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I’m sure you have noticed that I haven’t been posting on my blog very often. I’d like to fix that, but right now it seems a little overwhelming. SO, what I’m going to do is start posting my book reviews on my Tumblr page.
These reviews will be abbreviated. I’ll use the book synopsis from Goodreads or the publisher and then add my personal reactions and feelings to that. Tumblr will be faster I think. I just have to upload 1 picture and I’m done. This is my plan to get back in the groove again. I’m considering just creating a link on this blog to the Tumblr post, but I’m still thinking about about that.
I hope you hang in there with me.
Thanks,
0 Comments on Posting on Tumblr For a While as of 1/1/1900
Today you are in for a treat. In honor of the recent release of SHADOWS, the sequel to ASHES, the wonderfully talented Ilsa Bick is responding to a question I asked. Here is my question:
Why do you lean toward such dark themes/characters in your books?
Here is her answer:
I’m often asked this question. In part, I think you can blame the shrink in me, and my prior experience as a surgery intern. I’ve seen and heard some wild stuff, and as a Freudian, you know, the glass is always half-empty. (Talk about a grim guy.) Let’s face it: no one goes to a psychiatrist because things are peachy. So when you spend so much time with people who are coping with their inner demons and horrible impulses and, many times, treating people in simply abominable ways (and these are the people they say they love), then it’s easy to find and see the darkness and how things got to be so bad.
I also think that being the daughter of a Holocaust survivor plays a role. My dad’s family was wiped out, pretty much. The Nazis came and got the whole family when he was a little kid; he even answered the door when they came knocking. He spent a couple years in concentration camps, and the only reason he’s alive is because he got sick and was shipped out before the whole camp was dismantled and everyone else sent to Auschwitz. Now, do I think about the Holocaust ever single second, or even believe that I should remind people about it? No, I don’t. There are plenty of new horrors to worry about and confront. But does that color my world view a bit? Sure. Think of it as background music, barely audible, always there.
Then, too—frankly—conflict and adversity and inner darkness make for more interesting stories. I never have been much of a wine and roses gal. Even romance has to have angst—that dark moment of the soul, even the uncertainty of does he or doesn’t she—or why bother reading? What fun would “Romeo and Juliet” be if the parents didn’t object? Even Charlotte’s Web is all about scurrying to find a way to save poor Wilbur from becoming bacon. To me, the muck is always much more interesting than eternal sunshine and happiness because, in fact, while life can be filled with many good things and this planet of ours is quite beautiful, life is also fragile, difficult, often cruel, capricious, and fleeting. I’d like to think that out of their encounters with darkness, my characters eventually find their way to a state of grace. Just takes some doing—and that “doing” is what I call story.
ASHES
SHADOWS
If you haven’t already read ASHES, you need to ASAP. If you read it a while ago and forgot some of the details, here is agreat recap postIlsa posted to help you out.
Thank you so much Ilsa! I love all your books (DROWNING INSTINCTS, DRAW THE DARK), but The ASHES Trilogy is my favorite.
0 Comments on Ilsa Bick – Author of ASHES and SHADOWS – GUEST POST as of 1/1/1900
Want to find out how fast you read? Just click Start Reading below and start your own test. Read a few paragraphs and answer 3 comprehension questions to get your results. Find out how long it would take you to read some of the classics. Here are my results:
O Rly? How “realistic” does a kid’s novel—or any novel—have to be? Or, rather, how un-realistic can it get away with being before the reader rebels, and thinks, “No”? The answer probably is: There is no answer. Once we know something is a piece of fiction, we ask only that it pull [Keep Reading]
0 Comments on Ellis Weiner, Author of THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA – GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY as of 1/1/1900
When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it’s exhilarating–Vee and Ian’s fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they’re directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they’re playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?
