Title: Grayling's Song
Author: Karen Cushman
Published: 2016
Source: Edelweiss
Summary: When her hedgewitch mother is attacked and turned into a tree, shy Grayling must venture out of her hometown for the first time and journey to find the person who's attacking all the magical folk in the land. Along the way she's joined by a crew of misfits who are all that's left.
First Impressions: This is a quieter book, for all there's a magical threat. Grayling grows into her own power and courage convincingly. The true identity of the villain, though, was a little bit of a bait and switch and I'm still not sure I like it.
Title: Booked
Author: Kwame Alexander
Published: 2016
Source: Local Library
Summary: Nick is having a rough time. His parents are splitting up, his best friend is on a different soccer team, his dad is trying to get him to read more (blech! yuck!) and he's kinda sorta maybe in like with a girl.
First Impressions: This was pretty good! There were so many elements (soccer, parental relationships, luuuuurvvve, divorce) that it should have felt overstuffed but everything wove together very realistically.
Title: Unplugged
Author: Donna Freitas
Published: 2016
Source: Edelweiss
Summary: Living a virtual life in the App World, Skye longs for the day when she can disconnect and see her family, left behind in the real world. When the government announces that the borders between the App World and the real world have been closed permanently, she fears it might never happen - until a celebrity offers her the chance to sneak across the border. But the real world isn't quite what she expected, and neither is her family.
First Impressions: Yay no love triangle! In fact, there's very little romance, and female relationships are more important to the plot. On the other hand it really ran out of steam when she moved to the real world. This is the first in the series and I really wish it had been all one book because all the scenes in the real world felt like they were mostly treading water.
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Blog: Confessions of a Bibliovore (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Donna Freitas, Karen Cushman, Unplugged, Kwame Alexander, first impressions, Booked, Grayling's Song, Add a tag
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: General, Donna Freitas, featured, American Girl, Brad Herzog, Benson Bobrick, Doug Bowles, Jennie Maizels, Add a tag
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 12, 2012
As the London 2012 Olympics come to a close, you may be looking for a way to fill the void which was recently filled with hours-on-end of summer sports. However, most importantly, you may be looking for a way to wean your little television junkies who were so thrilled to be invited for additional TV time over the past couple of weeks. The following books (and one DVD—because nobody said weaning would be easy) may be just what you’re looking for; they offer samplings of ancient and early modern Olympics, gymnastics and some good, old-fashioned exploration of London.
Pop-Up London
Reading level: Ages 5 and up
Hardcover: 12 pages
Publisher: Candlewick; Pop edition (April 10, 2012)
Gold Medal Summer
Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (June 1, 2012)
A Passion for Victory: The Story of the Olympics in Ancient and Early…
By Benson Bobrick
Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (June 26, 2012)
G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet
By Brad Herzog; Illustrated by Doug Bowles
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press (September 1, 2011)
An American Girl: McKenna Shoots For The Stars
Cast: Cathy Rigby, Nia Vardalos, Ian Ziering
Directed By: Vince Marcello
Based on the &ld
Add a CommentBlog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Wong Herbert Yee, Summer reading, Tim Green, Simon Basher, Vanessa Giancamilli Birch, Donna Freitas, featured, Dan Green, Meilo So, Kate Coombs, Animal Books, Ammi-Joan Paquette, David Shannon, Charles Siebert, Seasonal: Holiday Books, Alton Langford, Molly Baker, Ellen Harasimowicz, Teens: Young Adults, Environment & Ecology, Marie Letourneau, Brenda Peterson, Dr. Frances Dipper, Loree Griffin, Nolan Carlson, Robin Lindsey, Ages 4-8, Ages 9-12, Sports, Baseball, Add a tag
By Nina Schuyler, The Children’s Book Review
Published: June 12, 2012
It’s summertime with its big bowl of a blue sky. Outside becomes another room, with open fields and the whir and buzz of bugs and baseball, and the voice of the water and the touch of sand.
