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Stacked is our sister-site's weekly mailbox-sharing feature.

Crikey, it's been a while! I've only acquired a handful of books since last time, which is good for the hoard, but I do also have a ton of news. I'll try to bullet-point it and use lots of photos so you don't get antsy :) Sorry, not going to happen. I have a lot to say, I guess!

First off, I finally started hitting the bookstores near my parents' place in Manila. Did you know that in a recent study by the World Culture Score Index, the Philippines is the top 4 country in the world in terms of time spent reading per person? The US is #22 on that list, though only a couple hours less per week on average.

In the mall near my mom's house alone there are at least 4 bookstores, that I know of anyway. One is inside the supermarket. In some of the malls the bookstores take up 3 or more floors! There's even one mall where I was getting so confused because the same company would have a store on the ground level and one on the third floor. Not just one company, but two different ones with multiple locations in the same mall. It's pretty crazy.

Anyway, here's one shelf from a store called Book Sale. It's basically a used bookstore (they sell some new books from local presses as well as magazines and assorted stationery like gift wrap and notebooks) and they are freaking everywhere. I was too embarrassed to take a photo of the store to show you what one looks like (I was already kind of lurking and surreptitiously taking pics). They basically cram everything into a tiny space, pile books on the floor, triple-stack them on shelves and tables with no real order. You just have to pick through and find something you might want to read. I think it's pretty fun! I ended up with Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking and Ann Patchett's Bel Canto for about $2 each.


I also went to Fully Booked at the GreenHills Promenade. I like them because the interior is kind of cool, they face out a lot of their books (especially in arts and design, where it matters so much!) though this isn't one of their coolest locations. Their kids/YA section was in disappointing disarray, but at least they have some nice huge display tables for new and bestselling YA. I even found some sale books for half off!




The thing they really have going for them is their selection. I just have to stop myself from going in and re-organizing their shelves. I will be doing a Shop Hop post soon (yep, bringing that back) where I will go into more detail.




Next up, I finally freaking finished the Pasadena Teen Book Festival website! PHEW. I hope you'll take a look when you're done here.


Also, next weekend is the 3rd Annual Yarn Crawl LA--our friends at Unwind in Burbank will be hosting Salina Yoon on Sat, Apr 5 from 11am-1 pm. There will be storytime, crafting, and snacks. My cousin and epic-level cake popper Adri P. is bringing Penguin and Bootsy pops! Our very own Thuy is running the show. Salina will show kids how to do finger-knitting, even though she admits she doesn't know how to knit for reals, haha! Once Upon a Time Bookstore will be selling Salina's books, including the Penguin titles and her latest book, Found! Awesome yarnista and knitwear designer Heather Walpole of Ewe Ewe Yarns created a scarf and hat pattern inspired by Penguin in Love. You can peek at the samples here and pick up the kit at Unwind during the Yarn Crawl! Last but not least, our favorite photographer Katie Ferguson will be on hand to document the event. I can't be there, sadly, but maybe I can eat some cake pops while I look at the photos afterwards!


This weekend, I headed out to Glorietta Mall to meet up with some of the Filipino book bloggers (find them #PHYAbookbloggers on Twitter). Thanks Louisse (@louisse_ang), Kate (@BookishBlurber), and Jesselle (@_jessellev) for hanging out with me! They actually had to run off to Becca Fitzpatrick's blogger forum and OMG you have to go look at their photos because Black. Ice. ARCs. Who do I have to beg, bribe, or bake for at Simon & Schuster to get a hold of one of those?


My selfie skills were strained to the max, haha! You can see the rest of our photos on my Instagram feed @frootjoos. I totally missed Kai (aka @amaterasureads) but I still hope to meet up with her and get a #PHYAbookbloggers t-shirt because how cool is that?!


Anyway, about the signing. I didn't get to go because I was going to have to work at 11 pm (I know, time zone madness) and the signing was at 4 pm. So what, you say? That's plenty of time!

People, this was the line at National Bookstore at 8 am for this 4 pm signing:


This was the bottom floor of the bookstore (which has 4 floors I think, I didn't get to them all) at 1 pm:


Scheiße! American YA fans, you don't even know. I think we sometimes take these events for granted, since so many YA authors actually live there. On the other hand, publishers, this is where you should send YA authors. Pinoys read! They read widely. We love fantasy as much as we love contemporary. We love Andrew Smith as much as we love Cassandra Clare--yes, they've read and loved The Marbury Lens. We are equal-opportunity readers. We buy books (libraries aren't really a big thing here) and we wait patiently in massively mind-numbingly long lines. We fangirl like it's going out of style (you would know how over the top we go if you had been here the year Michael Jackson died--I swear I didn't enter a single mall, jeepney, or restaurant that didn't have MJ songs playing or being performed by avid karaoke singers).

In case you're wondering, here's who I heard they want to see the most: Rainbow Rowell, Jennifer E. Smith, and Leigh Bardugo.

@frootjoos OMG, tons! @JenESmith @Marie_Lu, @mstiefvater, @marissa_meyer, @AndrewFukuda, @Susan_Ee, @jenlynnbarnes!

— Kai A (@amaterasureads) March 30, 2014

@frootjoos Lots! Jennifer E. Smith, Marie Lu, Rainbow Rowell, A.G. Howard, Kendare Blake, David Levithan, Sarah Dessen! :)

— Jesselle Villegas (@_jessellev) March 30, 2014

I actually really wanted to see Kate Evangelista (Til Death, Entangled Teen 2014) but I had to work that day, too. Bummer! Her launch party looked like it was a lot of fun. I did buy her book at National yesterday.


National actually books auditoriums for some visits, where they expect way more people than will fit in their store. Example:


Anyway, I'm sad I didn't get to see Becca, but I have already met her 3 times, and hopefully she'll tour in SoCal when Black Ice when it hits the shelves on October 7, 2014.

Crap, I just thought of three more book-related things to tell you. But this post is way over tl;dr already so I'll just leave you with this:


Folks, I legit fell off a futon when I read the email telling me to expect one in the mail. Like I wasn't excited enough to get Ruin & Rising when it releases on June 17! Anyway, my husband took a photo of the package contents with my lil' Darkling-wannabe John Carter, but he refused to read me the chapter sampler over FaceTime. *frowny-face*

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Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and The Story Siren, Stacked is our sister-site's weekly post where we share with you the books that we've bought, borrowed or received for the week.

This is actually an Unstacked post since the ratio for books bought to books given away was 1:50 this week. As you may have read recently, my mom had a stroke and I went home to the Philippines to help out. My dad, brother, and aunt all work during the day, and my little sister isn't 100% capable of watching over our mom and doing all the chores etc. (Though she is a hero, since she figured out how to call for help when Mama passed out in the hallway. For someone who is considered to be fundamentally a toddler all her life, she's one smart cookie.)



The one book I picked up was actually an eBook, The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski. The Kindle edition was on sale for $2.99. Marie's new YA novel, The Winner's Curse, is out now. I didn't particularly enjoy it, but I recognize that there will probably be quite a few people who will like it a lot better than I did. I like her writing style, but I didn't care for the plot and characters in The Winner's Curse. I'm hoping that The Shadow Society will be a bit more like my cup of tea.

It looks like I will be here a while, so I'll keep you posted regarding further hoard management and possibly a YA author event or two I will be attending. Anyway, that's it for me and book acquisitions/donations this week. If you want to catch up with what I've been doing in the Philippines, follow @frootjoos on Instagram.

