Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Shadowed Summer

Saundra Mitchell

Delacorte Press

Released February 10, 2009

Summary: "Nothing ever happened in Ondine." That's what fourteen year old Iris believes, until the summer she is haunted by the ghost of Elijah Landry, a teenaged boy who mysteriously disappeared before Iris was born. As Elijah's ghost begins appearing more frequently, becoming angrier and angrier, Iris realizes it's up to her to solve the mystery of his death.

Review: Shadowed Summer was an enjoyable read. I was intrigued from beginning to end, constantly questioning and predicting what would happen next. The continuous twists and turns kept me in suspense.

Usually I comment about characters. And while Shadowed Summer has strong characters and an authentic voice, what captured me most was the setting and flow of the plot.

Saundra Mitchell painted a vivid illustration of Ondine. I could almost feel sweat running down my brow, while Iris described the miserable heat. Each scene depicted in the novel, played out like a movie with the sounds and feel of the summer.

I was most impressed by the ending. Not only was I not prepared for what was to come, it was so neatly wrapped, there were no unanswered questions.

Shadowed Summer is a captivating debut novel by Saundra Mitchell. She has the ability to keep readers on the edge on the edge of their seat, causing them to expect the unexpected! Because of this strong skill, I can't wait to see what Saundra has in store for us next.

Score: 8-You've gotta read this one!

In My Mailbox (June 28)

I was unable to create an In My Mailbox post last week, so this is two week's worth of exciting books!

Purchased (5 were bargain books and I had a gift card!):

Jennifer's Body by Audrey Nixon

I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin

The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb & Darcy Vance

Giving Up the V by Serena Robar

L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad

The Market by J.M. Steele

Getting It by Alex Sanchez

The Nannies by Melody Mayer

Girl of the Moment by Lizabeth Zindel

Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

The Making of Dr. Truelove by Derrick Barnes

The Queen of Second Place by Laura Peyton Roberts

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

From the Library:

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin

Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti

The Fidelity Files by Jessica Brody

Girl Stays in the Picture by Melissa de la Cruz

Marley's Ghost by David Levithan

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Perfect Girl by Mary Hogan

The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan

Vacations from Hell by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Mlynowski

Whew, that was exhausting!!!

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

Decatur Book Festival or How Many Times Can I Say GREAT

I am SO excited about the upcoming Decatur Book Festival! It is going to be amazing!!!

For more information, check out the Decatur Book Festival website.

This Week's Seven Book Babes Vlog

Summer Relief

After my experience yesterday, which you will hear all about on Thursday's vlog (so stay tuned), I think it's safe to say that I won't be heading to the beach (when you've seen someone in a bikini at the bookstore, who needs the beach?)! Luckily Penguin has offered a safe alternative! Check it out...

Milestones by Samira Armin Hodges Book Tour

I am pleased to welcome Samira Armin Hodges!  Samira is a pediatric resident and the debut author of the soon to be released YA novel Milestones.  For more information about Milestones, Samira, and/or her book tour schedule be sure to visit the Milestones website. 

Milestones Excerpt 

"Camp Milestone was the anti-camp. Four cabins were lined up in an L-shape. They seemed like dilapidated little dollhouses, chimneys and all. To the right of the cabins was what could only be a dirty, swampy puddle posing as a lake. A little dock led out to this poor excuse for a natural resource, while in the middle of it a wooden raft floated pitifully. Several old, beaten-up canoes were on the grass. To the left was a small hall. And that was all. That was Camp Milestone. "

Spotlight on Samira Armin Hodges

S: What inspires you to write?

SAH: My life! It sounds so cliché but it’s true. My career and my numerous life experiences have given me the privilege to meet so many interesting people. If you check out my blog, you will see that I never run out of things to write about. I am truly inspired by my life and by the people I get to meet in it.

S: What is the most difficult aspect of balancing a career in medicine and a career as a YA author?