MY THOUGHTS:
NERVE is an thrill-a-minute. As a reader I totally felt the discomfort and nervousness Vee feels during the dares she decides to complete for the game. Introducing Ian as her dare partner is a stroke of genius because he just adds to the thrill, but in a much different way. What makes this book so good is the fact that everyone can relate. Who wouldn’t contemplate standing up in a crowded room and singing Mary Had a Little Lamb if they were going to win a brand new iPhone if they did it. The problem is, once you complete one dare it gets easier and easier to complete the next and the game is designed to get progressively harder. The ending is one that leaves you thinking about what really happens to Vee. There are so many possibilities.
OTHER BOOKS IT REMINDS ME OF:
DASH AND LILY’S BOOK OF DARES by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
FLASH POINT by Nancy Kress
0 Comments on NERVE by Jeanne Ryan – REVIEW as of 1/1/1900
When Jesse crawls out of the wreckage of a subway car and emerges into daylight, he’s greeted by a living nightmare. An unexplained force has destroyed New York City, turning skyscrapers into ash, cutting off all power and communication. Jesse and his new friends, Dave, Anna and Mini are dazed but unhurt. The other survivors are not so lucky. Every human being they encounter is infected, gripped by an unquenchable thirst that drives them to monstrous acts of violence.
Somehow, Jesse has to escape. But first, he has to stay alive.
My Thoughts:
As you can see from my rating, I thought is book was OKAY. It didn’t take long for me to read and I definitely wanted to finish once I started, but… At times the story was boring. Even though the kids in the story explored the building they decided to consider their Home Base we didn’t get to see a lot of what they did. It was just skimmed over. Basically, there was too much talking and not enough doing.
The ending is what really had me going, “Huh???” It might have worked better for me if the author had allowed a little more time at the end, but the way it is, the ending is just BAM BAM BAM. After the rest of the book going DRIBBLE DRIBBLE DRIBBLE, the ending just didn’t match and left me feeling dissatisfied.
Other Books It Reminds Me Of:
THE RAFT by S.A. Bodeen (because of the ending) THIS IS NOT A TEST by Courtney Summers THE ENEMY by Charlie Higson
0 Comments on CHASERS (Alone #1) by James Phelan – REVIEW as of 1/1/1900
1 of the 52 Reasons to Love Jessica Brody and Her Books….for 51 other reasons, visit YA Librarian Tales (August 4th), Call Me Crazy (August 6th, and I Just Want to Sit Here and Read (August 7th) and stay tuned for more!
Jessica’s top 5 favorite movies are: Sliding Doors; Love, Actually; Back to the Future; Office Space; and Toy Story.
Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.
Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.
Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteenth birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.
In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him.
52 Reasons to Hate My Father Trailer
The Making of the 52 Reasons to Hate My FatherBook Trailer
In honor of the early July release of ONCE by Anna Carey, I am able to offer you a wonderful opportunity. How would you like to win a copy of EVE, ONCE, and a $10 iTunes Giftcard?
Anna Carey is sharing her 5 favorite things with us. In order for you to be eligible to win the prizes above, all you have to do is share 1 of your favorite things in EACH category in the comments below. (US ONLY)
BOOKS
MOVIES
TV SHOW
SONG
ALBUM
Anna Carey’s Favorites
I just finished Rise, the third and final book in The Eve Trilogy. The greatest thing about ending one series and starting another is the time you have to relax, reflect, and take in all the culture you’ve missed while you’ve been writing away. Here are a few of my favorite books, movies, and music. Some are old favorites, others I’ve just discovered. All of them have served to inspire.
BOOKS
I can’t get enough survival stories. I’m a recovering I Shouldn’t be Alive addict, and as a teen I devoured books like Hatchet and Lord of the Flies. My more recent favorites are Life of Pi and Wild. There are so many rich, vivid descriptions in Life of Pi—the book has stuck with me in the seven or so years since I read it. I’m halfway through Wild, about a young woman hiking the Pacific Crest trail, and really enjoying it. She leaves for the trail after the death of her mother. Those passages describing her loss, and how her marriage came undone afterwards, are some of the most moving I’ve read.
