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I'm SO thrilled to announce that TAKE THE REINS has been reviewed by Teens Read Too! The site gave TTR 5 stars and a gold award for the June 2010 Hall of Fame. Among other titles for the award are Kieran Scott's SHE'S SO DEAD TO US. Yaay!

Jennifer Rummell also reviewed CHASING BLUE. I'm so excited that it also got 5 stars.

Thank you so much to Teens Read Too and Jennifer for reading and reviewing two Canterwood books. :)

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Tomorrow, Feb. 21, 2010, I hope you’ll visit a web site called Teens Read Too, where I’m the guest blogger of the day. In addition to my typically profound post, you have the chance to peer even deeper into my brain as I try to answer a daunting list of questions posed by the site’s moderator.  It’s been fun!  And I’m going pursue one or more of the questions — such as ‘why are teens so compelled by the paranormal?’ — in future blogs.

If you happen to be reading this after Feb 21, 2010, you can still click on Teens Read Too and find my guest blog by scrolling down to Feb. 21.

We’ll talk later.

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You know how sticky it can sometimes get when you’re juggling both a mother and a stepmother? Imagine if your mother was a ghost and your stepmother was a teacher at your school! Sherry Baldwin’s mother floats in on a wave of coffee to let Sherry know that she needs to meet her at Dairy Queen, ghost headquarters. There, Sherry learns that her stepmother, aka The Ruler, has a stalker. With her dad out of town, and her mother competing in the Ghostlympics, it’s up to Sherry to solve the mystery. But, she so doesn’t do spooky.

Sherry enlists Junie’s help as they embark upon a journey of the paranormal. A ghost hunter’s equipment picks up signs of her mother while a teen psychic confirms Sherry’s fears about her stepmother. When The Ruler’s tires are slashed, Sherry follows the scents of sweat socks and honey, and wonders what she’ll do when she finds the stalker.

To make matters worse, her uberfantastic boyfriend, Josh, has a glittery tutor who seems eager to take Sherry’s place. Her best friend, Junie, is too distracted to answer her texts, someone is trying to kill her fish, and her school’s rival robotics team has discovered she’s a spy.

Barrie Summy’s I SO DON’T DO SPOOKY is a wonderful romp between teen and paranormal worlds. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Summy’s first novel, I SO DON’T DO MYSTERIES and was eager to read I SO DON’T DO SPOOKY. I was not disappointed. It was just plain fun. And if an unusual scent seems to settle around you as you read, don’t be concerned. It’s probably just a ghost that can’t resist reading over your shoulder.

This review was originally posted here at Teens Read Too.

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Parker Fadley was captain of the varsity cheerleading squad. She’d been on the honor roll for the first three years of high school, and Chris, the most popular guy at school, was in love with her, the most popular girl in school. Now, no matter how awful she is to him, she knows he still loves her, but she’s not worth it. Not since the party. Not since her life took a radical one hundred eighty degree turn.

Her parents have her on a tight leash. Early curfews. Weekly meetings with the guidance counselor. Dinners with sad, yet hopeful eyes turned her way, yearning for a glimpse of the Parker they used to know. Everyone has her on a suicide watch, but nobody knows why. What could have caused Parker Fadley to turn away from everything and everyone?

It’s Jake who begins to get under her skin with his unnerving presence and constant questions. How can she possibly be that interesting to him? When Evan comes back to school she can no longer keep the memories of the events of that night at bay. Whether she wants to or not, she’s going to have to find the real Parker Fadley, or risk losing her forever.

The restful cover of CRACKED UP TO BE belies the unrest and turmoil that is Parker Fadley. The voice is incredible, similar to that of SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson. Courtney Summers doles out the secrets in small portions, teasing the reader, and when the events of the party are finally revealed with nothing held back, the tension is palpable. And no matter how many hints Ms. Summers drops, you’ll never be able to guess Parker’s terrible secret. This debut author is just that good.

This review was originally posted here at Teens Read Too.

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This weekend, after surfacing for an hour or so from the flu or whatever it was, I completed a Printz Award field nomination for THE HANGING WOODS by Scott Loring Sanders. Of course, my nomination has to be seconded by a member of the committee before it can be considered, but the writing is amazing and the book is quite memorable. Check it out.

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Peyton Grady has finally made it to the varsity cheerleading squad and Alpha status at Beachwood preparatory Academy and only her BFF Maya knows her carefully guarded secret, that she’s a scholarship student. So why would Peyton risk being seen talking to the school misfits?

Ellika Garrett is the new jumbo-sized cheerleader whose mother bought her a spot on the squad with a hefty donation to the school. Peyton wonders just how far she’ll have to go to make Ellika understand that she does not want to be her friend. Who wants a weepy-eyed walrus looking over your shoulder when you’re trying to get the attention of Von Cohen, the hottest guy in school? Every time Peyton gets the nerve up to ask him to the Sadie Hawkin’s dance, Ellika appears and chases Von away.

Luckily, Von doesn’t give up easily. Everyone can see he’s totally into Peyton and it’s not long before she finally has her first real boyfriend, a definite plus on the Alpha girl scale. But how will she explain to him about Compular? Yes, even wealthy prep schools have those super smart nerdy guys who brag about outrageous things nobody believes. Peyton can’t avoid Compular. If he doesn’t tutor her in Trig, she could lose her scholarship.

As Peyton teeter-totters on the brink of social elitism, Lexie, the captain of the squad, tips the balance. Peyton, along with the other varsity cheerleaders, is expected to contribute ideas to a hazing list that becomes crueler with each idea. The point is to make Ellika so miserable that she’ll quit the team. In her quest to be one of the Alpha girls, Peyton has already sacrificed her friendship with Maya. What else will she destroy, who else will she step on, to get on top? Can she really do this to Ellika? To herself?

SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS by Debbie Reed Fischer is an incredible book. It’s a page turner that is as difficult to put down as it is to read. Are there teens out there that are really this cruel? What would you, the reader, be willing to sacrifice to have it all?

I can tell you as a teacher of teens for 20 years that, without question, there are teens who have an adult persona and a totally different peer persona. This book will force you to take a look at yourself and those around you. I believe this book will inspire its readers to stand up for what they believe is right. For that reason, and because the characters have stayed with me so vividly, I’m giving SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS the coveted Gold Star.

My thirteen-year-old theatre vagabond-band geek-cheerleader daughter grabbed this book before I could read it and read it in a day. She raved about it. Then my almost fifteen-year-old band geek-football playing-student council representative son saw “sharks” in the title and picked it up, also finishing it in a day. They both loved it. I can’t think of too many books on this topic that resonate with boys as well as girls.

I had the pleasure of reviewing Debbie Reed Fischer’s debut novel, BRALESS IN WONDERLAND, and was thrilled to found out I would also get the opportunity to review SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS. I was not disappointed. Well done, Ms. Fischer. You have earned yourself a gold star! Thank you for a terrific read!

This review was originally posted here at Teens Read Too.

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When you’ve lived in the same sleepy town your whole life, you get real comfortable. As comfortable as a favorite pair of old shoes that that you’ve broken in good. And that’s just the way Violet Raines feels about Mitchell Hammock, Florida. What’s the point in a new pair of shoes that’ll just blister your feet?

It’s the summer before junior high and Violet looks forward to spending lazy days with her best friend, Lottie, and feeding the fish under the old net bridge with Eddie. And on scorching hot days, the three like to collect cups for a free BrainFreeze at the gas station nearby. Since they live in Florida, they get to do that a lot.

Then Melissa moves to Mitchell Hammock from Detroit, with her big city ideas and her highfalutin ways, and the atmosphere between her and Violet becomes charged with friction as quickly as the sudden downpour in a summer thunderstorm. Florida is the lightening capital of the world and by the end of the summer, Violet has been burned more than once and has also managed to hurt both of her friends. Somehow, Violet has to figure out how to repair the damage she’s done to both Lottie and Eddie, even if it means including Melissa. In the process, she just might find out that it’s fun to try on that new pair of shoes, and that, in time, they can become just as comfortable as the favorite pair you’ve worn forever.

Danette Haworth has crafted a beautifully written, pleasurable read. In VIOLET RAINES ALMOST GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, Violet’s spunky, blustery voice is a terrific contrast to her sweet, gentle soul. There is something about Violet that reminds me of Opal in Kate DiCamillo’s BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE. I rarely read a book more one once, yet as I flipped back through the pages to write this review, I found myself caught up in reading it again. This is one of the many reasons that I am awarding VIOLET RAINES ALMOST GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING a gold star. Don’t miss this one!

This review was originally posted here at Teens Read Too.

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This is starting off as a good week. I just received a 5 star review from TeensReadToo that I'm really excited about. 

"SLEEPLESS is not your everyday piece of fluff.  Those picking up SLEEPLESS thinking it’s a typical teen summer romance will be quite surprised.  I know I was!  SLEEPLESS may just keep you up all night trying to avoid your dreams!"

And that's just the opening paragraph! It's not even the really good part. You can read the whole review here. 

Even cooler, this is my launch week over at the class of 2k8. I hope you'll check it out and say "hi!"

 

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Please help us welcome Terri Clark. Her para-romantic thriller, Sleepless, officially releases September 2, but rumors say it may show up on shelves as early as this week. Keep your eyes peeled for those pink PJs!

Eighteen-year-old Trinity Michaels has the ability to dream walk. It's a power she doesn't want, but it forever alters her life when she's unable to find an abducted teen before she's killed. While Trinity does help police capture the killer, Rafe Stevens, her involvement makes her his next target. Stevens pleads insanity and his convincing performance, aided by his despicable attorney, get him sentenced to a mental institute where a diabolical physician experiments on him. Now Rafe's escaped the sanitarium and he's after Trinity. Like her, he now has a special ability, one that allows him to stalk Trinity through her dreams. If he kills her in her sleep, she'll die for real. To survive she must find him first and the only person willing to help her is Dan Devlin, disillusioned son of the shady lawyer who knowingly aided Rafe in getting away with murder. Can she trust Dan with her safety, not to mention her heart?

"The action is just as fast-paced and heart-pounding as any adult thriller you will encounter. I hadn’t expected to have SLEEPLESS be such a pulse-pounding read, which was a really pleasant surprise... Now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep easily tonight!" TeensReadToo

Terri Clark feels blessed to demonstrate her passion for young adult fiction as both a YA author and teen librarian. You can’t imagine how thrilled she is to see her own books at her branch. Even more exciting is having her first book, Sleepless, as one of the launch titles for HarperTeen’s scary beach read imprint. In addition, she had the honor and joy of being part of HoughtonMifflin’s successful anthology, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, with Niki Burnham, Ellen Hopkins and Lynda Sandoval. Terri lives in Colorado with her husband, two children, and their adorkable dog, Domino. You can visit her online at: http://www.terriclarkbooks.com/

"A lot of people have compared SLEEPLESS to Lisa McMann's WAKE. I loved her book so I couldn't be happier, but really we just have the dream element in common. I think SLEEPLESS is darker and edgier."

Stayed tuned all week for more about Terri and the book that’s sure to make you Sleepless!

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Release Date: September 16, 2008!

How many teens have wished they could escape the darkness of their lives and live in a land of milk and honey? Rico Fuentes does just that in DARK DUDE by Oscar Hijuelos.

Rico is one hundred percent Cuban, yet he struggles daily to identify with his Cuban peers. His mom and little sister have brunette hair and cinnamon colored skin. His dad has both dark wavy hair and dark eyes. But Rico, with hazel eyes and fair skin with freckles, looks white. In Harlem, that pretty much guarantees daily harassment.

