L.A. Candy!!!

I am super excited and wanted to share a bit of my happiness here.  I actually wasn't even going to talk about it until after the book signing, but I couldn't hold it in any longer...

Lauren Conrad is coming to Georgia!!!  She will be signing copies of her book at the same Barnes and Noble where I saw Laurie Halse Anderson and Ann Brashares last month!  You cannot even begin to understand how thrilled I am. 

The signing takes place June 22 (a week after L.A. Candy is released), so I've already pre-ordered my copy and am crossing my fingers that I'll get to read it before meeting Lauren!

Now even though some of you are going to roll your eyes, I am not too embarrassed to admit that I loved Laguna Beach and am a fan of The Hills.  When I heard that Lauren was writing a book, I was pumped.  And you know what?  I have a feeling it's going to surprise some naysayers and turn out to be pretty entertaining and well written.

Here's hoping I'm right!

In My Mailbox (May 24)

First let me apologize for my absence this week.  School ended for the students on Wednesday; however, I have been busy moving classrooms and preparing for my professional development classes, so not much activity here.  But this week, I will have a couple of reviews up, as well as the winner of my Bad Girls Don't Die contest!

Now for IMM!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi.  The idea comes from the incredibly creative Alea.

Purchased:

The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Imagine there was never a Laguna Beach, a Newport Harbor, the shimmering Hills. Imagine that your hometown—your school—is the first place XTV descends to set up cameras.

Now imagine they've trained them on you.

When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast.

As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real. (Synopsis from Barnes & Noble)

From the library:

Jane in Bloom by Deborah Lytton

Jane's big sister, Lizzie, has always been the center of attention. No one ever pays attention to boring, plain Jane. But when Jane's twelfth birthday marks the beginning of Lizzie's final descent into a fatal eating disorder, Jane discovers that the only thing harder than living in her big sister's shadow is living without her.

In the wake of tragedy, Jane learns to look through her camera lens and frame life differently, embracing her broken family and understanding that every girl has her season to blossom. Spare and vulnerable prose marks this beautiful debut that is at once heartbreaking and uplifting. (Synopsis from Barnes & Noble)

For Review:

The Blonde of the Joke by Bennett Madison (the cover has been changed)

I have searched for a synopsis of this book, but have had no luck.  However, I have found some great author blurbs about this one from Sarah Mlynowski, Maureen Johnson, and other well known YA authors!  I have been so anxious to read this book since it was offered through HarperTeen's First Look program last year.

Six Steps to a Girl by Sophie McKenzie (from Simon & Schuster UK)

*You can't begin to imagine how excited I am to learn more about authors and book titles outside of the US!

Luke spots Eve at his dad's funeral. She's hot - and she's the perfect distraction from his messed up family life. There's only one problem - she's got a boyfriend. Still, Luke's not going to give up that easily... When he meets Ryan at a party and hears about 'the Six Steps method' to guarantee success with any girl, Luke determines to put it to the test. Step by step, he begins to get closer to Eve - but one step forward seems to mean two steps back, and when he's hospitalised by the jealous boyfriend, he wonders if any girl - even one as gorgeous as Eve - is really worth it... (Synopsis from Simon & Schuster UK)

So what was in your mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox (May 17)

In My Mailbox was created by Alea and is hosted by Kristi.

Books Purchased (We had a half price book fair at school, so lots of great bargains!):

                     

Peace Love and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle (Purchased at Borders)

Sovay by Celia Rees (Purchased at Book Fair along with the remainder of the purchased books)

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

Define Normal by Julie Ann Peters

Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Anne Sandell

Telling Christina Goodbye by Lurlene McDaniel

Books Received Via Library or For Review:

                      

Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

TMI by Sarah Quigley

Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (for review)

How to Buy A Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson (for review)

After the Moment by Garrett Freymann-Weyr (review to be posted this week)

Very excited about my week in books and the start of summer so I can devour them all!!!

The Diamonds by Ted Michael

The Diamonds

Ted Michael

Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Published April 14, 2009

Summary:  The Diamonds rule the school.  They are the four most popular girls at the Bennington School.  All the girls want to be included in their group, and all the boys want to date the four members.  

When Marni's boyfriend dumps her in front of the entire student body, the Diamonds take justice in their own hands, by heading up the Mock Trial Team and creating their own court.  All is well for the Diamonds until Marni breaks one of the group's rules and begins dating (Diamond ring leader) Clarissa's ex-boyfriend.  That's when things turn ugly.

Will the Diamonds hand Marni one of their harsh sentences or will she use what she knows about the group to her advantage, proving that one person can over turn the powerful group?

