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That embroidary made me awfully happy too!

And John and Hank make my boys even happier...I'm glad to have them as co-parents.

Love that embroidery! And yeah, I'm still reeling over the Jane Goodall scandal. Sigh. And um, I have been known to watch an episode or three of The Lizzie Bennet Diaires.

@ Charlotte: It must be so weird to have someone else your kids listen to so closely! It's awesome.

@Lin: I am so, so sorry for Jane Goodall... and this woman has collaborated with her on myriad books. Now she has to go back and look at EVERYTHING...

That embroidery is made of awesome. (Uh, and thread.) I took a quick look over the article at the Museum of Childhood blog and it was fascinating stuff!

My agent's at (or WAS at) the Bologna bookfair, too. JEALOUS.

Happy holidays, Wonderlanders!

Happy 2013, Tanita (and other Wonderlanders). I've missed you!

Great stuff!!!

No popsicles? No popsicles?! Aaaah!

If you said you had done a toon but it melted, we would believe you. ;-)

I find that I don't mind heat as long as there's not much humidity! Of course, I think over 100 is pushing it. I send mental Otter Pops to you.

The publisher sent me copies of these, actually, and the promo material didn't say anything about them being geared towards the teen audience. So they struck me as nice, inexpensive editions to bring to the beach. If they've being specifically designed for the teen audience, though, eh.

Wow. A thought-provoking post - I hadn't realized how much about war I'd read in the past, but this list gathers many favorites - including the perennial Tim O'Brien. Great list.

I am so behind on things I want to watch. I keep meaning to watch some of the Crash Courses (my BFF's been watching them, and she says they're really good, and she is a history teacher, so there's that), but first I must, must, must watch Unintentionally Awesome.

This weekend, maybe, I'll get some quiet watching time when the weather gets cold and rainy again.

I am SO going to have to check out Tabletop. And these Crash Courses sound intriguing--this is the first I've heard of them, but then, you know I've been in a cave for a few months. :) Plus, since our house is currently filled with Teaching Company Great Courses (speaking of crash courses) if any more education sneaks in anywhere the universe might implode.

I'm so excited for LW and Unintentionally Awesome! I can't wait to get some time to watch those. I did see a trailer.

Ben just discovered the Crash Courses last week, and has been spending his spring vacation educating himself therewith!

And Yay for Spring! (I guess. I don't have time for it yet...but maybe next week!)

Thanks, ladies! I hope you enjoy Unintentionally Awesome.

I'm flattered to be mentioned in the same post as Felicia Day/Geek & Sundry/The Guild, and the Vlogbrothers/Nerdfighters!

I made an apple-blueberry crisp last night -- what was I thinking? I should have made a pie!

Looking at that photo, you could always just use frozen puff pastry...Mmmm, pi....

True. Or that stuff you make baklava with, but it's not as puffy. Phylo? Anyway. We're crazy busy around here, so cooking is minimal - I actually ate cold cereal FOR BREAKFAST, which is just shockin' - and baking is a weekend thing, if at all. I have big plans to make SOUP today - the sort where you bodge all the wrinkled veg in the pot and leave them simmering for hours... yeah, that's about my speed right now.

SIGH.

Aaagh, I am so jealous SO JEALOUS!! I can't wait to read it. I'm thinking it will be a nice reward for finishing this semester...

It will be worth it when you get there... really. *REALLY* really.

Dear Tanita,

Thank YOU! I definitely have a case of the pre-pub jitters and am so relieved to hear you liked Grave Mercy! Yay!

Robin

Let me know when it comes out!

@ Robin: I know from the jitters, but really, NO NEED. So, SO very pleased for you and your fabulous book. Any time you'd like to do another interview, Wonderland would very much LOVE to have you. Kudos! ♥

@ LW: It's APRIL 3, baby! You'll be excited and happy to read this one - it strikes that perfect note.

Happy blog birthday, and thanks for not quitting!

I am in awe that this is your 8th year! Happy Blog Birthday to both of you, and thank you for everything you bring to the now gigantic children's and YA blog soup :)!

Time flies! I'm so glad you guys are continuing to work on what has been one of my favourite blogs for many a year. Happy Birthday, Finding Wonderland!

It IS a gigantic blog soup now, isn't it? Thanks, all, for the birthday wishes!

"Change is inevitable. Adventure is optional." I think I will steal this in the near future.

@ Charlotte ~ we've eventually figured out when WE feel we have nothing to say to see what everyone else is saying! Since someone will always be reading/exclaiming, there will always be something to say. Here's hoping, at least.

@ Jama ~ sooner than you think, you'll be looking back on seven years as well!

@ C.K.~ thank you! So owe you an email - we need to catch up!

