But you know, I think Amy and Elder are a lot worse off. I don't think Mickey has anything on them, even with his dapper suit and startled expression. A MILLION SUNS kept me up at night. I would try and sneak a few pages in, even after I'd been going nonstop in the parks for 10-14 hours every day. I dreamt of A MILLION SUNS. I *never* dream about books.

And I threw this in for fun, because it would be something Amy would miss. And I realized something Elder would never see (such a pity).

And here are the two quotes I thought fit in nicely with Beth Revis' heart-pounding world. I'll let you decide how they fit in. :)

This book is wonderful, and I do not say that lightly. It is a page turner and a seamless, natural continuation to the world and characters she's already built. This is one of the very rare books where the second book is better than the first. In a trilogy I can name few with that distinction. They are usually the opening curtain for the final act. Necessary, but not anything special. Not here. This book is special, and I can't wait for the next ride.

Feature Fun Friday - Interview with an Audiobook Narrator

2011-11-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Mario Kart Long Song by Sam Hart.

Now this is a really cool find. In fact I don't think I've ever encountered this before - an interview with an audiobook narrator. Heather Lind to be precise, from the audiobook BLOOD RED ROAD by Moira Young (which I've heard nothing but praises about). Really, what a fun concept! I think it really should be done more. Hope you enjoy this glimpse behind the scenes as much as I did. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Guess My Adventure

2011-11-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Circus Girl by Mindy Gledhill.

Now I have to be extra tricky, because you hooligans keep outguessing me. I *try* and think of the unnamable photo clue, but you just keep winning. So I'm pulling out all of the stops. You guys are getting a quote. That's right -- a quote. A photo of a quote, granted, but still. And it relates directly to Monday's post which I've been super excited to share with you for weeks (but the book bomb of Variant took precedence, as it should have). So here we go. Do your worst.

An Update of the Book Bomb of VARIANT

2011-11-16T07:13:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): All the Right Moves by OneRepublic. <---- yeah, that's you.

Dude. DUDE. When you guys set your minds to something, you mean serious business. I'm still speechless. Our book bomb of Robinson Wells' VARIANT was bigger than I imagined possible. He skyrocketed up the charts to say the least.

Larry Correia did a blow by blow post of the numbers throughout the day. It blew my mind every time I clicked that little "refresh" button on the hour. The number just. kept. getting. smaller.

But here, Larry says it best the next day in his own words:

When I started this, I though we’d give Rob a nice little nudge. In the past book bombs I’ve been able to get people up into the top 20 of their genre. I didn’t know about this one though, because Rob was in one of the most competitive genres in the entire business. But it didn’t matter. You guys were all like, “whatever, gimme ten more copies.”

When I bought my copy, it was at #256. I thought the surge was starting to die down and oh so adorably thought I was giving it a boost right when it was starting to lag. *shakes head* It was only beginning.

When I checked for some comparative titles, I went straight for ECLIPSE by Stephenie Meyer (since it is generally considered the favorite of her series, plus I figured copies were being bought in preparation for the latest movie). It was resting at #3,660. Which is NOT a number to sneeze at. Do you realize what this means? You guys beat out Stephenie Meyer's book, if even for a single day! HOLY CRAP. Don't ever let anyone tell you you can't/don't/won't make a difference because you just proved them wrong.

Robinson Wells book improved 10,000% in a single day. TEN THOUSAND PERCENT. It shot up to the fastest selling book on amazon Thursday. (They have a special category for that one too).

And THEN to top it off, I checked the next day. I was met with this image:

You guys SOLD OUT the amazon warehouse. I think this is where my mind exploded.

The next day they had this:

(They have since had it back in stock, which is awesome, but who cares? You cleaned out amazon. Not many people can lay claim to that lofty achievement. Give yourselves a mighty pat on the back).

You guys blow my mind. You are so incredible, there are not words for it other than YOU PWNED IT ALL. And best news of all? He is still in the top #10,000 (currently at #5,663). He won't get to see any of the numbers for a while, but I know this made a serious dent in his advance. All of you, thank you. I am honored to know you.

(my copy just came yesterday! ^_^)

Monday's Muse, 42nd edition.

2011-11-14T12:55:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Starlight by Muse.

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
Space.

Enchantress From the Stars by Sylvia Engdahl.

The Federation Anthropological Service would never officially have allowed Elana to be on this mission to the medieval planet Andrecia. If Youngling peoples found out that a supremely advanced and enlightened society like the Federation existed, it would irreparably damage their evolution. Stowing away aboard her father's ship, Elana suddenly becomes the key to a dangerous plan to turn back the invasion of Andrecia by an aggressive, space faring Youngling civilization. How can she possibly help the Andrecians who still believe in magic and superstition, against a force armed with advanced technology, without revealing her alien powers?

Apprentice Medical Officer Jarel wishes that the planet the Imperial Exploration Corps have chosen to colonize didn't have a "humanoid" population already living on it. The invaders don't consider the Andrecians to be human and Jarel has seen the atrocious treatment the natives get from his people. How can he make a difference, when he alone regrets the destruction that is people bring?

Georyn, the youngest son of a poor Andrecian woodcutter, knows only that there is a terrible dragon on the other side of the enchanted forest, and he is prepared to do whatever it takes to defeat it. In his mind, Elana is the Enchantress from the Stars who has come to test him, to prove he is worthy of defeating the dragon and its powerful minions. Despite both Elana's and Jarel's inner turmoil, Georyn's burden is by far the heaviest. Ultimately, he must pit his innocent faith in the magic of his Enchantress from the Stars against foes who have come from a world beyond his comprehension.

Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gills.

Durango is the 16-year-old chief of a team of mercenaries who eke out a living on Mars by earning meager commissions for their dangerous work. Their current job, and the main thrust of this high-energy, action-filled, science-fiction romp, is to protect South Pole miners from the Dræu, a cannibalistic group who are after the miners' treasure. Two feisty women help Durango lead. Second-in-command Vienne and Durango care more for each other than either wants to admit, although there is little time for romance amid all the flying bullets and detonating bombs. Mimi, the other central woman and Durango's former chief, is now implanted in his brain as an artificial intelligence. The repartee between Durango and Mimi is particularly brilliant, but throughout the novel, the dialogue crackles with expertly delivered sarcastic wit and venom. If intelligent sophomoric humor exists, Gill is the master at creating it. The intriguing dystopian setting is a Mars purposely polluted by immigrants from Earth. Readers will have a hard time turning the pages fast enough as the body count rises to the climactic, satisfying ending, which will leave new fans hopeful for more adventures. --Cindy Dobrez, Booklist.

Beyond the Reflection's Edge by Bryan Davis

Sixteen-year-old Nathan Shepherd has a great life traveling where the careers of his father, an investigator, and mother, a renowned violinist, take him … until his parents are found murdered. Left with only a mirror and notes from his father’s last case, Nathan goes into hiding at the remote country home of Tony, his father’s college buddy, and Tony’s teenage daughter, Kelly. The mysterious mirror must be a clue to what happened to his parents, and when images appear in it—people and things that don’t exist—Nathan and Kelly painstakingly gather evidence. But the killers want the mirror too, and danger threatens the teens at every turn. As it becomes evident that Nathan’s father had stumbled upon dark forces at work in the world, several questions arise. Could it be that the mirror is a portal to a parallel world? Could this technology be used for evil purposes? And could his parents still be alive, trapped in another dimension? Nathan and Kelly struggle to solve the mystery before they too become victims. This chilling, hair-raising adventure is jam-packed with action in a fantastical world where nothing is as it seems, and even mirrors tell lies.

Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel.

This sequel to Airborn (2004) and Skybreaker (2005, both Eos) continues the fabulous adventures of Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries. In classic steampunk fashion, this book blends the best of Victorian society and science fiction. No longer content to be confined to planet Earth, Kate and Matt leap at the opportunity to travel into space when Kate is invited to be a part of the Canadian astralnaut program for her scientific expertise and Matt must undergo rigorous training before he is accepted as a crew member. Unexpected mechanical difficulties, friction among those onboard, sabotage, and encounters with strange alien life-forms test their courage and ingenuity and love for one another. Starclimber is a thrilling roller-coaster ride of a book, full of humor and derring-do and guaranteed to keep readers up long past midnight.-Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK, School Library Journal.

Living Hell by Catherine Jinks.

All is well on the spaceship Plexus. Decades into a journey that has left earth far behind, the couple thousand residents live a life of insulated security. Their social interactions are sensitive and enlightened, their meals prepared instantaneously, and a serene aura of peace makes their slow search for an inhabitable planet a tranquil one. But what’s that up ahead? A radiation field? Soon after the ship passes through, 17-year-old Cheney finds himself in the middle—literally—of a nightmare. (Warning: somewhat of a first-act spoiler ahead.) With shocking rapidity, the ship begins turning into a biologic organism: the walls become muscle, cables become veins, and simple devices like transport vehicles become equivalent to cellular defenders out to devour viruses—and the viruses are the humans. An unbelievably tense first half plateaus after a time, but that hardly diminishes the gooey, sticky, mucus-covered fun. Jinks’ well-thought-out environs and rational characters help ground this otherwise out-of-control interstellar thriller. --Daniel Kraus, Booklist.

The Colors of Space by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

As young Bart Steele stood looking over the Lhari spaceport, he heard a gong sound, touching off an explosion of warning bells. He looked up. A starship was arriving. Bart ran down the ramp, thinking: I wonder if Dad will know me after five years. He searched through the crowd, looking in vain for his father's tall figure. Suddenly he spotted a fat little man coming toward him with his arms outstretched. "Hello, son," the man said loudly, grasping Bart's arms. "Well, boy, you've sure grown. But you're not too grown-up to give your old Dad a hug, are you?" Bart started to pull away and stammer that the man had made a mistake, but the man pulled him roughly into his arms. "Bart, listen to me," the stranger whispered. "Call me Dad, good and loud, if you want to live. Because, believe me, your life is in danger - right now!"

The Softwire : Virus on Orbis 1 by PJ Haarsma.

Like the other 198 parentless children on the spaceship Renaissance, 12-year-old Johnny Turnbull (JT) and his seven-year-old sister are headed to Orbis, a multicultural world made up of four rings orbiting a wormhole. Upon landing, the children are shocked to learn that they must work as slaves for Star Wars-like aliens to repay their passage. When it is discovered that JT is a softwire, a being able to communicate telepathically with computers, the boy, both feared and coveted by different factions, becomes the prime suspect when the computer that runs the operations on Orbis 1 malfunctions. It's obvious that this is the first book in a series, but Haarsma fills it with exotic aliens, dangerous situations, and fast-paced adventure. Younger sf fans will happily hang in with JT as he tries to stay alive and keep Orbis from being conquered from within, and they'll look forward to other volumes in the Softwire series. --Diana Herald, Booklist.

Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences by Brian Yansky.

Jesse is in history class when a formidable, efficient race of aliens quietly takes over the earth in less time than it takes him to brush his teeth. Most humans simply fall asleep and never wake up. In moments, everyone Jesse knows and loves is gone, and he finds that he is now a slave to an inept alien leader. On the bright side, Jesse discovers he’s developing telepathic powers, and he’s not the only one. Soon he’s forging new friendships and feeling unexpectedly hopeful. When a mysterious girl appears in his dreams, talking about escaping, Jesse begins to think the aliens may not be invincible after all. But if Jesse and his friends succeed, is there anywhere left to go? Brian Yansky offers a funny, grim novel packed with everything boys and sci-fi fans love: aliens, humor, action, and a healthy dose of triumph.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis.

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

Feature Fun Friday - The Black Cauldron Bookie Woogie Review by Lilly

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Here In Your Arms by Hellogoodbye.

If I haven't expressed my love for Bookie Woogie enough, here is just another reason. Lily is 8 and has created her own personal review of The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander. It completely brought me back to when I first read this story. And it is adorable to boot. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Bookie Woogie: The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander from Z-Dad on Vimeo.

Let's Book Bomb Variant!

2011-11-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Into the Fire by Thirteen Senses.

Variant by Robinson Wells. Buy it. TODAY. Here's the scoop. Well, let me recap from where I heard the news. From Larry Correia's blog:

Mark your calender. On Thursday, November 10th, I’m going to book bomb somebody, and not only that, I’m going to ask all of you for help spread the word because this particular author is in dire need of a boost.

I’ve already plugged Variant by Robison Wells once before. I know many of you read it and liked it. Rob is a friend of mine and a member of Writer Nerd Game Night. Variant is an excellent read, sort of a sci-fi take on Lord of the Flies with a twist, and don’t just take my word for it, it made the Publisher’s Weekly list of the top books of the year. (which is quite the honor, despite PW hating Hard Magic and giving it a sloppy review that made it obvious their lazy ass reviewer only read the first 1/4 of the book. Ultra good Grimnoir and ultra evil Imperium my ass) :)

But I digress. Variant was one of the best books I’ve read this year. I stayed up late to read it in one sitting.