Review:  We all know about the queen bees of high school; however Ted Michael has created a unique story that is about more than just social hierarchies.  

The best aspect of this book is the incorporation of law and the US Constitution in the dramatic events that unfold in The Diamonds.  Broken into two parts, this book outlines the first 10 amendments (Bill of Rights) and the ten Diamond rules.  Each is presented with multiple exhibits which consist of drawings, newspaper articles, and other information pertinent to the story.

In addition to the originality of the plot, The Diamonds introduces us to solid characters.  In this novel, each character truly is an individual and plays a special role.  Typically the mean girls are seen as shallow, but pretty.  While there are a couple of dense girls in The Diamonds, they add humor to the book.  Still, while reading the book, I noticed intelligence, strength, and a self discovery in Marni.  

The combination of romance, politics, true friendship, and drama make The Diamonds one of the most creative novels of its time.   I thought it was phenomenal, and I look forward to what Ted Michael has to offer us in the future!

My Score:  9-You've gotta read this one!

Spotlight on Terra Elan McVoy

Terra Elan McVoy is the author of recent YA release Pure. In addition to being an author, Terra is also the manager of Little Shop of Stories, an ultra-hip children's bookstore in Decatur, GA!

Most of you know that Kelsey, Vania, and I were able to meet Terra last month at her book release party. The party was fabulous, and Terra was super sweet.

I am so excited that three of us are able to collaboratively present to you Terra Elan McVoy!

S: Purity rings seem to be making a comeback thanks to publicity by the Jonas Brothers and Jordan Sparks. Why do you think Pure is relevant to today's teenagers?

I think Pure is relevant to today’s teenagers because it’s all about being a teenager. This is a book about purity rings, sure (which, as you point out, are widely popular), but it’s also about friendship, faith, first love, and most especially that deliciously horrible time in life when, for the first time, you’re having to make choices that separate you from your friends, your parents, your teachers and mentors: when you begin defining yourself as an individual.

S: What kind of research did you do to ensure that the story would relate to the situations that teens currently face?

I work with teenagers at the bookstore I manage, Little Shop of Stories, and talking to those girls in book group every month, listening to their conversations—all this helped me with the book. I also did research on purity rings of course: reading several articles and seeing what different ring sites were like. I also had some really great advisers who were in high school at the time and who helped me navigate things like cell phone rules and how fast information spreads during the course of a school day. They were essential!

K: Personally, what are your thoughts on purity rings and the girls who wear them?

I think anything that opens up thoughtful dialogue about sexuality is ultimately a good thing. As for those who wear them, I really can’t generalize. Each of the girls in Pure have their own individual reasons for wearing their rings, which I’m sure is the case for those who wear them for real, too.

K: If you were in Tabitha's position how would you have reacted to Cara's confession?

Well, Tabitha and I are very similar in that we are both really concerned about our friends. I have had girlfriends tell me things I didn’t necessarily agree with or do things I didn’t want them to do in the past, but when it comes down to brass tacks my friend is my friend, and I have to stick by her through whatever it is she’s going through.

V: What have you learned in writing this book?

Well, I learned that I actually could write a novel—something I’d never done before and wasn’t sure I could do.

V: What has been the biggest challenge when it comes to writing "Pure"?

The biggest challenge in general was just writing it—getting the discipline down and just doing the actual work.

V: You bring a lot of Atlanta and its surroundings into your book. What are some of your favorite spots?

My favorite spots that appear in the book are Java Monkey, Fritti (their pizza really is amazing) and Midtown Art Cinema. My favorite places that aren’t in the book are Feast, Heliotrope, and Little Shop of Stories!

Terra, you are a doll! Thank you so much for participating!

I now leave you with a couple of pictures from Terra's release party! As you can see, Terra has a great sense of style and the most adorable haircut! She was absolutely glowing and the large crowd that gathered reflected the radiant personality that Terra possesses.

Bad Girls Don't Die Giveaway!

Yay!  I'm hosting another contest (I love giving stuff away)!

This time the prize is a brand new hardcover copy of Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender!  Some of you may remember that I purchased a copy of this book a few weeks ago, and then received a copy in the mail, so I decided to give a copy to a reader of my blog.

To be entered in the contest, simply comment telling me the title of the scariest book you've read, or if you haven't read a scary book, tell me the scariest movie you've ever seen (or, of course, you can tell both).   

+1 if you blog about this contest (sidebar is okay)

+1 if you already are or become a follower

You may provide all 3 entries in the same comment or comment separately.

This contest is only open to readers in the US and Canada and will end at 11:59 EST on Thursday, May 28.  Good luck to all!

