The Secret Adventures of WriterGirl

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Peace on Earth/Little Drummer (Medley) by David Bowie and Bing Crosby (it is amazing. I never thought this harmony could work so well).




I am going dark. Not forever! But just for the next week to possibly just after Christmas. The Cybils have really caught up with me and its a pell mell dash to the end. Slow and steady isn't going to win his race (sorry tortoise. I still love you!). But once I come back, there should be a week-long feature of the Cybils, filled with lists of books for your heart's content. As soon as my eye stops twitching, that is.


As the year comes to a close, it is usually a time for reflection, and since I'm going to be absent so to speak, it seems like the perfect time to do this. I am wondering what people like the most about this blog so, if possible, I can tailor it a bit more so it is not as crazy as my mind tends to be. :) So while I'm gone if you could answer this poll I would love you for forever and a day. And feel free to leave any comments about what else you want to see or anything like that. Putting it in haiku form makes a kitten be born. :)


See you all soon, everyone! :D




EDIT: (The poll is over in the left sidebar) It wouldn't work inside the post.

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Brad Smith.




So here I was, driving to work like I usually do, popping in a few good CDs from the library and tapping out a beat on my steering wheel - when all of a sudden I pass a neighborhood and almost swerve off the road because I whipped my head around to stare, literally stare at this thing I could. not. believe.












It was a snowman.






























Only the biggest snowman I have ever seen in my entire life.



































Are you ready for this? I warn you. He has broomsticks for arms.















































My jaw was still hanging when I got to work. On the way back I had to turn into this neighborhood to take a picture with my cell phone. But that wasn't good enough. So the next day I brought my whole camera set up and took another. My co-workers jaws dropped too. :) Dude. I'm still wondering how they got the head up there. It's almost as big as the house.* And look! He has a little family too! :)










*Remember all that snow I showed you a couple of weeks ago? Look what a lawn-full of it could build. :)

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Crack the Shutters by Snow Patrol.



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.

The Joys of Love by Madeleine L'Engle.

Just after college graduation, Elizabeth joins a summer theater troupe where she finds elusive love with Kurt, a pompous director, and deep friendship with her lanky, goofy colleague Ben. L'Engle revisits her own theater experiences at the beach in the 1940s, making this novel's salty breezes, musty shared quarters, and boardwalk burgers vivid. Beautifully unadorned language and fluid dialogue recall a bygone era that might feel foreign to modern teens. Even dated colloquialisms and social mores, however, cannot diminish L'Engle's magnificent rendering of a smart girl's guileless romantic missteps. Teens will cringe as Elizabeth swoons over Kurt and ignores the clear chemistry that she shares with Ben. They will quickly forgive her, as the young woman's unwavering sense of self, her heady belief in acting, and grounded acceptance of life's inequities make her a powerful, appealing character. The wonderfully simple, economic prose allows Elizabeth's revelations to shine with glimmering clarity, like moonlight on the ocean.—Shelley Huntington, New York Public Library, School Library Journal.



Sell-Out by Ebony Joy Wilkins.

NaTasha’s parents’ decision to raise her in an all-white suburb doesn’t sit well with grandmother Tilly, who thinks the African American teen is trying to squeeze into a persona that doesn’t fit. After a disastrous ballet recital, the teen still doesn’t quite agree, but embarrassed by her clumsiness, she sees the merit in spending time in Tilly’s Harlem neighborhood during the summer. NaTasha reacquaints herself with a childhood friend and flirts with a boy at the local bodega. But it’s her relationships with the girls at a crisis center for troubled teens in a rough area of the Bronx that truly engender her growth. Although the story opens up room for discussion about self-loathing and exactly what being a sellout entails, it does strain belief at times, especially when Tilly, a longtime center volunteer, knowingly exposes NaTasha to a group of girls who are brutal, even violent bullies. Still, NaTasha’s budding realization that appearances and expectations often mask a person’s true nature, and that even bullies have a story, signals an important adolescent journey. --Karen Cruze, Booklist.



The Complete Novels (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by Jane Austen.

Few novelists have conveyed the subtleties and nuances of their own social milieu with the wit and insight of Jane Austen. Here in one volume are her seven great novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Lady Susan. Through her vivacious and spirited heroines and their circle, Austen vividly portrays English middle-class life as the eighteenth century came to a close and the nineteenth century began. Each of the novels is a love story and a story about marriage—marriage for love, for financial security, for social status. But they are not romances; ironic, comic, and wise, they are masterly evocations of the society Jane Austen observed. This beautiful volume covers the literary career of one of England’s finest prose stylists of any century.


The Machineries of Joy by Ray Bradbury.

This is vintage Bradbury - no punk, obscenity, fantasy, horror or sex. Just beautiful, succinct, wonderfully constructed short stories that give new meaning to the term "American Genius".

The stories range in subject matter from religion to space to family to war but through it all Bradbury explores the meaning of being human in all its wondrous degrees. There is more poetry in this prose than in most English books of poetry. Every single story - I mean every one! - is excellent, thought provoking and haunting. What a writer! (by Avid Reader - Amazon.com review)

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): What I Wouldn't Do by A Fine Frenzy.