SAH: There is only one difficult aspect and that is…..*drumroll please*…..yup! The lack of time. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. As you can imagine, medicine is a very time consuming career and most times, when I get home, all I want to do is take a nose-dive into my pillow and sleep for twenty hours. Thankfully, when you love something as much as I love to write, you can always find time for it. It gains quite a few ranks on the priority list and I’m lucky enough to have a very understanding family who lets me write when I need to…..which is like, all the time. J  

S: Why did you decide to write for a teen audience?

SAH: I didn’t actually choose to write for a teen audience, it chose me.  Milestones was a story that materialized in my imagination during my many hours of marathon day-dreaming. Perhaps it’s because I love the “under 20’s” and have now made two careers out of it, or perhaps it’s because I am still young at heart…but Milestones could only be intended for a teen audience. There is no other way.

S: Milestones takes place at camp.  Do you have any fun camp experiences that you would like to share?

SAH: Oh goodness. Too many! Like the character in my novel, I went to summer camp when I was a teenager. Except that my summer camp was actually a…um….*cough-sciencecamp-cough*! I made two fantastic friends and the three of us had so many fun camp experiences together that it would take a whole other novel to share them all with you.

This one time, for instance, we were being lectured on something scientific and the three of us got the giggles. You know how that goes, right? The giggles? Where you just can’t stop? Even if your life depended on it? Where your eyes start to water and your abs ache and you forget what you’re even laughing about? Well, we got "those" giggles. Basically, what started it was when the lecturer said the following sentence, “You stick a banana into liquid nitrogen and then you hammer a nail into a wall”. My friends and I gave each other a confused grimace which basically meant, “What the heck does a banana have to do with hammering a nail into a wall?”

That’s all it took. One look and we all started giggling uncontrollably. At first, there were just a few little giggles under our breath but then it progressed to the big, ugly, snorting, crying type of giggles. We were even brave enough to raise our hands and ask him to clarify his statement. We said, “I’m sorry. I just don’t get it. What does sticking a banana into liquid nitrogen have to do with hammering a nail into a wall?” -- (and cue more hyena giggles from the three of us). Finally, about 30 minutes later, after we’d disrupted the lecture and been told to simmer down, we figured out that what he was actually trying to say was the following, “If you stick a banana into liquid nitrogen, you can use the banana AS A HAMMER.” 

Hm. Maybe you had to be there. ;)

Fill in the blanks:

The best way to spend a weekend afternoon is to play tennis, go swimming, walk the dogs and watch movies with my husband.  It’s the simple things, isn’t it?

If I could trade places with one celebrity for the day, I would choose Ah! So hard to choose. My guilty pleasure is browsing celebrity gossip sites and there are quite a few celebrities I find fascinating. But okay, if I had to choose just one person to switch with? I’d have to say Roger Federer. I’d love to know what it feels like to win a tennis tournament and be as good as he is.

The one bad habit I can't seem to break is drinking coffee on a daily basis. But I’ve now convinced myself that it’s not a bad habit so all’s well in my world. ;)

Milestones should be on everyone's must read list because it may surprise you. And when was the last time you were surprised?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A huge thank you goes to Samira for sharing her excerpt and participating in the Author Spotlight.   I would also like to extend my appreciation to Hungry Goat Press for allowing me to be a part of the Milestones tour.

Milestones will be available in bookstores and online August 1!

The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher

The Opposite of Invisible

Liz Gallagher

Wendy Lamb Books

Released January 8, 2008

Summary: Alice has always been invisible except to her best friend Jewell. With the upcoming Bloodbath Dance, Alice decides it is time for others to take notice of her. What she doesn't realize is that Simon, one of the most popular boys in her school has been eyeing her for quite some time. What is she to do when both Jewell and Simon express romantic feelings for her? Is it better to go unnoticed or be the opposite of invisible?

Review: With only 151 pages, this book is short, yet tells an awesome story. It is a cute novel about deeply loving someone and insecurities faced by the most unlikely people.