I've Been So Busy, I Almost Forgot...

Over the last couple of weeks, I've received a few awards, but have been so busy, I almost forgot to post them!  If I did not mention your award, it was not intentional, and please forgive my forgetfulness!

From Silvia, I received the Let's Be Friends Award.  This is my first of this award, and I am excited to have received it from such an amazing new blogger.

  

 I received the One Lovely Blog Award from MssJos of Reviews of Young Adult Literature (Royal Reads) and vvb32 of vvb32 Reads!  Thank you both so much!

Finally, I received the Your Blog Rocks Award from Donna of Bites.  Of all the awards I've received, this one has the coolest looking button!  I love it!  So thank you Donna!

And I am not going to pass out awards to any specific individuals this time because you all truly are amazing.  If you've not yet received these awards, consider yourself chosen! 

Spotlight on Saundra Mitchell

Saundra Mitchell is a screenwriter and the author of Shadowed Summer, which has received some wonderful reviews by bloggers like The Story Siren and review publications like School Library Journal.  And because Saundra is such a fantastic person (and I genuinely mean that), I am so excited share with everyone just how wonderful she truly is!

What was your reaction the first time you saw Shadowed Summer on a bookstore shelf?

I still haven't seen it in the wild! This is the curse of living in a small town. But let me tell you- the first time I saw it on a vlog with other people's books, it was such a rush. It felt real! Until then, I had seen my book a lot, but like, one copy at a time, in my house. It still could have been imaginary, or a brilliant ruse or summat. Once I saw it in someone else's house, with other books that verifiably existed outside my brain, oh, I was staggered. And someone sent a picture of it in a bookshop in the Philippines. My book has been out of the continental US; I never have. It's incredible!

Do you have any mysterious Ouija board stories that you would like to share? 

The only Ouija board story I have is not at all mysterious. I played with them a lot, but nothing spooky happened. However, I had a friend in junior high school who invited me to go to camp with her. More specifically, she invited me to go to BIBLE Camp with her. And I'm not sure where the Ouija board came from, though I knew for CERTAIN we weren't supposed to have it. Which is why, during its maiden voyage, it ended up in the arms of a silver maple tree. 

Nearly caught by one of the camp counselors, we flung the Ouija board out the window- it soared like a demonic frisbee and lodged itself in the nearest tree. For the entire rest of camp, that thing was like the tell-tale heart. No matter where we were, no matter what we were doing, I felt that Ouija board just in the periphery of my vision- I was certain someone would discover it and we'd all go to camp jail or hell. Or both.

What type of research was involved in keeping Shadowed Summer true to actual ghost hunting?

The characters in Shadowed Summer do about exactly everything they shouldn't do when it comes to ghost hunting. I've participated in paranormal groups before; I cut my teeth in the 130s at the local library. But I thought it was more interesting if Iris and her friends bumbled around and did everything wrong. I mean, I was the dummy who nearly got caught with a Ouija board at Bible Camp. No way could Iris be smarter than I was at that age!

What is the most difficult aspect of alternating between screenwriting and writing a novel?  In what ways are the two types of writing similar?

The hardest part is leaving room for the actors to work. When I write a screenplay, my meaning is supposed to be clear through the dialogue, leaving room for the actors to decide how to interpret the moment. They need room to create characters, their mannerisms, their motivation, the way they speak. So when I write a screenplay, I always have to remember- no matter how badly I want a character to say a line in a certain way, that's it's not my decision. But conversely, I have to work hard to put that information in my books, because there will be no actor stepping into Iris' role, to interpret her. All of Iris- all of the characters- exist on the page- either I make it work, or it doesn't happen at all!

But both forms require good beats. Each scene needs to have a beginning, a climax, a resolution- and every scene needs to work in service to the whole. The nice thing about coming into novels from screenwriting is that I'm hyperaware of my beats. Not only does it help me figure out how a scene should go without too much trauma, I can look back over what I've written and see where beats are missing from the whole pretty easily. (Of course, sadly, this often means I have to cut out stuff I really love, because the beats tell me that I was playing and not working in those scenes. Meh!)

What can we expect in the future from Saundra Mitchell?

I have a paranormal historical on submission right now, and the 2009 season of Fresh Films is under way! I hope to write new novels and new movies every year until I'm too old to toddle to the keyboard- and if I'm very, very lucky, I'll have the privilege of sharing them with you.

And now for the fill-in-the blanks segment...

My least favorite foods consist of peanut butter, bananas and meatloaf. Talk about shuddering convulsions of horror, yikes. That would be my dinner every night in hell.