The art of storytelling is a force that drives us from our innermost core. I was once told in an acting class that there are four things people need to live. Food, shelter, love, and stories. Stories sustain us and shape us. But sometimes stories get vastly different better with each retelling. Enter Kid History, one of the best YouTube videos I've seen in quite some time. Yet one more reason why I write for kids/teens. :) Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Kingdom Dance by Alan Menken [Tangled soundtrack] (oh yes I am). :)




Okay, can I tell you how much I like Tangled? Okay, I REALLY LIKE TANGLED!!! Yes, it's been out a week and I've already seen it twice. So much fun, so funny and so sweet and cool at the same time. It is definitely a contender with How To Train Your Dragon and Toy Story 3 for best animated picture this year. I want to see it again. Quite badly. At least three of the songs keep going through my head and I love the characters and ohmygoshholyheavens the song/dance on her birthday! *sigh* Because it's a fairy tale I have no qualms about gushing here for Feature Fun Friday. Here is a collection of clips if my squeeing doth not have you convinced yet. Have a great weekend everyone! (and I know a really good movie you could see). ;)

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Different Story by Peter Schilling.





For those who remember from the YA Fantasy Showdown, Ai Ling from Cindy Pon's Silver Phoenix was one of the featured characters, and in my contest it happened to be one of the most requested books of the showdown. Well, the sequel is coming out (March 2011) and she decided to host a contest of very cool proportions.

Originally I wasn't going to share this at all, but I was cajoled by friend and foe alike (they happen to be the same people by the way. I still shake my fist at you!). Usually any work I show I like to have refined, polished and prettily spit shined, but since I wrote this last night under very little sleep there isn't much to be done in that arena. But I also know I should be proud of my work, and I love to feature diverse and different stories like Silver Phoenix whenever I can, so here I go. And a little fandom is always nice.

Here is a very rough haiku sequence in honor of the storyline of Silver Phoenix. Originally it was going to be a renga, but I don't feel nearly adequate enough to attempt it and get it right. I also did not follow the strict form of 5-7-5 syllables (it is a lot easier to do in Japanese, trust me), but instead tried to keep the original idea and intent behind the haiku with the image, the turn, commentary, etc. I tried to make each stand on its own but also follow the sequence of the story.




Silver Phoenix



Mere daughter
Unworthy of esteem by most
but cherished by a father still

One day, a letter
a summons from the emperor
leaves - but does not come home

A journey begins
the step beyond the light is dark
but time - too short

Courage, a medallion
gifts of her father, but to take hold of another's spirit
a gift of her own

The world is wide
unknown dangers always lurk
a reflection of life

The pool seems safe
cool water, soft lilies bloom
but the monster's hands are strong

Choking in a water prison
life's small candle flickers, threatening extinction
but other hands pull back

A friend, an enemy
a stranger can be both
but these yellow eyes are soft

Two now instead of one
a journey with a friend is always best
but first - we eat.

Instructions, advice well taken
wisdom and a dagger freely given
which shall prove the greater?

On the back of a dragon we fly
a courtyard of trees. The gods still live
- a revelation.

Dragon, demon-possessed
not all dragons are the same
like humans, I suppose

Insurmountable foe
requires the greatest mastery of self
reaches with her spirit - and destroys

One brother safe, the other unable to save
she could pull him back, restore him, warped
... she lets him go

A journey twists and turns
never knowing its end until it is upon you
like sun lifting a morning fog

A thousand souls stolen away
to wait for a single bright spirit
everything - for a marriage

Night, the shield of many things
a bedchamber, a place of communion turned to another purpose
different eyes, different soul destroys this time

Love potent, refined through trials
but there are more paths to walk
so we say goodbye.

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): One More Time With Feeling by Regina Spektor.



Here is why I couldn't do post until late yesterday and why I can no longer lift my arms. My car only got stuck twice coming up the hill going home. :) And on the bright side, I've discovered new muscles I didn't even know I had. All in a day's work. ^_^ Now, onto hot chocolate.

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Adiemus by Karl Jenkins.



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.

Snow: A Retelling of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" by Tracy Lynn.

The Duchess Jessica's childhood began with a tragedy: her mother's death. Her father, heartbroken at the loss of his beloved wife, could not bear to raise the child. Largely ignored, Jessica spent the first eleven years of her life running free on the family estate, cared for only by the servants.

Then her father decides to remarry, bringing an end to Jessica's independence. At first her new stepmother just seems overly strict. But as Jessica grows into a beautiful young woman, it becomes clear that her stepmother is also wildly -- and murderously -- jealous of her.

Jessica escapes to London. Going by the name Snow to hide from her family, she falls in love with an odd band of outcasts who accept her into their makeshift family. But when her stepmother appears in the city, repentant and seeking her forgiveness, Jessica will have to decide whom to trust...with her life.


Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George.

Blessed—or cursed—with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she’s known to her family) has always been an oddball. And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn’t hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servants. Only a grueling journey on the backs of the four winds will reveal the truth: the bear is really a prince who’s been enchanted by a troll queen, and the Lass must come up with a way to free him before he’s forced to marry a troll princess.


Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia Wrede.

Wrede's ( Caught in Crystal ) romantic and charming retelling of the Brothers Grimm tale is the fourth in this series. In the village of Mortlak, near the river Thames, during the reign of Elizabeth I, live the Widow Arden and her two daughters, Blanche and Rosamund. The widow, who supports her family by selling herbs and making healing potions, lives in fear of being accused of witchcraft. Her daughters gather the herbs she needs, sometimes crossing into the realm of Faerie, one of whose borders lies in the forest nearby. Also residing in Mortlak is the real-life Doctor Dee, astrologer to the Queen, who with his friend Edward Kelly seeks to harness the magic of Faerie. Their efforts turn Hugh, one of the half-human sons of the queen of Faerie, into a bear. With the aid of the widow and her daughters, John, the elder Faerie prince, tries to disenchant his brother, who has crossed over to the mortal world. John is initially thwarted in his efforts by Madini, head of a faction in Faerie that seeks complete separation from the mortal domain. In putting her twist on the classic tale, Wrede uses language appropriate to the period and nicely evokes both medieval England and a magic land. - Publisher's Weekly


Snow Bound by Harry Mazer.