Normally I wouldn’t bomb the same book again, but Rob is also going through a really tough time. A little while ago he was diagnosed with a severe panic disorder. Basically, something in his brain chemistry has gone out of whack, and his fight or flight reflex is constantly switched on. As a result this has really screwed up his life. He has been trying to get it under control and his doctors have been experimenting with different treatments trying to find the one that will click.

Recently, Rob was laid off from his day job as a result of his illness. This is a real financial hardship for him and his family.

What many people don’t realize about writers is that we keep our day jobs until we have about five or six books in circulation, and sometimes longer depending on how well they are selling. Writing isn’t the most steady of paychecks. (I’m doing well enough now that I could just be a writer, but I happen to love my day job, so I plan on doing it for probably another year). You’ve got to earn back the advance and even then you only get paid every six months. Variant is Rob’s first book on the national market. He had a ways to go before he would be able to quit the day job, but his illness totally wrecked that plan.

So I want to book bomb the HELL out of Variant. I want to shove that thing up the bestseller lists on Amazon and I want to give my friend a hand.

That was blatant thievery of most of his post, but it's for a good cause, so I hope he forgives me.

What is a book bomb you may ask? You've seen how I rank my reviews based on "current Amazon ranking" right? Well, that is a bit of an deceptive determiner because it changes hourly on some secret voodoo algorithm of theirs that they guard like the holy grail. But in essence it is based on how many books are bought on their site in a given time frame then stacked against all of the other 6,000,000 books or so available on Amazon. (plus some more voodoo magic, I'm sure).

The higher you creep up on that number, the most Top 100 and Top 10 book lists you show up on. So you will appear on something like "#9 in Books > Nonfiction > Insect Stuff > Mating Calls of the Bioluminescent Glowworm." :)

So the goal is to bomb the heck out of this book today, get it as high as humanly possible, and help out a debut writer in need. This is what is going to feed his family. And you know what? It has already been vaulted to #256 today. DO YOU KNOW HOW HUGE THAT IS? Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer is at #3,660 right now. Early yesterday VARIANT was lost in obscurity in the #100,000+ range. An incalculable difference is being made right now before your eyes.

And besides all this it sounds like a good book. A really good book. I'm about to put my money where my mouth is.

So sally forth! Tell everyone you know. Today is the day for a book bombing!

Adventures in Disney World - Animal Edition

2011-11-08T07:20:00.000-08:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Do You Know The Way To San Jose by Dionne Warwick.

If you were here with my on my last covert mission to Disney World, you will realized I made a grave error. I *thought* my mission was to find the last hand flush toilet in the parks, since they didn't seem to exist anywhere. Turns out - they're everywhere! First time I was there I did not find a single one, save for my awe-inspiring moment on the second floor of Pizza Planet in Hollywood Studios.

Yes, I took a picture of it. I needed proof, people.

This time, I think the ratio was 70-30 in favor of the flush variety. But in the converse, I made every single bus walking on them save for four (or run on, as a couple of the cases were). So I'll take the trade off. :)

And it turns out my camera with the extra SD card is not currently in my possession, so some of my more candid shots will have to wait until later. BUT. I have some awesome photos to show you, well, because animals are just cool. No, I never grew out of being a little kid.

The best time to go on Kilimanjaro Safari? First thing in the morning, especially if you have early hours because you're staying on Disney property.* Why? Because they feed them first thing in the morning and that is when they are the most active. So instead of a lump of a sleeping lion, you get a shot like this

He was totally posing by the way. I'm not kidding.

Catch me on my good side.

See? They like being out when there's food.

The second time I went on the safari, as we rounded the "savanna", we came upon a sight that shocked even our tour guide. A giraffe was chasing a wildebeest. All of the cars had to stop. Which was fine by me because I was snapping as many photos as I could in the early morning light. This set off a mini stampede of over half the giraffes (but not the reticulated giraffes. They were as calm as cats munching on their leafy greens). It was something beautiful to see.

I know some people think giraffes look silly or absurd when they run, but I think it is stunning and all kinds of cool for something to even move like that.

And I caught this guy sunbathing. What I wouldn't give to see one of these guys run. :) (If you want to see a weird run, type in "komodo dragon running" into youtube or some other video sharing site. Now that's a strange run. But don't begrudge them that. They can outstrip humans easy with, going over 30 mph).

*Second best time to go? 5:00 PM or later when they are beginning to close. Also feeding time. :)

I'll Be Back said in the best Terminator voice

2011-11-01T04:44:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Becoming a Geisha by John Williams [Memoirs of Geisha soundtrack]

Because I'm off to Disney World! :D I will see you all next week. I miss you already.

My Halloween Treat For You

2011-10-31T09:04:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): This is Halloween by Danny Elfman [The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack]

And, since I am in Disney World (at this very moment *squee!*) I can't help but add one more video. A documentary of the behind the scenes creation of The Haunted Mansion. (And this is horrible of me, but I never noticed it was the raven who was narrating! I love ravens.) It's Disneyland, so sue me, but it is so cool nonetheless. Happy Halloween!

I'm hoping to grab Frollo, Gaston, and Dr. Facillier for delightfully villainous photos. Wish me luck!

Feature Fun Friday - The Haunted Mansion Storybook reading

2011-10-28T04:36:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You) by Frank Sinatra.

I stumbled on this little treasure quite by accident and I am so glad I did. Apparently this was a promotional item when the Haunted Mansion first opened and has become quite a fan favorite. From the back of the recording it reads:

"In 1969, this Disneylands Record Storyteller album was released to commemorate the opening of the Haunted Mansion. Intended as a simple promotional album, this recording has become a cherished childhood memory for many Disney guests. The Story and Song from The Haunted Mansion includes original scenes and effects that never made it into the final attraction as it follows two teenagers (voiced by Robbie Lester and a young Ron Howard) who take refuge inside the eerie mansion during a mysterious rainstorm."

Hope you enjoy! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Best Guide to Creating a Character Costume EVER

2011-10-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson.

This post should get so much love it should be drowning in it. If you've ever wanted to design or create a character costume for a book that you love, that just hasn't been given enough love (or the right love) you NEED this post from YAthenaeum. They say it will more skill, precision, and clarity than I ever could. It's a blog that is not much updated anymore, but this post should be bookmarked, stroked, and kissed goodnight if you've ever thought of creating your own book character costume, whether it be for a convention, Halloween, or for fun (particularly if there has never been a movie adaptation for it). Here is just a taste of what is over there:

Designing the Costume

First thing to do is skim the book and look for any pages that may describe the character you are going to dress up as, mark these pages.
Physical details are usually given, but their attire is not always described in detail. Try to take the setting of the book as a way to figure out the outfit.
Start sketching, draw, throw in as many designs as possible, you can pick and choose later.
After you have several designs, pick what you like from each and combine them to make the perfect outfit.

So click over there right away. It's an unspeakably valuable resource.

A Literary Halloween Character Idea Guide

2011-10-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Requiem for a Tower by Clint Mansell.

One of my favorite favorite things to do for Halloween is to dress up as book characters. One year, I plan on dressing up as Sabriel (of the Garth Nix affiliation) but I have to figure out how to make chainmail first. Luckily there are internet guides out there (I love the internet). There are about 1.4 trillion and a half books out there*, and I know there is a perfect character for you.

So to help you, I've scoured the internet and the deepest recesses of my mind (a scary place mind you), to help kick-start the idea engine and help you find the perfect literary figment of your imagination that is dying to break out.

There are the classics: Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, Elizabeth Bennett (and Mr. Darcy for your lucky boyfriend), Edgar Allen Poe, complete with a raven on your shoulder. For Miss Havisham all you need is a trashed wedding/prom dress and a crazy look in your eye and viola! Ariel/Prospero of The Tempest, Titania/Oberon/Puck of A Midsummer Nights Dream. Shakespeare character's could go on and on, or dress up as the bard himself!

An inflatable globe makes you an instant Atlas (or if you carry it lower you can be Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged) ;)

Want to be tricky? Dress up as one of the seven deadly sins (a fabulous visualization of them can be found on blackeri's Deviant art page).

Pregnant? No worries! Pin an "A" to your dress front, and you are a perfect Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter. (Shannon Hale did this one year and it was fantastic to see pictures of her in it).

Already have a costume planned out, have kids or are on a tight/non-existent budget? Got that covered too. :)

-Baby mouse costume = Hickory Dickory Dock/If You Give a Mouse a Cookie/Tale of Despereux
-Any barnyard costume = Animal Farm
-Roman centurion = Antony and Cleopatra
-Baby bunny/rabbit costume = Peter Rabbit.
-Witch costume = Wicked Witch of the West/Wicked (a scarecrow and tinman costume could be easy to "scare" up). :)
-Indian = Indian in the Cupboard/Last of the Mohicans/take your pick.
-Tons of layered shirts = Mrs. Whatsit from A Wrinkle in Time (this one could easily cost you nothing).
-White pajamas, ears and a tail = Max from Where the Wild Things are (also cool with the movie coming out next month).
-Striped red and white shirt and hat - Where's Waldo (awesome!).
-Shirt with a green ham painted on - Sam I am.

Costume I seriously want to do someday - Scout's ham costume from To Kill a Mockingbird.

You can go as a famous character, like Twilight or Harry Potter, but do your own imagining. Who says you have to follow the movie? From Danielle Dreger-Babbit of The Examiner, here are her ideas for creating your own Twilight characters:

For the character of Edward, the only items you'll need are vampire teeth and some powder to make yourself pale. For Bella, cover your body in band-aids and ace bandages and carry around a copy of a Jane Austen novel. Jacob is a slightly harder look to achieve. My advice is to wear some super tight clothes with tears in them and give your best "werewolf" face."

She totally forgot the rub-on glitter though. And what about Wuthering Heights? This can equally be applied to any popular series/books.

Let your imagination fly and your inner literary figure break free and bust a move. :D

And if you let me know you are participating, I will put in a link to your blog so we can see all of the costumes we have out there and the creative geniuses behind them.

*that is a totally accurate number by the way.

Monday's Muse, 41st edition.

2011-10-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): An Understanding by Harry Gregson-Williams [Kingdom of Heaven soundtrack].

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
Fear.

Summer of Fear by Lois Duncan.

From the moment Rachel's family takes in her orphaned cousin Julia, strange things start to happen. Rachel grows suspicious but soon finds herself alienated from her own life. Julia seems to have enchanted everyone to turn against her, leaving Rachel on her own to try and prove that Julia is a witch. One thing about Julia is certain-she is not who she says she is, and Rachel's family is in grave danger.

Legacy of Lies by Elizabeth Chandler.

Megan isn't looking forward to visiting her mother's mother, who has summoned her. Helen Barnes's coolness toward her granddaughter goes beyond the fact that Megan was adopted. As the days pass, strange dreams haunt the teen and give way to uncanny placements of household objects that had been removed or abandoned years ago. Megan struggles with many things: her physical attraction to her cousin; the feeling that she had lived in this forbidding house before; and the fact that her grandmother grows more hostile with each day. The girl's uneasiness bursts into fear as she discovers that she is destined to repeat the tragic incident that killed her grandmother's younger sister many years before. The author blends reality and the supernatural into an engaging suspense novel. Each character, both primary and supporting, continues to develop throughout the story, and the true murderer is not revealed until the end. Carefully drawn chapters bring readers into Megan's mystery and leave them satisfied at the end. A good choice for teens who enjoy a blend of mystery, suspense, romance, and the supernatural.--Jana R. Fine, Clearwater Public Library System, FL, School Library Journal.

Devil's Footsteps by E.E. Richardson.

Bryan was 10 when his brother, Adam, just . . . disappeared. That was five years ago, and now Bryan is the only one who seems to remember what happened.

Until he meets two others with their own unsolved mysteries. It seems that Adam isn’t the first to disappear. Someone or something is after the kids in their neighborhood.

The adults can’t hear it, and they can’t see it or feel it—but the kids can. And it all comes back to the skipping rhyme that every child in town knows by heart . . . and the Dark Man who haunts everyone’s worst nightmares—while they’re awake.

No Shame, No Fear by Ann Turnbull.

In 1662 the British Parliament passed the Quaker Act, making it treason to refuse to swear an oath of allegiance to the King and also making it illegal for the Friends of Truth, another name for the Quakers, to meet. It is during this time that 15-year-old Quaker Susanna and 17-year-old Anglican William meet and fall in love. To complicate matters, William, the son of the mayor, finds himself drawn to the Quaker faith, and Susanna's parents, friends, and mentor are imprisoned and persecuted. Susanna is also targeted for punishment after she continues to hold meetings with the children while the adults are in jail. This is a well-told historical tale, engaging and informative. The quality of the storytelling makes one wish for further resources or a historical note, but that doesn't detract from an enjoyable reading experience. --Cindy Welch, Booklist.

Fear and Laundry by Elizabeth Myles.

When seventeen-year-old Veronica Montez and her best friend Lia discover their favorite hangout’s about to go bankrupt, they put together a benefit concert to try and rescue the grungy Laundromat-slash-rock venue. All they need’s a guitarist to round out their new punk band so they can headline the show. Enter Lia’s virtuoso brother, Jake, who unexpectedly drops out of college and returns home just in time to fill the bill.