MOVIES
I recently went to see The Hunger Games and The Avengers.
10 Comments on Anna Carey’s Favorite Things – GIVEAWAY, last added: 7/8/2012
BOOKS – Anything dystopian – just finished the “The Last Survivors” series. Zombies sometimes overlap with dystopian, and I love it all!
MOVIES – “The Princess Bride” is always going to be my all-time go to movie when asked about my favorite, but there are several others I have loved recently – and especially if it involves Jason Statham.
TV SHOW – I love “The Walking Dead”, and “Lost Girl”, and my guilty reality show pleasure is “The Bachelor/Bachelorette”.
SONG – Right now I’m crazy about “We Were Young” by Fun and “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perry
ALBUM – I got the entire Christina Perry CD recently and love a great majority of the songs.
Thanks for this opportunity! Muzette´s last [type] ..It’s summertime!
Carol M said, on 7/8/2012 7:37:00 AM
BOOK: Right now, Incarnate by Jodi Meadows!
MOVIE: Gone With the Wind
TV SHOW: The Big Bang Theory
SONG: Moon River
ALBUM: With the Beatles
Carol M said, on 7/8/2012 7:41:00 AM
Please do not count my first entry. Thanks!
BOOK: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
MOVIE: Gone With the Wind
TV SHOW: The Big Bang Theory
SONG: Moon River
ALBUM: With the Beatles
mittens0831 at aol dot com
Jill of The O.W.L. said, on 7/8/2012 5:38:00 PM
Love this!!!
BOOKS: Divergent and When You Reach Me
MOVIES: The Outsiders!!!
TV SHOW: Any ghost hunting show like Ghost Hunters
Oh my gosh, I absolutely LOVED this post to pieces!
BOOKS: My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews will always be my go-to favorite book, ever! It’s also kind of special, in the sense that it’s her only stand-alone book written that didn’t belong to a series. It will seriously break your heart in so many ways, but it’s one of the best reads ever. Changed my life, for sure.
MOVIES: Tombstone! I love that movie so much, that I have it memorized like crazy. I used to watch that movie like you’d play a game, with my cup, gun, and knives. lol.
TV SHOW: I miss the old days of classic!WB, back when Tarzan was on it. Sarah Wayne Callies was just amazing and so beautiful, but she is anything that she does (hi, Walking Dead anyone?!). It just makes me sad that they canceled the show after only eight eps, but what were they expecting when they gave it the time slot of death on Sunday nights. Grr.
SONG: I love Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, it’s one of the most gorgeous songs ever.
Books: Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Movies: The Boondock Saints
TV Show: True Blood
Song: My latest favorite is Mz. Hyde by Halestorm
Album: Latest favorite is The Strange Case of… by Halestorm
Welcome to Karin’s Book Nook. Today it is my pleasure to host the Blog Tour for SHADOW AND BONE. Back in March I posted myreviewand as you can see, I enjoyed it immensely. I am so excited to have the author, Leigh Bardugo, guest posting on my blog today. Without further ado….
JUST WHAT DOES A KEFTA LOOK LIKE?
In Shadow and Bone, the Grisha, Ravka’s magical elite, wear a garment known as a kefta. The term and the design were inspired by the kaftans Russian men wore back in the day and, as someone who can’t resist the opportunity to talk clothes and costumes, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite images of vintage and modern kaftans.
(Disclaimer: One thing you’ll notice if you do a google search on “kefta”? It’s also a Middle Eastern meat dish. I debated adding an “h”, but in the end I decided to keep things simple. But no, the Grisha aren’t rocking meat dresses a la Gaga. Given the number of bears and wolves in the woods of Ravka, that would be a most imprudent fashion choice.)