At fifteen, Tony Laporte is what many people would call a throughly spoiled kid. He gets away with a lot because his parents want him to have all the things they never had. But when they surprise him by refusing to let him keep a stray dog he has found, Tony decides to teach them a lesson by running off in his mother's old Plymouth. Driving without a license in the middle of a severe snowstorm, he picks up a hitchhiker named Cindy Reichert, an aloof girl who has always had difficulty forming friendships. To impress Cindy, Tony tries to show off his driving skills and ends up wrecking the car in a very desolated area far from the main highway. After spending precious days bickering with each other and waiting for rescue that never comes, they finally realize that their lives are at stake and they must cooperate to survive. The question is--can they survive?


Touching Snow by M. Sindy Fellin.

To those back in Haiti, "touching snow" means living in America. For seventh-grader Karina, however, life in suburban Chestnut Valley, NY, is far from easy. Her extended family struggles to survive in a world in which they are social and cultural outsiders, where food and shelter are still uncertain, and where a visit from the authorities can mean deportation to a much more desperate homeland. For Karina, though, the biggest threat is within her family. Her stepfather uses brutal force to dominate his wife and stepdaughters. While Karina nurtures dreams of education and connects with caring people who might help her, she is held back by a man who sees his shaky power diminished by any sign of the girls' independence. As Karina and her sisters mature, this conflict escalates to a terrible scale. The author writes with insight about the realities of immigrant life, Haitian American culture, and the double worlds inhabited by many first-generation Americans like Karina. Readers can see the compromises that family members make in the name of survival and the stresses that drive the stepfather's rage, while still holding to the truth that these girls and their mother deserve a life without violence. Although the resolution is brutal, this story is a compelling read from an important and much-needed new voice. Readers will cheer for the young narrator who is determined to step out of the role of victim and build a safe and meaningful life for herself and her family.—Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA School Library Journal


Shirahime-Syo: Snow Goddess Tales by Clamp.

Legends say that when it snows, it is because the snow princess is crying. From CLAMP, creators of Chobits and Cardcaptor Sakura, comes a collection of five tragic tales, all connected by the bond of snow. Shirahime-syo is CLAMP's return to traditional Japanese form and storytelling. Featuring luscious watercolors and gentle brushstrokes, it is a beautiful departure from CLAMP's usual fare. Discover for yourself the mystery behind the snow...

Post will be forthcoming for Monday's Muse. I have been shoveling snow for an hour and a half and I have to get back out there if I have any hope of getting to work. But it's coming. That is, if I can lift my arms after all of this. Look, it's so sad. I don't even have a song playing right now. :(

But never fear! Superheroes always triumph. Never give up, never surrender!


See you later today!



(can you get carpal tunnel from lifting a shovel, I wonder?...)

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




Bookie Woogie. Haven't heard of it? I mourn for you. You have heard of it? Rejoice with me! The blog Bookie Woogie is perhaps one of the best book review blogs out there, and one of my absolute favorites. It is comprised of an writer/illustrator dad (he wrote the Hiccupotamus) who reads to his three kids, Isaac, Gracie, and Lily (in June Isaac was 11, Gracie 9, and Lily 7). He records the audio while they discuss it. Then he transcribes it and puts it on the blog. That's the review. And it is some of the sweetest, most hilarious, and intelligent commentary on a book anywhere. Oh, and then they draw pictures of what they've read and it is wonderful beyond words. I don't know another blog anywhere else like it.


Here is a little snippet from their review of A Wrinkle in Time:

Dad: So guys, we are going to review "A Wrinkle in Time." We finished reading this three weeks ago but, because of our vacation, we haven't had a chance to review it until now. Do you think you can remember enough about it?
Isaac (age 10): Maybe.
Gracie (age 8): That was only three weeks ago? It seems like forever.
Dad: Tell me about the characters.
Lily (age 6): Charles Wallace is a very, very smarty guy. He's a little five year old. He has an older sister Meg who I think is like 10 or 11, and sometimes she doesn't even know what Charles Wallace is talking about. I have no idea how he got so smart. He can make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.



And they also have a purely art-based blog over at Chicken Nugget Lemon Tooty (you'd be surprised how good these kids are at art. Methinks they take after their dad). They've even had their art done over by professional illustrators (it's one of my favorite posts). Oh, and have been interviewed for a magazine in South Korea.


So come over next Monday when they start up again. You won't be disappointed. :) And spread the word! They've been off the air for a while, and I can't wait to see what they come back with. :)

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): See You Tomorrow by John Powell [How To Train Your Dragon soundtrack].




I love this time of year. There is ambiance of Christmas music echoing from every radio and MP3 receiver in the house (which has been playing since the day after Halloween I might add, a la my little sister. Something we vehemently disagree on the timing of, but hey, it's really nice now), the sweet silence of snow drifting to the ground (hoo-boy, is there snow on the ground. I'll have to take pictures for you), and soon will be the multi-faceted smell of meat, potatoes, and stuffing as we prepare for Thanksgiving (triptophan here I come!). Oh yeah, and the furious smell of ink and paper burning. What? You haven't heard of that part? No, I haven't turned all Fahrenheit 451 on you. No, that smell is from the friction of a thousand pages flipping by at RPMs in the triple digits, reading each book so fast they threaten to catch fire. The Cybils. Here's my holiday. This is my current TBR for the Cybils only. We've now entered Tower of Babel #4. And these don't even include all of the books I've read so far (which is quite a lot). So there you go. While everyone else is enjoying egg nog and the freak-a-thon shopping that is Black Friday, I will be curled up with a mini fort-o-books all around me. But hey, maybe I'll jump into the shopping foray. I mean, it's not like I'll have to wake up early. I just have to stop reading for a while. ;) And somehow I don't think I'm going to get out of stuffing picking regardless of how many puppy eyes I give everyone.