Veronica soon bonds with gifted but temperamental Jake over their affinity for gory horror flicks and discovers he’s as ambivalent about his future as she is. Talk about terrifying. If someone as smart and talented as Jake can’t figure out his life, what hope does Veronica have? Really Liking Jake scares her, too, though she can’t decide if she’s more afraid he won’t like her back or that he will. Something tells her he'd be interested in more than just hooking up, and while fake blood and guts and machete-wielding movie maniacs don’t faze her, the thought of risking her heart in a real relationship sends chills up Veronica’s spine.

Dread Locks: Dark Fusion #1 by Neal Shusterman.

Shusterman brings a new and unique perspective to the old Medusa story. Parker Baer, 14, has plenty of material possessions but is bored. Then Tara, with her spirals of golden hair and dark sunglasses, moves in next door. Within a short time, Parker's family and friends are sick and behaving strangely. When Tara takes him on a death ride that takes them over a cliff and neither is injured, the horror of her power becomes clear to him. As the situation becomes grimmer, the teen is forced to confront her with bone-chilling, spine-tingling results. Exotic and strange Tara keeps readers on the edge of their seats with her unconventional behavior and unusual perspective on everyday life. The plot twists and turns move the story toward an unexpected end. In a horrifying climax, Shusterman delivers the moral of the tale, unusual in itself, for most books of this genre rarely deliver a message so powerfully. However, it is the gross-out factor that readers will remember. Eating kitty litter with milk, statues with fingerprints, and other unexplained (until the very end) behaviors will keep readers turning the pages even as they shudder to think what will come next. The book's front cover will attract teens, and the title perfectly fits the story. A good addition for those libraries with horror lovers who have moved on from R.L. Stine's "Fear Street" series.–Molly S. Kinney, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, School Library Journal.

The Midnighters #1: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld.

A few nights after Jessica Day arrives in Bixby, Oklahoma, she wakes up at midnight to find the entire world frozen, except for her and a few others who call themselves 'midnighters'. Dark things haunt this midnight hour – dark things with a mysterious interest in Jessica. The question is Why?

The Secret Hour is a compelling tale of dark secrets, midnight romance, eerie creatures, courage, destiny, and unexpected peril.

In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.

Three-hundred-year-old Risika looks darn good for her age. Thanks to her "blood mother," a vampire named Ather who turned Risika (nee Rachel) into one of the undead back in 1684, she will always look as fresh as a 17-year-old. Now Risika is a world weary night stalker who sleeps in Concord, Massachusetts, by day and prowls New York City by night, in search of fresh blood to slake her inhuman thirst. One of the benefits of living such a long life has been discovering that most of the popular myths about vampires are not true: "Holy water and crosses do not bother me... and silver does not burn me. If someone hammered a stake through my heart, I suppose I would die, but I do not play with humans, stakes or mallets." In fact, there is little in the mortal world that surprises Risika anymore, until she returns from a hunt one night to find a black rose on her pillow--the same flower she was given on the eve of her mortal death. Knowing that the rose is a taunt from Aubrey, a vampire she believes murdered her human brother, Risika decides to confront her nemesis. In a bloody battle with Aubrey, Risika finally unearths her brother's true fate.

While the plot of this vampire tale may not stand out from the fanged masses of the genre, what does stand out is the fact that the author is 14 years old. Teen horror fans of Anne Rice and L.J. Smith will surely want to experience for themselves how In the Forests of the Night stacks up to their favorite adult titles--and will be especially interested in seeing how one of their young peers plies the writing trade. (Ages 12 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert, Amazon.com review.

Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin.

Many secrets bubble just beneath the surface of this skillful thriller narrated by a high-school senior who has been accused?and acquitted?of murdering his girlfriend. David Yaffe moves from Baltimore to Cambridge to avoid publicity, but instead of finding refuge with Uncle Vic, Aunt Julia and cousin Lily, he is shown to their attic apartment and expected to fend for himself. His relatives appear to be conducting a cold war. Still blaming each other for their daughter Kathy's suicide four years ago, Julia and Vic have stopped speaking to each other. The one who suffers the most from their silence is 11-year-old Lily, who shows signs of being emotionally disturbed. Suspense rises to a feverish pitch as pieces of a complex puzzle fall into place, involving Kathy's death and Julia and Vic's estrangement from each other and from David's parents. Even Kathy's ghost seems to make an appearance, imploring David to "help Lily." Meanwhile, Lily is doing everything she can to turn her parents against him. David's attempts to pull the family together fail miserably until, in the aftermath of a chilling climax, he confronts his own demons as he attempts to help Lily dispel hers. The novel's gothic flavor, compelling minor characters (David's skinhead friend, Frank, and Raina, a college student and artist) and subtle exploration of guilt and complicity add texture to this tense psychological drama. Werlin (Are You Alone on Purpose?) leaves enough unanswered questions to make readers want to keep lights burning a little longer than usual. --Publisher's Weekly.

The Raven - read by James Earl Jones DARTH VADER cough

2011-10-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): The Crystal Chamber by James Newton Howard [Atlantis: The Lost Empire soundtrack]

James Earl Jones reading anything has my heart, but this is one of my favorite renditions of Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem. And, just because I couldn't help it, I also found a version where they've tweaked the audio just enough to imitate Darth Vadar's iconic breathing. To each his own. Why not both? :) Have a great weekend, everyone!

Review - Toad to a Nightingale by Brad Leithauser (Drawings by Mark Leithauser)

2011-10-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): The Forest of the Deer God by Joe Hisaishi [Princess Mononoke soundtrack].

My reviews are a bit different than most. As an undercover superhero (ordinary girl extraordinaire), my purpose is to try and uncover hidden gems lost from the familiar radar. Because of this, I have set up some guidelines for myself (just like the pirate code). :)

I will focus on YA and Children's literature (with very rare exceptions).
I will not review any book that is one of the top 25,000 bestselling books (based on Amazon ranks).
I will try and aim for books 100,000 or larger.
I will review recent books or books of great merit (preferably both).

Toad to a Nightingale by Brad Leithauser
Published: September 1, 2007
Publisher: David R Godine
Pages: 64
Current Amazon Rank: #2,013, 934 (this might be a new record)
Author's Website: [None]
Want it? Find it here.

The First Line:

None really. It's a book of poetry.

My Take:

Poetry, the kind that strikes just the right chord is something utterly sublime to me. I love how the words are so carefully crafted, refined and clarified to the most potent distillment. It makes me more aware of words and language than almost any other thing.

This collection I found at a local bookstore during a large sale. It was tucked in between a myriad of picture books, and even with the illustrations (which are gorgeous) done by his brother no less, I do not believe this is a book meant for children only.

It opens with a nightingale speaking with a toad in an exchange of sorts. From there it morphs into a series of poems based around various subjects, like "Plant Creatures," "Four From the Forrest Floor" and "Periodic Riddles" (which include such poems as "Hydrogen." "Oxygen," and "Neon."). Most are on a very specific focus, but change the way one such simple things, like in "A Dropped Watermelon."

Here is one example

An Alarm Clock Powered by AAA Batteries

Two slender bodies are the fuel
It feeds upon. You might suppose them dead
And buried, but their hearts are beating...
Witness the blood-bright light they shed.
It's the sheer steadiness of appetite -
Never a moment when the thing's not eating -
That chills you in the dead of night.
Time isn't just unjust but cruel.

The Final Word:

Unusual and wonderful, this book of poetry is startling, and not meant just for a young audience. But if any adult is not willing to give it a chance, more the treasure for them.

Feature Fun Friday - Interview with R. L. Stine

2011-10-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) by Frank Sinatra.

Do you remember R. L. Stine? I remember R. L. Stine. Do not ask what got it into my tiny third-grade head, but I loved his books. I read them voraciously. One of my favorites was a "choose your own adventure" about a creepy carnival (it's sad I can't remember the name of it anymore). There were 20 possible endings and only three of them good. I tried everything to get myself a good ending, you know, where I wasn't dangling over a pot of oil or a giant raven's claws were hurtling toward me...

Never. Not once, even after finding the good endings and trying to work backwards. Still - powerfully wonderful memories. And to get into the Halloween spirit, who better else than the children's master of horror than R. L. Stine himself? Here is a fun interview with him and I think he may be spot on as to why I loved them so much. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Space is AWESOME!

2011-10-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Indra by E. S. Posthumus.

Not only am I a self-proclaimed nerd, revealing itself in the most surprising and delighted ways, I love sharing that nerdy geekdom with the world. ^_^

This video makes my mind sizzle with ideas, and I cannot help but have it tied inexorably with Beth Revis' incredible books, starting with Across the Universe (A murder mystery in space. What more could you want?). But seriously. A chance to have any experiment you want performed up in SPACE? In the international space station? *dies*

*ahem*

It is for anyone 14-18, so even more reason to share this news on a YA blog. Is you are between those ages, or know anyone within those ages, go for it! *roots you on*

And because I'm on a Beth Revis kick right now, I would highly suggest heading over to her post, like, right now. She has a major contest going that I would die to win. It's behind a secret page filled with the kind of goodies that will make your eyes pop. But even cooler? It's password encoded so you have to work your tushie to get it. And yes the reward is that much sweeter for it.

It's an awesome password. It is so easy once you know what it is, and yes, I was *headdesk*ing for a solid minute once I found out, a lot like these people:

:)

And her response? (I'm not kidding)

Yes, that innocent face is a facade hiding a heart of evil wrapped in maniacal laughter.

If you want to cheat like me, just "like" the Across the Universe facebook page and on the left sidebar is a button called PASSWORD REVEAL (subtle, I know) ;) And as an added bonus, once it gets to 5,000 likes, they will release the first chapter, which I am dying to get my hands on. And once you know the password, you can *headdesk* with me. :)

This is just too much fun

2011-10-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Still Alive by Jonathan Coulton and GLaDOS (for all you Portal fans out there).

Sometime the simple blog posts are the best.

J.K Rowling and George R. R. Martin have a conversation. :)

*skips off singing "Look at me talking when there's science to do. When I look out there it makes me glad I'm not you..."* ^_^

Monday's Muse, 40th edition.

2011-10-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Hollow by Submersed.

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
Scary.

Scary Mary by S.A. Hunter.

Mary just wants to be left alone, but the cheerleaders, jocks, guidance counselors, and ghosts won't stop harrassing her. When a new boy starts school, he surprises Mary by befriending her. That's a rare thing for the school freak, but her unusual abilities put a rift in their budding friendship when Mary has to tell Cy that his home is haunted and not by Casper, the friendly ghost.

Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories by Roald Dahl.

Who better to investigate the literary spirit world than that supreme connoisseur of the unexpected, Roald Dahl? Of the many permutations of the macabre or bizarre, Dahl was always especially fascinated by the classic ghost story. As he realtes in the erudite introduction to this volume, he read some 749 supernatural tales at the British Museum Library before selecting the 14 that comprise this anthology. "Spookiness is, after all, the real purpose of the ghost story," Dahl writes. "It should give you the creeps and disturb your thoughts." For this superbly disquieting collection, Dahl offers favorite tales by such masterful storytellers as E. F. Benson, J. Sheridan Le Fanu, Rosemary Timperley, and Edith Wharton.

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick.

It could happen tomorrow . . .

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie by Matt Blackstone.

Fourteen-year-old Rene is a high school freshman living in a scary movie. He smells his left hand when nervous, cannot pick up a face-down coin, and will not move if the time adds up to thirteen. If he does, something terrible will happen to him or someone close to him. Rene tells his mom he is in between each of the groups at school, trying to find where he fits; but Rene does not fit with the Devilblackcoats, the Cutters, the Bigbulletholes, the Smartypants, or the Angels. He does not fit with anyone until he meets Giovanni. Giovanni tries to help Rene become cool, but they both end up in a jam when they run off to New York City after Rene's estranged father returns unexpectedly. The book is written in Rene's voice. Blackstone shows real insight into the thoughts of a teen with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Through his friendship with Gio and with the help and understanding of his mother, Rene eventually gains some control over his thoughts and actions, enough to be able to walk and talk and sleep in his own skin comfortably. Many teens will recognize someone they know in Rene and gain some understanding of the kid who does not fit in.--Deborah L. Dubois, VOYA.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.

Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate.

Feature Fun Friday - The Thief in 90 Seconds

2011-10-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Hands by Jewel.

Now it's my turn. I couldn't resist. Here is my entry for the 90 Second Newbery Festival, from the (utterly amazing and jaw-dropping fantastic) Newbery-Honor winning novel The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. I don't think there are any big spoilers in it (I tried not to, at least). It is mostly filled with inside jokes but even so, if you haven't read it - don't click that button. I know it's tempting. Even more so now that I've said no. It calls to you, my preecciousssssss. But don't. This book is one that is too good to be spoiled. So just lift your hand from your mouse and scurry over to the library, and pick yourself up a copy. THEN come back and click. I can't promise it's amazing, but it sure was a lot of fun to make. :) Have a great weekend, everyone!

Neal Shusterman WINNER!

2011-10-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Ombra Mai Fu by Jackie Evancho.

Sometimes, it pays to be first.