When Rico has to change to a public school he is exposed to drugs, crime and violence like never before. Early in the school year, a student is shot and Rico watches in shock as his new classmates celebrate a day off. Soon Rico’s skipping school to avoid random beatings. When his pops finds out he warns Rico that he’ll be spending the summer with his military uncle in Florida.

It’s not until his friend Jimmy is rushed to the hospital, due to a drug related accident, that Rico realizes he has only one way out. He must find a way to Wisconsin to stay with his friend, Gilberto, on his farm. When Jimmy is released, Rico talks him into going to Wisconsin with him. After a road trip to remember on the way to the farm, they wonder what they’ve gotten themselves into when Gilberto immediately puts them to work painting the outside of the dilapidated farmhouse in exchange for their room and board.

Rico finds farm life in Wisconsin to be much slower than in Harlem. He spends a lot of time re-reading his favorite author, Mark Twain. Then he finds himself attracted to a girl whose father has a drinking problem. He’d never realized that his own experiences with an alcoholic dad could be helpful to someone else. As the months go by, Rico begins to look at himself, and those around him, differently. More importantly, he begins to accept himself.

DARK DUDE is a gritty read. The projects, the bars, and the backstreets of Harlem become real to the reader as Mr. Hijuelos drops you into each scene, and he creates a character with so much promise, but with so much working against him, that we cannot stop at each chapter break. Instead we read on, praying that nothing bad with happen to Rico, and when it does, we find ourselves urging Rico on, to find the best in himself, to reach for those dreams we know he wants. This is a realistic, yet inspiring read for anyone who wants to find a way to make a different choice, to find the person they really want to be.

This review was originally posted here at Teens Read Too.

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Release date: August 20, 2008!

Ten-year-old Samantha Hansen loves rocks. And bugs. And fossils. She keeps an organized notebook filled with lists about her favorite rocks, the rocks she hopes to find, what she knows about planets, butterflies, and anything else related to science. She also makes lists like why she’d trade in Jen, her older sister, for a turtle.

Samantha’s good at science. Jen is good at getting her sister in trouble. She messes with Samantha’s rock collection, but it’s Samantha who gets in trouble for yelling. Jen plays her music much too loudly for a hard-working, conscientious scientist, and when Samantha very nicely asks her to turn it down, she refuses. So, again, Samantha’s mom tells Samantha to count to ten to avoid losing her temper. Jen gets away with everything and Samantha’s always the one in trouble.

When Mom announces plans for a scientist’s dream vacation to the Grand Canyon, Samantha knows she’ll have to learn to control her temper or Mom will decide she can’t go. But when Richard Frey says she had rocks in her head, and trips her on purpose, Samantha loses it and gets sent home from school for kicking him back. She knows she’ll have to plan something big so her mom will still let her go to the Grand Canyon. But she’ll need Jen’s help.

SAMANTHA HANSEN HAS ROCKS IN HER HEAD by Nancy Viau is a delightful story. Samantha is full of energy and is on a quest to learn everything scientific. But on her trip to the Grand Canyon, she learns more than facts about rocks and fossils. Before she returns home, she’ll find a caring sister, discover a proud mother, and learn more about her list-making dad who she doesn’t remember. And as a reader, don’t be surprised if you learn a little bit of science before you turn the last page. This is a terrific read for any 8-12 year old.

This review was originally posted at Teens Read Too.

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A week before her thirteenth birthday, Kat loses her mother to cancer and becomes an orphan. You would think she would be relieved to have an aunt take her in. Especially a very rich aunt. You would think that, and you would be very wrong. Indeed, Kat’s one wish is to see her aunt dead.

Kat’s mother worked for meager earnings. She taught Kat how to sew, how to cook, and how to be frugal. She taught her how to love, and how to forgive even the most unforgivable as Kat sat at her mother’s bedside after another of her father’s beatings. Her mother said he couldn’t help it. It was the orphanage’s fault. It damaged him.

But her mother’s death? That was her aunt’s fault. Kat’s mother worked in the school cafeteria till the cancer got so bad she couldn’t bear it anymore. Because of Aunt Paulina, Kat’s mother died in their tiny apartment, with only Kat to care for her, instead of in a hospital where drugs could have relieved her pain. Rich, stingy Aunt Paulina, the aunt who inherited all the family money after her mom was disowned, spent more money on the funeral than it would have cost to pay for her mother to have a life-saving operation.

There’s no where else for Kat to go. Forced to live with her mother’s sister, Kat promises to make her pay. She begins to make good on that promise when Aunt Paulina says, “I’d like you to call me Mother.” Kat makes her feelings clear and sets the tone of their relationship by responding, “I’d rather be thrown off a cliff, burning alive, than to call you my mama’s name.”

If I leave you thinking that KAT’S PROMISE is just another book about a mother dying and the bitterness that follows, then I have done you, the reader, and Bonnie Shimko, the author, a grave disservice. This book is so much more. Kat discovers a history of family secrets that give her a deeper understanding of both the sisters, as well as her father. She bonds with Nettie, Aunt Paulina’s harassed housekeeper. And she finds purpose in helping a neighbor regain his love for life.

Ms. Shimko uses Beamer, Kat’s new best friend, and Johnny, the neighbor’s grandson, to add light to the story. And there are many other sweet moments that I’ll let you discover. The writing will delight you, especially the brilliant descriptions. I absolutely could not put this book down once I started it, and I was sad to say good-bye to Kat, especially when things were going so well. I do not doubt that the characters will stay with me and I’ll want to read this book again. For that reason, I give KAT’S PROMISE a gold star.

This review was originally posted at Teens Read Too.

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Even though we sometimes get upset stomachs thinking about reviews, and
checks of review websites often happen with one hand over our eyes,
debut authors LOVE Book Reviewers. They are our very first,
out-in-the-real-world feedback and if we're lucky they might be our
very first fans. There is nothing quite like the thrill of reading a
good review, and even if the review is not always so good, we still
appreciate you getting word about our books out to the public! No
really, we do.