Last but not least, Pasadena Teen Book Festival is coming up! We are now on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and you can still get free tickets at Eventbrite. Blogger friends, more info on the upcoming blog tour is on the way, I promise! I was just really hard at work to get the tote bag design done so we can order them from the screen printers. The first 100 people to arrive at the event will get the tote for free :)

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Weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren, Mailbox Monday, Tynga's Reviews, etc.

Here are the books I have recently received for review. 


The Legend of OinkADoodleMoo by Alan St. James


Deep in the heart of Texas lies a small, charming, silly farm called OinkADoodleMoo. One day, a shadow is cast across the land when a huge, hungry grizzly bear appears. What will become of our barnyard friends? Well, let's just say you'll laugh, giggle and sing along as you discover their unique solution to the dreadful problem at hand...



The Savior's Symbols by March A. Amacher


The Savior's Symbols examines the context and significance of the symbols the Lord used in his teachings. Author Mark A. Amacher outlines each teaching opportunity, describes the characters, and helps you understand to whom these symbolic messages were directed. This insightful book invites you ponder anew the life, ministry, and sacred mission of Jesus Christ.



Proxy by Alex London



The adventure novel of the year! Inspired by The Whipping Boy and Feed, this adrenaline-fueled thriller will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games for its razor-sharp insights into the nature of human survival and its clever writing.

Knox was born into one of the City's wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.

Syd is a Proxy.  His life is not his own.

Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.

A fast-paced, thrill-ride of novel full of non-stop action, heart-hammering suspense and true friendship—just as moving as it is exhilarating. Fans of Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series, James Dashner's Maze Runner, Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking series, and Marie Lu's Legend will be swept away by this story.



Pheonix by Elizabeth Richards



Weeks after his crucifixion and rebirth as Phoenix, Ash Fisher believes his troubles are far behind him. He and Natalie are engaged and life seems good. But his happiness is short-lived when he receives a threatening visit from Purian Rose, who gives Ash an ultimatum: vote in favor of Rose’s Law permanently relegating Darklings to the wrong side of the wall or Natalie will be killed.

The decision seems obvious to Ash; he must save Natalie. But when Ash learns about The Tenth, a new and deadly concentration camp where the Darklings would be sent, the choice doesn’t seem so simple. Unable to ignore his conscience, Ash votes against Rose’s Law, signing Natalie’s death warrant and putting a troubled nation back into the throes of bloody battle.




Tarnish by Katherine Longshore


Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out. Newly arrived to the court of King Henry VIII, everything about her seems wrong, from her clothes to her manners to her witty but sharp tongue. So when the dashing poet Thomas Wyatt offers to coach her on how to shine at court—and to convince the whole court they’re lovers—she accepts. Before long, Anne’s popularity has soared, and even the charismatic and irresistible king takes notice. More than popularity, Anne wants a voice—but she also wants love. What began as a game becomes high stakes as Anne finds herself forced to make an impossible choice between her heart's desire and the chance to make history.

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Weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren, Mailbox Monday, Tynga's Reviews, etc.

Here are the book I have received in the mail recently.


Drawing Out the Dragons by James A. Owens


I believe in you. You have a great destiny. You are meant for great things. And it s possible to live a wonderful, extraordinary life. That is the promise offered by bestselling author and illustrator James A. Owen in this remarkable and inspirational meditation. In Drawing Out the Dragons, James shares personal stories and the deep truths he learned while navigating past obstacles and adversity toward a life of lasting belief and joy. We all have a grand destiny, but sometimes we feel we lack the power to achieve it. But we always have the power to choose. Every drawing, every life, is nothing but a series of choices and actions. Make your lines. Make your choices. . . . What you create from there is entirely up to you. Drawing Out the Dragons has the power to uplift, inspire, and change your life.


The Cats of Tanglewood Forest



The magic is all around you, if only you open your eyes....

Lillian Kindred spends her days exploring the Tanglewood Forest, a magical, rolling wilderness that she imagines to be full of fairies. The trouble is, Lillian has never seen a wisp of magic in her hills--until the day the cats of the forest save her life by transforming her into a kitten. Now Lillian must set out on a perilous adventure that will lead her through untamed lands of fabled creatures--from Old Mother Possum to the fearsome Bear People--to find a way to make things right.

In this whimsical, original folktale written and illustrated throughout in vibrant full color by two celebrated masters of modern fantasy, a young girl's journey becomes an enchanting coming-of-age story about magic, friendship, and the courage to shape one's own destiny.


Spellcaster by Claudia Gray



When Nadia's family moves to Captive's Sound, she instantly realizes there's more to the place than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia can sense that a spell has been cast over the tiny Rhode Island town—a sickness infecting everyone and everything in it. The magic at work is darker and more powerful than anything she's come across and has sunk its claws most deeply into Mateo . . . her rescuer, her friend, and the guy she yearns to get closer to even as he pushes her away.

Mateo has lived in Captive's Sound his entire life, shadowed by small-town gossip and his family's tormented past. Every generation, the local legends say, one member of the family goes mad, claiming to know the future before descending into insanity. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl from a car accident actually come true, he knows he's doomed.

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his terrible family curse, and to prevent a coming disaster that even now threatens the entire town, including Nadia's family, her newfound friends, and her own life. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray's new novel depicts a dark and unforgettable world of witches, curses, buried secrets, and star-crossed romance.



Five Summers by Una Lamarche


 Four best friends, five summers of camp memories

The summer we were nine: Emma was branded “Skylar’s friend Emma” by the infamous Adam Loring . . .

The summer we were ten: Maddie realized she was too far into her lies to think about telling the truth . . .

The summer we were eleven: Johanna totally freaked out during her first game of Spin the Bottle . . .

The summer we were twelve: Skylar’s love letters from her boyfriend back home were exciting to all of us—except Skylar . . .

Our last summer together: Emma and Adam almost kissed. Jo found out Maddie’s secret. Skylar did something unthinkable . . . and whether we knew it then or not, five summers of friendship began to fall apart.

Three years after the fateful last night of camp, the four of us are coming back to camp for reunion weekend—and for a second chance.

Bittersweet, funny, and achingly honest, Five Summers is a story of friendship, love, and growing up that is perfect for fans of Anne Brashares and Judy Blume's Summer Sisters.




Impostor by Susanne Winnacker



CAN TESSA POSE AS MADISON . . . AND STOP A KILLER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI.

When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep.

Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

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Weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren, Mailbox Monday, Tynga's Reviews, etc.

Here are the books I have recently received for review. 



A Trusting Heart by Shannon Guymon


Eight years after filling the role of runaway bride, Megan Garrett inexplicably finds herself at her high school reunion. After being tormented by her ex-fiancé, Megan decides to finally leave all memories of high school behind. But there s one person, the handsome Trevor Riley, who doesn't want to let her get away again. Be charmed alongside Megan as she learns to trust her heart.


Do Over by Shannon Guymon


Who wouldn't be tired of dating after falling for the wrong woman over and over again? Trey has decided to take a much-needed break from the fairer sex, until Iris tumbles into his life. Their romance will either be a disaster waiting to happen or the best fairy tale since Sleeping Beauty. This final installment of the Alpine series will have you giving love another chance.