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Village on the Sand by Blackmore's Knight.



Gone to Harry Potter. Be back later. Much, much later (and deliriously happy and tired, I'm sure). But in my absence, here is a hilarious video of the stars learning to speak with an American accent. :) Ta ta!

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Mad World by Gary Jules.



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 selling 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).

The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Published: October 1, 2007
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 128
Current Amazon Rank: #4,575
Author's Website: http://www.shauntan.net/
Want it? Find it here.



The First Line:
[None]



My Take: I am breaking one of my most cardinal rules for how I judge what book I will review. This is definitely under the top 25,000 best-selling books on amazon. And there is good reason for that. It is wonderful.

This is a wordless graphic novel four years in the making. It tells the story of a man who must go ahead of his family to a new country, and hopefully prepare the way for them to follow. I really am having a hard time finding words to adequately express how I feel about this book. It is... beautiful. Sad, and beautiful and it stays with you. The illustrations are so detailed and intricate, every confusion and trial he has to face is painfully drawn and you ache for him and feel joy with him as he navigates this new and foreign world.

Shaun Tan masterfully captures all of this by placing us in a world far removed from our own, complete with flying ships, towering (and beautifully elaborate) geometrical structures, and a language as foreign as anything you've ever seen. Without any words, we are placed in the same position as he is, and that confusion and that ache intensifies even more because you can feel you are him.

And the illustrations. This is a book to be read slowly. Even though it is barely over 125 pages, you could easily take an entire afternoon immersing yourself in it. You can get lost in these images.












And this has one of the most delightful creatures I've ever encountered in visual fiction. His "pet" is beyond adorable. I want one. I cannot tell you how much I want one.



The Final Word: Gorgeous, heart-wrenching and heart-warming, this is an beautiful story that I keep returning to, just for a peek, then find myself lost completely in all over again.


[Update]: I just flipped through it again and started crying. In a good way.

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): All In by Lifehouse.



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.

Selling Hope by Kristin O' Donnell Tubb.

It’s May 1910, and Halley’s Comet is due to pass thru the Earth’s atmosphere. And thirteen-year-old Hope McDaniels and her father are due to pass through their hometown of Chicago with their ragtag vaudeville troupe. Hope wants out of vaudeville, and longs for a “normal” life—or as normal as life can be without her mother, who died five years before. Hope sees an opportunity: She invents “anti-comet” pills to sell to the working-class customers desperate for protection. Soon, she’s joined by a fellow troupe member, young Buster Keaton, and the two of them start to make good money. And just when Hope thinks she has all the answers, she has to decide: What is family? Where is home?



Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer.

When it comes to creating strong, independent, and funny teenaged female characters, Bauer is in a class by herself and the 16-year-old waitress in this book is no exception. Hope Yancey and her Aunt Addie, a much-sought-after diner cook, have toured the country, one diner at a time. With each move, the teen leaves her mark, "HOPE WAS HERE," in ballpoint pen somewhere on the premises. Now in Mulhoney, WI, she has no idea that the residents of this small town will make their mark on her. G. T. Stoop, the Quaker owner of the Welcome Stairways, has leukemia, and while the disease can keep him from running the diner he loves, it can't keep him from running for mayor against a corrupt incumbent. Taking part in his campaign allows Hope to get to know Braverman, a fellow worker at the Welcome Stairways and G. T.'s greatest supporter. The mix of dealing with illness, small-town politics, and budding romance for both Hope and Addie is one that will entertain and inspire readers. Bauer tells a fast-paced, multilayered story with humor but does not gloss over the struggle of someone who is unable to trust, someone who has been left before, and who avoids getting close to anyone for fear of being left again. Teens who have come to expect witty, realistic characters and atypical (but very funny) story lines from Bauer's previous books will not be disappointed and new readers will be sure to come back for seconds. --School Library Journal, Tracey Firestone, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY


Mercury by Hope Larson.

Set in Nova Scotia, this book relates two coming-of-age stories in tandem, showing how the past interweaves with the present. In the present, Tara and her mother have lost their old farmhouse in a fire, and Tara's mother is struggling to support them from far away while Tara lives with relatives. She loved the old house and wants to rebuild it, but her mother is pressured to find a job elsewhere. In 1859, Josey, Tara's ancestor, falls in love with a gold dowser who has convinced her father to open a mine. Her mother, who has supernatural sight, is sure that the dowser means no good. The stories collide as Tara goes searching for the gold said to have been hidden on her property, and Josey's tale reveals how it came to be hidden. Elements of the supernatural echo in both settings as Josey experiences the same visions her mother has and Tara discovers that she has a knack for dowsing. Though the end of the story leaves things hanging for Tara and her mother, the actions that the girl takes to gain control of her destiny suggest that she will find a way to achieve her goals. The storytelling, both in words and pictures, brilliantly offers details from Canadian history and modern life. The dialogue varies from funny to poignant. An excellent graphic novel, particularly for fans of Faith Erin Hicks's The War at Ellsmere (Slave Labor, 2008).—School Library Journal, Alana Joli Abbott, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT


Hope in Patience by Beth Fehlbaum.