Ever wonder who does the reviews at ALAN Online, , Teens Read Too, , YA (& Kids) Books Central, 
 The Edge of the Forest  , Fuse #8 , Reviewer X , Off to Turn Another Page, Book Chic, Slayground,
 Reader Rabbit  and many other places?

They're usually the ones who interview us, but for one week we turn the
tables on several YA & MG book reviewers and ask them the hard
questions! We even tackle bad reviews. You don't want to miss one
answer!

Please check out the Class of 2k8's blog for the Book Reviewer Hot
Seat!

And if that isn't enough, we're giving away Class of 2K8 
books--Two-A-Day! So please visit our blog be sure to leave comments after each interview and you could win!
(Deadline to enter is midnight June 29th, winners will be announced on Monday June 30th)

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We are sooo excited to kick off our mega week of book reviewer interviews with the wonderful Julie M. Prince! And..AND we will be giving away A CURSE DARK AS GOLD by Elizabeth C. Bunce! All you have to do is leave a comment and you'll be entered. Deadline to enter is midnight June 29th, winners will be announced on Monday June 30th. Okay, now let's get quickly acquainted with our very first book reviewer!


What’s your handle (alias)? I don’t have one, which makes me feel awfully boring all of a sudden. Maybe I should make one up right now. Um. Yeah. Any suggestions?

What kind of books do you review? I review picture books, middle grade, and young adult (fiction and nonfiction).

Approx # of books reviewed? 54 so far this year, with another 84 in my queue. Yikes!

Where can we find your reviews? ALAN Online , Teens Read Too, YA (& Kids) Books Central, The Edge of the Forest , and my blog, “Off to Turn Another Page.”

Reading turn-ons: I love humorous middle grades and witty, sarcastic YAs.

Reading turn-offs: I’m not big on science fiction or high fantasy, although I’ve been known to enjoy both types of books on occasion.

Class of 2K8 books that you’ve had the opportunity to review:

Oh boy. Let’s see:

A Curse Dark as Gold – and here

The Opposite of Invisible

Alive and Well in Prague, New York

I Heart You, You Haunt Me – and here

The Gollywhopper Games

The Magic Thief

I hope I didn’t miss any. Most of the time, I only review a book once, but if an editor needs a particular book reviewed and I’ve read it, I’ll volunteer to write a second review…especially if it’s a book I enjoyed and want to share with as many readers as possible.

I have four more 2k8 books in my possession (and one on the way), but I won’t tell which ones.

Oh, you could just whisper it, couldn't you? No? Okay, moving on... we love the crazy handles (alias) book reviewers come up with—tell us how you came up with yours!

Okay, now the handle thing is really starting to bug me. Seriously. Any suggestions?


Ask and you shall receive! For the reviewer formerly known as Prince, we've come up with several! Naturally with your blog being Off to Turn Another Page--the name Paige Turner was brought up (however we believe it is already in use, probably by several people!), other possibilities included Read Eyes & Over Booked--since you are clearly very busy! And last but not least (and my personal favorite!)--Miss Prints!

Okay, fun time over, back to the hot seat Miss Prints, how did you get into book reviewing ?

I was asked if I’d like to write some reviews for ALAN online (The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents). I loved the thought of reviewing books, but I’d never done it. This reasoning was soon squashed by the words, “neither had I, until I did it.” Good point, David. As soon as I got my first batch of books, I knew I was hooked on reviewing. What better job is there than one that pays in books?!

Describe your grading system and how that translates to the reader?

Since I review for several sites, my grading system adapts accordingly.

How do you pick the books you review? Or are they picked for you? Do you ever read books that wouldn’t normally interest you—and if so have you ever been surprised by what you’ve read?


Some are sent to me by the editors of the sites I review for, some are sent by publishers, some I purchase or request directly from the publisher myself because I’ve heard of them and they sound so fabulous I can’t resist.

I absolutely read books that wouldn’t normally interest me because I’ve stopped reading jacket flaps and blurbs. I don’t have any idea what most of the books I read are going to be about until I open them and start reading. I get a lot of surprises that way. I like surprises.

We like surprises too! Especially learning about new books. What are the best ways to find new books? Any advice for authors about getting their book noticed by reviewers?

Right now, the internet is our friend, I think. There are so many sites and blogs that review and recommend great books. There’s certainly nothing wrong with the old-fashioned way, either…browsing the bookstore to see what looks interesting. When my family and I go within 500 yards of a bookstore, Hubby always says, “Go ahead. I’ll find you in the kids section later.” I personally believe that a web presence is important in getting your books noticed, but if you’re an author reading this, you probably already know that.

Yep, we sure do! Okay, so what happens if you really aren’t feeling a book—will you make the ultimate sacrifice and finish it for the sake of the review?

Not very often. There are just too many books waiting that I know I’d enjoy. In the past two weeks, I’ve put down two books that I couldn’t get into. Right now, I’m reading one that’s “okay,” but I’m willing to keep reading this one because I was specifically asked for a review of it by an editor. Sorry, now I have all the authors wondering, “is it mine?”

Hey, you're supposed to be in the hot seat, not us! LOL. Let's move on to better stuff--if you really love a book—will you read it again? If so—what are some of the books you just had to read more than once?

I rarely re-read books. I mentioned that I like the element of surprise, and if I’ve read a book, that surprise factor is gone. I’m sure I’d enjoy them again, but I’m more likely to pass a good book on to a friend I know would enjoy it than to let it gather dust until I get around to reading it again. I guess we all love books in different ways, and I love good books by sharing them and getting the word out about them. Having said that, there are some books (like all of L.M. Montgomery’s) that I have re-read many times.

Do you have a basic philosophy on what should be included in a review—or does it depend on the book itself?