Day One of summer, my son asks, “Now what?” So we ride our bikes to the library and load our backpacks with books about summer. Here’s a list to fill up the baggy pockets of summertime.
Summer and the Outside World
Oceans: Making Waves!
Created by Simon Basher, written by Dan Green and Dr. Frances Dipper
Oceans: Making Waves! created by Simon Basher and written by Dan Green and Dr. Frances Dipper (independent marine consultant) takes kids underwater to discover mountains taller than anything on dry land, and trenches deeper than Mount Everest is high. Green personifies the aspects of the ocean. Here’s the Tide talking: “I’m a bit of a lunatic! As the Moon passes overhead, the water in the ocean feels a tug toward it. That’s gravity. In fact the whole planet feels this force of attraction…” Filled with interesting facts that make you see the world of the ocean with new eyes (the giant kelp grows up to 20 inches (50 cm) per day!)
Ages 10-15 | Publisher: Kingfisher | March 27, 2012
The Secret World of Whales
By Charles Siebert; illustrated by Molly Baker
You’ll learn in The Secret World of Whales by Charles Siebert, illustrated by Molly Baker that the human brain and the whale brain are surprisingly similar and the sperm whale has the largest brain on earth, weighing more than 19 pounds (8.6 kilograms). Siebert explores the history, legends stories and science of whales. By the end, as the author did, you’ll want to have your own face-to-face encounter with this amazing creature.
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Chronicle Books | April 20, 2011
Citizen Scientists
By Loree Griffin Burns; photography by Ellen Harasimowicz
Summer means getting outside and Citizen Scientists by Loree Griffin Burns, photography by Ellen Harasimowicz shows you how to engage with the natural world in a scientific way. You’ll discover how to capture and tag a Monarch butterfly without damaging its wings, and you’ll learn to distinguish be
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By: The Class of 2k8,
on 11/15/2008
Blog: 2k8: Class Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: debbie reed fischer, donna freitas, sarah prineas, braless in wonderland, kristin o'donnell tubb, Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different, the magic thief, Swimming with Sharks, The possibilities of sainthead, Add a tag
Here's what Booklist says about Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's middle grade historical, WINIFRED OLIVER DOES THINGS DIFFERENT: "Tubb’s inventive heroine comes across as a female version of familiar characters, such as Gary Paulsen's Harris or Robert Newton Peck's Soup. This homespun tale,f ull of folksy humor and based on historical fact, will appeal to young fans of Deborah Wiles' and Ruth White's books."
Book Chic loves Debbie Reed Fischer's Young Adult, BRALESS IN WONDERLAND. Read the interview here.
SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS also by Debbie Reed Fischer was given the Gold Star Award for Excellence by TeensReadToo.com. Here is the review.
Guess what independent booksellers for children across the nation are recommending?
THE MAGIC THIEF by Sarah Prineas and THE POSSIBILITIES OF SAINTHOOD by Donna Freitas
Check out the catalog.
GO GANG!
By: The Class of 2k8,
on 6/20/2008
Blog: 2k8: Class Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: daphne grab, donna freitas, nina nelson, Courtney Sheinmel, alive and well in prague new york, launch, Bank Street Books, Alyssa Eisner-Henkin, Jill Santopolo, Kathryn Alfred, Keith Bunin, Add a tag
2K8ers love a good blog party, but nothing beats a debut author's first real world launch party!
I had my book party (Alive and Well in Prague New York) at the wonderful Bank Street Bookstore in my neighborhood in Manhattan. Friends and family braved fierce heat to come out and help me celebrate.
This is me and my super fabulous editor Jill Santopolo, who is an excellent author in her own right. She introduced my reading. I was pretty nervous about it but it was a sympathetic audience and they cheered me on. Afterwards I signed books.
This is my friend Keith Bunin who is a terrific playwright and screenwriter. He was one of a group of friends from high school who came out to show their support. It’s neat to have friend who actually knew me as a teen read my teen book!
Here are some other friends and my awesome-beyond-words agent Alyssa Eisner-Henkin. Writer Kathryne Alfred is in there too along with a couple of other friends. After the signing we headed out for food and drinks at a nearby restaurant.
