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According to Statcounter, I'm just a few thousand clicks away from having one million page loads for my blog. I should reach the one-millionth mark around the end of the month. To celebrate, I’m doing a bunch of giveaways. See them all here: http://aprilhenry.livejournal.com/tag/giveaways .

Shock Point was my first novel for teens. [When I was writing it, I didn’t know that.] It was a finalist for the ALA's Teens Top 10 award, an ALA Quick Pick, named to the Tayshas Reading List, and chosen for the New York Times Library Books for the Teen Age.

About the book
Cassie Streng, 16, learns that her psychiatrist stepfather, Rick, prescribed an experimental drug for his teenage patients, three of whom have committed suicide. Before she can report him, she is grabbed by two men, handcuffed, locked in the back of a van, and taken to Peaceful Cove, a facility for troubled teens in Mexico. Rick has assured her mother that the place is an excellent boarding school–he maintains that he found crystal meth in Cassie's room–but she soon discovers the truth. She is trapped in a brutal prison camp, and she must make her way back to Oregon and convince someone of the danger Rick represents before anyone else dies.

What the critics said
"April Henry's suspenseful novel is fraught with tension from page one." - Children's Literature

"Short chapters that show how she uncovers her stepfather's actions alternate with the story of her journey from Portland to Mexico, a nicely executed technique that keeps the plot moving and readers engaged. ... Henry packs her first YA novel with the quick action and suspense that will keep even reluctant readers turning the pages." - School Library Journal

"Shock Point is a riveting tale of survival and determination, chockfull of suspense and urgency. Fair warning: once you start reading, you will find it nearly impossible to close the book until the very end." - Teenreads.com

"Henry's (the Claire Montrose mystery series) first YA thriller is a suspenseful tale of betrayal.... The alternating chapters help to build suspense. The meat of the story is Cassie's attempt to escape. She is an appealing, resourceful character struggling against too many odds—and readers will stick with this tale to see if she succeeds." - Publishers Weekly

"The wicked stepmother motif is altered to wicked stepfather in this contemporary chiller. ... Along with solid plotting and suspense comes a likable heroine who is a good match for the nefarious adults in her life." - Booklist

"Ms. Henry brings her considerable gift for suspenseful writing to young adults with this can't-put-it-down thriller." - Ingram Distributors


Real-life inspiration
The WWASP bootcamps - and the many lawsuits they inspired.

What you can win
A signed hardcover.

Rules
Leave a comment if you want in. You can enter as many of the drawings as you want. I'll be drawing names after I reach my one-millionth page load. If you are not on LiveJournal, then please leave me an email address or Facebook page or something or I'll have no way to contact you.

Their review of Shock Point ends with this:

"Henry writes with a quick-moving, superficial style and often glosses over awkward plot points with quick explanatory paragraphs. He delivers some shocking moments while making no attempt to examine realistic adolescent problems. A potboiler that may appeal to a wide range of young readers and could be useful for reluctant readers. "

A. I'm a girl.
B. Talk about mixed messages.

Do you love books as much as I do? Getting a free book in the mail is such a high. Especially if the book is well written, or one you’ll love.

There are a number of contests right now where you can win a teen fiction book. Why not enter? Maybe you’ll score a good read.

Teen Fiction Book Contests:

You can win a teen book–and even pick out which one you want from the list–from YABookCentral every month. See “winners” on the left hand column. Right now there are 66 books in the prize bucket. You can earn books by submitting reviews or participating in the forum. Open only to residents of US, Canada, and Mexico.

Linda Joy Singleton has a contest where you can
win a free autographed copy of one of her books. It looks like the contest ends Oct 31, but then there’s another around Valentine’s Day.

HarperCollins has a “Pitch Black” contest where 10 winners will win a copy of these books: The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle; Jinx; Prom Nights from Hell; Wicked Lovely; Wicked Dead: Lurker; Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives, Volume I; and Vampire Kisses 4: Dance with a Vampire. Contest open only to residents of the US. Contest closes November 1, 2007.

HarperCollins has a contest to win custom-designed, authentic racing helmet by premiere helmet designer Herm Johnson, and a signed copy of Yellow Flag by Robert Lipsyte. Ten runners up will win a copy of Yellow Flag signed by the author. That means you have 11 chances. Open only to residents of the US. Contest closes October 31, 2007.

Bloomsbury has a monthly YA book contest. This month they’re giving away copies of The Highest Tide, and Alfred Kropp: The Seal of Solomon. Open only to residents of the US.