Sweet Oblivion by Bailey Ardisone



sweet adjective ˈswēt a : pleasing to the mind or feelings : AGREEABLE, GRATIFYING - often used as a generalized term of approval
​
obliv·i·on noun ə-ˈbli-vē-ən, ō-, ä- 1: the fact or condition of forgetting or having forgotten; esp : the condition of being oblivious 2: the condition or state of being forgotten or unknown
​
Have you ever wanted to forget? Nariella Woodlinn has. Many times. Especially when her already frustrating life gets turned upside down by a mysterious boy who randomly shows up in her small town and she can’t seem to understand anything about him, despite how much she tries.
​Nari hates everything about her life except for her best friend Rydan, but now that they’ve been separated during their senior year of high school, she has to learn to make new friends without him. When strange unexplainable phenomenons start becoming an every day part of her life, Nari struggles to come to grips with reality. And with love.
​
Naminé has responsibilities. Duties. It is her obligation to fulfill all that is asked of her by their King. But when a glimmer of hope is introduced to her by a prisoner she tends to and it means life or death for her and her people, she does all that she can to turn that hope into reality and finally end the vicious war that has been ensuing since she was born. Even if that means keeping it secret from her King. Even if it means carrying out the biggest betrayal against the King ever seen during her time.
​
She has hope. She will fulfill her duty. She will not let her people down



Invisibility by Andrea Cremer & David Levithan



A magical romance between a boy cursed with invisibility and the one girl who can see him, by New York Times bestselling authors Andrea Cremer and David Levithan.

Stephen is used to invisibility. He was born that way. Invisible. Cursed.
Elizabeth sometimes wishes for invisibility. When you’re invisible, no one can hurt you. So when her mother decides to move the family to New York City, Elizabeth is thrilled. It’s easy to blend in there.
Then Stephen and Elizabeth meet. To Stephen’s amazement, she can see him. And to Elizabeth’s amazement, she wants him to be able to see her—all of her. But as the two become closer, an invisible world gets in their way—a world of grudges and misfortunes, spells and curses. And once they’re thrust into this world, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how deep they’re going to go—because the answer could mean the difference between love and death.
From the critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Andrea Cremer, who wrote the Nigthshade series, and David Levithan, who wrote Every Day and co-wrote Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist with Rachel Cohen and Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green, as well as many other novels, comes a remarkable story about the unseen elements of attraction, the mortal risks of making yourself known, and the invisible desires that live within us all.



The Inventor's Secret by Chad Morris


Abby and Derick have been accepted to the most prestigious secondary school in the world Cragbridge Hall. Due to the inventions of their grandfather, Oscar Cragbridge, they will be able to experience history in 3D, use their minds to literally project visual interpretations of classic literature, and become animal avatars for zoology. But when their grandfather and parents go missing, Abby and Derick must follow clues Oscar left for them that will reveal a dangerous secret. Along the way, they discover there is much more to one of their grandfather s inventions than anyone has ever dreamed. Saving their family will take all of Derick s mind and Abby s heart as they come face to face with a crazed scientist who desperately seeks to change the past. If they fail, the world past and future will never be the same. This book is a page-turning, time-travel adventure that teaches powerful lessons about choice and consequence, believing you can do hard things, and valuing your history.



Shadow of Love by Samuel Jay


Still blaming his father for the fiery death of his mother, alcohol and drug-addicted Ronnie Keller steals a pickup truck and crashes into him in a murderous attempt. Chip survives the attack and hires a private detective to investigate. PR man Chip is then retained to stop a corrupt developer from approvals for a building project that would pollute nearby Delaware River. Joining the battle is his clients married daughter, Helen, a mutual attraction resulting. Will they beat the developer? Will Chip pursue her or someone else hes met? And what happens when he learns his son tried to kill him?

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Weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren, Mailbox Monday, Tynga's Reviews, etc.

Here are the books I received for review during the past 3 weeks.  (I fell behind during the holidays and am just now getting a post up so it's 3 weeks worth of books).


Iron Kin by M.J. Scott


Imagine a city divided. Fae and human mages on one side, vampire Blood Lords and shape-shifting Beast Kind on the other. Between these supernatural forces stands a peace treaty that threatens to shatter at the slightest provocation....

I was raised to do the right thing. But to my family that means staying safe behind the walls of human society. To be a respectable metalmage and never put myself at risk. But the treaty is faltering. And if it fails, nothing is safe. To help save the city and everyone I care about, I will use whatever means I can to ensure the negotiations to renew the treaty are successful—even if that means forging an alliance with a man who is the very opposite of the right thing....

Fen is trouble. Wild. He would rather bind himself in iron and drink himself into oblivion than learn to master the visions that come to him. Those visions might just hold the key to peace, and it seems that my power might hold the key to his control—if I can keep it around him....



The Lost Cactus by Davis D. James


At twenty three, an office worker and university dropout from Basingstoke, Daniel Howard’s life hadn’t been the same since his fiancé left him and changes drastically after he hears voices at quiz night at the Dog and Duck. He soon discovers he’s lost an invisible cactus, his fiancée wasn’t quite the woman he thought she was, that wands are…at best…annoying and the company he works for hasn’t really put the correct measures in place to stop assassination attempts on his life. So partnered with the mysterious and less than enthusiastic Melody, he boards the centuries old Odyssey and gives chase to the evil wizard Daguarin. He criss-crosses the Atlantic Ocean, battles a sea-dragon, coaches seven dwarf trainee-managers, sings with huskies and confuses several less-then-clever gnomes; all to rescue an invisible plant… he never knew existed.



The 7 Principles of Fat Burning by Eric Berg


The 7 Principles of Fat Burning is the handbook to the sensational Berg Diet that has empowered thousands of people to get healthy, lose weight and keep it off. It shows how to activate your fat-burning hormones with a tailor-made eating and exercise plan for your body type.
The 7 Principles is a highly practical book that provides clear explanations-aided by dozens of charts and illustrations-of the principles of healthy weight loss. Easy-to-understand health and nutrition information and simple tests to determine your correct body type are the keys to its success. Knowledge is power and The 7 Principles of Fat Burning gives dieters the power to take command by eating the healthy diet that activates the fat-burning hormones for their body type.

For years people have been told to lose weight to be healthy. The truth is, you need to get healthy to lose weight. The Seven Principles of Fat Burning shows you how. Dr. Berg thoroughly educates readers and puts them right where they should be: in charge of their own weight.



The Good Daughter by Jane Porter
 

Love was given to all, except herself . . .

Kit Brennan has always been the most grounded of her sisters. A Catholic school English teacher for seventeen years and a constant giver, her decisions have been sound—just not very satisfying. Her fortieth birthday is right around the corner, causing Kit to consider some wilder notions, like skipping right past the love and marriage to raising a child all by herself . . .

A girls’ weekend away is just the reprieve Kit needs from school, Mr. Wrongs, and life-changing decisions. It’s there that she meets a man who’s dangerous; a man who challenges who she thought she was, or rather should be. Kit wants to indulge herself this once, but with one of her students in crisis and the weight of her family’s burdens weighing heavy on her heart, Kit isn’t sure if now is the time to let her own desires take flight . . .


Diary of a Stage Mothers Daughter by Melissa Francis




The Glass Castle meets The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother in this dazzlingly honest and provocative family memoir by former child actress and current Fox Business Network anchor Melissa Francis.

When Melissa Francis was eight years old, she won the role of lifetime: playing Cassandra Cooper Ingalls, the little girl who was adopted with her brother (played by young Jason Bateman) by the Ingalls family on the world’s most famous primetime soap opera, Little House on the Prairie. Despite her age, she was already a veteran actress, living a charmed life, moving from one Hollywood set to the next. But behind the scenes, her success was fueled by the pride, pressure, and sometimes grinding cruelty of her stage mother, as fame and a mother’s ambition pushed her older sister deeper into the shadows.