Fifteen-year-old Ashley Asher has spent half of her life living in fear. Her stepfather has been sexually abusing her for years, but her mother doesn't believe her. After his latest assault lands her in the emergency room, Child Protective Services finally removes Ashley from her home, and sends her to live with the father she barely remembers and his new family. Her new life in Patience, Texas, is much better. She's in therapy to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is trying to make her way in a new high school. She's getting used to living with her father, stepmother, and stepbrother, and she's made new friends in the summer course taught by her stepmother, Bev. She even joins the track team at the urging of her new African American friend, Z. Z. But Ashley is so traumatized by her past that she sometimes scratches herself until she bleeds and sleeps in her armoire, even though she knows she's safe now. Worse, when her stepfather is finally put on trial for hurting her, she learns that truth and justice don't always go together. Will Ashley adjust to a better life? Will she trust enough to date Josh, the cute guy on her track team who likes her? YA readers will be caught up in the heart-pounding story of a damaged girl trying to heal herself and get on with the rest of her life.


Something Like Hope by Shawn Goodman.

17-year-old Shavonne has been in juvenile detention since the seventh grade. Mr Delpopolo is the first counselor to treat her as an equal, and he helps her get to the bottom of her self-destructive behavior, her guilt about past actions, and her fears about leaving the Center when she turns 18. Shavonne tells him the truth about her crack-addicted mother, the child she had (and gave up to foster care) at fifteen, and the secret shame she feels about what she did to her younger brother after her mother abandoned them. Meanwhile, Shavonne's mentally unstable roommate Cinda makes a rash move, and Shavonne's quick thinking saves her life—and gives her the opportunity to get out of the Center if she behaves well. But Shavonne's faith is tested when her new roommate, mentally retarded and pregnant Mary, is targeted by a guard as a means to get revenge on Shavonne. As freedom begins to look more and more likely, Shavonne begins to believe that maybe she, like the goslings recently hatched on the Center's property, could have a future somewhere else—and she begins to feel something like hope.


Mother Poems by Hope Anita Smith.

With the same lyrical simplicity as in Keeping the Night Watch (2008), Smith writes about an African American child’s grief at the sudden death of her mother. The first poems celebrate Momma’s unconditional love and the intimacy of her embrace in daily life: “I’ve got a momma / who combs and plaits my hair . . . who wraps me in her arms.“ Then suddenly Momma dies, and the child’s “ultimate superhero” is gone. More than half the book is about her shock, sorrow, guilt, anger, and loving memories. Like the poetry, Smith’s simple, torn-paper collages in a folk-art style show the close embraces and vignettes without overwhelming the words. In one unforgettable picture, the child stands tall, her feet in Momma’s shoes. The girl feels bewildered by her friends who hate their mothers. Other adults, including a father and stepfather, get passing mention. Readers will recognize the regret: the last words you remember, “and the words you didn’t say.”--Booklist, Hazel Rochman

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Halfway Gone by Lifehouse.



So everyone and their baby hamster knows Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out next Thursday at midnight (alright so *technically* Friday, but who counts it that way, really?). Considering this is the book that is said to have single-handedly saved all of reading, created world peace, and personally baked you a cake, there was no way I couldn't make this week a MEGA-HOMAGE to it. Because, plus, you know, I'm really excited.

First up we have the official trailer of awesome. Then we have the "literal" trailer, which will have you squirting soda over your keyboard if you are drinking anything. Don't say I didn't warn you. And THEN because the vlog brothers are so nerdalicious, they've made several songs on Harry Potter. The most famous about Hank's excitement for the seventh book to come out. But is a hardcore one about why your school sucks and you'd rather be at Hogwarts. Finally - there is the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows YouTube channel - for all your other nerdastic needs. Have a great weekend, everyone!












HARRY POTTER YOUTUBE CHANNEL!!!

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Don't Stop Believing by Journey.




Since I'm a sneaky little twerp, here is the letter to Beth Revis's contest for behind the scenes goodies and the much coveted ARC of Across the Universe. This is in case you didn't guess it or (like me) need a confirmation it's the right letter (I kept counting on my fingers all morning to make sure it was the right clue I was giving you).

That's an important one. It may tip the scale for many of you. And I've just seen that the last letter is up. So go crack that password! :)

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Still Alive by Lisa Miskovsky.






So, I thought this was supposed to go up tomorrow. Shows you what happens when you don't keep an eye on things. But this is definitely one book you want to keep an eye on, and I mean really. I've read it. It is fantastic. Beyond the world fantastic, if you know what I mean. It's different and will possibly blow your mind.


Here's the blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Pretty sweet, huh? And so here's the deal. Beth is hosting this mega contest over at her blog. Which is why yours truly is here. But she's hidden it behind a secret link with all kinds of awesome goodies behind it (super behind-the-scenes stuff that I absolutely love to find out about). If you're feeling lost and don't know where to find it, I would suggest some stargazing. That's where Amy and Elder are after all. Of course, you'll need to look through something to see them. ;)

But that's not all. She's also password encrypted it for the truly worthy. And that is where I come in. I'm supposed to give you a clue. A letter to help unscramble the passcode. But how to do it... Let's see... Tomorrow's the 11th (which was when I *thought* I was posting this). Huh. The eleventh day of the eleventh month. How curious. And the ohmygoodnessAMAZING Across the Universe by Beth Revis comes out the eleventh day of 2011. Weird.