Michelle, YOU'VE WON!

*tosses confetti*

*gets confetti lodged in throat*

*chokes and coughs*

*spits pink and orange flakes for the next hour*

Please please please email me (or, respond to the email I am about to send riiiigghhht... now). Because we truly do not want a fiasco like my last contest (here, here, here, here, here AND here). Hilarious, absurd, and so much fun to look back and laugh on now. :)

Thank you so much, everyone! You make it a joy to come back here.

Review - Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

2011-10-04T06:03:00.000-07:00

I will focus on YA and Children's literature (with very rare exceptions).
I will not review any book that is one of the top 25,000 bestselling books (based on Amazon ranks).
I will try and aim for books 100,000 or larger.
I will review recent books or books of great merit (preferably both).

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Published: 2004
Publisher: Eos
Pages: 355
Current Amazon Rank: #342,586
Author's Website: Here
Want it? Find it here.

The First Line:

Sailing toward dawn, and I was perched atop the crow's nest, being the ship's eyes.

My Take:

Imagine if airships had become the dominant form of sky transport instead of planes (and were, how should we say, far less flammable) inside of an alternate history circa (roughly) 1920, add in a dash of high seas piracy and pursuit of scientific discovery, and you have one excellent story on your hands.

Matt Cruse, a cabin boy aboard the floating airship Aurora spots and saves a distressed hot air balloon with a dying old man inside. Before he dies, he speaks of a remarkable creature that could not possibly exist. One year later, a stalwart and headstrong young Kate de Vries comes aboard the Aurora looking for the very creature described in her grandfather's notes. A bond is formed because of their connection to her grandfather and he agrees to help her. They get a lot more than they bargained for in the process.

The characters are wonderful and alive. I loved the developing relationship between Kate and Matt. It felt so natural, but so did the characters themselves. Kate can be exasperating. The secondary characters have genuine depth and reality to them. And Matt is not perfect. In fact he has obvious fits of jealousy against someone who doesn't deserve his venom, but it only serves to make him relateable and real. And oh my goodness, the kissing scene. Heck. Yes. I was listening to this on audio first and this was the first time I skipped back so I could hear it again. But no, I am not telling you where it is. :)

The story is wonderful, the dialogue utterly organic and natural (it is probably one of his greatest strengths), fantastically paced especially once you get past the first couple of chapters, this story is exciting and the perfect blend of different. Adventure, discovery, high (high) seas pirate action, this hearkens back to the best kind of adventure books but is infinitely fresher and down to earth. So to speak. Highly recommend.

The Final Word: This is the best kind of modern Robert Louis Stevenson imaginable with action, adventure, and thrilling theatrics. Highly recommended for both boys and girls alike.

P.S I love the last line. It made me grin all kinds of silly. But don't you dare read it first, you last page cheaters! It will have no meaning for you if you don't read it start to finish.

Feature Fun Friday - 90 Second Where The Mountain Meets the Moon

2011-09-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now) Learn to Fly by Foo Fighters.

This is simply and completely awesome. Done by a family where the dad is a professional illustrator (if you haven't heard me spouting my love for Bookie Woogie, one of my favorite blogs on the internet, you really should clicky the link), this it their entry for the 90 second Newbery. It is Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and it is done with shadow puppets. Be still my heart. And it is so cute, and funny, and really, pretty spot on to the book. So yes, watch. :) Have a great weekend everyone!

Bookie Woogie: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon from Z-Dad on Vimeo.

CONTEST TIME!

2011-09-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Rainy Day by Coldplay.

I am making this short and simple. Because you are utterly-and-fantastically-awesome-so-much-that-I-might-hyperventialate-and-pass-out-if-you-were-any-more-awesome, I want to celebrate and have my promised dance party. Don't worry, if you don't feel like moving your booty with me, I will do enough dancing for all of us. This manuscript whooped my butt hard (and I'm still beating it into a pulpy submission). For those not wanting to dance, you may eat cupcakes. They are over there in the corner. And why yes, I did hand paint them all myself to your exact likeness. There are also Faberge eggs as party gifts. Puppies are inside.

But I also promised a contest, and a contest I will give you. How does a personalized copy of any book signed by the one and only Neal Shusterman sound?

This dude has written more books than I can shake a stick at. One of his best known is Unwind, but Everlost just finished its trilogy and is being made into a movie. Of course there is also The Schwa was Here, Bruiser, The Shadow Club,...

And one of them is waiting for YOU.

I will crawl through trenches, dive through hordes of people, all to get you a signed, personalized copy of your very own. With anything you want said in there (within reason). I'll try my darndest, at least. So you if you want him to say "Were-llamas are awesome" or "may the F x A be with you" I will give him my biggest eyes to let it be so.

All you have to do is comment below by Monday October 3rd 2011 11:59 EST. (sadly, not open internationally this time).

I cannot guarantee which books will be there (Unwind is almost sure to be there, as well as the newest Everlost), but if you have a preference, feel free to state it in the comments below and I will try to get it for you.

Thank you for being amazing!

Monday's Muse, 39th edition.

2011-09-26T05:28:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): The Groove is Real by Preston Reed.

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
Thank You.

Because right now, all I feel is gratitude in my heart for you.

I Stay Near You: One Story in Three by M. E. Kerr.

An ill-fated romance between a girl from the wrong side of the tracks and a boy from the richest family in a small upstate New York town has dire consequences for three generations. A gold ring, inscribed with I Stay Near You, triggers a complex chain of events as it's passed down from one generation to the next.

In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer by Irene Opdyke.

Even among WWII memoirs, a genre studded with extraordinary stories, this autobiography looms large, a work of exceptional substance and style. Opdyke, born in 1922 to a Polish Catholic family, was a 17-year-old nursing student when Germany invaded her country in 1939. She spent a year tending to the ragtag remnants of a Polish military unit, hiding out in the forest with them; was captured and raped by Russians; was forced to work in a Russian military hospital; escaped and lived under a false identity in a village near Kiev; and was recaptured by the Russians. But her most remarkable adventures were still to come. Back in her homeland, she, like so many Poles, was made to serve the German army, and she eventually became a waitress in an officers' dining hall. She made good use of her position, risking her life, she helped Jews in the ghetto by passing along vital information, smuggling in food and helping them escape to the forest. When she was made the housekeeper of a German major, she used his villa to hide 12 Jews, and, at enormous personal cost, kept them safe throughout the war. In translating Opdyke's experiences to memoir, Armstrong and Opdyke demonstrate an almost uncanny power to place readers in the young Irene's shoes. Even as the authors handily distill the complexities of the military and political conditions of wartime Poland, they present Irene as simultaneously strong and vulnerable, a likable flesh-and-blood woman rather than a saint. Telling details, eloquent in their understatement, render Irene's shock at German atrocities and the gradually built foundation of her heroic resistance. Metaphors weave in and out, simultaneously providing a narrative structure and offering insight into Irene's experiences. Readers will be rivetedAand no one can fail to be inspired by Opdyke's courage.--Publisher's Weekly.

Time Enough For Drums by Ann Rinaldi.

Sixteen-year-old Jem struggles to maintain the status quo at home in Trenton, New Jersey, when the family men join the war for independence.

There are signs of rebellion in the Emerson household several years before the actual American Revolution hits in 1776! Brought up in a relatively liberal household, Jemima Emerson is quite a challenge for her tutor, John Reid, who is known as a Tory with strong ties to England. How could Jem's parents be friends with a man who opposes American freedom? Jem longs for freedom on every level, in the home and her homeland--and John represents the forces that restrict her.

Jem and her family soon find themselves fighting for freedom in whatever ways they can in the Revolutionary War. Before long, Jem discovers that there is much more to Mr. Reid than she ever imagined. Her feelings about him change when Jem realizes that John shares her love of freedom--and will risk his life to defend it.

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury.

It’s Agnes Wilkins’s debut season, and she’s already attracted the attention of one of nineteenth-century England’s most eligible and desirable men. Lord Showalter is handsome, wealthy, and has a quirky interest in helping England amass the world’s finest collection of Egyptian artifacts. Agnes thinks it could be a good match, but suspects Showalter may be too good to be true. And indeed, he is hiding something—the fact that he’s a spy working for Napoleon. His orders are smuggled into London in Egyptian artifacts, and when Agnes unwittingly pockets one during a mummy unwrapping party at Showalter’s home, her action jump-starts a chain of events that bring out dangerous characters, dangerous circumstances, and the biggest danger of all—true love.

Jennifer Bradbury’s knack for suspense and adventure make this an amazingly rich, wildly compelling novel about the secrets inside and outside of a mummy’s tomb.

Blackbringer (Dreamdark) by Laini Taylor.

Magpie Windwitch is not like other faeries, most of whom live in tranquil seclusion. When she learns that escaped devils are creeping back into the world, she travels all over with her faithful clan of crows, hunting them down. The hunt will take her to the great forest of Dreamdark, where she must unravel the mystery of the worst enemy her folk have ever known. Can one small, determined faerie defeat the forces that threaten to unmake the world?

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson.

This compelling first book in a medieval fantasy trilogy features Elisa, a 16-year-old princess, as she grows from an inexperienced girl who is forced to marry a weak king for political reasons into a confident and capable young woman, destined to be a respected leader in her own right. Shortly after her birth, Elisa received a magical Godstone in her navel, a sign bestowed every 100 years on a chosen one. Despite this, she feels inadequate when compared to her older, more beautiful sister so she eats to compensate for it. She's also very clever, particularly in the strategies of war, but all that most people see is her ample size. The only person who respects her is young Lord Hector, her husband's personal guard. Shortly after her wedding, she's kidnapped and forced to endure an arduous journey through the desert that toughens her. One of her kidnappers is a young man who falls for her and she for him. His people hope that she, as the Godstone bearer, can save them from their constant war against a neighboring enemy. This fast-moving and exciting novel is rife with political conspiracies and machinations. Elisa's maturation and physical transformation echo Catherine Gilbert Murdock's Princess Ben (Houghton Harcourt, 2008). Fans of Tamora Pierce's "Beka Cooper" series (Random) will find a kindred spirit in Elisa as she experiences great adversity and heart-wrenching loss.—Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Library, Trenton, School Library Journal.

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett.

It starts with whispers.

Then someone picks up a stone.

Finally, the fires begin.

When people turn on witches, the innocents suffer. . . .

Tiffany Aching has spent years studying with senior witches, and now she is on her own. As the witch of the Chalk, she performs the bits of witchcraft that aren’t sparkly, aren’t fun, don’t involve any kind of wand, and that people seldom ever hear about: She does the unglamorous work of caring for the needy.

But someone—or something—is igniting fear, inculcating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Aided by her tiny blue allies, the Wee Free Men, Tiffany must find the source of this unrest and defeat the evil at its root—before it takes her life. Because if Tiffany falls, the whole Chalk falls with her.

Chilling drama combines with laughout-loud humor and searing insight as beloved and bestselling author Terry Pratchett tells the high-stakes story of a young witch who stands in the gap between good and evil.

Feature Fun Friday - Rick Riordan and The Son of Neptune.

2011-09-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow.

OKAY. Okay, guys, I'm ALIVE. And better still, I am back to blogging! :D (that originally came out as "blooging" so apparently I am also as coherent as ever). I am not done with editing, but the worst of the storm is over. I've ridden it through and come out conqueror, on top of a shockingly messy pile of paper and shattered bad-plots stuff. Thank you for sticking with me. I could not ask for better followers anywhere.

And news. I know you'll want to hear this. The promised party-contest is coming--next week. And it's personalized, or, will be. Because you guys rock just that much. Look for it on Tues.

But now for today's Feature Fun Friday. A new video of Rick Riordan introducing the newest Percy Jackson book, set to a most intense score (you know you've hit it big when you have heavenly Greek columns covered in mist as your backdrop and your own personalized music score). And I'm geekishly excited for this one (it comes out Oct 4th. Soooo close). Have a great weekend, everyone! I look forward to seeing you next week. I cannot tell you how much I've missed you.

Feature Fun Friday - The Higher Power of Lucky 90 Second Newbery.

2011-09-18T20:07:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): O My Father by Steven Sharp Nelson.

Nope, didn't forget again at all. Nope, not me. *shakes head quite vigorously, but not in the least convincing* (see, this is a sign editing is going well. The less you see me, the more intense the writing is going).

This is another entry for the 90 Second Newbery Film Festival, and it is a funny little gem. For maximum enjoyment, it is best if you know the controversy surrounding this at the time of it's award announcement about a particular word on the first page (plus the fact it was snubbed on the Today Show in place of an appearance from Snooki and The Jersey Shore). Have a great ~~weekday~~ *ahem* weekend, everyone!

Feature Fun Friday - The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

2011-09-09T17:36:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Umlahi by Mediaeval Baebes.

Feature Fun Friday - 90 Second Newbery - Mixed Up Files...

2011-09-05T08:20:00.001-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): All the Pennies by Mindy Gledhill.