Diary of a Stage Mother’s Daughter is a fascinating account of life as a child star in the 1980’s, and also a startling tale of a family under the care of a highly neurotic, dangerously competitive “tiger mother.” But perhaps most importantly, now that Melissa has two sons of her own, it’s a meditation on motherhood, and the value of pushing your children: how hard should you push a child to succeed, and at what point does your help turn into harm?

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What books did you get this week?

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Hey y'all!

Stacked is our sister site's mailbox sharing weekly feature. I hope you are all having a marvelous week. I had an extra day off to get some reading done, so we have lots of reviews lined up--almost too many! But we'll keep some of them brief so we don't clutter up your reader feed.





I'm going to be writing a review for ALAN -- And probably doing a giveaway as well since I already had one, and they sent me another! I listened to Sharon read at one of Scholastic's Readers Theatres last year (authors dramatize an excerpt from each others' work and perform it for an audience). She was brilliant and I can't wait to dive into Pinned.




I can't resist a Kindle sale. I nabbed The Declaration by Gemma Malley, Say the Word by Jeannine Garsee, and Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller. 

Candlewick granted me Netgalley access to Mouse Bird Snake Wolf by David Almond (illus. by Dave McKean). Looks fantastic!

On Audible I picked up Ashes of Twilight by Kassy Tayler, Colin Fischer by Ashley E. Miller & Zack Stentz, and Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride. I actually already have it in print, but I have the audio for Hold Me Closer, Necromancer also and it's too fun to pass up.

Hey, I had a lot of credits to burn through :)

What about you? Anything cool pop up in your mailbox this week?

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Hey y'all!

Stacked is our sister site's mailbox sharing weekly feature. We got a ton of great stuff from Netgalley this week.


Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers - You have no idea how excited I was when HMH followed through and let me download this one. It will be out on April 2 and I'm hoping Robin will come down to LA again for LATFoB so I can buy a signed copy. I've already read it and am contemplating reading it over again. It was so good! The full review will come out closer to the publication date.

Hey, if I get lucky I'll buy two and raffle off the 2nd one to you guys! ;)




The Different Girl by Gordon Dahlquist - I loved Dahlquist's adult fantasy novel The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters (well, part one, anyway--part two was really hard to get into). He's got one hell of an imagination. I hope I will like his YA debut, too. It looks... different.

 “Somebody give the boy a medal!” – King Edward VII

“What a brain! Never have I seen such an ego.” – Sigmund Freud

“A little too revolutionary for my liking.” – Tsar Nicholas II of Russia 

And so forth. You get the picture? Still, the synopsis sounds pretty good:

MURDER. SPIES. EXPLOSIONS. REVENGE.

Peregrine Harker is about to learn you're never too young to die.

London 1908: A secret society stalks the murky streets, a deadly assassin lurks in the shadows and a series of unexplained deaths are linked by a mystery symbol…

When boy-detective Peregrine Harker stumbles across a gruesome murder he sparks a chain of events that drag him on a rip-roaring journey through a world of spluttering gas lamps, thick fog, deadly secrets and dastardly villains.

They had me at "MURDER." I'll let you know if it lives up to its own hype. Bonus points for having a cover that does not make me want to claw my own eyes out.

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That's it for me this week. What did you get? Share links in the comments below.

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Weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren, Mailbox Monday, Tynga's Reviews, etc.

Here are the books I received for review during the past 3 weeks.  (I fell behind during the holidays and am just now getting a post up so it's 3 weeks worth of books).



In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters




In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.





Dark Memories by Jeffrey S. Savage



There are things in the darkness--things much worse than the tracks and abandoned pieces of equipment that trip the children up and gash at their feet and legs--things that brush silently past them, touching their faces before disappearing again . . .

1977- In the sleepy town of Twin Falls, Colorado, what starts as a carefree school picnic ends in tragedy when six children disappear into an abandoned gold mine. Six enter the dark void and days later, only five emerge. After an arduous search, the hunt for the last child is called off and the mine entrance is blasted. Little Frankie is left behind, alone in the darkness. He is coming.

2011 - Police Chief Cal Hunt’s investigation into a recent string of bizarre murders in Twin Falls takes a chilling turn when he learns that each of the victims was a survivor of the Seven Stars Mine incident. Cal realizes that they share a dark secret--the truth about what happened to Frankie. To drag them deeper. With time running out for the remaining survivors, Cal must face a killer that defies logical explanation. Because no matter how Cal analyzes the facts, there is only one conclusion: A supernatural force is reaching out from the depths to reclaim those who escaped more than thirty years before. And it will not rest until it takes them all . . . Into the darkness.




Drops of Gold by Sarah M. Eden



When her father dies and leaves her completely destitute, Marion can think of only one thing to do--make a new life for herself. Commencing a life of duplicity, Marion transforms herself into Mary Wood--governess. In possession of a forged letter of recommendation and cloaked in the anonymity of her new identity, she enters a life of self-imposed servitude as teacher and caretaker of young Miss Caroline Jonquil of Farland Meadows. Her idyllic daydream vision of life at the Meadows is dashed when she finds a child desperately in need of hope and a cold and sorrowful home haunted by the past. With her characteristic sunny disposition, Marion casts her spell upon the household and slowly brings to life the long-forgotten joy of those within.

Layton Jonquil is a man tormented by the lies surrounding the death of his late wife, but he cannot deny his growing attraction for the beautiful governess whose goodness and optimism have touched his dormant heart. Their connection grows ever stronger, and despite the impropriety of harboring feelings for a servant, Layton's heart whispers that this is the woman he's destined to love. But when Layton's fears about the past become too much to bear and the falsehoods in which they are entangled threaten to shatter his and Marion's blossoming attachment, will true love conquer all?




Band of Sisters: Coming Home by Annette Lyon



Five women became fast friends when their husbands were deployed to Afghanistan. But as they welcome the soldiers home, what should be a joyful time soon becomes painful. Kim, who had a baby while her husband was away, knows how to be a mother but has forgotten how to be a wife. Nora, accustomed to taking care of herself during the long years of her husband's absence, resents having to forfeit her independence. Jess's already troubled marriage turns dangerous, while Brenda struggles to manage her husband,s psychological trauma. And Marianne faces her crushing loss, compounded with worry over wayward children. Each woman must draw upon her bond of friendship and faith to find the strength, courage, and insight needed to move forward, proving that even the hardest of trials cannot break this loyal band of sisters.




The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison



Seventeen-year-old Penelope "Lo" Marin has always collected beautiful things. Since her brother's untimely death, her collection has become an obsession. When she finds an antique butterfly necklace that belonged to a murdered girl at a flea market, she impulsively steals it and becomes fixated. As Lo delves deeper into the life of this girl she feels an otherworldly connection to, she finds herself in the middle of a violent underworld of crime, drugs and sex. But the more questions she asks, the more danger she is in. Can Lo uncover the killer's identity, or will she become the next victim?




Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes




Every other day, Kali D’Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She argues with her father. She’s human.

And then every day in between . . . she’s something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her, and unfortunately she’ll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive . . . and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.




Bitopia by Ari Magnusson



Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012! When you run from bullies, you never know where you might wind up… Bitopia is a wonderland of fantastical foliage and mysterious creatures. It’s also a place where Venators lurk, vile creatures that relentlessly hunt children. So the children of Bitopia, the only human inhabitants, are forced to live in a high-walled city for protection, a medieval metropolis of cold and shadow where time passes but no one ages, a place of no escape. Like all the other children of Bitopia, Stewart arrives there unexpectedly while fleeing from bullies. And, like all Newcomers, Stewart dreams of finding a way back home. Risking exile from the city and the protection that it offers, Stewart and Cora, his Finder, discover a clue to escaping, one that presents them with a terrible choice: face their greatest fear and risk death, or be trapped in Bitopia forever. A fast-paced adventure story that addresses a fundamental element of bullying--fear--and provides an example to readers of how to deal with bullying on their own. Ages 10 and up.




Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas




'Tis the season for worrying, planning, decorating, wrapping, entertaining, carolling and, worst of all, fruitcake! Scaredy Squirrel returns with a quirky safety guide filled with practical tips and nutty step-by-step instructions to help readers prepare for a perfect Christmas. A fun-filled guide sure to appeal to all the Scaredies out there!




The Amazing Action Alphabet by Esther Kehl



The most powerful way to teach letters and sounds.

An amazing yet simple technique of memorization by association that provides instant recall of letters and the sounds they make.



Message from a Hidden Past by Jos Rogiers



More than 3,200 years ago, a learned dwarf was pricked with the Sleeping Thorn and fell into a deep slumber in a secret cave somewhere on Earth. When he finally awoke, towards the end of 2009 or in the early part of 2010, he started to carry out the task he was charged with by his king: to reveal the truth about a hidden chapter of our past, that misunderstood period of our history when the so-called “gods” held sway over the world. He wrote an amazing book about this subject, a book that throws a completely new light on world history and human existence: "Message from a Hidden Past." According to the author, the gods were neither supernatural beings nor products of the human imagination, let alone extraterrestrials. He describes them as hominids of flesh and blood, belonging to the further evolved species of Homo supersapiens. They were smarter, taller, and much more beautiful than humans. They were the true founders of civilization. The book explains their origins, describes their culture, and pictures the land in which they lived. Most revealing, it relates how the gods became involved with humans and the disastrous consequences of that fateful interaction. The dwarf recounts the story of a great world war that took place at the end of the Bronze Age and of an epic calamity that finally extinguished the Era of the Gods. Despite their physical destruction, the lore and images of the gods lived on in poetry, song, and myth. The book’s last chapters deal with what remains of them today, and discuss ancient prophecies that foretell their return at an uncertain date in the future.

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Hi everybody!

Thuy over at our sister site started doing "Stacked" last year instead of "In My Mailbox"--it's essentially the same thing but we have our own cute graphics ;)

I got a crazy lot of books in December but it's too much to recount now, I'm just going to tell you what I got recently.



Splintered by A. G. Howard - As an Alice in Wonderland fan, how can I pass this by? I don't care much for the cover but it's very striking.

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Weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren, Mailbox Monday, Tynga's Reviews, etc.

Here are the books I received for review during the past 2 weeks.



Oracle: Sunken Earth by C.W. Trisef




Fall, current day, Atlantic Ocean. Another hurricane tears through the Bahamas, headed for Florida. Among the wreckage: a U.S. Coast Guard rescue boat, one survivor (Ret Cooper), and a spherical object of curious design (the Oracle)

Ret Cooper is a simple young man with mysterious origins, unique physical features, and no memory of his past. His new family and friends discover he is truly extraordinary, with supernatural powers and strange scars on the palms of his hands. But what is his destiny?

The Oracle is the key to Earth's unity and full potential, too perfect to be man-made. Legend claims it can unleash limitless power when filled with Mother Nature's six, pure, original elements. But where are these elements? And which of our planet's ancient secrets will be explained in the process of locating them?

The first book from new author C.W. Trisef will have you cheering for Ret as he travels a submerged road, discovers a lost city, climbs an electrifying mountain, and begins to unravel the mystery of the Oracle ... all during his first year of high school.




Oracle: Fire Island by C.W. Trisef



The adventure continues! With the first element (earth) painfully collected within the Oracle, Ret Cooper and his friends return home to find that things are only heating up. Thanks to some mischief caused by the peculiar Benjamin Coy, Ret’s second scar makes its explosive debut. But what does it mean, and where will it take them? These questions gnaw at Ret as he begins his sophomore year at Tybee High.

With challenging twists, inspired turns, and a few unexpected surprises, our hero once again confronts danger and disaster, while discovering newfound feelings for a certain female companion. Old friends and foes, along with a few new ones, follow Ret as more of our world’s mysteries lead him to Fire Island and the second element (fire). Ancient artifacts, a hot-air balloon, lines in the desert, a city in the mountains, tribal societies, and even the navel of the world all play their parts in Ret’s continued quest to fill the Oracle.

This second installment in the Oracle series is a must read, full of fun, adventure, and wholesome purpose. Hang on tight as author C.W. Trisef takes you to places and predicaments you have never seen before or even imagined, and makes you feel like you are a part of Ret’s destiny, to cure the world.




Full Circle: Electronic Afterlife by Alfred R. Taylor



Mark Aaron, a historical researcher for Nora Corporation, is summoned to the office of the president and C.E.O. Instead of taking the offered promotion, he leaves for what he believes to be a vacation with his wife. Instead, a plane crash begins a five-hundred-year odyssey through time, space, and history. To save his wife, his unborn child, and humanity itself, Mark and his companion Jane, a Gamma class android, must travel to the year 1842 to prevent the premature assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Along the way, they become enmeshed in the politics of Springfield, Illinois; encounter Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd, and James Shields; and create controversy themselves by applying 21st century ethics to 19th century problems.




The Story of the Blue Planet by Andri Snaer Magnason



Brimir and Hulda are best friends who live on a small island on a beautiful blue planet where there are only children and no adults. Their planet is wild and at times dangerous, but everything is free, everyone is their friend, and each day is more exciting than the last.

One day a rocket ship piloted by a strange-looking adult named Gleesome Goodday crashes on the beach. His business card claims he is a “Dream.ComeTrueMaker and joybringer,” and he promises to make life a hundred times more fun with sun-activated flying powder and magic-coated skin so that no one ever has to bathe again. Goodday even nails the sun in the sky and creates a giant wolf to chase away the clouds so it can be playtime all the time. In exchange for these wonderful things, Goodday asks only for a little bit of the children’s youth—but what is youth compared to a lot more fun? The children are so enamored with their new games that they forget all the simple activities they used to love.

During Goodday’s great flying competition, Hulda and Brimir fly too high to the sun and soar to the other side of planet, where they discover it is dark all the time and the children are sickly and pale. Hulda and Brimir know that without their help, the pale children will die, but first they need to get back to their island and convince their friends that Gleesome Goodday is not all that he seems.

A fantastical adventure, beautifully told, unfolds in a deceptively simple tale. The Story of the Blue Planet will delight and challenge readers of all ages.

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Here are a few of the great books I received in the mail recently.


Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

In a desert world of sandstorms and sand-wolves, a teen girl must defy the gods to save her tribe in this mystical, atmospheric tale from the author of Drink, Slay, Love.
Liyana has trained her entire life to be the vessel of a goddess. The goddess will inhabit Liyana’s body and use magic to bring rain to the desert. But Liyana’s goddess never comes. Abandoned by her angry tribe, Liyana expects to die in the desert. Until a boy walks out of the dust in search of her.

Korbyn is a god inside his vessel, and a trickster god at that. He tells Liyana that five other gods are missing, and they set off across the desert in search of the other vessels. For the desert tribes cannot survive without the magic of their gods. But the journey is dangerous, even with a god’s help. And not everyone is willing to believe the trickster god’s tale.

The closer she grows to Korbyn, the less Liyana wants to disappear to make way for her goddess. But she has no choice: She must die for her tribe to live. Unless a trickster god can help her to trick fate—or a human girl can muster some magic of her own.