Three people (dead or alive) who I most admire are (and no, you can't choose Shalonda) Besides the incomprarable Shalonda, I'd have to say David Simon, for brilliantly telling the truth about a blighted city without ever once giving up on it, Coretta Scott King, for standing up for everyone's civil rights every single day of her life, and my BFF Wendi. She's the most brilliant diplomat I've ever known, and kinds of creative brilliance I can't adequately describe. I want to be like her when I grow up.

My high school teachers would have used the following words to describe me: distracted, frustrating, quiet.

The one song I could never grow tired of is Greensleeves, followed closely by O Holy Night.

In 10 words or less, I would describe Shadowed Summer as the long last summer, when everything changes.

Thank you Saundra for taking time to participate!  

You can find out more about Saundra Mitchell at her website.  More information about Shadowed Summer can be found at the book's website.

Jennifer Brown Answers Your Questions & Hate List Winner!

Before I announce the winner of an ARC of Hate List, Jennifer so kindly answered each of the questions you left for her. 

From Shooting Stars Mag:  What part of Hate List do you think of first? A scene, idea, character?

JB:  When I think of Hate List, the first thing I think about is Valerie, my main character. We've been through so much together. I wonder how she's doing. Maybe she's hanging out with Harold Crick somewhere, eating an apple and baking cookies... ("Stranger than Fiction" fans will get that one...)

From Steph Su:  Hate List deals with such a difficult and serious subject, and yet from your interview answers it is clear that you enjoy (and are good at) using humor. How did you juxtapose the two in writing Hate List? (Or better yet, could you give us an excerpt from your novel??)

JB:  I've been writing humor for years and it's second nature to me... yet Hate List has zero humor in it. In fact, Hate List was my respite from humor-writing, in a way. So I got all my humor out in my column (which is linked to my website, by the way), and saved the juicy, tough stuff for Hate List.

From Summer:  Would you rather have Hate List be turned into a movie, a TV movie or a TV series?

JB:  Man, that's a good question! Here I've been so excited that it's being turned into a BOOK, I haven't even had time to think about it being turned into anything else. I love movies. Will I get to meet Matthew McConaughey if it's turned into a movie...? Let's go with movie.

From Erika Lynn:  Who is the person who is always the first to read something new you write?

JB:  There are two: my husband and my 16-year old daughter, but they're each given the directive: "You may NOT be nice to me. You may only tell me negative things about this. If you say anything to me other than, 'You are the crap writer I always knew you to be and I plan to burn your books publicly,' I'll be mad at you." I'm kind of contrary that way.

From What a Girl Reads:  Hate List seems like a great book, where did you get the inspiration to write the book, and what was the hardest part to write?

JB:  I was watching TV news footage of a school shooting and I found myself wondering what would happen if a student stepped in to stop it, mid-shooting. I was listening to a lot of Nickelback at the time and the song "If Everyone Cared" got stuck in my head overnight, and when I woke up in the morning, I had this whole plot just -- thunk! -- right in my lap. Sounds weird, I know, but it's really how it happened.

From Jenna:  What are some of your favorite movies and television shows?

JB:  I think "The Office" is the funniest show that's ever been on TV (with only "The Simpsons" being a very close rival). I also love "30 Rock" and am grooving on "Parks and Recreation" at the moment. I'm a slave to reality TV -- "The Amazing Race," "Celebrity Apprentice," "Project Runway," and, of course..."American Idol" (yeah, that was me racing to the "hometown visit" concert for David Cook last year). And I will admit to something many people find disturbing: I have been watching the soap opera, "All My Children," every day since I was 11 years old. 

My favorite movies of all time are "Forrest Gump," "Dumb and Dumber," "My Best Friend's Wedding," and "Stranger than Fiction." 

  And now thanks to the help of Randomizer, the winner of an ARC of Jennifer's upcoming YA novel Hate List is:

ERIKA LYNN!!!!

Congratulations Erika Lynn!  Please email me your address and I will happily send you Hate List!

Thank you to all who entered, and stay tuned, a new contest will be announced Tuesday!

In My Mailbox (May 10)

In My Mailbox comes from the creative mind of Alea and is hosted by Kristi!

Purchased:

Fat Hoochie Prom Queen by Nico Medina 

This was on my Christmas Countdown wish list in December.  I couldn't believe it when I saw this book on the shelf in my local Borders, so I had to have it!

Via Library:

             

Hottie by Jonathan Bernstein

I interviewed Jonathan in March and he was a really fun guy!  I was happy to see that Hottie was available at my library and jumped at the chance to read it.

A Map of the Know World by Lisa Ann Sandell

I have been waiting to read this since reading the awesome reviews.  So glad it finally arrived at my library.