I love dynamic characters, and The Opposite of Invisible is full of them! Each of the characters faces internal conflicts that many teenagers can relate to. Am I good enough? Is she prettier than me? Will they make fun of me if they know I'm into something considered uncool?

Throughout the novel, most of the characters showed their insecurity, with the exception of Jewell, who is not afraid to show his true self and feelings and Mandy, the cheerleader who takes a stand. However these insecurities make characters like Simon, Alice, and Vanessa all the more beautiful and realistic.

What I enjoyed most about The Opposite of Invisible is that Liz Gallagher breaks through so many stereotypes. She features athletes and cheerleaders who are artistic and intelligent. She shares artists who are not art geeks, but talented and strong individuals. She displays a girl who is a mere painting on a poster, yet plays an important role and gives life to the story.

I highly recommend this book, as it is an impressive and relevant read.

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

20 Things in 20 Days: Clue #7

To celebrate the launch of Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, I am blogging clue #7 for the 20 Things in 20 Days Scavenger Hunt.

Answer clues and challenges to earn points toward the 20 Things grand prize, including 6 signed books from 2009 debut authors! Get a clue... June 11th-30th at 20 Things in 20 Days!

Today's clue:

In Twenty Boy Summer, Matt Perino introduces Anna to some of his favorite authors and books, including Jack Kerouac's semi-autobiographical ON THE ROAD. This book also happens to be author Sarah Ockler's favorite non-YA book (so you should totally read it. Especially if you're in the mood for a road trip. And if you're not, this book might just inspire you to take one anyway!). For today's 20 Things clue, what is Jack Kerouac's alias in ON THE ROAD?

Email Sarah with your answer! Do not post in the comments! 1 point

Wait... today's a bonus clue day!

For a chance to earn more points, check out today's bonus clue at So Many Books, So Little Time.

Spotlight on Sarah Ockler

Today I am pleased to have Sarah Ockler in the spotlight! Sarah is the author of this month's YA release, Twenty Boy Summer.

S: In Twenty Boy Summer, Anna secretly dates her best friend Frankie's brother. Have you ever dated a friend's sibling or dated someone in secret?

SO: I've never dated a friend's sibling, although my childhood BFF is freaking out a little bit after reading Twenty Boy Summer and jumping to that conclusion! ;-) I did however date my current husband in secret for a while! Secrets are kind of fun. ;-)

S: Loss of a loved one seems to be a trend in recent YA literature. What advice would you give to your readers if they are dealing with a personal loss?

SO: I don't feel like I can well advise anyone dealing with a loss as deep and tragic as the death of a loved one or close friend, because everyone's grief is so different and personal. But I do think it's important to know that you're not alone and that no matter what our fast food, get-over-it culture might dictate, it's okay to talk about and remember the person you've lost for... well, for always. There are no time limits on grief and the "appropriate" time for moving on simply doesn't exist.

S: What part of the writing process do you get most excited about?

SO: I really love coming up with new ideas, because it's always fun and exciting to work on a fresh and limitless blank page. But I think the part I get most excited about is the revision process, because it's in revising that the truest core of the story comes through, stripping

away the excess to reveal the jewel of a book beneath. At least, that's the *goal* of revision, anyway. ;-) But whether I'm revising for an early agent draft or alongside an editorial letter, I find that revision is when I finally figure out what the book is *really* about, and it's a great moment.

Fill in the blanks:

The most embarrassing fad I participated in as a teenager was definitely a tie between turning my hair orange with Sun-In and safety pinning my pants from the ankle to mid-thigh. Back then, the more pins the better. I cringe to remember the feeling of sitting down and hearing the dull snap of a pin popping open, stabbing my in the leg!

The fairy tale character I am most like is the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. "I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!" I also have a bit of the Mad Hatter in me. And today just happens to be my Unbirthday!