I like to include a little bit of summary and then tell what I liked about a book, or what I thought was missing. I mix up the order a lot, and I try to keep my reviews fairly brief, because I think people trying to find a book are more likely to really read (not just skim) short reviews.

Tell us about the last time your jaw dropped open, you laughed, or you cried while reading a book.

It happens a lot, actually. If a book can make me either laugh or cry hysterically, that book is guaranteed a great review. If it brings out that kind of strong reaction and emotion, the author has gone above and beyond.

Is there any character in a book that you wish would come to life? Or any place you wish existed?


I wouldn’t mind hanging out with the Penderwick sisters or Emily of New Moon. I’d like to stay at the Hopewell Hotel, and I think a visit to Hogwarts would rock my world!

We think Hogwarts will be a popular answer this week, LOL! What books do you find yourself recommending over and over and why?

I love Elizabeth Bunce’s A CURSE DARK AS GOLD, because it’s so unique and the writing is extraordinary. I fell in love with THE MAGIC THIEF because I know kids will adore it, and I want to help readers connect with the book. Same with THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDEAU-BANKS. That one has an audience out there of some really brilliant and opinionated teenagers who are going to (and already do) love the book. I want to get it into the hands of as many people as possible. Then there are books I just want to talk to people about, like BEFORE GREEN GABLES. I want to hold a worldwide book club meeting about that book so I can find out what all the L.M. Montgomery fans think of it. There’s Coe Booth’s TYRELL, and Jeannine Garsee’s BEFORE, AFTER, AND SOMEBODY IN BETWEEN, both of which I think are excellent examples of real teens in the real world dealing with real issues. I love real as much as I love escapism in books. I think both are important to have available. I could go on and on, but I’m probably boring you.


Ha ha, not even close... go on... please...

crickets: (chirp chirp)

Ok, now for the Extra Scandalous Question—

Really bad reviews—do you ever fear giving them? Ever had an author get upset with you? (It’s okay—you can tell us, just don’t name names!) And what advice do you have for authors who get a bad review?

I knew you were going to ask this, and I dreaded it. *sigh*



I hate giving bad reviews. It’s like taking foul medicine or drinking spoiled milk. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

For the most part, the sites I review for are about connecting books and readers. They don’t like to post negative reviews because tastes vary so widely.

However, it sometimes happens that I’ve been specifically asked to write a review and I won’t shy away from being honest with readers if I don’t like a book. What kind of credibility would I have if I just handed out “good” reviews about every single book I read?

True, but we'd still love you! So, any advice for authors who get a bad review?

I don’t think authors need the advice, because if they’re in this business to begin with, they know all about subjectivity (or they should).

I think it helps to keep in mind that old adage “any press is good press.” If people are out and they pick up your book because they remember reading about it, that’s a good thing. Many people just skim reviews (as much as my ego would like to believe otherwise). “Real” readers don’t dissect and analyze reviews the way authors do. They just want to find a book to read.

Thanks for all the great answers! One last question: if they aren’t scared off by all that bad review talk and an author would like you to review her book, what should she do?

1) Keep in mind that it may be a very long time before I can get to the book. I do try to coordinate my reviews with release dates, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. I don’t read books in order of receipt. I often read strategically for projects that I’m involved in (articles I’m writing or authors I’m interviewing for other publications, etc).

2) I don’t guarantee that I’ll review every book I receive, nor do I guarantee that every review I do write will be good. Ouch. It bothers me to even write that, but it’s true, and authors should know up front.

3) If all of the above sounds dandy to you, please feel free to contact me. You can find review links and my contact information over at: http://www.juliemprince.com/.

Thanks so much for interviewing me. The Class of 2k8 is full of talented and creative people, and I’m proud to have participated. This was fun!

Thank you! And don't forget to leave a comment to win A Curse As Dark As Gold!

"Every word counts in this amazing book. The language, while assuredly stunning and appealing, is never frivolous. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel, and I eagerly await whatever Ms. Bunce wishes to put in front of me next, as it's sure to be delightful and satisfying if it's near the quality of A CURSE DARK AS GOLD." Julie M. Prince

(Click here for more great Hot Seat Interviews)

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susansee asked me, "What do you do if you really hate a book that was assigned to you for review?" Good question. Here's my answer:

Teens Read Too only gives positive reviews since we want teens to read. So we're supposed to give only four or five star reviews. If we really don't like a book, we post that to other reviewers and let someone else review it. The thinking is that someone will like the book enough to be able to give it a good review. After all, they have to have merit or they wouldn't have been published in the first place. We all know how competitive the market is. We also choose which books we'd like to review. Often I'll miss a great one because someone simply beat me to it. But I ask for books I think I'd like. Also, I find my own books and review them for TRT if they don't already have one. Even as a kid, I rarely found a book I didn't like.

It kind of makes you wonder how valuable the reviews are though. It they're all good, then I'm not discriminating. You know what I mean? But then, when you think about WHY I do them, it makes sense.

1) Exposure to the publishers, so my name sort of rings a bell. In a positive way.
2)To demonstrate to any agent/editor out there who's interested, that I read what I write. I try to stay current.
3)It's fun to boost other writers, to help promote their books. Maybe they can do the same for me in the future.
4)To help myself keep track of what I've read.
5)And this one may really be the most important....to entice my students to read.

I just hope that once I'm published I will be encouraged to continue to do this. Because, when it comes right down to it, it's for my students. This generation has a treasure trove of books to choose from. So much more than what was available when I was a teen. Every time a student tells me they don't like to read, I take it as a personal challenge to prove them wrong.

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           Release Date: June 24, 2008

Meeting Alfred Kropp in THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ALFRED KROPP was extraordinary! Then I eagerly read ALFRED KROPP THE SEAL OF SOLOMON, wondering what could surpass the thrill of Alfred first stealing, then losing, and then recovering Excalibur, King Arthur’s sword. The author, Rick Yancey, didn’t let the reader down. Alfred was forced to fight demons! So, naturally, I couldn’t wait to read ALFRED KROPP THE THIRTEENTH SKULL!