@ Maegan ~ you're totally welcome to that!

Happy blogoversary!

Well, I wouldn't call The Great Gatsby historical fiction because it's not. It was modern fiction when it was written --and pretty hip, at that. Fitzgerald didn't set the book in a time other than his very own!

That said, if books for young people with a historical setting are getting short shrift because of the term "historical fiction," then maybe some re-branding is in order. Maybe publishers could call it "retro fiction."

Kelly, thanks - The Great Gatsby wasn't a good example - and I get a smile out of "retro fiction." It's like Jen's "HisFic for Hipsters" at Reading Rants.

I don't usually read war books because I know they're likely to be emotional reads. I have to steel myself for what might happen and I usually end up sobbing my eyes out (like I did with Code Name Verity). So for me, it's not because war books = historical fiction. I don't have a problem with historical fiction, I've enjoyed reading a number of books under that genre. But I think it's different for me because I'm based in the Philippines - our required reading for school were not labeled as historical fiction.

Also, thank you so much for linking to my review! :)

@ Chachic: I agree - it's a lot of the time because I don't want to cry!!

So, in school in the Philippines, you weren't assigned to read fictionalized accounts of history because those were considered entertainment, or because Philippine authors did not fictionalize history when you were a kid?

Historical fiction as being used for classroom assignments is something that has been very popular and not at all popular - in grad school, we listed the sort of "instructional" fiction that existed and discovered that most of what was assigned to be used in schools *was* so-called "historical fiction" - a lot of teachers didn't see value in just a regular story.

I'm always interested in how schools work in other places and cultures.

Oh we did read fictionalized accounts of Philippine history but for some reason, they were not labeled as historical fiction. All schools here are required to teach the novels written by Jose Rizal, our national hero, which are set during the time when the Philippines was still colonized by the Spaniards. I think we mostly think of that as just "required reading" instead of "historical fiction." Maybe that's why when I think of historical fiction, what usually comes to mind are novels set in foreign countries?

@ Chachic: Oh, interesting! Historical fiction to me is always American history -- and that might explain to me why CODE NAME VERITY to me doesn't seem that way to me at all - it's just deeply exciting, troubling, and dramatic.

Hmm!

(And now I need to look up Jose Rizal!!)

Amen, Tanita! You said it!

OMG no freaking nails left. I am doing a guest blog for you on 6 February??? How did I not know this??? *LMAO* *dies* Send me email, let me know what it'll be. (I know... you thought this was in someone else's hands, just like my poor kids think that I have organized their lives effectively and then it turns out I forgot to confirm that they were taking the exam that day, or whatever. This is the first time I've seen this blog tour banner, too! seriously, email me.)

...Ok, am now suitably reassured. What, me panic?

Thanks for the advance buzz!

☺

This has to be the most hilarious one-sided conversation ever...

All is well, looking forward to book talking with you WHENEVER - not necessarily Feb. 6! - good luck with the BBC!! We'll be linking to that, too, you can be sure!

Oh, now I REALLY can't wait to read it. I'm not usually a fan of wartime historical fiction, but I do like the WWII period--especially after all the research I did for my MFA thesis. (Which may get a new life...or not...we shall see.)

Love the Plato cartoon, though I must note with sheepishness that I'm reading it for the first time, not re-reading it (if only!!). And, as of last night, I'm done! On to Antigone...and then the 8-10 page paper due next Friday...

ONE OF THE THINGS i LIKE ABOUT YOUR BLOG IS THAT THE POSTS ARE INTERESTING. i HAVE TO READ EVERY PARAGRAPH AND TAKE IN WHAT you are saying (PS-I have no idea why my wacked-out computer typed this in caps, so sorry)

Hey, Russo, thanks for coming by! (My 'o' on my keyboard is acting up now, so occasionally I have o-less words... we can at least understand all-caps just fine. ☺)

Yay for the year of your first book! I hope your day was lovely.

Thanks, Charlotte! Likewise--I hope you had a wonderful day.

Thanks a lot!


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I got a stack of ARC's for HAPPY FAMILIES yesterday, and Dewey Crumpler came to mind. His words have become part of a mantra...

He's pretty awesome. :) (And he's a Mills alum!)

And, ooh, yay for the ARCs!!

What a lovely tribute. I was shocked to hear the news! How sad! I remember the first book of hers that I read: Dragonsdawn.

I still remember my mom handing me Dragonflight when I was about 12. My favorites were the Harper Hall dragon books, too, but I also really liked the Crystal Singer books.

Funny, I was never into horses the way I was into dragons. And I think it was probably Michael Whelan--who did many of her cover illustrations--who really made me want to be a cover illustrator in particular. I spent SO many hours copying his images of dragons from Anne McCaffrey's books as well as Melanie Rawn's dragon books (which I didn't like as well but of course I loved the covers!).