Oh well. I guess you'll have to figure it out on your own. I've got nothing. (A=1, B=2...) ;)


I couldn't make it too easy for all you scroll-downers out there, now could I? Have fun and happy hunting!

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Campus by Vampire Weekend.



I *know* we just had Feature Fun Friday, like, two days ago, but this is so truly awesome that I must share. I love Sherlock Holmes. I love him and his stories with a passion that I cannot describe. I read the 1300 page monstrosity (um, it seemed like that at least. I'll have to go back and check. It made an excellent door stop) when I was thirteen. For fun. Because I wanted to. Yes, I'm weird. But I fell in love with this mind-machine of a detective who could deduce the most accurate conclusions from the smallest observations. I loved Watson (who was not dumb OR fat, people!) and I *loved* how Sherlock really cared for Watson even though he did not often show it, but when he did... watch out.

So it was with more than a little elation that I found out Masterpiece Mystery was doing a series on Sherlock - set in modern times. Sherlock texts. Watson writes a blog instead of in his notebooks. But the same characters and magic and wit is all there. I LOVE it. There was dancing in my living room. There may have been squee.

Here is a trailer. The DVD comes out tomorrow (also in blu-ray).




But you can stream it online for the next couple of weeks ONLY. So get on it. It's three, hour and half hours of uninterrupted, commercial free, I'm-made-of-amazing entertainment.* And after that, you can have a playground of the real-life versions of Watson's blog and Sherlock's website. I am a Sherlock Holmes nut and I have no problems admitting it. It is like having a love affair with chocolate and then finding the secret stash of leftover Halloween candy. It makes me have this face: ^_^ Hopefully all this will tide me over for the next year until the new series comes out. ...Why does this feel like Catching Fire/Mockingjay all over again?



*And Watson is going to be Bilbo in the upcoming Hobbit. So if you needed ANY more convincing, there you go.

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



Ooooh, pretty. Can't. Stop. Watching the shiny shiny trailer. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Run by Snow Patrol.



Yes. YEESSSSSS! Oh Frabjuous Day! Did I even spell that right? Hmmm... Anywho! Look! Lookitlookitlookit! I found the most amazing wonderful awesome thing ever. Remember from the YA Fantasy Showdown where Eugenides from The Thief won? Well, for a limited time (I honestly have no idea how long), they have THE FULL BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE. Like, right below me if the widget thingy worked out right. Awesome awesome book. Read. Read now and enjoy. But don't skip to the end! This is a series you do *not* want spoiled. Now please excuse me while I go spin in happy circles until I'm sick. :)

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Journey Through the Desert by Harry Gregson-Williams [Prince of Persia soundtrack].



This may have to be an annual tradition. I put this in last year and I can't help but include it again wafting scent of burning keypads being typed into oblivion fills the air. Yep, for those of you who don't know, it's NaNoWriMo (or NaNoRevisMo) again! National Novel Writing Month where you try to write 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days.

This is perhaps one of the funniest things I have ever found in relation to NaNoWriMo - Author vs. Character by Lazette M. Gifford. Warning: The language borderlines the PG-13 category, just so you know. I know most don't mind, but since I don't use that language here I thought I'd give the heads up. (h***, s***, and d***). You will never look at poodles the same way again, I can promise you that. Enjoy and good luck to all those crazy incredible enough to do this!

Author:
'The night passes quietly. Character sleeps soundly and wakes up at first light. Rooster crows. Climbs down from the hay loft and stretches, pleased to see that the fog of the night before has cleared and he can now see the town -- a couple dozen buildings, including a travelers' inn. He'd found refuge in their stable. Grateful for the chance to sleep so comfortably --'

Character:
You know, I've been quiet and gone along with you for the previous four chapters without a complaint, but this is too much. I've spent six days sleeping on leaves, huddled by a tree in the rain, and half-drowned and miserable. And now you think leeping in a hay pile is comfortable! I tossed and turned all night. Hay isn't down feathers, you know -- it's dried twigs. They stab. And what the hell is this? (holds up something between his fingers)

Author:
(peers closely) Looks like a needle to me.

Character:
Right. What perverted person would put a needle in a pile of hay? It jabbed me.

Author:
Did it? (looks hopefully at the needle, then glances at research books) Is it rusty? Tetanus... severe muscle spasms, also called lockjaw... that might be interesting. I hadn't thought of an illness like that, before the shots and everything. Let me see it.

Character:
See what?

Author:
The needle!

Character:
(brushing hands) What needle? There's no needle here. Can't be. This is pre-industrial. No needle... and no tetanus.

Author:
(reluctantly puts aside the books) Oh well. Okay, where were we?

Character:
New day, no fog, etc.

Author:
Right. Okay. 'Character makes his way through the stable yard and past the open door to the inn's kitchen --'

Character:
'His stomach growling --'

Author:
If you're hungry, eat the journey bread in your pocket.

Character:
Are you joking? That stuff's so hard I could chip rocks with it. A caveman with this journey bread could have ruled the world.

Author:
'Character walks past the door and out into the street where he sees something that makes him shut up and forget everything else. There, on the hill top overlooking the village, is the black stone castle that has haunted his dreams for the last five years! He anxiously turns that way, heading toward the distant castle gate --'

Character:
Are you crazy? Or do you just think I'm stupid?

Author:
What's the problem now? That's the castle -- your goal in sight --

Character:
Yeah, the castle. Those dreams would be the ones where I wake up in a cold sweat, screaming because the castle sucked me in and buried me alive. And now you expect me to blithely head straight up and walk in? To hell with that. I'm heading the opposite way on this road, just as fast as I can --

Author:
Back toward the toll gate and the guards you so carefully avoided last night? Oh, good plan.

