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?