Let’s start with some of the historical inspiration for the kefta:
These are from the Kremlin Armory
An illustration by Ivan Bilibin
But they weren’t just for lounging around. Look at these uniforms warn by the feared Streltsi.
1 Comments on SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo – GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY, last added: 6/17/2012
Almost 20 years after publishing THE GIVER, Lois Lowry has finally written the ending to Jonas’ story.
SON is told in three parts, Before, Between, and Beyond, with a new main character. Claire, a girl a couple of years older than Jonas’, was assigned to be a Birthmother at the ceremony when she became a Twelve. She was disappointed, but not surprised since she didn’t excel in school. Claire becomes a Vessel not long after she arrives, but something goes wrong during the birthing process and the Product has to be surgically removed from her body. After a few days of recuperation she is reassigned to the Fish Hatchery – no longer able to be a Birthmother. At 15-years-old, Claire has nothing left in her life. Tedious routine is the only thing that occupies her days, until she decides to try and find her Product. The decision to track down her son sets the course for the rest of her life.
THE GIVER, GATHERING BLUE, and THE MESSENGER all come together in this final installment. Lowry does a great job taking us back to the world of THE GIVER, as well as creating a brand new setting.
A couple of days ago I didn’t even know this book existed. I’m so glad I was able to borrow a copy from a friend. This one is a one-sitting read folks so get ready!
Holy moly. I’m so glad you posted this. I finished the “trilogy” around three months ago and was let down! I had no idea there was this installment. I’m going to go get it from my library immediately!
What is the first thing you think of when you hear the name Jeffrey Dahmer? That’s right, GRAPHIC NOVEL.
Derf Backderf, the author of MY FRIEND DAHMER, actually went to school with the notorious serial killer. Not only does he use his own personal memories of the time they shared the halls together, but he also took the time to interview other classmates and teachers. conducted research by reading/watching interviews with Dahmer after he was captured, and reading the book Dahmer’s father wrote.
Backderf takes us through Dahmer’s life starting in Seventh Grade. He paints a picture of Dahmer’s isolated life and reveals the loneliness he suffered through every day. Backderf shows Dahmer’s gradual progression of violent and macabre activities that led up to his first murder in 1978 when he was only 18-years-old.
For a book that chronicles a serial killer’s descent into darkness, MY FRIEND DAHMER contains relatively little violence. This is definitely a book for true crime fans. It is a disturbing and tragic story that compels you to read until you get to the gruesome end.
0 Comments on MY FRIEND DAHMER by Derf Backderf – REVIEW as of 1/1/1900
Thanks so much for the giveaway! I can’t wait to read this book.
One thing- I am apparently an idiot because in the form where it asks for my mailing address, I filled in my email address. Read to quickly, I guess.
So if by some miracle I win could you please contact me instead of throwing out my entry since it’s incorrect? Thank you!
Suz @ A Soul Unsung said, on 6/5/2012 5:55:00 PM
Oh my gosh! I absolutely love Libba Bray, I have almost all of her books except for one of them. I’m seriously excited for this giveaway. Thank you for being so epicly generous!
Today is the first day of Armchair BEA. I don’t know about you, but I’m really sad that I can’t be at BEA this year. Maybe next year though. In order to sooth myself, I’m participating with others not able to attend.
For those of you at home, you can follow the excitement on Twitter for the BEA feed or the Armchair BEA feed. PLUS, BEA is offering FREE LIVE STREAMING of many of the popular events. Click HERE for a schedule. You can go to the BEA website to watch the video or you can watch it in the embedded player below:
Today we are asked to share some information about ourselves in a personal interview. Here are my answers.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?I’m an Asst. Professor at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. I teach in the Library Science Department. Before moving to the University I was a school librarian for 10 years. I started blogging in 2007 because I wanted a way to share what I was reading and book recommendations with my middle school students.
What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2012?Right now I’m reading BETA by Rachel Cohn.
Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.I LOVE TO NAP. Put me in a cool room with some covers and I can sleep at any time during the day.
Where do you see your blog in five years?Actually, I see my blog probably the same as it is today. I love that I have people following me and I love making new connections with other YA readers, but I mostly blog to keep track of my reading. I don’t have ads or any other revenue generation (except for my Amazon links) so I don’t blog to make money so I doubt I’ll be making any major changes in the future.
Have your reading tastes changed since you started blogging? How?My reading tastes have changed over the years. I seem to go through spurts. I used to love Historical Fiction and read everything Jean Fritz published. Especially the books written about the American Revolution time period. Then I kind of went into a paranormal romance phase. Now, I’m into Science Ficiton – really Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian.
Be sure
10 Comments on Armchair BEA – Interview Post, last added: 6/4/2012
I love that you’re a teacher, too (I’m with elementary students) and that we can enrich our students lives through literature. I love to nap, as well. How about mid-afternoon, right around 2:00 when one’s energy in the classroom starts to lag a bit? Happy BEA Week! Maybe, when we retire, we can go to the real deal.
Annette said, on 6/4/2012 8:29:00 AM
I’ve been a follower for a long time, just wanted to say Hello! and I hope you enjoy BEA.
WOOT WOOT! Another TX Blogger I love that TX is so full of readers
I love naps too though I don’t get to take them nearly enough!
I love the American Revolution time period too but I don’t read to much in that era (there just really isn’t a whole lot out there)!
It was great to meet you
Jeanne said, on 6/4/2012 9:00:00 AM
I am so glad to see dystopian fiction getting so popular with young adult readers. As a lover of satire, it seems to me an indication that we’re on the right track, in terms of thinking about where we’re headed and how we can avoid getting there.
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) said, on 6/4/2012 9:58:00 AM
I wish I could nap anytime, anywhere! It sure would be nice.
Sounds like you have a great job!
Kat (No Page Left Behind) said, on 6/4/2012 1:37:00 PM
I wish I was a good napper like you, then I could stay up late reading more often
Thanks for including the live stream of BEA – so neato!
UNWHOLLY is a book I’ve been waiting for since 2008 when I finished UNWIND.Neal Shusterman really set the bar high with UNWIND and I was hoping he could keep up the momentum with the next book in the trilogy. Well, he didn’t let me down.
I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of the book at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference last week. Both UNWHOLLY and INSURGENT were being autographed at the same time so I had to rely on a colleague to stand in line for me since both series are so popular there was no way I could be in both lines at ones. One or the other would have run out. So, thanks Holly.
UNWHOLLY picks up where UNWIND left off. Shusterman does a great job catching up the reader so you don’t feel lost. However, I still recommend reading UNWIND before diving into this book. Since it doesn’t come out until August you have time to read it now. This review is intentional vague. I don’t want to spoil anything for people who haven’t read either book.
After a terrible war between the Pro-Life people and the Pro-Choice people, an agreement was made to add The Bill of Life to the Constitution. Basically, life is protected from conception until the age of 13. Once a child reaches 13 a parent then has the right to Unwind their child. Unwinding is a process where the child officially remains alive – but in a “divided state.” Every part of the body is harvested at a Harvest Camp and preserved and later used for people that need replacement parts. For instance, if someone is suffering from heart failure – instead of have bypass surgery you just get a new heart that once belonged to a child that was Unwound. A parent or legal guardian can sign the unwinding order until the child reaches 18 (now 17 after an amendment because of developments in UNWIND).
2 Comments on UNWHOLLY by Neal Shusterman – REVIEW, last added: 4/26/2012
Min Green is devastated. She and her boyfriend, Ed Slaterton, broke up. For two months, Min and Ed were practically inseparable. She introduced him to classic movies and he introduced her to basketball. Neither one of them particularly liked the new activities, but they went in order to please the other.
As with most new relationships, friends are neglected, compromises are made, and love is declared.