And here’s another group that came out to support me: some Class of 2K8ers! This is me with Donna Freitas, Courtney Sheinmel and Nina Nelson.
It was so much fun to celebrate my book’s arrival in the world and I’m so grateful to everyone who came!
Thanks for a wonderful week, Daphne!
By: The Class of 2k8,
on 6/11/2008
Blog: 2k8: Class Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Nancy Viau, My So Called Family, Book Expo America, debbie reed fischer, donna freitas, Courtney Sheinmel, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in her Head, Jon Scieszka, Cheech Marin, Swimming with Sharks, Add a tag
Here are a few pictures from the first day at BEA, Friday May 30th (which also happened to be my grandmother's 93rd birthday -- Happy Birthday, Grandma!):
Nancy holding up a copy of our friend Debbie Reed Fischer's book, Swimming With Sharks, which was prominently displayed in the Flux booth.
Donna and me, posing in front of the poster for her excellent book, Possibilities of Sainthood, in the FSG booth, and later Donna signing in the autographing area (the guy in the yellow shirt in the far right is Cheech Marin).
Children's book ambassador Jon Scieszka holds up a copy of my book, My So-Called Family, right after I finished signing copies of my ARC.
Donna met me in the autographing section of the convention hall right after my signing. We went to Nancy's signing for Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head -- I can't wait to read it! Then we walked back to our hotel together. We meant to take a cab, but there were no cabs, so we carried ALL the books and galleys we had collected over the course of the day. I mean, bags and bags of books. It was about a mile to our hotel, but it seemed like 10 miles. The whole not getting a cab thing was kind of my fault because I made Donna leave through a different exit than the one she wanted to use. But she says she forgives me and that we're still friends. Anyway, it was a great workout.
By: The Class of 2k8,
on 6/9/2008
Blog: 2k8: Class Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ellen Booraem, BEA, Book Expo America, debbie reed fischer, zu vincent, donna freitas, Courtney Sheinmel, Nancy Viau, Add a tag
Who signed in the autograph area?
Forget the TV/movie stars like Brooke Shields, Cheech Marin, and Barbara Walters. The real stars were our debut authors! Signing in the autograph area were:
and
Donna Freitas, author of The Possibilities of Sainthood
That's Donna!
What Class of 2k8 books were spotted?
The Unnameables by Ellen Booraem, 
The Lucky Place by Zu Vincent, 
& Swimming With The Sharks by Debbie Reed Fischer
Thousands of terrific books were up for grabs for anyone brave enough to weave through the crowd, stand in line, or fight for floor space. What a great day!
Stay tuned tomorrow we have more from the floor of BEA!
By: The Class of 2k8,
on 2/18/2008
Blog: 2k8: Class Notes (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: debbie reed fischer, donna freitas, jennifer bradbury, donna freitas, jennifer bradbury, debbie reed fischer, Add a tag
If you've just discovered our game, see Monday's blog for details. And remember, this is for fun. The only prize you get is the satisfaction that you're a darn good detective! And the opportunity to get a sneak peek at some gorgeous covers, of course!
Ready for 3 more?
a. Terri Clark b. Teri Brown c. Courtney Sheinmel
By: Juana Martinez-Neal,
on 3/30/2007
Blog: Picture Bookies Showcase (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: superhero, www.juanamartinezneal.com, Juana Martinez-Neal, colorful, children heroes, Add a tag
www.juanamartinezneal.com
Yay, Daphne! And I love that last picture!
It looks like an utter blast!!!!
Looks like tons of fun!!
Had to let you know....when I was at Barnes and Nobles yesterday I saw your book and then proceed to push the other books to the side and turn yours out so everyone got a good look at it!! Couldn't pass up a chance to give it the credit it deserves:)
courtney, i'm so glad you were there!
pj, i wish you were there!
tasha, i love you!!
Wow! Looks like so much fun! And, I'm with you, how very very cool that a teen friend who's an adult writer was present for your teen book launch!!!