If you were stranded on a desert island, you'd want to be sure to have a copy of Twenty Boy Summer with you because then I could set up a stage among the palm trees and act out the book as a play, taking turns playing each individual role with different voices and palm leaves and sticks for costumes and props. That ought to stave off the going-crazy-from-isolation thing for at least a few weeks, right?

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions, Sarah!

To find more information about Sarah, check out her website.

To read my review of Twenty Boy Summer, check out my thoughts here.

Spotlight on Garret Freymann-Weyr

I am pleased today to feature Garret Freymann-Weyr. Garret is the author of the Printz Award winning novel My Heartbeat and the recently released After the Moment. For more information about Garret and her novels, please visit her website.

S: After the Moment is an honest and realistic novel about first love. In a sea of YA novels with romantic themes, why did you feel it was important to share your story?

GFW: There are, in my view, two elements missing from most fiction about young people in love. The first one is the role memory plays in any love story in which the lovers part (and, frankly, any romatic relationship that begins in high school and lasts much beyond that verges on tragedy). The second is the way in which love is transforming. The experience of love has the power to shape us, just as rage, hate, desire, envy, joy and grief do. But we almost only ever see love stories in which the teenagers find a kind of bliss or a terrible fate. I wanted to explore how love, even at a young age, can determine the people we become. It is complicated and nuanced. It’s my hope that the reader leaves Maia and Leigh’s story aware of love’s many demands as well as its rewards.

S: After the Moment is not just a love story. It incorporates many diverse themes. Could you speak a bit about the incorporation of the Iraq War?

GFW: Leigh came to me as boy who did not go to war. After 9/11, a lot of my female friends with teenage sons told me how they had wept that day, fearing that the draft was coming, as the United States would surely be at war soon. Well, the war came, but not the draft. I wondered what it would be like to be a boy becoming a man in a country at war, but not fighting in that war. That’s how I first met Leigh, as someone aware of this war he was priveleged enough not to fight. And that is why the Iraq War found its way into After the Moment. Since the love story explores a certain kind of violence, it made sense to me that the country’s violence should be in the background.

S: The relationship between Leigh and his stepsister Millie is a moving story that is seen in the background of the novel. How would you say their relationship causes Leigh to mature throughout the novel?

GFW: I don’t think I would say that Leigh’s relationship with Millie causes him to mature. I think Millie matures during the year, because of her father’s death and her awareness of what Maia goes through. Leigh’s relationship with Millie is one in which he sees his failings, but is able in some ways to succeed. Family relationships are often far more stressful than romantic ones. Both Millie and Leigh have complicated feelings about their parents, but for eachother love and acceptance is enough.

S: You are quite an accomplished writer. Aside from being the author of My Heartbeat, a Printz Honor Book, what has been your biggest writing accomplishment?

GFW: I don’t think one can say that winning an award is an accomplishment. When a book does well, it often has nothing to do with the writer or the writing. On the rare day that I feel accomplished, it’s because I’ve finally found a way to get the idea in my head onto the page. This is much harder for me than I care to dwell on. Julian Barnes, the noted British author, has said that he works everything out in his head so that when he sits down to write, he is merely typing. Lucky him.

Fill in the blanks:

My favorite place to write is anyplace quiet with access to a clear surface, be it kitchen table, desk, or counter.

If I could cast one actor to play Leigh in the movie version of After the Moment, I would request Jesse Eisenberg, who was so great in Adventureland.

One thing people would be surprised to know about me is I once wanted to be a film director and I have an MFA in film from NYU. But like a lot of writers, it’s hard for me to be around lots of people, so I can’t imagine what I was thinking.

If I could fly in a hot air balloon, I would most want to see The deserts in Mongolia or maybe Greenland. I often, when travelling, have motion sickness, so I’m not entirely sure a hot air balloon is a good idea for me.

If I could eat any dessert everyday for the rest of my life (without gaining a pound), I would choose Dark chocolate mousse. I would never tire of that!