See this? This isn't Monday. It's really Friday. I didn't forget in the midst of my editing to put up a Feature Fun Friday for the week. Not at all. (see, it's really better that I'm gone for a little while). But do you remember the 90 Second Newbery Film Festival I featured a little while back that James Kennedy is hosting? It's super cool and I'm loving the entries. Any Newbery or Newbery Honor winner is eligible and you have until October 17, so there's still time! :D

Here is a really cute one for The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. (loved this book but couldn't remember what it was all about so this was nice refresher).

Not Gone.

2011-08-30T10:55:00.001-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Banquine by Cirque Du Soliel [Journey of Man soundtrack].

So as you've probably noticed, I've been kind of absent of late (and if you haven't, great! All the better. Keep not noticing). Here's the low down: I am editing my novel as furiously as I my smallish can't-reach-the-fourth-finger-on-the-viola-to-save-my-life fingers can blitz out. What that means is that I am inside my head a lot working out the details of the world, copying and pasting scenes, deleting scenes, rewriting or writing completely new scenes to fill in the gaps of the deleted scenes. And making a cool map*. And what THAT means is that I have less time for blogging, but only temporarily. Like literally, maybe a couple of weeks (I'm hoping less). Three max. I will still be doing Feature Fun Friday, because I don't want this blog to feel like a ghost town (ghost blog?), and besides, who doesn't love internet videos? :)

But the less I am thinking about other things like blogging, food, sleep, showering, etc., the more I can craft and hone this novel to the best it can be. And that means querying. And that means hopefully a very good book in your hands soon. So, do you think you can stick with me for a little bit longer with radio silence? Then I can come back and we can jiggy it down all night. And probably host some kind of cool contest to celebrate.

Until then, so you don't notice I am gone at all, I am going to distract you with... BABY ANIMALS**!

*I'm kidding about the map part. I hope. It hadn't occured to me until now. New ideas are always a dangerous thing with me.

**Because nothing says love and internet affection like baby animals. ^_^

Feature Fun Friday - Intro to Victoria Schwab

2011-08-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Liz on Top of the World by Dario Marianelli [Pride and Prejudice soundtrack].

Awesome introductory video to the adorable, narwhal-loving Victoria Schwab, author of THE NEAR WITCH (which I've heard is creepy and all number of fantastic things. Can't wait to get my hands on it). So if you watch this, you know, you could pretend you were there, like, at the genesis of it all of her greatness. Just a thought. Have a great weekend everyone!

Monday's Muse, 38th edition.

2011-08-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

Today's random word:
Shield.

The Shield Ring by Rosemary Sutcliff.

The story takes place in England shortly after the Norman Conquest. High up among the mountains of the Lake District is a secret valley where the Northmen (Vikings) have their last stronghold - or shield ring. The Normans want to crush this last group of Northmen and bring the whole country under their control. To this end they build a castle in Carlisle and send an army north.

Life goes on in the valley: lambing, shearing, spinning, harvesting, and singing and storytelling in the great hall in the evenings - as narrated by two young people. Frytha is a Saxon girl, who fled to the valley after the Normans burnt her home, and Bjorn, the Bear-Cub, is the foster son of the old harper.

As the people of the shield ring go about their lives, they stay ready for a Norman attack. Bjorn's foster father teaches him to play the Sweet-singer, a special harp that the old harper owns, and despite Bjorn's enthusiasm, a secret fear burns inside the boy: if the Normans capture Bjorn, he may succumb to torture and reveal the path to the hidden valley.

When the Northmen need to scout the extent of the Norman army, Bjorn volunteers: he speaks enough Norman to get by and a harper can go anywhere. The young man sets out for the Norman camp, not knowing that Frytha, an ally, follows him. He does know that if the Normans discover his espionage, though, he will be tortured, and his secret fear from childhood may become a reality.

Immortal by Gillian Shields.

Sensible Evie Johnson arrives alone to face her new life at the Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies. Raised by her beloved grandmother, Evie never wanted to attend boarding school, especially one for spoiled rich girls. But Frankie has fallen gravely ill and Evie's father is away in military service, so off to Wyldcliffe she goes. It is as horrible as Evie suspected it would be. The girls mistreat her, the headmistress is a nightmare, and she keeps seeing a girl who looks just like her. Evie's only joy comes from her budding romance with elusive Sebastian, who tells her that he lives near the school. Why will he only meet her at night? What does he know about the mysteries surrounding the school? And who is that shadowy girl? Billed as the first in a paranormal romance series, this lightweight story is filled with romance, mystery, and suspense. The moors provide plenty of atmosphere and Wyldcliffe Abbey and its teachers are downright spooky.–Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI, School Library Journal.

Shield of Fire by Alice Leader.

A powerful historical adventure set in ancient Greece. Nyresa is forced to leave her island home when the Persians threaten to invade. As she starts a new life in the hustle and bustle of Athens, she begins to make new friends - and finds herself sucked into a dangerous new world of subterfuge, lies and treason. With her beautiful cousin Rhode and a young soldier called Cherson, she uncovers a plot to betray Athens to the Persian army - and as the two armies build up to an unforgettable battle at Marathon, the fate of Athens is in the hands of a 12-year-old girl.

Ben and Gran and the Whole, Wide, Wonderful World by Gillian Shields.

Ben's favourite person in the whole, wide world is Gran, and Gran's favourite person is Ben. There is only one problem - they live a whole, wide world apart. Now Gran is coming to visit. But with rocky rivers, scorching deserts and seasick cats to contend with, will she ever reach Ben's in time for tea? The split page design allows children to follow Gran's amazing journey at the same time as watching Ben busy making his preparations for her visit.

Viking Warrior: Book 1 of the Strongbow Saga by Judson Roberts.

In 9th century Denmark, a child born to a slave is also a slave, and the property of his mother’s master. Halfdan, the son of an Irish noblewoman and the Danish chieftain who captured and enslaved her, has grown up a slave in his own father’s household. But the Norns, the weavers of the fates of all men, have different plans for him, although rarely do they give a gift without exacting a price. The Strongbow Saga is an epic tale of one man’s unstoppable quest for justice and vengeance that carries him across the 9th century world of the Vikings. In Viking Warrior, book one of the Saga, a cruel twist of fate both robs Halfdan of the mother he loves and frees him, setting him upon the path to a new destiny. But a brutal act of treachery and murder upends Halfdan’s new life, sending him on the run with ruthless hunters hot on his trail.

Feature Fun Friday - Flying

2011-08-19T04:34:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Ghost Story by Sting.

I will let my superman-like self be my own introduction this time around. It was - fantastic, like a dream and something very visceral. If you ever get the chance, I would highly recommend it. There's nothing quite like flying.

My Adventures in Skydiving - Almost.

2011-08-17T07:37:00.001-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Regarding the Incredibly Deadly Viper by Thomas Newman [A Series of Unfortunate Events Soundtrack].

You guessed it - AGAIN. You guys are way too cool and world savvy for my wiley ways. This one was a great adventure and one heck of a wild ride. I loved it.

I've always wanted to go skydiving. Don't ask me why, but the "fear of heights" gene was never properly installed in me. In fact, I've been literally pulled away from gulleys, backyard porches and cliff faces by friends and family members who were freaking out sufficiently on my behalf that they could not restrain themselves (imagine me blinking, totally (and genuinely) innocent as to why on earth all the color had drained from their faces). The only scary part about skydiving might be the actual act of throwing myself from an airplane. I can imagine a few gut wrenching stomach drop muscle spasms there--but in a good way. It's like the first drop off of a really good roller coaster. ^_^ (Yes, I may very well be a closet adrenaline junkie. I even like turbulence - so long as it is not inside a heavy thunderstorm in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with no islands in sight. *shudder*). Buuuutttt... skydiving is kind of expensive. And you have to go tandem the first time *grumbles* So there is this place called iFly.

It is a gigantic wind tunnel where stunt skydivers (even teams) can practice aerial acrobatics for performances, or just because it is oh so cool. Lucky for me, they also let the wee amateurs in.

(my face)

So my family and I got all geared up, suited up, and hair properly stuffed into helmets. That was amsuing. I'm pretty sure the hot guy behind the counter was laughing behind his friendly smile the entire time I was wrapping my hair around my pony tail and trying to keep all the stray pieces in before sucking my hands out. Let's just say those helmets were a tight squeeze.

The chamber was supercool. It's all plexiglass so you get to see every toss and tumble and move of awesome that was made. They even had mini bleachers just for regular people to watch (or the ones waiting in line. It was consistently busy there). I saw what looked like netting, the rope kind you see in playgrounds or jungle-gym parks, but it turned out it was a wire mesh that kept us from falling to our doom in case the wind got too low.

I'm totally kidding about that, by the way.

In fact, I couldn't even see the fan generating the air. But it was a long way down, at least twenty-thirty feet I'd say, and that was just meeting up to the mesh. There was at least another good twenty to thirty feet above us as well. And let me tell you, that was A LOT of air. But I am getting ahead of myself.

First came the orientation with the standard silly video with the over-smiling people. Cue practice round where demonstrated we'd been paying attention by responding to the visual hand signals because it is so loud in there you cannot talk. Earplugs were a part of the standard equipment. Then came the actual chamber.

There were about twelve people in our group, another family paired with ours, so we had to wait in line as we scooted our bottoms along the bench toward the open plexiglass doorway. But that only added to the excitement because you got to see each person try and get the proper balance and you just knew you were going to be a thousand times better. By the time it got to me, I was practally ready to leap into the tunnel. You have to, actually. Kind of like you're pretending you're superman. Which is totally okay with me, considering we're about to fly. :)

It is WINDY. Obvious, but still valid. All of my clothes whipped around me, showing my skinny form. And my hair? The one I so tightly wound up into that helmet and made hot guy laugh on the inside? Yeah, totally came out through the one tiny hole in the helmet.

This tunnel can go up to 160 miles an hour. It. Was. AWESOME! I never felt like I was falling. It felt instead like a cushion of air was pushing me up the entire time, which in fact, it was, but this is supposed to mimic actual skydiving. Otherwise the real skydivers would never train in it. This was also confirmed to me by other members in my family who actually hate that gut-surging feeling in your stomach when you fall. Crazies.

We only had two minutes in there but it went by so fast. I couldn't stop smiling the entire time, which resulted unexpectedly with a completely dry mouth because of all the air rushing past. (This is why I love doing hands-on research. There are details that are so specific and real that you would never think of unless you are there).

The second round was even better.

But I'm not going to say why. Not yet.

Because while we weren't allowed to take cameras into the chamber for obvious reasons (wind + small, slightly heavy object + heads = bad idea) we were able to get video of it from a safe chamber where they did the controls for a small nominal price. Guess who totally bought one? :)

So look for it for this week's Feature Fun Friday!

All in all it was absolutely fantastic and I would throw myself into that chamber again in a heartbeat. Which I may just have to do, once my bank account can get its breath back. :)

Guess My Adventure

2011-08-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Soul Meets Body by Death Cab for Cutie.

It's that time again, and this time I think I may actually win this round. At least, I hope so (considering I've never won in the past. Not once). Yes, I do look silly. I have one more picture that makes me look a bit better, but that's for tomorrow. Guess away!

Feature Fun Friday - Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children Trailer

2011-08-12T12:43:00.001-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): She Is by The Fray.

This is one of the best suck-you-in trailers I have seen in a long time. So much that I put it on hold at my library the instant it finished. It probably ranks among the top ten best book trailers currently out there. But even better, the video below it shows how they made the video (including breaking into some abandoned houses). Have a great weekend, everyone!

Interview Double Take!

2011-08-11T05:01:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Venice Rooftops by Jesper Kyd [Assassin's Creed 2 soundtrack].

Okay, I am deliriously excited about this when I probably shouldn't be, especially considering all the extra work Ms. George unwittingly put into this. Let me explain. She sent me the answers to the interview questions I sent over, but then thought her computer had nommed the email out of existence. And so she sent a new email answering them all again, apologizing profusely for not getting to them (sweetest thing ever). After a quick exchange about the mix-up, she delightfully agreed to let me re-post the interview with both answers side by side. How rare is that? You get the same author answering the same questions and seeing how the responses differ. It's a real peek into an author's mind you don't often get a chance at. And you'll see some of the answers are eerily similar, but others... let's just say a few new tidbits snuck in. :)

I hope you enjoy this second round interview as much as I did!

Today I have the honor and privilege to bring you a delightfully fun and funny author, whose writing just keeps getting better and better. Please welcome again for a very special double feature, Jessica Day George, author of many books, including her retelling of the "Twelve Dancing Princesses" - PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL.

[HZ] Hello! First off, let me say I loved Galen's character. He is fascinating as a soldier who does not (quite realistically) like fighting. But your sparse and fluid description in the final confrontation scene shows just how good he is. Any insider info into his head that you can give us during that key scene? :)

[JDG - Take 1] Galen doesn’t like fighting, but I knew he had to be good at it anyway: he grew up in the army, he survived countless battles, and all before reaching his 19th birthday. Fighting, like it or not, would come naturally to him in a dangerous situation, the movements of loading and firing would be pure reflex, or he wouldn’t be alive! I just thought, this is the moment where instinct takes over and he just does what he has been trained to do for eight years.