I’ve rated this book 6+, as I have his first two titles, but with a caveat. Mr. Yancey pulls no punches when describing the violence and clear danger Alfred faces. I do not doubt that younger readers will devour the Alfred Kropp books, but parents will want to use their discretion.

Mr. Yancey doesn’t even let the reader get good and comfy in their favorite reading chair before relentlessly yanking them to the proverbial edge of their seat. The first chapter starts with a bang – literally. A truck blows up beneath Alfred’s new penthouse suite window, on the 30th floor of Samson Towers. In short order one man is shot and Alfred is fighting for his life with his attacker. Soon the two are racing to the ground floor, one by express elevator, the other by parachute. And Mr. Yancey’s not done yet. There’s still a police car to commandeer, complete with the surprised officer at the wheel, a car chase through city streets, and yet another explosion.

Once again Alfred is sucked back into the OIPEP. But can he trust the new Operative Nine? What about the beautiful new field agent? And who is trying to kill Alfred, and more importantly, why?

First it was Excalibur, then the Seal of Solomon. Both times he nearly lost his life. Now it’s the Thirteenth Skull. Alfred knows that this time it will be different. Samuel, the former Operative Nine and now Alfred’s guardian, is not reassuring. Alfred must find out what the Thirteenth Skull is. The clock is ticking and Alfred knows his time is about up.

I absolutely will not tell you more. You MUST, MUST, MUST go buy ALFRED KROPP THE THIRTEENTH SKULL. But only after you buy and read his first two titles as this series is best read in order. Mr. Yancey has created a cast of characters equal to the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz. I can’t wait to see Alfred Kropp’s adventures on the big screen!

This review is cross-posted here at Teens Read Too.

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Colby Cavendish has finally made it into the in crowd! She worked hard to gain Amanda’s favor and now she’s her new
best friend. She’s practically guaranteed the best Senior year ever! As an added bonus, Levi Bonham, the hottest guy in
school, has suddenly become very interested in Colby! So interested that she’s actually sitting right next to him on the
couch at Amanda’s house.

Okay, so Colby’s just a little nervous that it’s their first date…well, not even really a date. She’s alone downstairs kissing
Levi like she’s always dreamed, like they’d been dating for forever, while Amanda is upstairs in her room with her guy.
And Colby can’t stop thinking about her curfew, which, by the way, passed, like, two hours ago. But at least she’s
stopped feeling guilty about dumping her former best friend, Natalie. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices in order to
progress up the social ladder. It’s just part of life. Right?

Colby’s parents are in the middle of a messy, angry divorce. Turns out they were so engrossed in their fight of the night,
that they didn’t even know Colby missed her curfew. It seems they barely remember they have a daughter, whose life
they are royally screwing up. Then Colby finds out they have plans for her summer that don’t include hitting the malls and
becoming fully entrenched in her new social order.

They are sending her to Greece. No, not Athens. A tiny little island called Tinos. No amount of ranting, reasoning,
pleading, or even crying will change their mind. Colby boards the plane bound for three months with Crazy Aunt Tally and
no TV, no computer, no Wi-Fi. Nothing. How is she supposed to maintain her new social status? What if Colby gets
replaced by a new Amanda Wanna-Be?

But soon things are looking up. First, there’s Yannis, this really cute Greek guy who’s living on Tinos! And second? She
found an Internet café! Score! She is alive again! Maybe she can ignore the parent wars. But why was Yannis with
Marie? And should she tell him that she’s going to island hop to Mykonos to meet Levi, who’s on a cruise to Greece?
And her parents are going to sell the house as part of the divorce settlement? She might be spending her Senior year in
Arizona?

Teen girls will totally love CRUEL SUMMER by Alyson Noël. The story is told using letters home, the journal her
mother gave her, “Colby’s Journal For Desperate Times…,” and her new blog. The range of emotions, devastating lows
to breathtaking highs, and the intense feeling that everything affects her is so authentic. The reader will relate to her habit
of over-thinking every comment, gesture, or word of an email, and the insecurity she feels around Yannis. I loved this
book and totally devoured it. For this reason, I give it five stars!

This review is cross-posted here at Teens Read Too.

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It's been so crazy here I'll admit I haven't had time to read your blogs, much less post. I've barely had time to read period. Two more weeks and school is over. Overall, it's been a really good year, with many students making tremendous gains. Writing, not so much as I'd like. I need to create new chapters and it's been difficult to get myself in the right frame of mind. Revising? I can do that, but new stuff? Nothing summer and a new laptop won't cure. I can't wait. I want to finish the *&%*^$* YA and I can't wait to start something new. My new idea is almost becoming an obsession. I can't wait to dig in and write and see where my protagonist takes me!

For now? May I introduce you to THE PENDERWICKS ON GARDAM STREET?




Rosalind has been a fine mother to her sisters Jane, Skye, and Batty for four years, ever since their mother died. So when
her Aunt Claire visits with a blue letter for her father, written by her mother, Rosalind can’t chase away the sense of
foreboding.

When she finds out that her mother’s letter suggests her dad start dating again, Rosalind quickly calls the sisters together
for an emergency MOPS – a Meeting of Penderwick Sisters. Together they hatch the Save Daddy Plan, designed to
ensure that they will never have to endure a stepmother.

As their father begins to suffer through the torture of dating, the sisters become involved in complications of their own.
Skye and Jane get tangled up with homework while playing soccer in perfect sync. Rosalind struggles with her own boy
problems involving the Geiger brothers. And Batty spies on Bug Man with her dog, Hound, and the new neighbor’s little
boy, Ben.

Before long, not only are the sisters beginning to unravel, but they also realize that the Save Daddy Plan is making their
father miserable. After a night of revelations and confessions, the sisters revise the plan with the help of Ben’s mother,
Iantha.