Character:
Damn. I forgot. What's to the right?

Author:
'A fetid swamp still curling with the last tendrils of the fog from the night before. It must once have been part of a lake and port. Character can even make out the masts of ships buried in the muck, vines twining up across tattled sails.... and the bleached bones of men, trapped within those ropes of green, as though the plants had suddenly reached out and grabbed them --'

Character:
I get the idea. Thank you so much for another new level of nightmare to add to my others. What's to the left?

Author:
'To the east' -- left for Characters not paying attention to where they are --
'he can see a few more buildings, some of them obviously abandoned. Beyond that
are rocky fields and small plots of dying plants. Less than a mile away is the
shadow of the forest --'

Character:
Excellent! Oh, and may I say that five chapters is a bit long to be waiting for a name?

Author:
I want it to be the right name, the perfect name. I'll know it when I see it.

Character:
Fine. Whatever. 'Character casts one worried look at the brooding black castle and sets off on foot past the falling buildings and into the fields --'

Author:
'Almost immediately, Character hears the baying of dogs and looks worriedly toward the castle. He can see the pack that is pacing beneath the walls, he thinks waiting for the morning meal. But now they've seen him moving in the empty land below --'

Character:
Shit.

Author:
Don't worry. They're only poodles.

Character:
A pack of poodles? Toy? Miniature? Standard?

Author:
A mix. And actually they're only half poodle.

Character:
(eyeing them cautiously and trying to guess if he can reach the forest and get away from them) Half poodle and half what?

Author:
Wolf.

Character:
(stops and shakes head) Wolves. You crossed poodles and wolves. And the reason was...?

Author:
Wild killers, less fur to clean up. 'They have spotted Character, and the woodle pooves bay -- or maybe yip -- again.'

Character:
Woodle pooves. I'm getting an image of the dogs here.... oh man, that's just wrong.

Author:
Are you trying for the trees or not?

Character:
Can I make it?

Author:
Probably. They're kind of inbred woodle pooves. Not entirely bright.

Character:
Okay then. Better than the castle.

Author:
'Character jogs along the broken path between the rocks as the woodle pooves gather at the top of the hill. He's more than halfway to the cursed forest before they --'

Character:
(stops) Cursed forest? You didn't say anything about the forest being cursed!

Author:
Let's see: Deadly swamp, dying fields, big brooding black castle.... of course the forest is cursed. Duh.

Character:
Good point. My mistake. What kind of curse?

Author:
(flips through notes) 'A century ago a major battle was fought at the village. A mage-king, seeing all about to be lost, cast a desperate spell to save his throne. He brought not only the plants of the lake but also the trees into the battle. They won, but unfortunately, the trees developed a taste for blood. They on't kill you... well, not right away.' You can escape in a couple years. You won't be sane, of course, but I think you might be an interesting character if you were insane.

Character:
I don't need a cursed forest of vampire trees to drive me crazy. I've got you. 'Character, sensing something evil from the forest -- or maybe not wanting to risk his luck with the woodle pooves -- turns around and hurries back to the village.'

Author:
'Character soon reaches the street and turns toward the castle.'

Character:
No.

Author:
What do you mean no? You've found out there is no other direction. Now start up for the castle --

Character:
I am not going to that frigging castle!

Author:
Do you know how long I've been setting this moment up? That castle has been in your dreams --

Character:
Nightmares --

Author:
For five years! You've been pursuing it since you came of age!

Character:
I had dreams about Daisy from the Bread and Barrel for ten years! Why couldn't I pursue her instead?

Author:
This isn't that kind of book!

Character:
Like I haven't noticed!

Author:
'Character, reluctantly realizing he has no choice, and that this is his destiny, heads for --'

Character:
The privy. It has to be around here by the inn somewhere.

Author:
You're just putting off the inevitable.

Character:
Where is the privy? Or we're going to have something else inevitable happen.

Author:
'The privy is at the opposite side of the stable. Character can see the swarms of flies and flinches at the stench as he nears --'

Character:
Bullshit.

Author:
I don't think bulls have anything to do with this problem.

Character:
Look, this is stupid. The world has magic. The first thing they're going to use it for is to fix the stink from the outhouse! 'Character heads for the privy, nothing the faint scent of lilacs and roses. Butterflies dance in the air.'

Author:
'As he slips in and closes the door --'

Character:
A little privacy, if you don't mind. Out.

Author:
...

Author:
...

Author:
...

Character steps back out, looking toward the door to the kitchen again.

Author:
Too bad you don't have any money.

Character digs into jacket and pulls out shiny silver coin.

Author:
You've been holding out on me.

Character:
I got it off one of those five bandits who tried to kill me back in Chapter Three. You know, right before the bridge -- the one that had borne the weight of a thousand peasants and their wagons -- gave way under me for no apparent reason and I nearly drowned.

Author:
Yeah, but you lost the bandits who were trying to kill you.

Character:
I'm going for breakfast. Then I'm going to lay low for the rest of the day and escape the way I got in. Don't even bother to say anything. 'Character goes in and orders food, has a quiet leisurely meal, lingering over bread and honey. The local serving wench isn't bad looking, either. She reminds him of Daisy, the girl he left behind. They might have a pleasant day together. He finishes up the food, pushing away the plate --'

Author:
'And the guards, having been relieved of their posts at the gate, come in for their own breakfast. They immediately spot Character and know he's a stranger who didn't come through their gate. Worse, though, is that they recognize him.'