[JDG - Take 2] Galen may not like fighting, but he’s been trained to do it since he was a child. He knows what to do, and he’s obviously good at it- or he’d be dead by now. At the end of PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL, he knows what he has to do, and he just lets instinct take over. All the moves are there, now it’s time to use them.

In another interview you mentioned that you wrote six novels before selling Dragon Slippers (your first publication). What was that experience like? How did you keep moving from one project to the other and did you ever know when one would sell? What is your relationship/feeling toward those first six novels now?

[Take 1] It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure! I always have at least two projects going, in my head if not on paper, so as soon as I finished one I would just move on to the next, and hope one of them would strike an editor’s fancy. 200+ rejections started to get a little depressing, but I knew that I didn’t want to do anything else, so I just kept going. I would like to see my earlier novels published, but I’m well aware (now that I’m older and wiser, ha!) that they need drastic rewriting!

[Take 2] Let’s see. I wrote six novels in nine years which were rejected a total of 190 times by every publisher and agent I could find an address for . . . I’m going to describe that experience as horrible. Yes, horrible . . . though it doesn’t really do it justice. There was a lot of crying. Some stress eating. A proportionate amount of swearing. I was basically just writing books as they came to me, because I do love to write for writing’s sake, and then I would throw them to the wolves and see if one bit. I am going back now that I have more professional experience and reworking a couple of them, with an eye to trying the rounds again now that I have an agent. They’re all adult books, though, and vastly different from what I’ve been doing.

Your first lines are fantastic throughout almost every one of your stories. How on earth do you come up with them? What is the hardest part of writing for you?

[Take 1] Well, sometimes they just come to you in a flash of inspiration, and sometimes you have to play around with them for maximum impact. It just depends on the story! The hardest part is usually the middle, when you know where you’ve been, you know where you’re headed, but you’re not sure how to get there!

[Take 2] First lines are my favorite! Even if something doesn’t just come to me in a flash of inspiration, like with DRAGON SLIPPERS (It was my aunt who decided to give me to the dragon.) I love to play around with them until I’ve got something that will hook the reader. First lines and last lines are always better than the middle, where you’re just desperately trying to get your people from A to B!

Your characters in general intrigued me. Take for example their mother, who, to stave off any spoilers, is not clean cut or perfect. What made you decide to take that route? How did you come up with her?

[Take 1] Well, someone had to make a deal with the devil, and it had to be someone who was both desperate enough to make the deal, and innocent enough to not fully understand what they were doing.

[Take 2] In the case of their mother, I needed someone desperate enough to make a deal with the devil, but naïve or perhaps simply hopeful enough to think it would be all right. She’s a very conflicted woman, and yet very strong: she is willing to lay down her own life to try and save her family, and her adopted country. The rest of the characters would take days upon days to discuss, since it took days upon days to create them!

One thing you did with this novel that I absolutely loved was how you brought in other countries and politics. Your kingdom did not act in isolation. This changed the entire flavor of your story because their choices bore serious and very real consequences. Was this a conscious decision, and how did you go about creating nations and their connection to each other?

[Take 1] I’m always irritated by fantasy books where there is only country in the entire world. In the real world, all our lives are affected in so many ways by the other countries around us: we go there on vacation, crises abroad affect our economy, so many products are imports, (I threaten to move to Canada during just about every presidential election), that I just can’t fathom writing about a world where these issues don’t also affect them. Westfalian is basically an alternate-world Germany, since MIDNIGHT BALL is my retelling of one of Grimm’s fairy tales, which means there would be an alternate France (Analousia), alternate Denmark (the Danelaw), and other countries bordering them. Their continent is called Ionia because Europe is named after Europa, one of Zeus’ lovers from mythology and Io was another. (Yes, this is probably cheating in some way. No, I don’t care!)

[Take 2] I have two world-building pet peeves with fantasy. One is when there’s only one country in the entire world, the other is not having a religion. You could get fifty Stone Age people in some caves, and they’d form varying alliances, not to mention start a belief system of some sort! But for Ionia (the continent of my PRINCESS books) I cheated a little: it’s Europe. (Io and Europa were both abducted by Zeus in Greek mythology.) Basically, I’m using an alternate early 19th century Europe. Westfalin is Germany, Analousia is France, Breton is England. A lot of times I’ve simple altered the name of the actual country, or I’m using some older form of the country’s name. Sorry. I’m a big cheater! Mostly because of laziness.

Another character question (last one, I promise!) Lily's creation. As a sister, she fascinated and captivated me the moment she so calmly and so accurately held that gun through the window. I was hooked. How do you create characters (and will there be any more featuring Lily, and if not, what happens to her after the end of the story?!)

[Take 1] To use a little Pride & Prejudice analogy: Lily is Jane to Rose’s Lizzie. Rose, as the oldest daughter of a widowed king would be the official hostess at state dinners, balls, etc., in addition to being the leader of the twelve sisters. But this wouldn’t give her a lot of time to be motherly, nor was it really in her nature to be soothing and coddle the younger girls, so I dropped that burden onto the next sister, who I imagined as the calm yet capable one who is quietly holding everything together. And I love the saying, “It’s always the quiet ones . . .” which I know usually applies to murderers, but I started to think, “What if this totally selfless, good-natured young woman had some past pain or secret?” I’d already started writing bits where Galen had had a cousin who’d enlisted in the army and disappeared, and I took it from there. There is mention of Lily in PRINCESS OF GLASS, and she is in the third book, which I’m working on right now.

[Take 2] According to my notes for MIDNIGHT BALL (which my husband read and found endlessly hilarious), Lily is the Jane to Rose’s Lizzie. (That’s a little Pride and Prejudice reference, for those of you wondering.) I knew that Rose would have a lot on her plate: she’s the official hostess since her mother’s death, oldest sister/surrogate mom, etc., and I wanted her to have someone who was her biggest supporter, who knew what they were going through, and who could help organize the younger girls when Rose was ill or just couldn’t take it any more. And, lest she be boring, I decided to give her a Big Secret. (It’s always the quiet ones!) Lily is only mentioned in PRINCESS OF GLASS, but look for more excitement in the third book, which I’m supposed to be writing right now!

What fairy tale frustrates you the most? Why?

[Take 1] Well, The Twelve Dancing Princesses! Depending on the version you read, the hero is a gardener or a soldier, and at the end it says, “And they never danced again, and they lived happily ever after.” But in the story, they LOVED dancing! It’s just baffling!

[Take 2] The Twelve Dancing Princesses, mostly because of the ending: And they never danced again, and they lived happily ever after. Um, what? So did they, or didn’t they like dancing? Also, in one version I have, the guy is a soldier, in another, a gardener. In one he marries the oldest princess, in another, the youngest. MAKE UP YOUR MINDS!

Through the writing process, is there anything you've had to cut out of your manuscripts, editors or otherwise?

[Take 1] Um . . . yes.

[Take 2] Yes.

Have you ever considered writing short stories to accompany/supplement the worlds you've created? For example I would love a story told from Rollo's or Shardas' point of view (or Lily's. *nudge nudge* You have no idea what I'd give to read her and her love interest's backstory). :)

[Take 1] Nope. But I might. You never know, with me!

[Take 2] Nope. But that could always change.

What is a favorite unknown book you love that few seem to know about?

[Take 1] Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. Utterly charming, and a literary exercise at the same time!

[Take 2] ELLA MINNOW PEA by Mark Dunn

And the most important question of all...

Ninjas or Pirates? ;)

[Take 1] Um, pirates, please!

[Take 2] Um, pirates, please!

Thank you so much, Jessica, doubly so! *bows*

Top Ten Underrated Books

2011-08-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Whole Wide World by Mindy Gledhill.

Top Ten Tuesday is a Meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish. I have to admit, I've always secretly wanted to play along, but when this week's prompt came up, I knew there was no way I could not participate. Underrated excellent books are one of the core features of this blog and for me as a reader, writer, and undercover superhero. Now my only fear is that I've missed so many books (I've been wracking my brain for far too long on this post. See my tweet to prove it) and I still feel I've missed some important ones. But here is my not-set-in-stone-because-I-know-I've-forgotten-a-million-of-them Top Ten Underrated Books, in no particular order.

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins

I love this story. Taking place in modern Burma (Myanmar), it is that much more potent when you read about soldiers kidnapping children to draft them into the army, and knowing it is real. The friendship between Chiko and Tai is so wonderful, as well as the growing friendship and understanding that comes from Tu Reh. Tai is now one of my favorite book characters.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

This wordless graphic novel is beyond stunning. The sepia tones and utterly fantastical creatures and buildings makes this place beautiful and foreign. We follow an unnamed immigrant father as he tries to establish his place in this new world and bring his family over. The wordless aspect is a powerful tool because we follow his confusion, fear, and every emotion every step of the way. I am not ashamed to admit I cried at the end.

Flight series, edited by Kazu Kibuishi

If you have ever been hesitant or outright skeptical of ever entering the world of "comic books" or graphic novels because of their simplicity of stories, crudeness of art, their taking away from "real" literature or another million reasons I've heard, this series will blow those arguments, and your mind, out of the water. They are beautiful. They are stunning. Each piece is a complete story--they are like short stories in graphic novel form. And the artwork is as varied and as beautiful as they come. The very last volume (#8) was just released, and that is the cover pictured here. Some of my favorites include "Message in a Bottle" by Rodolphe Guenoden, "The Maiden and the River Spirit" by Derek Kirk Kim, and "The Window Makers" by Kazu Kibuishi.

The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope

Talk about an oldie but goodie! I've reread this one several times and every time I am still swept away by the romance, dogged determination, and resourcefulness of Kate in this improvised and unique retelling/homage of Tam Lin. This is also the first historical fantasy I ever encountered and so for introducing me to a genre I did not know existed, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Samurai Shortstop by Alan Gratz.

Are you starting to see a small trend with this list and some of my reviews? I didn't intend to, but these keep bubbling to the surface for a reason and this one is no exception. I read this the year Catching Fire came out and in my review I said it was the best book I'd read that year, and might even give Suzanne Collin's book a run for its money. It did, and I may even dare say it outclassed it. This story is so rich and unique in time, setting and characters. Who would have thought to combine samurai culture with baseball? Certainly not me, but I am so glad he did, because this remains one of the shining jewels in my collection and one of the most underrated. Add to this a son who is trying to prevent his father from committing suicide (seppuku) after teaching him how to be a samurai and you have one complex, beautiful story on yours hands.

Crown Duel/Court Duel (now paired as Crown Duel) by Sherwood Smith.

I've reread this story more times in Jr. High than I care to count, and I still love it to this day. If you like an awesome, spunky heroine, a swoon-worthy but misunderstood love interest that clashes with the main character more often than not (but man does that single scene pay off in the end), if you like political intrigue, and an immersive, different fantasy world, go get Crown Duel now. It has all of that and a bag of chips more.

Little Sister/The Heavenward Path by Kara Dalkey

This book duet is out of print and I still mourn their loss. This book takes place in a world that ignites the imagination. It follows Mitsuko, a daughter of a high nobleman in Heian (medieval) Japan as she tries to go to the underworld to save her sister's soul and of the people and immortal beings she meets, and her adventure afterwards. It has some of the most unique and wonderful mythical creatures you've never heard of before (this is why I loathe the fact that we don't learn of hardly any history/culture outside of Europe. Loathe). Read on to The Heavenward Path. The romance alone is well worth it. The language is sparse yet evocative, and it is meant to be that way, very much mimicking a haiku and other forms of poetry. And I will tell you this right now, Goranu is one of my top 20 favorite characters of all time. It is so worth the used book price you can buy them for now. This book series is a personal favorite of mine and probably the most underrated book on this list.

Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay

Okay, this is a fun one. What if, after some cataclysimic event, an average American town is abandoned/wiped out of human life, and some time in the future archeologists come in and try and interpret what our life was "really" like? This is that story, and it is hilarious. :)

Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristen Clark Venuti

This one is far more lighthearted, but I love it all the same. A crazy family that lives in a lighthouse on a hill? The dutiful but exhausted butler who takes care of them because of a contract his ancestor wrote 200 years ago? A contract which is about to expire, after which he will write a tell-all memoir and garden in a place Far Away? The adventures that follow to show him how much he is loved and needed? Check. Yep, I love this story.

Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood by Meredith Ann Pierce.

I'm sticking this one out on a limb. I have not read it for years and honestly, I can barely remember what it is about, but all the same, it has stuck with me. I keep coming back to it, some fragment in my mind whispering the word "tanglewood" and knowing the ending was something very special, but not being able to remember exactly what it is. This is one I know I have to get my hands on again, just to find out.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The Missing Piece Meets the Big O by Shel Silverstein. - Not to be confused with his earlier work "The Missing Piece" this picture book is quite unknown of his work, and it perhaps one of my favorite picture books of all time.

Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell. - Written in verse, this historically-based Arthurian retelling is told from the perspective of Elaine (aka The Lady of Shallott). Beautifully drawn, beautiful language and an excellent story I recommend highly.