Via Mail (for review):

    

Exclusively Chloe by J.A. Yang

I am excited to read this because I love Hollywood stories.  I am expecting this to be a really fun read.

After by Amy Efaw

I have been dying to read this book since visiting the book's website.  So I was super excited to receive this week!

And to all the bloggers and authors who are mothers, I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

Interviewed By An Author!

Samira Armin Hodges is the author of the upcoming YA novel Milestones.  While the book has yet to be released, the buzz is already beginning.  Amanda of That Teen Can Blog was the first to review Milestones.  Let me tell you, I really enjoy Amanda's reviews because she is tough.  She always writes something thoughtful and honest!  Amanda gave Milestones an awesomely high 95!  But you don't have to take my word, check out Amanda's review here.

Even though Samira is this really cool author and doctor (congrats Samira), she offered to interview me, and you can't even begin to imagine how thrilled I was.  I seriously felt like a middle school student receiving an invitation to the party of the year (don't laugh, y'all know that middle school parties were the best)!

So before I ramble on and on because I've consumed way too much sugar (ate ice cream sundaes three times today), I present to you my interview (now you know I wasn't posting it here, you gotta check it out on Samira's blog)!

Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

Sleepaway Girls
Jen Calonita
Little, Brown
Released May 1, 2009

Summary: After her best friend falls in love for the first time, Samantha ("Sam") is off to her first summer at Whispering Pines camp. But being a counselor-in-training is not exactly as Sam expects it to be. In addition to working with the young campers, Sam captures the eyes of two cute guys, and becomes "mean girl" Ashley's newest victim. But Sam will make it through the summer with the help of the Sleepway Girls, her new friends 'til the end!

Review: Mix one part romance, two parts friendship, and a whole lot of drama and you have the recipe that is Sleepaway Girls! This book is a perfect start to the summer!

Sleepaway Girls is one of the most fun books I've read in a long time. I was entertained throughout the entire novel and found myself laughing out loud!

From Sam's encounters with Hunter and Cole to the first prank, this novel never skipped a beat. I was so captivated by this book's brilliance that I was cheering for Sam and the other Sleepaway Girls during their war against Ashley. In addition, I anxiously remained on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what would happen at the close of the summer.

To me the best thing about Sleepaway Girls was the vivid characterization. Jen Calonita is a genius when it comes to creating the perfect mix of drama queens, dreamy guys, down to earth girls, and--don't let me forget--the adorable peeps. The characters were so cleverly written, that I could feel Sam's insecurities when Ashley appeared, and I could sense her timidness around the boys. And though you would anticipate experiencing these things with the main character, I felt that each of the minor characters were so sharply painted, that I could feel their emotions and read their thoughts as well.

If you are looking for an enjoyable read with memorable characters to keep you absorbed during the summer, look no further! Sleepaway Girls is one book you don't want to miss!

My Score: 9-You've gotta read this one!

Sarah Dessen Birthday Celebration!

If you've read the "About Me" info on my sidebar or taken a look at the old pics of my bookshelves, you know that I am a HUGE Sarah Dessen fan.  So when Adele of Persnickety Snark approached me and invited me to be a part of Sarah's month-long birthday celebration, I could not say no!

Little did I know that I would be kicking the celebration off with a post about how I came to love Sarah and her beautiful writing!

Adele has worked extremely hard to make this celebration memorable for Sarah, so be sure to stop in all month long and read guest posts by YA authors and bloggers.  And trust me--there are going to be some well known and loved authors taking part in this awesome event.  You don't want to miss it!

And it's not too late for you to get in on the action!  If you want to wish Sarah a happy birthday, see Adele's instructions on how to do so.

So, thank you Adele for inviting me to be a part of this amazing opportunity.  Your hard work is truly admirable!

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Traveling to Teens is working on the upcoming tours for August releases.

Which books and authors do you want to find out more about?

Go here to vote!

In My Mailbox (May 3)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi and was inspired by Alea.

Books bought:

Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

Twisted Sisters by Stephanie Hale

    

Via Mail:

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

*Some of you may remember that I actually purchased a copy of this book last week, so I will be giving away a copy of this book soon!

That's all for this week!    

Don't forget the Hate List contest ends Friday.  Also, check back this week for new reviews!

Until next time...happy reading!

We Have a Winner!

Whew!  I have finally randomly selected a winner of Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell, a $25 gift card, and a choice of one other book.  Thanks to the help of Randomizer.org, the contest winner is...

Katie of Katie's Book Blog!!!

Katie has been contacted via email.

If you did not win, remember I have the Hate List contest running through May 8!  Stay tuned for more contests TBA!