THE PENDERWICKS ON GARDAM STREET is a delightful book featuring laughter, pranks, bedtime stories, and the
sweet emotions of family love. Jeanne Birdsall and the Penderwicks will capture your heart.

This review is cross-posted here at Teens Read Too.

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Fifteen year-old Scottie has trains roaring through her dreams at night, resulting in hours of early morning insomnia. It’s been like this since Aunt Roz’s funeral. To make it worse, she’s begun to feel like a stranger in her own home turned art gallery. Her mother spends days in a trance creating bizarre paintings that have become the new “must-have” art and her dad spends hours on the phone schmoozing potential buyers and scheduling the next art party.

Scottie’s parents don’t seem to remember she exists and Scottie fears that she’s becoming invisible to her best friend Amanda as well. Amanda has left her for the popular click as she developed curves that Scottie is, so far, lacking. Scottie’s life is falling apart. Only a ball of yarn and a couple of needles keep her from becoming completely frayed.

Early one morning, once again, wide-awake, she discovers the knitting her Aunt Lucille had pressed into her hands at her Aunt Roz’s shivah, under a pile of clothes on the rug at her feet. Intrigued, she tries a stitch; surprised she can remember the “spike, loop, swish”, knitting motion. One stitch turns into an entire row. Scottie feels the tension leaving her shoulders. Without thinking, she cramms her knitting into her book bag as she prepares to leave for school.

Under pressure with Amanda and her new friends at lunch, Scottie whips out her swatch and ball of yarn and begins knitting. So much for being invisible. Scottie becomes so hooked on knitting that she goes in search of a store named KnitWit and finds herself staying for a free class offered by the owner, Alice. Fate intervenes and Amanda shows up, along with other girls from her school, Tay and Bella.

It doesn’t take long before they become the “Chicks with Sticks” and Scottie finds comfort in finally belonging somewhere. But will the feeling last? It seems friends are dropping as often as she drops stitches. Amanda deserts her to free-form with her new knitting friends after her Learning Disability session at the college. Bella becomes so engrossed in knitting that she prefers solitude with her afghan. And Tay blames Scottie for the problems between her and Josh. And when she finally gets the nerve to tell her parents that she’s a knitter, they get all excited that she’s decided to be a “fiber artist”, whatever that is. She turns to Alice only to find KnitWit’s doors are closed on their meeting night.

Elizabeth Lenhard has created a warm, wooly read in CHICKS WITH STICKS (IT’S A PURL THING). As a knitter, I found myself itching to grab my needles and feel the familiar comfort of K3, P3 of my current work in progress in soft homespun lavender. Teens are taking up their needles and creating beautiful works of art. I encourage you to join them. But before you do, take a moment to curl up with CHICKS WITH STICKS (IT’S A PURL THING).

This review is cross-posted here at Teens Read Too.

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Alfred Kropp is big enough to play football, but too clumsy to be any good, and too dense to remember the playbook. In fact, Alfred doesn’t really excel at anything. Except for his height and big head, he’s pretty much average. Ordinary. If only he were smaller, he could go through each day unnoticed.

He has no father and his mother died of cancer when he was only twelve. For two years he’s juggled between various foster homes until his Uncle Farrell appears and takes him in. And that’s when his life becomes anything but ordinary.

A slick, devious, stranger offers Uncle Farrell one million dollars to steal a special sword back from Mr. Samson, Farrell’s boss. Alfred has many questions. How do they know it really belongs to the stranger? What happens to him if his uncle gets caught for stealing? Why is this man asking them to steal it? Uncle Farrell threatens Alfred. He has no choice. He either helps steal the sword, or he goes back to foster care.

As soon as Alfred wields the sword in his hands, he knows it is no ordinary sword. He finds out he’s holding Excalibur, King Arthur’s sword. The same sword that knights have been guarding for centuries. From the moment Alfred steals the sword he is pitched headlong into a world unlike any he has ever known. A world that clashes with knights, swords, fast cars, helicopters, daggers, guns, and much more.

Alfred, the ordinary foster kid, finds he has a not-so-ordinary connection to a world forgotten, and through that connection, he has been charged with saving the world by saving Excalibur. An extraordinary task for an ordinary kid.

My fourteen year-old son grabbed this book from my shelf before I had a chance to start it and daily badgered me to read it once he’d finished. I will be adding the second and third installments of this series to my library. This action-packed adventure is a must read. I dare you to try to put it down once you’ve begun. In THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ALFRED KROPP, Rick Yancey has done the impossible by merging a world of knights in shining armor with today’s age of technology, an extraordinary combination! Amazing!

This review is cross-posted here at Teens Read Too.

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Sometimes you just have to have a place to vent, ya know?

That’s why Libby Fawcett started her blog. She wrote about her most embarrassing moments, like when she caught her hair on fire in chemistry class right in front of Seth Jacobs! She posted an entry the day she found out her mom was dating someone and that it had been going on for months. She blogged about her morning breath that tasted like she’d “been eating socks” in her sleep and the pimple on her earlobe. And she wrote about her cousin Roger, who was crushing on her best friend Keisha. She wrote about everything. And why not? She’d taken precautions. The blog was set to private. No one else could see it. Could they?

Angel Rivera, Libby’s sworn enemy, torments Libby on a daily basis at school. When the girls discover their parents are dating one another, the harassment escalates. When Libby finds herself suspended after one of Angel’s pranks, she realizes that she’s being used to help break up their parents. Does she really want to cause her mother that much pain? Doing the right thing becomes even more difficult after Angel manages to turn the entire school against Libby.

SOMETHING TO BLOG ABOUT by Shana Norris (shanawrites) is funny and engaging, a wonderful glimpse into the topsy-turvy emotions of a teen in love, who’s also dealing with a parent who’s dating and in love. I was only a few chapters in when my twelve-year-old daughter snagged my copy and read it straight through. She loved it! This first novel by Shana Norris is definitely “SOMETHING TO BLOG ABOUT!”