Everyone should read After the Moment because I can’t finish this sentence, because I’m terrible at promoting my own work. As a slow, but determined reader, I am painfully aware of how many books there are in the world, and how little the world needs another one. The best I could say is that everyone should read because it is the surest passport to a more interesting life.

Thank you so much for participating, Garret!

You can check out my review of After the Moment here. It is one book you certainly do not want to miss!

In My Mailbox (June 14)

Because I stayed up too late at the Chatzy Birthday Celebration for Sarah and Zoe, I will not be posting pictures of this week's books. However, the titles will link to more information about each book.

Purchased:
Eat This, Not That! by David Zinczenko
Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide by David Zinczenko

Via Mail (for Review):
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

From the Library:
Princess of Gossip by Sabrina Bryan
Vamped by Lucienne Diver
Mating Rituals of the North America Wasp by Lauren Lipton
Slept Away by Julie Kraut
Swoon by Nina Malkin
One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin

In My Mailbox is hosted weekly by Kristi, and the idea was created by Alea.

Seven Book Babes Vlog...Feeling Energetic!

Warning:  If this video looks choppy or the images are moving faster than the sound, I seem to have had some technical issues.  I have no idea what happened!

And now I want to know, what is your favorite birthday memory?

Questions????

I originally created a vlog that was to be posted today.  I ran into some technical glitches which slowed down the uploading process (I started uploading at 1:00 this afternoon, and at 7:00 this evening it was still uploading!), but it may be for the better that I do not post this vlog since so many things in the YA blogging community are being scrutinized lately.  Don't worry, I will have a different vlog for you on Thursday--and it is going to be very laid back.

Because I am preparing to schedule reviews and contests for the summer, and I want your input (and these are actually three questions I asked in my original vlog).

1.  Which would you prefer to see more often on my blog, highly publicized novels or lesser known novels?  And this does not refer to newly published vs. older novels because all of the books I have pulled for review were published within the last three years (most within the past year).

2.  If you have read several reviews that you do not agree with, does it influence your decision of whether or not to continue visiting the review site?

3.  Do you prefer infrequent giveaways with larger prizes or weekly/monthly contests with one or two books as prizes?

Your feedback will be of great assistance, and I look forward to reading your comments!

In My Mailbox (June 6)

In My Mailbox is hosted by lovely Kristi and comes from the awesome Alea!

In My Mailbox:

It's Not You, It's Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffman (for Review)

Purchased:
Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

Boy Toy by Barry Lyga

30 Guys in 30 Days by Micol Ostow

From the Library:

ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

Traveling to Teens Tour: Twenty Boy Summer Review

Welcome to the Sarah Ockler Twenty Boy Summer Tour courtesy of Traveling to Teens!  Please be sure to check out the other stops on this tour.                                                                                                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                                                                                                                                                  

 

Sarah Ockler wrote and illustrated her first book at age six—an adaptation of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. Still recovering from her own adolescence, she now writes books for young adults. Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of New York at Buffalo and also studied creative writing through Denver’s Lighthouse Writers Workshop.

While nomadic at heart, Sarah and her husband Alex currently live in Upstate New York with an ever-expanding collection of sea glass (hers) and dinosaurs (his).

TWENTY BOY SUMMER is her first novel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Summary:  "Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.""Okay."

"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in ZanzibarBay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

Review:  Twenty Boy Summer is THE must have book for Summer 2009!

Sarah Ockler is a literary artist.  She writes as though the reader is experiencing the events of the story along with each character.  Her writing is not only beautiful and original, it is genuine.

The one thing that really struck me with Twenty Boy Summer is the realism of the events and characters.  I found it so easy to relate to Anna, Frankie, and even Aunt Jayne.  Having suffered the loss of a dear friend immediately after my high school graduation, I felt that the grieving process of each of the characters affected by Matt's death was true to life. 