Everything is great…until it isn’t.
WHY WE BROKE UP consists of Min explaining how her and Ed’s relationship goes wrong. Min kept many mementos from their time together and has decided to give them back. She composes a letter to Ed explaining the importance of each memento and the reasons they broke up. Her final act will be to put the letter in the box with the mementos and dump them on his porch.
Daniel Handler does a FAN-TAS-TIC job of portraying Min as a broken hearted girl. Her devastation comes through perfectly. Anyone who has had their heart broken will be able to identify with Min.
I listened to this on audio and was completely happy with the performance of the narrator, but with the audio I missed out on the unique illustrations by Maira Kalman. Maira Kalman provides illustrations for the mementos throughout the book. Here is an example:
Today is Karin’s Book Nook’s 5th Anniversary. I can’t believe I’ve been blogging this long. It is kind of ironic that this anniversary falls during my first failure of the year to post. My goal this year was to post every day, but I’ve been off for a couple of days. I’ll get back to it though. I’ll catch up on some reviews this week and hopefully schedule some so I can take the pressure off.
Here are the reviews I have on deck:
THE FORGETTING CURVE PARTIALS THE GRAVEYARD BOOK COLD CEREAL BITTERBLUE LEGEND
and I’ll finish DAUGHTERS OF EVE by Lois Duncan this week.
So, hold me to it guys. I have a habit of just going from book to book without taking time to review it right when I finish.
I have also fallen behind updating my Reviews (A-Z) page. I really need to go back and link all the reviews I’ve written. Sadly, I think I’m at least a couple of years behind. I wish my friend Julie from My Favorite Pastime would do it for me.
Even though my blogging productivity has had its ups and downs, I have enjoyed it and hope to have another great 5 years ahead of me.
10 Comments on Karin’s Book Nook – 5th Anniversary, last added: 3/28/2012
Natasa @ The YA Cover said, on 3/27/2012 6:38:00 PM
Awww happy birthday! I think I’ve been following you for around 2 years or so. Love your reviews. Can’t wait to see what you think of Bitterblue and Legend! I’ve yet to read them but I’ve heard some great things.
Julie said, on 3/27/2012 7:07:00 PM
Haha! You come up with the list and I’ll do it for ya!
Julie @ My Favorite Pastime
Canna said, on 3/27/2012 11:44:00 PM
Happy Birthday Karin
Annette said, on 3/28/2012 10:57:00 AM
Congrats! I’ve really enjoyed your blog.
Jill of The O.W.L. said, on 3/28/2012 6:45:00 PM
Congrats!!! I love your blog
karinlibrarian said, on 3/28/2012 6:57:00 PM
Ha, you’ll be sorry! I’ll get a list together for you.
karinlibrarian said, on 3/28/2012 6:57:00 PM
Thank you so much for following the blog Natasa.
karinlibrarian said, on 3/28/2012 6:58:00 PM
Annette, thanks for all the comments you leave me. I appreciate them.
karinlibrarian said, on 3/28/2012 6:58:00 PM
Thanks so much.
karinlibrarian said, on 3/28/2012 7:00:00 PM
Thanks Jill. I love yours too. Middle Grade Lit need as many advocates as it can get.
I didn’t create this book trailer. It is the Official Trailer from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. I read this book last year and have never gotten around to writing a review. So, to get my self in the mood I went to find the trailer. Look for the review shortly.
Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.
Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.
With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer is a 2011 Bank Street – Best Children’s Book of the Year.
0 Comments on HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER by Lish McBride – BOOK TRAILER as of 1/1/1900
In honor of World Poetry Day (Today, March 21st) I am featuring BUG OFF! CREEPY, CRAWLY POEMS by Jane Yolen.