Timmy Toucan Dropped 10 Guavas by Richard Garrett Dews

What's more fun than toucan birds, guavas, and singing? Timmy Toucan Dropped 10 Guavas, a new pre-K and Kindergarten children's book from Richard Garrett Dews, helps young readers learn to count up to (and down from) 10. Kids pick up the catchy tune almost instantly, and the book's many happy lessons seem to happen without effort! Timmy Toucan, our jungle friend, and his pal Mike Monkey are frantically searching for 10 guavas that Timmy dropped. In addition to counting down Timmy's remaining guavas, readers count up the number of guavas found. Timmy and Mike, and the reader, search each illustration for one missing guava at a time. Ordinals are taught (1st, 2nd, etc), and so are directions (left, right, under, etc). Each illustration is a fun search for a missing guava! The sing-along song was created as a perfect compliment to the book, and sheet music is included on the book's last page. An MP3 instrumental version is available, from online music retailers, to lead and support young singers. It makes great background music (or a lullaby) when looped! Look for other books in this pre-K and Kindergarten series, from Richard Garrett Dews.

Mike Monkey Has 5 Bananas by Richard Garrett Dews

What's more fun than monkeys, bananas, and singing? Mike Monkey Has 5 Bananas, a new pre-K and Kindergarten children's book from Richard Garrett Dews, helps young readers learn to count down from (and up to) 5. Kids pick up the catchy tune almost instantly, and the book's many happy lessons seem to happen without effort! Mike Monkey, our jungle friend, picks and enjoys ripe bananas. In addition to counting down Mike’s remaining bananas, readers count up the growing number of peels on the ground. Mike makes daily rounds in the jungle, checking on the ripening bananas with happy friends. As bananas ripen on trees, so do the words themselves! The sing-along song was created first, before the book, and sheet music is included on the book's last page. An MP3 instrumental version is available, from online music retailers, to lead and support young singers. It makes great background music (or a lullaby) when looped! Look for other books in this pre-K and Kindergarten series, from Richard Garrett Dews.

Mormons An Open Book: What You Really Want to Know

With the growth and exposure of Mormonism across the country and world, more and more people are curious about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although most Americans have an opinion about Mormonism, many of them admit they don t really know what Mormons actually believe. Using scriptures, quotes, facts, engaging visual images, and even some humor, this one-of-a-kind book is designed to openly explain the beliefs, practices, history, and culture of Mormonism. Chapters answer such questions as Are Mormons Christians? What Happens inside LDS Temples? and many more. Chapter address topics such as LDS beliefs about marriage and family, the position of women in the Church, and LDS views about politics and America. There are even sections that dispel some common myths and misconceptions about Mormonism. Written from the perspective of those who know and live the religion, the pages of Mormons: An Open Book invite you to come in, learn about, and better understand a growing body of faith in America and across the world: Mormonism.

A Prophet's Voice: Messages From Thomas S. Monson

Much of President Monson’s time has been spent at pulpits and in meetings around the world, and this collection contains many of his speeches that are difficult to find elsewhere.

Throughout his nearly fifty years as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, President Thomas S. Monson has presented countless messages of wisdom, inspiration, and doctrinal insight. He is perhaps best known for his gift of weaving true accounts into his addresses, bringing gospel principles to life through the enlightening experiences of individuals he has met or heard of in his ministry.

A Prophet's Voice brings together more than fifty of these classic addresses, including all the major general conference sermons President Monson has given since becoming the sixteenth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Filled with warmth and reflection, these messages demonstrate the worth of every soul and the power of personal examples in our lives.

President Monson finds lessons in all kinds of everyday experiences, and he is known and loved for sharing those lessons in a way that reaches the hearts of his listeners. This landmark collection of his greatest messages will be a treasured addition to any gospel library.

I Believe in Jesus Too by Mark S. Nielsen

All over the world, children attend Primary, enjoy family home evening, sing songs, and read scriptures. Mark Nielsen s simple and engaging book will help children understand that it doesn t matter where you live in the world, Jesus loves everyone the same. Full-color illustrations will round out this inspirational book. Features beautiful, full-color illustrations Teaches children that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a worldwide church A perfect family home evening book.

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Here are a few of the great books I received in the mail recently.


The 13th Day of Christmas by Jason Wright

Marva Ferguson has a very personal Christmas tradition that happens every December 26. As an aging widow, the tradition means more to her now than it ever has. Her newest neighbor, nine-year-old Charlee, loves Christmas too. But her family has fallen on hard times and things get worse when Charlee becomes critically ill. Then, on December 12, Charlee makes a wonderful discovery. A mysterious note is delivered that promises twelve days of gifts and stories that will reveal the truth behind the beloved Christmas carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. As the days go by, the gifts hint at a possible lost lyric. Was there once a 13th day of Christmas? And if so, could its magic change or save a life? If Marva knows something about the letters from the Elves, she s not telling. However, you don t live as long as Marva Ferguson and not have a secret or two including a whole lot of faith in your apron pocket. Filled with laughter, tenderness, and hope, The 13th Day of Christmas invites us to see how an old Christmas favorite can turn into a true Christmas miracle.

Running Into the Wild: Bronco Mendenhall by Paul Gustavson & Alyson Von Feldt

There is no other collegiate football program in the world like the one found at Brigham Young University. None. Certainly that has much to do with the fact that the school is the largest religious university in the United States, owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But perhaps there is an even more unique differentiator - a head football coach who is unwavering in his unorthodox style of mentoring, strengthening, teaching, and even recuiting his players. Bronco Mendenhall's coaching style is considered jaw-dropping by many and ludicrous to some. However, no one can overlook the success the Cougars have had. How does his team consistently win ten or more games year after year? What philosophy and practices did Bronco implement to create this sustained success? One thing we know is that Bronco's system goes against the grain. He believes that running into the wind is an opportunity and is key to ultimately creating a sustained competitive advantage. The first section, On the Field, discusses the challenges Bronco has faced as the head coach, the principles and practices he learned to face those challenges, and the on-field applications and results. The second section, In the Football Offices, looks deeper into Broncos system and the business principles and tools of the five smooth stones that Bronco was taught by Paul Gustavson. Whether you are a coach or a leader, the organization strategies and models that Paul taught Bronco can be applied to any business or team. Simple, this section is where the coach of the coach will coach you, too.

Starters by Lissa Price

“Readers who have been waiting for a worthy successor to Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games will find it here. Dystopian sci-fi at its best, Starters is a terrific series kickoff with a didn't-see-that-coming conclusion that will leave readers on the edges of their seats . . .” raves the Los Angeles Times. In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first--the very young and very old. With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life . . . until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan. . . .

Epic Tales of a Misfit Hero by Matt Peterson

From passing the sacrament with his fly down to failing miserably at capture the flag, Andrew knows he'll never be able to fulfill his duties as a deacon. But when tragedy strikes on his Boy Scout backpacking trip, Andrew's whole troop must become stronger than they ever imagined. This hilarious coming-of-age story is bound to have you rooting for a misfit hero!

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

We're All Different But We're All Kitty Cats by Peter J. Goodman
 

''My name is Carlos and I have no fur,'' the kitty cat says to his classmates on the first day of school.

A kitty cat with no fur? How strange thought the other cats, laughing and giggling at Carlos. Hurt and embarrassed in front of the class, he sits down at this desk and begins to cry.

On his way home from school, Carlos runs into Vinny, a mean kitty cat twice his size. From a distance, Flo and Marla witness what's about to happen. Do they come to his rescue or does Carlos find his own escape?

