You know where I lived for eleven years of my New York City life? Harlem. You know where no one, aside from Walter Dean Myers, ever sets a middle grade novel? Harlem. Greenwich Village, Brooklyn, even Queens get more love than Harlem in books for 9-12 year olds. So you might understand why I’m happy a middle grade novel is set there at long last. Today’s cover reveal comes via YA-author-turned-middle-grade-writer Elizabeth Eulberg. Ladies and gentlemen I give you . . .
The quick and dirty:
Shelby Holmes is not your average sixth grader. She’s nine years old, barely four feet tall, and the best detective her Harlem neighborhood has ever seen—always using logic and a bit of pluck (which yes, some might call “bossiness”) to solve the toughest crimes.
When eleven-year-old John Watson moves downstairs, Shelby finds something that’s eluded her up till now: a friend. The easy-going John isn’t sure of what to make of Shelby, but he soon finds himself her most-trusted (read: only) partner in a dog-napping case that’ll take both their talents to crack.
Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to college at Syracuse University and making a career in the New York City book biz. Now a full-time writer, she is the author of The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom & Prejudice, Take a Bow, Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality, Better Off Friends, and We Can Work it Out. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick. Visit her online at www.elizabetheulberg.com and on twitter at @ElizEulberg.
So that is that. The book is on sale September 6th and is the first in a three book series. Thanks to Lizzy Mason and the folks at Bloomsbury for the reveal.
The fantastic
Elizabeth Eulberg is here to share the story of her latest cover.
Take a Bow is told in four points of view (so hard!) and I've heard only raves about how awesome this book is (
MTV's Crush gave it a standing ovation). YES! Also, the cover is blindingly eye-catching, no? Here's Elizabeth:
"I usually don't start thinking about the cover until I'm almost done with the book. I didn't really have a clear idea of the cover until I had the title (the book was untitled for awhile). Then once we settled on Take a Bow as the title, I automatically envisioned a cover very similar to the final cover. It's really freaky how in sync the book designer (the fabulous Elizabeth Parisi), my editor (David Levithan), and I are. We've been on the same page for all of my books. Just the other day, I told David my thoughts on the cover for my next book and they were already mocking up covers with the exact same concept - scary! The only difference between my idea for
Take a Bow and Scholastic's was that I was picturing four people 'taking a bow' to reflect a key scene in the book, but I think the one person is more dramatic and personal.
"I really don't like having faces on covers of books, it's just a personal preference I've always had..."
Read the rest of
Elizabeth's Cover Story on melissacwalker.com.
And read about
her newly redesigned paperback cover here!
Congrats to Elizabeth on her new release,
Revenge of the Girl With the Great Personality! Read her
amazing twitter #GreatPersonality roundup.
I was excited to get Elizabeth Eulberg's newest book, Take a Bow. I loved Prom and Prejudice, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on her latest book. Once I opened this book up, I couldn't put it down. Elizabeth Eulberg has such a fresh voice. Her characters seem so real, and I think I can pick out someone in my life that matches each one in this book.
To read my full review click here.
In a total game changer for the worlds of toys and technology (Hasbro and Zynga have teamed up to make toys and board games based on Zynga’s popular online video games. Starting with Words With Friends, the partnership will also see FarmVille,... Read the rest of this post
Be still my Beatle-maniac heart, I’m in love with a book.
The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
Why is this super fab new release? Let me count the ways…
1. The BEATLE-rific references.
Hello, you know me, right? How could I not fall for lines like this:
There was only one thing I could do to ease the pain. I turned to the only four guys who’d never let me down. The only four guys who’d never broken my heart .
John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
Yep, you had me right there, Ms. Eulberg.
2. Contemporary Realism? Who, me?
Let’s face it. I usually prefer to throw realism out the window when it comes to YA novels. Give me a dash of magic and a smokin’ hot supernatural love interest any day of the week.
But Eulberg’s book sucked me into a 100% vampire/angel/werewolf/fae/zombie/prophecy free world. And I loved it. The characters could have easily been teens I know facing real life obstacles.
3. Sweet premise, savory resolution.
When Penny Lane gets her heart broken one too many times, she decides to swear off guys for good. She and her friends start The Lonely Hearts Club to affirm the bonds of friendship and the vow of self-preservation. These gals grow into a force to be reckoned with–they come to redefine themselves sans boyfriends.
But…when a non-jerk works his way into Penny’s heart, is the club doomed?
The author resolves the plot without tying things up with a giant valentine bow. The ending is satisfying without becoming too sweet or too simple. It’s just right. And thanks to a pitch perfect protagonist voice, I found myself thinking about Penny long after I’d turned the last page.
I’m so excited about this book, I’m giving a copy away. In the comments area for this post, use at least one Beatles’ reference to convince me why I should send YOU a copy of THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB. I’ll pick a winner next week.
Hungry for more?
Try this recipe for Strawberry Fields Forever Shortcake
Binge!
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10 Comments on Win a Copy of The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg, last added: 6/12/2010
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Here it’s one of my favorite:
“First single. Fucking brilliant. Perhaps the most fucking brilliant song ever written. Because they nailed it. That’s what everyone wants. Not 24-7 hot wet sex. Not a marriage that lasts a hundred years. Not a Porsche or a blow job or a million-dollar crib. No. They wanna hold your hand. They have such a feeling that they can’t hide. Every single successful love song of the past fifty years can be traced back to ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand.’ And every single successful love story has those unbearable and unbearably exciting moments of hand-holding. Trust me. I’ve thought a lot about this.
About “I wanna hold your hand” by The Beatles” — David Levithan (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist)
Hey Jude… oops, Hey Jenny, this is a great contest! That book is right up your alley
“And I love her” name – Penny Lane – that’s hysterical!
Dear Prudence, won’t you come out and play? Sounds like Penny gets what John’s trying to tell her. The sky is blue, it’s beautiful, and so is she. It’s easy to get locked into something (like Ms. Farrow), and lovely when your friends do something wonderful to bring you back. Because all you need is love.
Thanks for the fun contest!
Hey, Jude…I mean, Jenny…
In the town where I was born there were eight days a week. Unlike other weeks, my town touted a special day. One extra day and a hard day’s night were dedicated to anytime at all.
I choose to spend it with Penny Lane, so please don’t pass me by. I know, I know. I don’t want to spoil the party, but when I saw her standing there, I just wanted to scream, “Keep your hands off my baby.”
So please help! Keep me out of misery and give this paperback writer a chance.
The end.
Cat Woods
P.S. I love you!
OMG! It’s like you’re living in my head. Recently my partner has had ‘we all live in a yellow submarine’ stuck in his head. Its all I’ve heard for the past week. But of course he invents our own lyrics. ‘We all live in a yellow submarine, a tub of margarine,an M16, an American beauty queen’. Its funny because its true. *sigh*
Thanks for the hilarious comp.
Love Nick and Norah.
BTW, just read Will Grayson, Will Grayson, too. Tiny is such a great character.
Hey Jude is one of my fave Beatles Songs. I once ended a story with that phrase, hehe.
Another great song. Have you heard the version from Across the Universe? Pretty cool…
Cat, you totally pulled out all the stops for this answer. You must know your Beatles. Bonus points!!!
Smander, hehe. I love song mashups. I once did a cover of Eye of the Tiger called “Eye of the Agent.” Lots of fun.