I’m not a fan of insects and frequently curse their existence when I spend any time outdoors. Mosquitoes seem to love me and will flock to me from miles around. (Sadly, there isn’t a poem about a mosquito in this book) But, when I saw that Jane Yolen was the author of these poems I had to take a look. I’m glad I did. The poems are great. The two that stand out for me are: “Oh, Fly” and “POP! Goes the Tick.”
Here is an example of what each page looks like.
As you can see, each page includes a poem (in various styles) and a short factual paragraph about each bug.Both, the poems and facts were fun to read.
Pair the great text with the beautiful photographs and you have a book that the kids are going to go crazy for. Jason Stemple has collaborated with Jane in the past. Be sure to visit his website to see other examples of his work.Here is the picture from the Table of Contents page.
0 Comments on BUG OFF! CREEPY, CRAWLY POEMS by Jane Yolen – REVIEW as of 1/1/1900
In honor of the newest Chronicle’s of Nick release, INFAMOUS, I have been authorized to giveaway a copy of the book that started it all. If you would like to win a copy of INFINITY, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. I reviewed INFINITY in 2010. Click HERE to read the review.
At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.
Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.
But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.
As if starting high school isn’t hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?
Danny Bigtree and his family were forced to move away from their Mohawk reservation in order to find work. Starting at a new school would be hard for anyone, but Danny is also the only Indian at his school in New York City and has to listen to kids call him chief and ask him about his Tipi everyday. The kids don’t care that Iroquois used to live in Longhouses so Danny doesn’t even bother to correct them.
Danny’s dad works as a steel worker and is gone for weeks at a time traveling from job to job. When he comes home early one day, Danny begins to explain to him how hard school is. His father tells him the story of the Iroquois peacemaker, Aionwahta, for inspiration and offers to visit Danny’s fourth-grade class to talk about the Iroquois culture.
Danny is both excited and nervous about his dad’s visit. What if the kids are mean and tease his father?
Will the kids continue to tease Danny even after his father explains the Iroquois culture to the class?
Joseph Bruchac is a master at sharing Native American culture in childrens and young adult literature. While the legend in this book is just as engaging as some of the others he has shared, the character development is lacking.This is a Puffin Chapters book and only 96 pages so the story is very quick. So much so, that the problem resolution seems rushed and even a little unrealistic. But, as short as it is, there is no reason not to read EAGLE SONG.
0 Comments on EAGLE SONG by Joseph Bruchac – REVIEW as of 1/1/1900
I love Daniel Waters and I fell in love with the Generation Dead series in 2007 when I got my hands on an ARC of GENERATION DEAD (the first in the series) at an English teachers conference. I’ve reviewed all of the book and posted a Q & A with him over the years. Links to the reviews for the books are below:
I was very excited when I saw the news about this ebook of short stories set in the Generation Dead world. I read through it in one night and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of the minor characters from the series.
STITCHES contains four short stories – each following a different character.
HOW’S LIFE
This story gives us a look at Margi and Colette’s friendship. This is nice because in the other books we only see a glimpse of this complex relationship.
DOLL PARTS
This was my favorite story of the collection. It focuses on Sylvia and her time inside the Hunter Foundation. This one is a bit on the creepy side. So cool!
MY DEAD HEART
This one gets us inside Tommy’s head. This is great since he didn’t play a big role in books two and three. It was nice to read about his feelings about Phoebe and Adam and the goings on back home while he was out of the road fighting for the rights of the Differently Biotic.
PURPOSE STATEMENT
This
1 Comments on STITCHES by Daniel Waters – REVIEW, last added: 3/17/2012
Gene has a secret. One that, if ever found out, could get him killed. He has to constantly stay focused to make sure he doesn’t do anything to give himself away. That means no sweating or laughing and shaving all the hair off of his body every day. Gene is a human, one of the last in the world and he has been blending in for his entire life. His father taught him all the tricks before he died and left him on his own. It is an effort every day to keep going, but Gene hasn’t reached the point of giving up…yet.