This rollercoaster of a story introduces the cool cast of kitty cats Carlos, Dylan, Flo, Marla, Allie, Vinny and Sammy. It reveals how each kitty has a gift something that makes them special. And sometimes it takes a difficult experience to discover this. All children have unique talents, and in this story...Carlos finds his.

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Here are a few more of the great books I received for review recently.


Unstoppable by Tim Green

On the field or off, it takes all you've got to be a winner.

If anyone understands the phrase "tough luck," it's Harrison. As a foster kid in a cruel home, he knows his dream of one day playing for the NFL is a long shot.

Then Harrison's luck seems to change. He is brought into a new home with kind, loving parents—his new dad is even a football coach. Harrison's big build and his incredible determination quickly make him a star running back on the junior high school team. In no time, he's practically unstoppable.

But Harrison's good luck can't last forever.

In his most dramatic and hard-hitting story yet, former NFL defensive end Tim Green writes about what it takes to be a winner, even when it seems like fate has dealt an impossible hand. Inspired by interviews with real-life cancer survivors and insider sports experience, this unforgettable story shows a brave boy who learns what it truly means to be unstoppable.

Janitors: Secrets of New Forest Academy by Tyler Whitesides

Now, more than ever, Spencer, Daisy, and even Dez must fight to save schools everywhere. The Bureau of Educational Maintenance (BEM) is after Spencer, and the only place he is safe is within the walls of the New Forest Academy. Or so he thinks. In this fast-paced adventure, the kids must figure out where their loyalties lie and who they can trust as they fight to discover the true secret of the New Forest Academy and what it means to the future of education.

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

The New York Times bestseller and the USA Today #1 Hot Fiction Pick for the summer, The Chaperone is a captivating novel about the woman who chaperoned an irreverent Louise Brooks to New York City in 1922 and the summer that would change them both.

Only a few years before becoming a famous silent-film star and an icon of her generation, a fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita, Kansas, to study with the prestigious Denishawn School of Dancing in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old chaperone, who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle, a complicated but traditional woman with her own reasons for making the trip, has no idea what she’s in for. Young Louise, already stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous black bob with blunt bangs, is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention. Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will transform their lives forever.

For Cora, the city holds the promise of discovery that might answer the question at the core of her being, and even as she does her best to watch over Louise in this strange and bustling place she embarks on a mission of her own. And while what she finds isn’t what she anticipated, she is liberated in a way she could not have imagined. Over the course of Cora’s relationship with Louise, her eyes are opened to the promise of the twentieth century and a new understanding of the possibilities for being fully alive.

Drawing on the rich history of the 1920s,’30s, and beyond—from the orphan trains to Prohibition, flappers, and the onset of the Great Depression to the burgeoning movement for equal rights and new opportunities for women—Laura Moriarty’s The Chaperone illustrates how rapidly everything, from fashion and hemlines to values and attitudes, was changing

2 Comments on In My Mailbox, last added: 8/23/2012

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roro said, on 8/23/2012 2:21:00 PM

hope you enjoy

kimbacaffeinate said, on 8/23/2012 4:23:00 PM

Nice Mailbox, enjoy your goodies

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Here are a few more of the great books I received for review recently.


ParaNorman by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

In a quaint New England town with a history of witches and pilgrims, misunderstood eleven-year-old Norman Babcock can see and talk to ghosts. No one believes him, of course-everyone just thinks he's weird (including his parents). But when a folktale of a witch who cursed her accusers turns out to be true, it's up to Norman to save the town from pilgrim zombies! He'll also have to take on a very angry witch, an annoying sidekick, his boy-crazy teenage sister, and dozens of moronic grown-ups who get in his way. This young ghoul whisperer finds his paranormal talents pushed to their otherworldly limits in this hilarious and spooky adventure!

Featuring gorgeous black-and-white interior illustrations and a story beyond what you'll see in the film, this novel is sure to delight!

Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Adventure by James Patterson

One last chance...
for Max, Fang, and Dylan...
before it all ends.
Are you ready for the final chapter? Are you ready for the ultimate flight? Because THIS IS IT. One last incredible, explosive adventure with an astonishing ending that no one could have seen coming.

13 Secrets by Michelle Harrison

Happy with life at Elvesden Manor, Rowan is doing her best to put the past behind her. But it's tough to forget the past when fairy messengers won't leave her be, no matter how many magical boundaries are put in place to keep them away.
When Tanya arrives to spend the summer at the manor, she notices that Rowan is acting strangely and becomes determined to find out what she's hiding. As Rowan sets about a risky secret quest, those she is working with soon begin to vanish one by one -- each in a way that is symbolic of the Thirteen Treasures. With time running out, will Tanya be able to prevent the past from consuming Rowan altogether?
In this stunning finale to the 13 Treasures Trilogy, Michelle Harrison delivers a dark tale of mystery and adventure, set against a deliciously wicked fairy world.

Fateful by Cheri Schmidt

A huge fan of Jane Austen, Danielle hopes to find her own Mr. Darcy when she leaves Colorado to attend art school in London. Of course she knows it’s silly to wish for that, naive even. But she’s met enough males who lacked respect for women, a growing trend it seemed. And at nineteen...well.... However, on only her second night there she gets lost and is threatened by a stalker who proves to be immune to her martial arts training. Before she is completely overpowered, she is then saved by Ethan Deveroux. While Danielle does find the romance she seeks in Ethan, he’s no Mr. Darcy. Her hero is held by a spell which fractures their chance at a happy ending. During the day Ethan is closer to mortal than immortal and can date her like any other man. Yet, as the sun sets, the powerful magic of an ancient curse returns and the evil of that spell is revealed. When that magic begins, Danielle's fairytale romance ends because Ethan Deveroux is a vampire.

Fractured by Cheri Schmidt

The Fateful Trilogy continues with Fractured. No, it's not called Fractured because Ethan and Danielle break up, because they don't...in case you were wondering. They had thought they'd escaped most of the danger surr

1 Comments on In My Mailbox, last added: 8/23/2012

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Ilana Waters said, on 8/23/2012 10:13:00 AM

Ooo--I'd love to see a story past what's in the ParaNorman film! Just saw that movie. Thanks for pointing out this book!

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It's been over 2 months since I put up an In My Mailbox post.  First I was procrastinating because I couldn't decide what to do (then life got a little out of control when I broke my leg and my son was in the hospital so I had no time to think about it).

Should I continue to call my post In My Mailbox, should I switch it to Mailbox Monday or one of the many other meme titles that are out there or should I create my own name for it? 


I try to steer clear of drama and also try really hard to not judge other people.  If I continue to call it In My Mailbox does that mean I'm taking a side, if I change the title does that mean I'm taking a stand? Can't I somehow remain neutral without condemning or condoning?


Now that I'm home and my leg is doing better I have time to think about what to do... No one is perfect and we all make mistakes so I try to never to cast stones at anyone.   I've decided that for now I will continue to call this post In My Mailbox.  I won't be posting often because I'm not accepting much for review right now but I still receive some great books from time to time that I want to share.  


I've got a couple dozen books to post about so I've just picked a few favorites for today!


Bought
Untethered by Marcia Lynn McClure
Marcia usually sends me review copies of her books if I ask for them but life was a little crazy last month.  I've read NOTHING lately and really wanted to read something I knew I would enjoy so I bought a Kindle copy of Untethered on Tuesday night.  Good decision, my love of reading is back!