Character:
What? I've never been here! They can't --

Author:
'The guards fall on him, and he's soon beaten to his knees --'

Character:
Beaten? But -- but --

Loter, Captain of the Guard:
Another one! You look like your great-grandfather, boy! We're not going to have any more mad mage-kings!

Selis, Another Guard:
I didn't think that dream crap would work, but hell, what is this? Fifteen of them now? Up boy.

Author:
'Selis grabs Character by the arm and hoists him to his feet, taking him outside. Captain Loter loops a rope around his arms and ties it to his saddle --'

Character:
But --

Author:
'Loter kicks his horse into a trot, heading toward the castle gate, and only barely slows when Character stumbles and falls, dragged along the rough road. Bloody, bruised and panting, Character gets back to his feet and tries to jog along behind the horse.'

Character:
Look, it doesn't have to be like this --

Author:
I gave you the chance to come here quietly. You really shouldn't argue with your author. It just gives me more time to come up with something more interesting to do.

Character:
Maybe the woodle pooves wouldn't be so bad --

Author:
'The group slips through the gate and into the shadows of a courtyard where it seems the sun never reaches. People scurry for the shadows and hide at their approach. Somewhere a man bellows in rage. Loter doesn't pause, as though the place unsettles him. The three head straight into the building -- cold, damp walls, mold in corners, the sounds of rats running. Salis pushes open a door and the head down the first set of stairs, then another... down and down and farther until it seems...'

Character:
'The castle has swallowed him alive.' Yeah, I get it.

Author:
'Finally they reach a hall lit by a flickering torch, obviously magically fueled because the cobwebs are so thick that no one could have been down this way in a long time. Salis grimaces and uses his sword to cut through them. Decay and death scent the air, and the only sound is hysterical crying from behind a door they pass. "Can I go home now? Please, can I go home?" Loter stops at another door and nods. Salis pries up the rusted metal bar.'

Character:
I hope he gets tetanus.

Author:
'The door comes open with a loud wail of unused hinges and Loter shoves Character inside and down to his knees again.'

Loter:
What's your name, boy? We need it for the records.

Character looks plaintively at author.

Author grabs name books.

Guards, anxious to get out of this hell hole,
look at author.

Author:
Yes, fine. Right. Okay! I found the name: Varyn!

Character:
(looks back at the guard) My name is Varyn.

Loter:
We'll write it in the book, Barren --

Character:
No, no. Varyn, with a V and a --

Author:
'The guards slam the door closed. Varyn can hear the bar dropping into place and the guards hurrying away, and the hysterical whisper of someone else: "Can I go home now? Can I go home now?" Varyn leans back, ignoring blood, scrapes and bruises. He knows -- having seen the cobwebs -- that no one is going to come back for a long, long time.'

Varyn:
(bangs head on door a couple times) This is great. Wonderful. Do you have any clue how you're going to get me back out of here?

Author:
Well... Do you still have that journey bread?

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap.


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.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.


A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin

Watching home movies, Hattie looks back over the summer of 1960 and the events that changed her perception of life. The 12-year-old has difficulty making friends her own age, but enjoys the company of an elderly boarder, the friendly cook, and her artist father. Her relationship with her mother is sometimes difficult because they must always negotiate clothing and behavior to suit her wealthy, overbearing maternal grandmother. Suddenly, an uncle whom Hattie has never heard of comes to live with her grandparents because his school has closed. Although she is totally shocked at the existence of this rapidly babbling, Lucille Ball-quoting, calendar-savant child in a man's body, Hattie comes to appreciate his affection for her, his exuberance for life, and his courage in facing society's rejection. When she suggests that he sneak out to join her for a night of fun at a carnival, tragedy ensues. Hattie's narration is clear and appealing. Her recollection of the smallest of behaviors shows that each family member has felt both love and pain for her uncle, but could not express it. As she comes to understand what Uncle Adam meant when he spoke of being able to lift the corners of our universe, she is hopeful that her family can learn to heal and communicate. Martin delivers wonderfully real characters and an engrossing plot through the viewpoint of a girl who tries so earnestly to connect with those around her. This is an important story, as evocative on the subject of mental illness as Ruth White's Memories of Summer--Cindy Darling Codell, Clark Middle School, Winchester, KY, School Library Journal


The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick

In a world where most people are plugged into brain-drain entertainment systems epileptic teenager Spaz is a rare human being who can see life for what it really is. When he meets an old man called Ryter, he begins to learn about earth and its past. With Ryter as his companion, Spaz sets off on an unlikely quest to save his dying sister ­ and in the process, perhaps the world.



The Center of the Universe: Yep, That Would Be Me by Anita Liberty

I CAN'T FIX THE WORLD.

I CAN ONLY SIT BACK AND CRITICIZE IT.

Welcome to the story of my life. Well, at least the story of my junior and senior years of high school. It's a profound, touching, and hilarious (if I do say so myself) tale told through cunning poems, revelatory diary entries, perspicacious (look it up) word definitions, shrewd bits of advice, and off-the-cuff (but brilliant) insights.

You'll probably relate to a lot of it. Especially the parts about hating my parents, never feeling cool enough, failing my first attempt at the SATs, having an incredibly romantic (but one-sided) relationship with the coolest guy in school, and getting hexed by my ex-best friend who became a Wiccan.

And if you can't relate? Well, step to the back of that humongous line. You'll probably be right behind my family. If you're lucky, my mom'll bring snacks.

How can I be who I am and who my family wants me to be when the person I am wouldn't be caught dead with the person my family wants me to be?