Everyone at school is a buzz about the special Declaration due from the Ruler. Rumors are flying around as to what it might be about and all are hoping it is to announce another Heper Hunt. Hepers are humans and there has been one time when the Ruler set up a Hunt for specially chosen people. The hunt consisted of citizens (vampires) chasing the Hepers down and tearing them apart limb from limb. It was over in an instant. The hepers never stood a chance against the citizens’ speed, strength, and blood lust. Everyone thought the hepers were gone – driven extinct by people attacks over the years. Could there be any left?
When the announcement begins, everyone is glued to the Live Feed from the Heper Institute. The excitement is palpable as the students watch as a captive heper begins choosing the lottery numbers that have been randomly assigned to the citizens. Five to ten citizens will be chosen to participate in a Heper Hunt. These hepers were only children during the first Hunt so the Institute kept them hidden. This time the Hunt won’t be over so fast because the Institute has trained them to use simple weapons so they could learn to fight back. The Ruler wants this Heper Hunt to be more exciting.
Gene and another girl from school are chosen for the Hunt. Immediately they are whisked away to the Institute for a few days of preparation before the Hunt begins. What is Gene going to do? He is trapped with people that would kill him in a heartbeat. He doesn’t even get a chance to go home for supplies. How is he going to be able to shave? Where will he be able to get water? How will he be able to mask his scent? Is there any way he will be able to maintain his cover and more importantly, what will he do when he is set loose and expected to hunt down one of his own?
THE HUNT is an interesting take on the vampire novel. It is fast-paced and exciting. Andrew Fukuda does a wonderful job of blending traditional vampire lore with cool and new ideas. He did a good job of bringing the story
1 Comments on THE HUNT by Andrew Fukuda – REVIEW, last added: 3/18/2012
Ravka was once a beautiful nation, but when the Black Heretic released the Shadow Fold it was split in two – unleashing terror on the people. The Shadow Fold is a thick black fog filled with dangerous monsters that feast on human flesh. The only hope to cross the dangerous expanse is with the help of the Grisha, a magically elite force led by the mysterious Darkling. All children are tested to see if they have the power to become one of the Grisha. If a child exhibits signs of one of the three categories of Grisha they are taken to the Little Palace for training so they can learn to control their power. Once trained, the Grisha join the ranks of The Second Army to fight along side the King’s First Army in the civil war that has been raging for years.
The 3 Orders of the Grisha
Alina and Mal are inseparable best friends. They have been each other’s support since childhood when they both ended up at Duke Keramsov’s estate after both losing their parents. They, like other children, were tested by the Grisha, but neither exhibited any signs of power. Eventually, when old enough, both Alina and Mal joined the First Army – Mal as a soldier and Alina as a cartographer. Unfortunately, their regiment is set to cross the Shadow Fold and Alina is as scared as she has ever been.
Alina and Mal are in the same boat on the way across the Unsea and the monsters begin to attack as soon as they enter the black fog. When her friend and fellow cartographer is pulled from the boat all she can do is crouch low and hope she isn’t next, but when the monsters make their move for Mal she can only think to save him. As she throws herself on top of Mal, all she sees is a bright light before losing consciousness.
It turns out she didn’t just save Mal, but everyone else in the boat too. It seems she has power after all.
Alina is immediately taken to the Little Palace for training. The Darkling takes a particular interest in her and Alina finds herself immersed in the world of magic. While everything seems amazing – a comfortable bed to sle
1 Comments on SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo – REVIEW, last added: 3/18/2012
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I’m sure you have noticed that I haven’t been posting on my blog very often. I’d like to fix that, but right now it seems a little overwhelming. SO, what I’m going to do is start posting my book reviews on my Tumblr page. 
Happy BEA Week! Maybe, when we retire, we can go to the real deal.
Gone With the Wind
Children of a Lesser God
The Descendants
Finding Nemo
West Side Story
Gone With the Wind, Clueless, Chocolat, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Finding Neverland.