This review is cross-posted here at Teens Read Too.

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Ttyl, by Lauren Myracle, is a young adult book written entirely in computer IM language. The change in colors and fonts for each of the three girls make it easy to read and the presentation and voice are both highly appealing to the teen reader.

Snow Angel, Mad Maddie, and Zoegirl have been best friends for, like, four years. This is the story of their friendship, their commitment to be there for one another, no matter what. Like when Snow Angel finds her true love, (not the same one from a couple of weeks earlier), and falls apart when he cruelly dumps her. Like when Mad Maddie, in an effort to try to be in the “it” crowd goes to a party, gets drunk, and finds herself in the middle of an internet scandal as a result. Like when Zoegirl trusts the wrong teacher and finds herself in hot water.

Over and over, the girls come through for one another, even if they are in the middle of a fight. The emotions and relationships are real and the dialogue is cutting edge. The reader will most likely identify with at least one of the girls. You’ll care for them so much you’ll feel great relief when they bail each other out of one predicament after another.

This was a fun read and I can’t wait to read her next books in this series.

This review is cross-posted here at Teens Read Too.

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“Kyle Kingsbury, you are beastly.”

That’s what Kendra said. Beastly. But Kyle had it all, popularity, good looks, money, and any girl he wanted. Kyle never missed an opportunity to let the inferior people know just how far beneath him they were, including his best friend, who’s dad was merely a doctor. Kyle’s dad was the nightly New York City news anchor. At Tuttle, an elite school for the richest of the rich, Kyle was a somebody.

Until the school dance. Until his stupid maid bought his girlfriend a rose instead of an orchid for her corsage, which Kyle tossed to a scholarship student. Until he deliberately set up Kendra to be embarrassed and humiliated when she realized that he, Prince of the dance, already had a date and never intended to be her escort.

Until Kendra appeared in his bedroom and he received his “comeuppance.”

“You will know what it is like not to be beautiful, to be as ugly on the outside as on the inside…”

The clock struck midnight and Kyle was left a beast, with only a magic mirror for company.

Kyle’s famous dad vows to spend whatever it takes to cure his son’s affliction. When he realizes even his money isn’t enough to find a cure, he banishes his son, with their maid and a tutor, to a New York brownstone.

Will Kyle ever be able to break the curse? Will he find true love’s kiss or be forever doomed to roam the New York City streets in the dark of night, hidden as the beast?

BEASTLY by Alex Flinn, is a modern retelling of the Beauty and the Beast. This novel is just plain fun . Ms. Flinn creates the perfect romantic tension when Kyle finds his true love and then has to let her go. Like the fragrance of the perfect rose, BEASTLY will linger with the reader, leaving the feeling that life is indeed good long after the pages of the book have been pressed closed.

This review is cross-posted here at Teens Read Too.

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Ida May is a bright, regular fourth grader who has just suffered the biggest blow of her young life--her best friend Elizabeth, moved away. Once bitten, twice shy, Ida determines never to make another best friend. This should be easily accomplished since class meanie Jenna Drews has made a career out of telling everyone what a loser she is. So when upbeat, popular, newcomer Stacy Merriweather arrives on the scene and wants to be Ida's friend, Ida has absolutely no interest in reciprocating. Uh uh. Not.At.All.

These days I can't seem to read books about little girls without internalizing their struggles, because my own daughter is just setting down this road: learning that life is unfair, that other kids are mean, and that their parents won't always "get" them. Then I read a book like My Last Best Friend, and I feel a little bit better, remembering that there's good stuff too: that kindred spirits hone in on each other no matter what the obstacles, that mom and dad have seen it all themselves and are there for you, that excellent teachers will notice you and encourage you. There are no real surprises in this book--other than the fact that Jenna Drew might actually have a humble side to her. The reader knows that Stacy Merriweather can't be all that she seems (Ida herself has already figured this out,) and you just know that Ida and Stacy are each what the other needs. This book is funny, touching, and gives the reader everything she wants. And with a sequel on the way, that's good news. This is going straight to the 'Staff Picks' shelf at work!

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Rhythm is the pulse of life. Everything has rhythm. The waves in the ocean, cars buzzing down the highway, the drip of the rain after a spring shower, the pencil scraping across our paper, even our own pulse in our ears, late at night when all should be quiet.

Fin doesn’t know quiet. For her, the rhythm has become more than a beat, it’s an obsession. It’s good luck to turn a light on three times, the wrong number could be deadly. The roar of numbers in her head blocks the outside chaos. They offer comfort. Stability. She taps her seat three times. Someone touches her shoulder. She touches the opposite one. It’s about keeping life in balance.

Control is something Fin lost when her parents uttered those devastating words, “…this doesn’t mean we’re abandoning you or that we don’t love you anymore.” The D-word. Moving from a place she loves, to a place she doesn’t. Her mother copes by excessive cleaning. Fin copes by counting.

Soon, Fin’s mother has her visiting Dr. Calaban. Fin meets Thayer who is also being treated by Dr. Calaban, but for ADD. Fin discovers there’s a name for what she’s feeling, OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. She wonders if it’s hereditary as her mother rewashes the jeep Fin’s just finished washing. With the help of Thayer and Dr. Calaban, Fin rediscovers her love of something she’d lost along the way, something that will help calm the need for total constant order.

TOTAL CONSTANT ORDER is a riveting first novel by debut author Crissa-Jean Chappell (crissachappell). I was sad to end the book because I wanted to spend more time with the characters. I kept trying to slow down as I read, to linger and enjoy, but it was impossible. Each chapter drove me forward to the next and the next until the final page. The characters were fresh and real. I know you’ll enjoy them as much as I did!

This review is posted here at Teens Read Too.

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