Win an autographed copy of Sharon Creech’s The Castle Corona, AND a library of Sharon Creech novels, including Replay, Heartbeat, Walk Two Moons, and Ruby Holler. AND there will be 5 winners, all through HarperCollins. Open only to residents of the US. Contest closes November 21, 2007. Wow, huh? (WHY aren’t there more contests open to Canadians? Not bitter. No, not me.

Simon and Schuster have a monthly contest to win teen books. This month you can win a Gary Paulsen book: a copy of the 20th anniversary edition of Hatchet, or a copy of Dogsong, Woodsong, Tracker, Dancing Carl or Sentries. There are 35 copies of Hatchet to be won, and 200 copies of Paulsen’s other books. Contest closes October 31, 2007. Open to residents of the US and Canada.

TeensReadToo has a monthly contest to win a free book. Open only to US residents.

Penguin USA has a contest to win an iPhone and a copy of Those Girls by Sara Lawrence. Contest closes October 31, 2007. Contest only open to residents of the US.

FlamingNet has a monthly contest to win teen books. You have to join their site to win.

TeenReads has a monthly contest to win a teen fiction book. They haven’t yet updated the contest for October, but I’m sure they will soon. Open to residents of the US and Canada.

If you ilke Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’ books, this could be an exciting contest for you. You have to send in 10 questions that you would ask Amelia and tell them why you should be the first Strange Lands Correspondent, and you can win: A trip to New York City and a free pass to the Comic-Con Convention; Lunch with Amelia Atwater-Rhodes; and a podcast of your interview published on Amelia’s web site at www.ameliaatwaterrhodes.com and in the Strange Lands Newsletter. Contest open to residents of US and Canada. Contest closes January 15, 2008.

RandomHouse UK has a contest to win a copy of Jacqueline Wilson’s Kiss and the Girls Collection audio books, and Johnny and the Bomb & Johnny and the Dead by Terry Pratchett. Contest closes October 31, 2007. Open only to residents of the UK and Ireland.

Penguin Books Canada has a monthly contest to win a library of Our Canadian Girls books. Only one entry per person. There don’t seem to be any more limitations than that.

HarperCollins has a contst to win a signed set of the original Warriors series, a signed set of Warriors: The New Prophecy series, a signed copy of Warriors: Power of Three: The Sight and a copy of Warriors: Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest, Warriors Field Guide: Secrets of the Clans, and Warriors: The Lost Warrior. Five other winners will receive a signed copy of Warriors: Power of Three: The Sight and a copy of Warriors: Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest; and twenty runners-up will receive a copy of Warriors: Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest. Open only to U.S. residents. Contest closes October 25, 2007.

Okay, this isn’t a book, but author Robin Brande has a monthly contest where you can win chocolate.

Picture Book Contests:

Picture Book Junkies are having a contest for two autographed picture books by Janee Trasler–
Ghost Gets Dressed! and Ghost Eats It All!. To enter, you send them a drawing or photo of you, your kid, or one of your characters wearing a Halloween costume or fancy dress. Contest runs from Sunday October 21st through Thursday October 25th, 2007.
See more details at their blog. Thank you to Sandra for letting me know about this.

Penguin has a contest to win Nursery Rhyme Jazz by Andy Blackman Hurwitz. Contest closes October 20, 2007. Open only to residents of the US.

BookLoons is offering 5 chances to win Chuck Fischer’s pop-up book Christmas Around the World. Open to residents of US and Canada. Contest closes October 31.

RandomHouse US has a contest where you sign up for their newsletter and you can win books. This month 3 winners will win one of each of these picture books: Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly; Junie B., First Grader: BOO…And I Mean It!; and Punk Farm. Open only to residents of the US. Contest closes November 15, 2007.

Win 1 of 1,000 copies of Jan Brett’s The Three Snow Bears. The first 1000 correct entries will win a copy.

Harcourt has a contest where three teachers will win a complete set of Debra Frasier’s books, including Miss Alaineus, On the Day You Were Born, A Birthday Cake is No Ordinary Cake, Out of the Ocean, and The Incredible Water Show. Contest closes November 15, 2007. It seems you have to be a teacher, but I don’t see any other limitations.

Lee & Low has a monthly contest to win one of their picture books. This month the prize is an autographed copy of Mama Elizabeti, written by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen and illustrated by Christy Hale. There are 3 copies to be won. The contest is open to everyone, except for previous winners. Contest closes October 30, 2007.

Know any more contests for teen or children’s books? Let me know.