A man tethered by pain and guilt borne of past tragedy,A young woman with the soul of a guardian angel,And an unspeakable evil about to be unleashed.
As Cricket lay in the soft comfort of her bed, continuing to let her mind nest on thoughts of how truly wonderfully attractive Texas Ranger Thibodaux was, she giggled, thinking that looking at him was more refreshing than swimming naked on a summer Sunday afternoon. He was a tall drink of water—far taller than most of the other men in town—and his shoulders were as broad as the state of Texas itself. Sky-blue eyes, bronze skin, square jaw, and dark hair—and that smile! In truth, Cricket had only seen Heathro Thibodaux smile three or four times, but each incidence was something she’d never forget. His smile was bright and white, and the gold tooth he owned on the upper-right incisor of his smile only embellished the richness

4 Comments on In My Mailbox, last added: 7/13/2012

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Jessica@a GREAT read said, on 7/12/2012 3:10:00 PM

OOh nice! I still have to read The Savage Grace myself! Sooo behind on so many series!!

Nice mailbox! I've taken to joining in on Tygna's meme for Sundays, Stacking the Shelves, because that is soooo what I am doing! Stacking books on my shelves since I've run out of room to properly shelve them! Hee hee!

My mailbox goes up on Sunday if you want to stop by!

Have a GREAT day!

Old Follower :)

Amber at The Musings of ALMYBNENR said, on 7/12/2012 4:00:00 PM

It does make it appear as though you are taking sides. I've never participated in it and I'm glad. Whereas since you haven't posted one in two months or so and discreetly posted this with another name, most wouldnt have noticed. People do make mistakes sometimes but that whole thing was intentional.

Erika said, on 7/13/2012 10:03:00 AM

Great books. You've had such a crazy past couple months. I'm glad your leg is feeling better :)

Addie R. said, on 7/13/2012 11:21:00 AM

I'm trying to stay neutral too but I'm not sure if switching to Stacking the Shelves means I'm taking a side or not.
Great hual!

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Sooo... It's been a while since I did one of these, and I was going to wait until after ALA to post, but, well, I kind of went a little crazy with books the last couple of weeks and it's just going to be too much for one post.

So this is just a teaser before The Big One!

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23. In My Mailbox (11)

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By: alethea aka frootjoos, on 5/20/2012
Blog: Read Now Sleep Later (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  book buying, in my mailbox, IMM, obsidian, DaemonInvasion, SummerLovin, ChloeInstead, HortensMiraculousMechanisms, SusanDennard, Add a tag

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren (inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie) where you can show off the books that you got last week.

Yikes, it's been a while.

Here's what I've gotten since my last IMM. 

Borrowed:

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Been lusting after this one! Thanks to Jane from Young Adult Book Council, I can cuddle up to it tonight.

Downloaded:

My Audible credit this month went to another Katherine Kellgren audiobook--Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen. I love it so far!

Bought on Kindle:

Thuy signed us up to be a street team for Jennifer L. Armentrout's #DaemonInvasion, so I downloaded Obsidian while waiting for my local bookstore to stock it. I've already read it! Definitely a book that makes your skin tingle. I may have to go jump in a cold pool just thinking about it... *fans self*

4 Comments on In My Mailbox (11), last added: 5/22/2012

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fishgirl182 said, on 5/21/2012 11:25:00 AM

awesome book haul. i am so sad i missed the picture book event. chloe, instead was the one i really wanted to read. and yay for obsidian! it's such a fun book and it features a book blogger. awesome.

Cindy said, on 5/21/2012 9:58:00 PM

You got some great books! Enjoy them all :)

kimberlybuggie said, on 5/22/2012 8:05:00 AM

Great books! I can't wait to read Something Strange and Deadly.
Oh, and Chloe, Instead looks super fun and cute. Helps that the author is a really nice guy and very talented too!

kimberlybuggie said, on 5/22/2012 8:05:00 AM

no seriously. I'm going to start reading Obsidian. Like now. well, now as in two days from now.

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24. In My Mailbox (10)

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By: alethea aka frootjoos, on 4/29/2012
Blog: Read Now Sleep Later (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  Ten, in my mailbox, IMM, GretchenMcNeil, ElizabethWein, CodeNameVerity, Add a tag

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren (inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie) where you can show off the books that you got last week.

ARCs Received:

I'm on the blog tour; so excited that it's my turn to read! For more info click the widget on the sidebar.

I also volunteered for a friend and was rewarded for my troubles with the ARCs below. 

Borrowed:

This looks adorable. I don't know if you can see: it says "translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath". Haha!

Netgalley:

It's been so difficult to get review copies from Disney-Hyperion so I'm glad they occasionally release titles to everyone. I'm very likely going to end up buying this an

7 Comments on In My Mailbox (10), last added: 4/29/2012

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Tiffany said, on 4/29/2012 12:53:00 PM

Treachery of Beautiful Things! You're so lucky :)

Check out what I got this week in Books and Beauty

fishgirl182 said, on 4/29/2012 1:33:00 PM

Ooh I want to read red sea. And that bunny book looks adorable. Better hide it from Kimberly.

alethea aka frootjoos said, on 4/29/2012 1:37:00 PM

LOL! I told her about it when I saw a hardcover at Diesel. <3 bunnies!

Dani said, on 4/29/2012 2:16:00 PM

Looks like you had a yummy week!!

Thanks for sharing,
Dani
http://paulettespapers.com/?p=1992

Read, Write, Read said, on 4/29/2012 2:31:00 PM

Lots of great books! Here's my IMM: World of Books

Alexia561 said, on 4/29/2012 7:04:00 PM

Nice haul! Like the looks of When the Sea is Rising Red, so will keep an eye out for your review. Enjoy!

usagi, said, on 4/29/2012 11:27:00 PM

Ahh, Ten! I can't wait to read it! Awesome haul this week.

My IMM for this week!

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25. In My Mailbox–April 15th Edition

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By: Julie, on 4/14/2012
Blog: Manga Maniac Cafe (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  In My Mailbox, IMM, Add a tag

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, and it is hosted by The Story Siren.  Go here for a full description of IMM.

Check out my current contests!  Click here to enter!

I received a ton of surprises in my mailbox this week! That always helps the week fly by.

New Arrivals at the Café:

The Voyage of the Sea Wolf by Eve Bunting (I LOVED The Pirate Captain’s Daughter, so I was so excited to get this!)

Arise by Tara Hudson (For {teen} Scene Book tour)

Blood of the Wicked by Karina Cooper (From Avon Addicts!)

A Secret in her Kiss by Anna Randol (Also from Avon Addicts!)

The Night Sessions by Ken MacLead (This is a total surprise)

The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich (I enjoy historicals, so I’m looking forward to reading this)

I Only Have Eyes for You by Bella Andre (I am on a contemporary romance kick!)

Monster High 4 Back and Deader than Ever by Lisi Harrison (Wanted to see what this series is all about)

Revived by Cat Patrick (I love this cover!)

The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi  (Now I have an excuse to read Ship Breaker!)

The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze (I thought that the premise sounded interesting – I like the cover, too!)

Rules of the Game by Sandy James (Another contemporary romance   )

Surrender to the Roman by M K Chester (I love stories set in ancient Rome)

Desert Blade by Ella Drake (This looks really good!)

Serious Play by Summer Devon and Bonnie Dee (More contemporary romance!)

Zero Gravity Outcasts by Kay Keppler (I haven’t been reading enough science fiction lately)

Aidan Loyal Cowboy by Cathy McDavid (I love this author!)

Night’s Engines by Trent Jamieson (I have The Roil in my TBR, so I figured this would be a good time to catch up on the series)

Muse by Rebecca Lim (Had to order this from the UK – still no US release date   )

A great big thanks to the publishers for thei

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