I read a lot of the Dragonriders books when I was a teenager, although I missed the Ship books entirely. I may have to read one. I mean, if you say it's one of the best books EVER...

You gave me chills when you said...and thus an era ends. So true and very much what I thought. Dragon Song is an all time favorite book, Menolly an all time favorite character. An amazing body of work she has left us with...so appreciated.

I am definitely a dork who ends up doing it the last day. I like to tell myself, though, that it's because I want the opportunity to nominate some worthy title that hasn't yet been nominated!

Well, you can rest easy on one point--Habibi has already been nominated. :) It's in my GN reading pile at this moment. Woot!

I choke too. I need to read Laurel Snyder's BIGGER THAN A BREADBOX *pronto* because what if it's a contender?

I just posted my yet to be nominated list. Heres the link

http://thehappynappybookseller.blogspot.com/2011/10/worthy-but-not-yet-nominated-cybils.html

Oh, yay! Thanks, Doret.

Well said!! Despite it all, I embrace what Cybils does because it truly is open to *everyone!! It's as diverse as we choose to make it.

I just started nominating yesterday. When it comes to the Cybils I always think diversity first (great story is a given).

If I have time this weekend I'll do a list of eligible Cybils titles featuring a diverse cast or kids of color. Look for it on Sunday or Monday.

That sounds great, Doret! I'll make sure that Anne knows about it, for the Cybils blog--usually she likes to put up some links to posts featuring worthy but not-yet-nominated titles.

Edi, I hope you can be involved with judging again next year, and I hope that next year the kidlitosphere has a whole new crop of diverse bloggers from which to choose,

Doret, I love you. That is EXACTLY what is needed. Thank you.

I knew I could count on the faithfuls!!! I still have a YA nomination left because my original was Sci-Fi so I'll be checking out Doret's list!

Aquafortis, thanks in advance for the title. Worthy but not-yet-nominated Cybils titles

Yeah. What you said! Our community is stronger for all those fine folk, indeed. Thanks for shining a light on 'em!

Amen!!

I love you.

Awww... Thanks, Tanita! I can't even tell you how much I look forward to the day (next year, perhaps?) when you make it to KidLitCon, and I can give you a big hug in person.

Thanks for reminding me of why I love this KidLit blogging gig so much - I've been feeling a tiny bit overwhelmed of late ;-)

Wow. After reading that article I feel almost speechless. Meanwhile, the many authors who write because they actually love writing YA fiction (instead of being told to do it) keep getting harassed or undersold.

After reading that article my first thought - I wonder how well romance has been selling, since all but one author are from that genre.

I respect Crouch honest answer but it's a real turn off.

In the end YA writers who do it because they love it will come out on top

I'm stuck on the nerdy girl needing to be the protagonist rather than a sidekick. Exactly how many YA novels has she read because from where I'm sitting there ARE A ZILLION BOOKS WITH NERDY GIRL HEROINES.

Please.

And could all these books look/sound more alike? Heaven forbid we see something other than actual teen paranormal romance.

SIGH.

I am going back to school this fall. I know I am going to get screwed on the loans again but I plan on being a little smarter this time. And I only have to take two classes.

I was in the campus bookstore the other day and noticed that the required book (which is not out in paperback) for all incoming freshman is a novel by one of English Professors.

Doret, congratulations on going back. I also hope that congratulations are in order and that you've gotten that job (meant to leave that comment at CO). I will be paying off student loans forever, is what it feels like, but it was worth it - hope it is for you, too.

Ditto on the congrats, Doret! I hope it works out well. (I, too, am still paying off student loans...as is the hubby...)

This graphic is hilarious. I just sent it on to some friends because we were trying to remember whether there are any other wizarding schools in Britain and therefore Hogwarts is just the most awesome one, or if it's the ONLY one, in which case they have some kind of monopoly on wizard education. :)

This is hilarious! And wow, I thought my textbooks were expensive but I averaged only $100/class. Wow, those are pricey!

My interview is on the 15th so think good thoughts.

The Hogwart textbooks are probably so expensive because magic is considered a science and those textbooks aren't cheap.

Carin: Exactly what Doret says: apparently magic is a science, and those tomes are never cheap!!

HAHAHA! I love the Bulwer-Lytton contest.

That link about Steampunk fantasy tropes was great! Clearly I am writing a steampunk novel, whatever else it may also be...since I have nearly all of these character types either already present or in the works. :)

Re: the Bulwer-Lytton - the romance winner was even WORSE, if that could be possible. OY.

I love my ezines! I really find the greatest stuff in them. I wish I had time to do more than skim them every month.