Chime by Franny Billingly. - This one came out just this year and for the life of my I cannot understand why it has already slipped below the radar. The setting is so cool (I've only read of one other story that takes place in a swamp), the characters are vivid, the language is different and wonderful. It is utterly fantastic.

And so many more, but I have to stop.

Monday's Muse, 37th edition.

2011-08-08T13:05:00.001-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Stereo Love by Edward Maya.

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
Daughter.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Daughter of Xandadu by Dori Jones Yang.

Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.

Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein.

Albia has grown up with no knowledge of her mother of her father, the powerful Macbeth. Instead she knows the dark lure of the Wychelm Wood and the moors, where she’s been raised by three strange sisters. It’s only when the ambitious Macbeth seeks out the sisters to foretell his fate that Albia’s life becomes tangled with the man who leaves nothing but bloodshed in his wake. She even falls in love with Fleance, Macbeth’s rival for the throne. Yet when Albia learns that she has the second sight, she must decide whether to ignore the terrible future she foresees—or to change it. Will she be able to save the man she loves from her murderous father? And can she forgive her parents their wrongs, or must she destroy them to save Scotland from tyranny?

In her highly anticipated follow-up to Ophelia, Lisa Klein delivers a powerful reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, featuring a young woman so seamlessly drawn it seems impossible she was not part of the Bard’s original play.

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen and Bahija Lovejoy

In an ancient Arab nation, one woman dares to be different.Buran cannot -- Buran will not-sit quietly at home and wait to be married to the man her father chooses. Determined to use her skills and earn a fortune, she instead disguises herself as a boy and travels by camel caravan to a distant city. There, she maintains her masculine disguise and establishes a successful business. The city's crown prince comes often to her shop, and soon Buran finds herself falling in love. But if she reveals to Mahmud that she is a woman, she will lose everything she has worked for.

The Professor's Daughter by Joann Sfar and Emmanuel Guibert.

Two of France's best graphic novel talents, the ever-prolific Sfar and the subtle illustrator Guibert, collaborate. The result is a fun—if slight—effort, as much a love letter to Victorian London as a story unto itself. Very simply, a mummy, somehow alive and walking around London, has a charming romance with a professor's daughter. The logistical complications involved are comically dismissed, and the pair have a grand old time together. That is, until the mummy's father appears to complicate matters. Sfar has written an utterly engaging romp comparable to a fine 1930s romantic comedy. His dialogue is snappy, and he moves from thrills to chills to humor without missing a beat. The whole book is silly, and it seems to know it. But Guibert's work is the real treat. His deft brushwork and spectacular sense of color bring the places and dramas to life. In his hands, otherwise stock characters gain a real presence and liveliness, and he has a filmic sense of drama, describing the characters with detail and wit. A section of Guibert's sketches stashed at the end of the book is extraneous, but otherwise this is an excellent little volume.--Publisher's Weekly.

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logstead.

Up–Lucy Sexton lives a charmed, but relatively boring, life in Victorian London. Her writer father provides her with books to read and money to spend while her mother, a true lady, dotes on her only daughter with love and affection. Then a knock comes at the door that changes her life forever. Standing on the other side is a woman who is the spitting image of her mother. Helen Smythe is her name, and she is the long-lost twin of Lucy's mother, Aliese. After being separated at birth, the sisters grew up in totally different situations. Aliese was raised by a family with wealth and promise while Helen lived in an orphanage and was forced to work. After the initial shock wears off, Aliese welcomes Helen into her family. After months of coaching, training, eating, and tailoring, Helen truly becomes Aliese's double. All seems well until one cold winter day when Lucy comes home to find Helen and her mother in a bloody room–one dead and one alive. Lucy is sure it is her mother who has been spared, but as years pass, her certainty wanes. This suspense-filled story starts out as a basic mystery but quickly turns into a fast-paced thriller filled with murder and intrigue. Readers will also enjoy a love story as Lucy falls for Kit, her new neighbor. This riveting story will keep readers guessing until the very end.–Traci Glass, Eugene Public Library, OR., School Library Journal.

The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir by Cylin Busby and John Busby.

On August 31, 1979, tough cop John Busby was shot at close range while driving to work on Cape Cod. Bleeding profusely with the lower half of his face blown off, he realized that somebody wanted him dead, and identified a brazen local bully as the culprit, an arsonist with whose family Busby had clashed on the job. John and his daughter, Cylin, who was nine at the time of the shooting, recount the year that followed in alternating chapters, incorporating candid commentary and sometimes-disturbing detail about a crime that never resulted in arrests. With the entire Busby family under 24-hour police protection, John began the reconstructive surgeries that would stretch for years, while Cylin and her two brothers tried to cope with guards accompanying them to school and the resulting social isolation. John Busby is frank about the corruption in the local police department that let his attacker intimidate anyone he chose, and bluntly describes his frustration and need for revenge in the months following the attack. Cylin speaks with a voice of innocence shattered as she struggles to comprehend what happened to her family and why her friends have abandoned her. When the town balked at the continuing expense of providing personal protection and the constant fear brought the family to the breaking point, the Busbys went into hiding, seeking a return to some semblance of normalcy. The page-turner pace is frequently interrupted by awkwardly placed flashbacks to moments in John's police work, but, ultimately, this is a story of survival and triumph.—Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS., School Library Journal.

Paper Daughter by Jeanette Ingold.

In the month after 16-year-old Maggie Chen’s father, a respected journalist, was killed in a hit-and-run accident, a basement flood destroys his notebooks. As she searches through the sodden paperwork, Maggie discovers puzzling inconsistencies. Had her father lied about his family history? Maggie, an aspiring journalist herself, is just beginning an internship at a Seattle paper, and in one of her first assignments, she uncovers a story that links directly to both the circumstances of her father’s death and to the truth about his origins. At the novel’s outset, Maggie tells readers that her story is also about a man named Fai-yi Li, who shares the narration in heartrending historical passages that connect to Maggie’s family secrets and introduce readers to life during the Exclusion Era, which sharply restricted the number of Chinese immigrants allowed into the U.S. Ingold relies on some contrivance to link her plot strands, but the open-ended conclusion feels realistic and highlights Maggie’s elemental questions about how family history influences personal identity and how life moves forward after impossible loss. --Booklist.

The Glass Maker's Daughter by V. Briceland.

In the medieval canal city of Cassaforte, all noble children between the ages of 11 and 16 are tested, once every 6 years, to determine which school they will attend to learn the enchantments that make the craft work of their families so valuable. When 16-year-old Risa Divetri, a cazarra of one of the seven most important families, is not chosen for either school, she is convinced the gods have abandoned her. Only after those who can crown a new king are kidnapped does Risa begin to realize that the gods may have something greater in store for her after all. Cassaforte is a beautifully drawn city of piazzas, gondolas, beauty, and magic. The rules of magic Briceland introduces are clear, and enough hints are present at the beginning of the novel to make Risa's rise to importance natural. Though the quickly paced plot drives the narrative, Risa's musings (and occasional bouts of temper) are never cut short. Her relationships with her parents, the glassmakers who work under her father, her treacherous uncle, and the beggar she rescues with the help of young guard Milo are well drawn. Each of the characters has the feel of greater depth than readers are allowed through Risa's eyes, and the romantic thread between her and Milo is subtle enough that it does not derail the narrative, but still tugs the heartstrings of romance seekers. Readers will find much to love in The Glass Maker's Daughter and its stubborn and strong-willed heroine.–Alana Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT., School Library Journal.

Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott.

Inside an ancient temple in the mountains, fifteen-year-old Zira trains in the martial arts to become a warrior priestess who can defend the faith of the Ruan people. Bearing a scar on her face from the fire that killed her parents, the orphaned Zira is taught to distrust the occupying Sedornes. Terror strikes when the forces of the tyrannical Sedorne king destroy the only home she knows. To survive, Zira must unravel the secrets of her identity, decide her people’s fate — and accept her growing feelings for a man who should be her enemy.

The Archived Adventures - Book Spine Poetry, Part 5

2011-08-05T04:30:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Aragorn's Quest by Chris Bouchard [The Hunt For Gollum soundtrack].

A kiss in time,
the valley of secrets.
Cheated.
Nailed.
Breaking Dawn.

Immortal
watcher.
Tentacles.
Heaven looks a lot like the mall.
...wtf?

The Archived Adventures - Book Spine Poetry, Part 4

2011-08-04T22:30:00.001-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Perfect Day by Hoku.

Worlds Apart
Reaching Out
Breaking Through

Winter,
season of ice,
the silver kiss
outside beauty.

The Archived Adventures - Book Spine Poetry, Part 3

2011-08-03T08:03:00.001-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Within Tolerance by Slowblow [Screaming Masterpieces soundtrack].

The Walls have eyes,
always watching,
Hush.

Firestorm
Dreamhunter
Girl, hero,
born for adventure.

The Archived Adventures - Book Spine Poetry, Part 2

2011-08-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Umlahi by Mediaeval Baebes.

If I knew then,
reaching out,
...would you?

Before I die -
Leap.
Touch.
Comfort.
Switch.
Thaw.
Shift.
How I live now,
...Being.

The Archived Adventures - Book Spine Poetry, Part 1

2011-08-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Swing Life Away by Rise Against.

Has anyone heard of book spine poetry? Apparently it's a fairly new art form that is taking off and is pretty self-explanatory even if it isn't nearly as easy as it sounds. Simply put, you create a poem from the titles of book spines. Like magnetic poetry - sort of. It has some really cool (and sometimes bizarre) results. But dang is it fun. So this entire week, you get to see my early attempts of spine poetry in action. I did this all at my local library and I got some really funny looks for it, too.

And if you decide to hop in on the fun, send me a link and I will post it back here.

The girls next door
always watching...
...Carter finally gets it.

After the moment,
One whole and perfect day---
Everything is fine.

Feature Fun Friday - Gollum Sings "I Will Survive"

2011-07-29T04:02:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Smooth Criminal by 2CELLOS (Sulic and Hauser). - awesome rendition!

This counts in every way as a valid Feature Fun Friday of high and profound literary merit. It has singing, dancing (okay, not quite dancing, but Minnesota Public Radio host John Moe does rush off stage because he can't keep from laughing). It has Neil Gaiman (cracking up), Gollum (singing), and Mythbusters. What more on earth could you want in a video? My inner nerd is screaming in joy. I am--utterly complete. Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

Interview with Jessica Day George, author of Princess of the Midnight Ball

2011-07-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Mockingbird by Rob Thomas.

Today I have the honor and privilege to bring you a delightfully fun and funny author, whose writing just keeps getting better and better. It is a belated interview, but one I am so grateful she was willing to do. Please welcome Jessica Day George, author of many books, including her retelling of the "Twelve Dancing Princesses" - PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL.

[HZ] Hello! First off, let me say I loved Galen's character. He is fascinating as a soldier who does not (quite realistically) like fighting. But your sparse and fluid description in the final confrontation scene shows just how good he is. Any insider info into his head that you can give us during that key scene? :)

[JDG] Galen doesn’t like fighting, but I knew he had to be good at it anyway: he grew up in the army, he survived countless battles, and all before reaching his 19th birthday. Fighting, like it or not, would come naturally to him in a dangerous situation, the movements of loading and firing would be pure reflex, or he wouldn’t be alive! I just thought, this is the moment where instinct takes over and he just does what he has been trained to do for eight years.

In another interview you mentioned that you wrote six novels before selling Dragon Slippers (your first publication). What was that experience like? How did you keep moving from one project to the other and did you ever know when one would sell? What is your relationship/feeling toward those first six novels now?

It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure! I always have at least two projects going, in my head if not on paper, so as soon as I finished one I would just move on to the next, and hope one of them would strike an editor’s fancy. 200+ rejections started to get a little depressing, but I knew that I didn’t want to do anything else, so I just kept going. I would like to see my earlier novels published, but I’m well aware (now that I’m older and wiser, ha!) that they need drastic rewriting!

Your first lines are fantastic throughout almost every one of your stories. How on earth do you come up with them? What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Well, sometimes they just come to you in a flash of inspiration, and sometimes you have to play around with them for maximum impact. It just depends on the story! The hardest part is usually the middle, when you know where you’ve been, you know where you’re headed, but you’re not sure how to get there!

Your characters in general intrigued me. Take for example their mother, who, to stave off any spoilers, is not clean cut or perfect. What made you decide to take that route? How did you come up with her?

Well, someone had to make a deal with the devil, and it had to be someone who was both desperate enough to make the deal, and innocent enough to not fully understand what they were doing.

One thing you did with this novel that I absolutely loved was how you brought in other countries and politics. Your kingdom did not act in isolation. This changed the entire flavor of your story because their choices bore serious and very real consequences. Was this a conscious decision, and how did you go about creating nations and their connection to each other?

I’m always irritated by fantasy books where there is only country in the entire world. In the real world, all our lives are affected in so many ways by the other countries around us: we go there on vacation, crises abroad affect our economy, so many products are imports, (I threaten to move to Canada during just about every presidential election), that I just can’t fathom writing about a world where these issues don’t also affect them. Westfalian is basically an alternate-world Germany, since MIDNIGHT BALL is my retelling of one of Grimm’s fairy tales, which means there would be an alternate France (Analousia), alternate Denmark (the Danelaw), and other countries bordering them. Their continent is called Ionia because Europe is named after Europa, one of Zeus’ lovers from mythology and Io was another. (Yes, this is probably cheating in some way. No, I don’t care!)