I do not know that I have ever been as emotionally involved with a novel as I was during the reading of Twenty Boy Summer.  This book made me laugh during some of the girls' adventures, yet cry during times in which they reminisced about memories with Matt.  Most importantly, this book reminded me of the importance of appreciating the time and memories you share with your family and friends.

Sarah Ockler has written a gorgeous, powerful, and fun debut novel.  I can't wait to see what she has for us in the future!

My Score:  10-Stop what you're doing...No, I'm not kidding.  Drop everything and read this book!          

Sarah Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer Twitter Party

Just reminder:

Tomorrow, June 5, from 7-11 P.M. (EST), Sarah Ockler will be hosting a Twitter party to celebrate the release of Twenty Boy Summer.

Of course, in order to participate, you'll need a Twitter account and must be following @sarahockler to be eligible for prizes.

For more information, check out Sarah's post.

Hope to see everyone tomorrow night on Twitter!

Color Online Summer Book Drive

Color Online is hosting a summer book drive to help build the community library at Alternatives for Girls.

If you are able, please donate a new or gently used book to help make a difference is the lives of others.

More information about the book drive can be found at Color Online, including a wishlist and the address to where books should be sent.  If you are unable to access the wishlist, please include the following email address: cora_litgroup@yahoo.com.

The book drive is open now and will continue running through July 1.

Giving Up the V Release Contest

Giving It Away For Free
(the only time Momma would approve)

Serena Robar is giving it away for free the entire month of June. That’s right. A book a day, every day in honor of her latest book release Giving Up the V. All you have to do to is sign up for her newsletter and you are entered to win. Enter once and you are in the running to win a book every day the entire month of June.

So what are you waiting for?  The contest begins TODAY!

~Giving Up the V can be found at a bookstore of your choice on June 9!  I know I'll be picking up a copy soon!

Bad Girls Don't Die Winner

Thanks to Randomizer, I am happy to announce that the winner of a brand new hardcover copy of Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender is:

WhatBriReads!!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered.  I will be announcing another contest this week, so stay tuned!

After the Moment by Garret Freymann-Weyr

After the Moment 

Garret Freymann-Weyr

Houghton Mifflin

Released May 18, 2009

Summary:  Leigh has it all.  Good lucks, intelligence, athleticism, and a drop dead gorgeous girlfriend.  That changes during his senior year, when he decides to live with his father and stepsister.  That's when Leigh is introduced to Maia.  

While Maia is pretty, she's got major issues, and Leigh is what she needs to turn her life around.  Unfortunately Leigh lets her down and is nowhere to be found during Maia's most trying time.  

Review:  After the Moment is a refreshing read.  It is a lovely novel about first love and the importance of trust.

Garret Freymann-Weyr's writing is stunning!  She chose the perfect words which helped the story flow, while showing, not telling, the events of the story.  Her magnificent writing, through prose and dialogue, conveyed the emotions felt by each of the characters.

The two main characters, Leigh and Maia, are two of the most interesting characters I have read this year.  Though both are battling internal and external conflicts, each is charming, classy and delicate in his/her own way.

Leigh is sort of a prince charming.  His patience and concern for Maia is touching.  He brings balance and strength to her life; yet Maia is no damsel in distress.  Through her hardships, she remains courageous, which is one of the things that Leigh and the readers will most admire about her.  It is also due to her complexities that Leigh falls in love with her.  

My only complaint about After the Moment is that it too a little longer than I would have liked to capture my attention.  While this book gives the right amount of background information, making it easy to follow, the pacing at the beginning was a little slow for me.  The excellent character development and beautiful writing motivated me to continue reading.  And it is these components which kept me content and absorbed throughout the remainder of the book.

After the Moment is a rejuvenating read.  I found the innocence of Leigh and Maia's relationship to be inspiring and satisfying.  I applaud Ms. Freymann-Weyr for creating an original and sophisticated read which will be enjoyed by many.

My Score:  8-You've gotta read this one!