Another character question (last one, I promise!) Lily's creation. As a sister, she fascinated and captivated me the moment she so calmly and so accurately held that gun through the window. I was hooked. How do you create characters (and will there be any more featuring Lily, and if not, what happens to her after the end of the story?!)

To use a little Pride & Prejudice analogy: Lily is Jane to Rose’s Lizzie. Rose, as the oldest daughter of a widowed king would be the official hostess at state dinners, balls, etc., in addition to being the leader of the twelve sisters. But this wouldn’t give her a lot of time to be motherly, nor was it really in her nature to be soothing and coddle the younger girls, so I dropped that burden onto the next sister, who I imagined as the calm yet capable one who is quietly holding everything together. And I love the saying, “It’s always the quiet ones . . .” which I know usually applies to murderers, but I started to think, “What if this totally selfless, good-natured young woman had some past pain or secret?” I’d already started writing bits where Galen had had a cousin who’d enlisted in the army and disappeared, and I took it from there. There is mention of Lily in PRINCESS OF GLASS, and she is in the third book, which I’m working on right now.

What fairy tale frustrates you the most? Why?

Well, The Twelve Dancing Princesses! Depending on the version you read, the hero is a gardener or a soldier, and at the end it says, “And they never danced again, and they lived happily ever after.” But in the story, they LOVED dancing! It’s just baffling!

Through the writing process, is there anything you've had to cut out of your manuscripts, editors or otherwise?

Um . . . yes.

Have you ever considered writing short stories to accompany/supplement the worlds you've created? For example I would love a story told from Rollo's or Shardas' point of view (or Lily's. *nudge nudge* You have no idea what I'd give to read her and her love interest's backstory). :)

Nope. But I might. You never know, with me!

What is a favorite unknown book you love that few seem to know about?

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. Utterly charming, and a literary exercise at the same time!

And the most important question of all...

Ninjas or Pirates? ;)

Um, pirates, please!

Thank you so much, Jessica! This was such a treat to have you.

Book and Literary T-Shirt Love Lives On!

2011-07-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): The Setting Sun by Switchfoot.

The awesome and amazing Enna Isilee of Squeaky Books has risen to the challenge! We have more literary love t-shirts than I thought possible, and this was only after a ten minute search! There is gold out in thar internet hills, I know it. Send any more, and I'll post them up. But here is the treasure trove Enna has brought us.

Prynne from Novel-T

Not a Book from BustedTees

Palindrome T-shirt by mental_floss

Veni Vidi Wiki T-shirt by mental_floss

Team Edvard T-shirt by mental_floss

Idioms T-shirt by mental_floss

I'm an English Major T-shirt by mental_floss

Vagueness T-shirt by mental_floss

Attack of Literacy by Threadless

Four Classmates by Woot

Monday's Muse 36th edition.

2011-07-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Every Tear is a Waterfall by Coldplay.

The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to amazon, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

Today's random word:
Burn.

Angel Burn by L. A. Weatherly.

Weatherly (Child X) launches a supernatural YA trilogy with a terrific, action-packed romantic thriller. Sixteen-year-old Willow is a gifted mechanic and psychic living in upstate New York. When she does a reading for her classmate Beth, who is planning on joining the cultlike Church of Angels, Willow becomes scared; Beth thinks she's been blessed by an angel, but Willow sees that the "angel" feeds on humans' life force, poisoning bodies and damaging minds while leaving the victim euphoric. At 17, Alex has been an angel assassin for years, but when he receives orders to kill Willow, he's confused--she's not his typical target, and he's suspicious about why she's been marked for death. Looking for answers, Alex rescues Willow and takes her on the run, trying to foil the angels' plans before all of humanity is lost. Weatherly's plot and writing are first-rate, adrenaline- fueled while still taking the time to thoughtfully develop the characters and build the romance. This elevated twist on the angel genre deserves to be spread far and wide. Ages 14-up.--Publisher's Weekly

The Big Burn by Jeanette Ingold.

Ingold (Pictures, 1918) captures the momentum of a wildfire in this historical novel about "the big burn" that scorched millions of acres across Idaho and Montana in 1910. Against the atmospheric backdrop of beauty and devastation, each of three teens bravely battles the fire. As a member of the all-black infantry sent to help, Seth conquers his own insecurities; Jarrett, younger brother of a forest ranger, chooses to combat the blaze with the rough-and-tumble, ill-equipped hired crews; while Lizbeth and her guardian cousin reluctantly abandon their homestead, only to face the danger in town. Ingold intersperses the intersecting stories of the teenagers with "field notes" recorded by a ranger and a university professor; these slow the pace but offer illuminating background, including the contrast between the Indian tradition of setting controlled fires annually versus the government's belief that "the only safe way to control fire was to not let it burn in the first place." The narrative flags a bit a romance between Jarrett and Lizabeth never becomes as compelling as their individual struggles but on balance, the triumphs and casualties recounted here will heighten appreciation for the courage and sacrifice of firefighters and settlers; the book may be especially timely in light of this summer's runaway fires in the West.--Publisher's Weekly.

Burn by Suzanne Phillips.

Cameron, a high school freshman, becomes an easy target for the varsity bullies after a chance comment by a coach who notices his short stature and long hair from behind and directs him to the girls' gym. As the taunts of "gay" or "fag" drive most of his friends away, Cameron's anger escalates. When he is assaulted in the locker room and photos of his nude body are posted on the Internet, he begins to break down and his desire to retaliate is explosive. Only his mother's boyfriend, a police officer, is able to understand the post-traumatic stress disorder that Cam is experiencing and offer practical though unwanted support. This is an intense story with brutal descriptions of the abuse Cameron suffers. Phillips provides just enough nuanced details of sexual assault and violence yet masterfully avoids sensationalism. While Burn lacks the eloquence of Nancy Garden's Endgame (Harcourt, 2006) and the broad perspective of Walter Dean Myers's Shooter (HarperCollins, 2004), it instead approaches the inner turmoil of the victim's "real time" during the taunting, humiliation, revenge, and remorse. As Cam's emotional state deteriorates, fantasy and reality blur, effectively conveying his pain and confusion. Reluctant readers will appreciate the fast pace of the book as the disturbing plot unfolds with short day-to-day vignettes. There is understanding to be gained for everyone who reads this timely title.—-Sue Lloyd, Franklin High School, Livonia, MI, School Library Journal.

Camilla d'Errico's Burn by Scott Sanders and Camilla d'Errico.

Burn was once human.

He also had a family and friends, until a metallic angel of death took everything from him. This mechanical monster, Shoftiel, was one of many living machines made to help humanity that revolted and declared war on their creators. It tore through Burn's home and wreaked havoc on his city until the buildings collapsed, crashing down upon them.

Emerging from the rubble, Burn and Shoftiel discover their once separate bodies have become one -- neither human nor machine, but a freak union of both. Internally their minds are caught in a raging battle for control. Just as mankind must struggle against the sentients for survival, Burn must find the strength to overcome Shoftiel's genocidal programming to retain whatever's left of his humanity.

The Kookaburra and Other Stories by Dal Burns.

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with OUTBACK.]--Dal Burns left England for Australia as a mere lad of 17. This production is the "story" of his walkabout through the not-so-English colony down under. According to the author, this story includes not only tales of what he did and saw, but also tales of what he wishes he'd seen and done. Launching from Sydney, he journeys to the vast expanse of the Outback, enduring privation as well as meeting a host of colorful characters: a Gallipoli veteran, aborigines, and assorted tough mates. Burns's clear voice is soft and soothing, in contrast to the world he encounters. His adventures are fascinating; a large number of delightful songs set the mood and add color to the incidents he relates. The most memorable is a wonderful performance of "Lime Juice Tub." (This is even accessible via the work's Web site.) KOOKABURRA is Burns's retelling of a number of aboriginal tales. We are told the origin of the kangaroo, how a trickster is himself tricked, and how the cockatiel came into being.--Audiofile.

Pucker by Melanie Gideon.

Thomas Quicksilver (born Thomas Gale) has lived half his 17 years with burn scars that earned him the nickname Pucker. However, neither the scars nor the change in his name is as traumatic as his adventures in the alternative world of Isaura, his birth home. There, Seers hold political power and failed or ruined humans immigrate only to become servants, or Changed, with no personal will. Thomas, who fled Isaura in childhood with his widowed mother, has adapted well to life in contemporary America. However, Serena is losing her life force and sends him on a mission to restore her Seerskin. Once Thomas returns to his homeland purportedly as one of the Changed he must avoid being identified by the natives, fight to keep alive his own will to find the Seerskin and return to Earth, become accustomed to his newly invoked movie-star good looks, and cope with other Changed ones, including a feisty girl with whom he falls in love. Gideon's many characters are nuanced and credible. None is perfect, and even those with major flaws are shown to have positive attributes. The parallel world, with its adherence to late-19th-century technology, offers much to ponder, not only by readers, but also by Thomas. The only shortcoming of this fascinating novel is its abrupt ending, which, at least, comes after he has re-immigrated to Earth and is living with both his recovering mother and his returned keloid scars. --Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA, School Library Journal.

Feature Fun Friday - How I Live Now Book Trailer

2011-07-22T04:22:00.000-07:00

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): The Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine.

An award-winner and subculture favorite for a reason, this is a book trailer that won the 2006 Teen Book Video Award. Have a great weekend, everyone!

The Secret Adventures of WriterGirl

Monday's Muse, 47th edition.

Feature Fun Friday - LIBRARY MONTAGE

Time For A Contest! For Darkness Shows The Stars ARC Giveaway!

Monday's Muse, 46th edition.

Feature Fun Friday - A Look Inside Scholastic.

A Comic With No Name - let's change that.

This is dummy post. You have been warned.

I Have a Hankering To Invent Something

Feature Fun Friday - The Joy of Books

Review: Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge

You Don't Know What Regret Is When the Empire is Involved

Monday's Muse, 45th edition.

Feature Fun Friday - ThePianoGuys "Bach is Back"

Review: BookSpeak! Poems About Books by Laura Purdie Salas

See Concept Art for The Girl Who Was On Fire

Feature Fun Friday - Simon's Cat "Double Trouble"

A Most Wonderful Giveaway

Monday's Muse, 44th edition.

The Rules of Magic - The ULTIMATE Chart

Review - Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Feature Fun Friday - Hugo Trailer

A Reader's Thanks

Last Minute NaNoWriMo Inspiration

Monday's Muse, 43rd edition.

My Adventure with a Very Special Book

Feature Fun Friday - Interview with an Audiobook Narrator

Guess My Adventure

An Update of the Book Bomb of VARIANT

Monday's Muse, 42nd edition.

Feature Fun Friday - The Black Cauldron Bookie Woogie Review by Lilly

Let's Book Bomb Variant!

Adventures in Disney World - Animal Edition

I'll Be Back *said in the best Terminator voice*

My Halloween Treat For You

Feature Fun Friday - The Haunted Mansion Storybook reading

Best Guide to Creating a Character Costume EVER

A Literary Halloween Character Idea Guide

Monday's Muse, 41st edition.

The Raven - read by James Earl Jones DARTH VADER *cough*

Review - Toad to a Nightingale by Brad Leithauser (Drawings by Mark Leithauser)

Feature Fun Friday - Interview with R. L. Stine

Space is AWESOME!

This is just too much fun

Monday's Muse, 40th edition.

Feature Fun Friday - The Thief in 90 Seconds

Neal Shusterman WINNER!

Review - Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Feature Fun Friday - 90 Second Where The Mountain Meets the Moon

CONTEST TIME!

Monday's Muse, 39th edition.

Feature Fun Friday - Rick Riordan and The Son of Neptune.

Feature Fun Friday - The Higher Power of Lucky 90 Second Newbery.

Feature Fun Friday - The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Feature Fun Friday - 90 Second Newbery - Mixed Up Files...

Not Gone.

Feature Fun Friday - Intro to Victoria Schwab

Monday's Muse, 38th edition.

Feature Fun Friday - Flying

My Adventures in Skydiving - Almost.

Guess My Adventure

Feature Fun Friday - Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children Trailer

Interview Double Take!

Top Ten Underrated Books

Monday's Muse, 37th edition.

The Archived Adventures - Book Spine Poetry, Part 5

The Archived Adventures - Book Spine Poetry, Part 4

The Archived Adventures - Book Spine Poetry, Part 3

The Archived Adventures - Book Spine Poetry, Part 2

The Archived Adventures - Book Spine Poetry, Part 1

Feature Fun Friday - Gollum Sings "I Will Survive"

Interview with Jessica Day George, author of Princess of the Midnight Ball

Book and Literary T-Shirt Love Lives On!

Monday's Muse 36th edition.

Feature Fun Friday - How I Live Now Book Trailer

I'll Be Back said in the best Terminator voice

The Raven - read by James Earl Jones DARTH VADER cough