Ain’t he just the sweetest thing? Author/illustrator Aaron Zenz recently wrote just the loveliest ode to his four top favorite children’s literary blogs, and then went and created original art for each. In my case he created this little Fuse guy (or possibly Fuse gal) based on the bright yellow Fuse you see at the beginnings of each of my posts (I put it there in lieu of my face because I can only look at myself so often before going stark raving mad). This, I should point out, is not the first time a little Fuse person has been created for this blog. Katherine Tillotson, an artist of outstanding ability (I’m biased but it also happens to be true) created not one but TWO little Fusemen in the past, both for separate birthdays.
I’m a fan. So thank you Aaron and, once again, thank you Katherine. Fusemen of the world unite!
- *sniff sniff* Smell that? That’s the distinctive odor of a brouhaha brewing. Sort of a combination of burnt hair, dead goldfish and patchouli. And you wonder why I don’t cover YA books. Sheesh! One word: drama. Seems that a YA blog called Story Siren plagiarized the work of others for her own blog posts. Folks noticed and suddenly the internet was was heaping helpful of flames, burns, accusations, and other forms of tomfoolery. For a sane and rational recap we turn to our own Liz Burns who gives us the run down in Today’s Blog Blow Up. Ugly stuff.
- And while we’re on the subject of YA (which I just said I don’t cover, and yet here we are), I thought we were done with whitewashing, folks. So what’s up with this? Harlequin Teen, you got some explaining to do.
- In other news, book banning: It’s what’s for dinner. Take a trip with me to The Annville-Cleona School District where a picture book fondly nicknamed by some as Where’s the Penis? is getting some heat. If you’ve ever seen The Dirty Cowboy by Amy Timberlake, illustrated by Adam Rex, then you know that calling it “pornographic” works only if you are unaware of what the word “pornography” actually means. I would like to offer a shout-out to librarian Anita Mentzer who has handled the whole situation with class and dignity. You, madam, are the kind of children’s librarian others should aspire to be. Well done. And thanks to Erica Sevetson for the link.
- We may not yet have an ALA accredited poetry award for a work of children’s literature but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a Poet Laureate or two instead. Rich Michelson, gallery owner and
I'm participating in the
Story Siren's Debut Author Challenge for next year. Participants must read twelve middle-grade or young adult books by debut novelists by the end of December. This will be especially fun as almost all of the debuts are written by fellow
Elevensies and members of
The Class of 2k11.
While I'm not listing the titles I plan to read ahead of time, I aim to tackle many more than the required twelve. Some novels I plan on purchasing, some I've downloaded to read through
Simon and Schuster's e-galley* program, some I know will be so big they'll be easy to find at the library (
even with our dismal local book purchase numbers), and some I'll borrow through the Class of 2k11 ARC* exchange.
I'd love to be able to read everything coming out next year, but with close to 100 debuts, I know I won't make it. I will, though, share what I'm reading here. Please consider joining in!
*Galleys and ARCs (advanced reader copies) are uncorrected proofs sent out to reviewers.
Shameless Self-Promotion At Its Best.
Check us out!
Jennifer Bradbury:
What kind of a teen was she, anyway? Read the Cynsations interview to find out!
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Daphne Grab:
Daphne is all over Estella’s Revenge! Just look at this review of Alive and Well in Prague, New York. And here's an interview, too!
Daphne was also guest author this past Thursday on Story Siren’s blog.
And she's on Bookluver , too. Bookluver calls Daphne’s novel an “amazing debut.”
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P.J. Hoover:
Be sure and read a fine review of The Emerald Tablet on Trainspotting Reads.
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Brooke Taylor:
Brooke has been busy getting ready for the launch of Undone. She’s been spotted doing interviews on Little Willow, and she’s Author of the Month at Harmony Book Reviews!
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P.J. Hoover and Brooke Taylor:
Both these gals, and their awesome books, get lots of attention from Book Review Maniac.
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Nancy Viau:
“I absolutely loved Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head,” says Story Siren. “The plot itself is not only charming but it is multi layered.”
And David Macinnis Gill (ALAN president) has this to say about Nancy’s book: “The perfect book for the tween science geek!”
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Debbie Reed Fischer:
Debbie’s book, Braless in Wonderland, is also on Story Siren.
“This was an extraordinary novel!"
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Jody Feldman:
The Gollywhopper Games is featured on YouTube! Click and listen to why Common Sense Media says Jody's book is a "another great choice" for readers this summer.
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Teri Brown:
Read all about Teri (and find out about that tattoo!) on Sharon Pajka West’s blog.
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And finally,
Kudos to Daphne Grab, Marissa Doyle, and Donna Freitas for their books! Alive and Well in Prague, New York, Bewitching Season,
and The Possibilities of Sainthood are all July Books at ALAN.
Check out the reviews!
Thanks for listening, and have a wonderful weekend, full of plenty of time to sit back, relax, and READ!
Our next reviewer is know for luring readers to great books. Here at the 2K8 blog we're known for luring book reviewers into the hot seat! We're also know for giving away amazing books--so be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win La Petite Four by Regina Scott! (deadline to comment June 29th, winner announced June 30th). Okay, Story Siren, take a seat!
What’s your handle? The Story Siren
What kind of books do you review? Anything really. Most of my reviews are Young Adult with a few MA titles and Adult titles mixed in
Approx # of books reviewed? Around 100.
Where can we find your reviews?
You can find most of my reviews at my blog, TeensReadToo and BookSwim.
Reading turn-ons: Realistic characters, humor, unpredictability, sarcasm!
Reading turn-offs: Over the top descriptions, drawn out plots, unrealistic characters/plot line.
Class of 2K8 books reviewed:
Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle
The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher
I Heart You I Haunt You by Lisa Schroeder
La Petite Four by Regina Scott
In my reading pile I also have:
Braless in Wonderland by Debbie Reed Fischer
Alive and Well in Prague, New York by Daphne Grab
Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head by Nancy Viau
Impressive 2K8 collection! We love the crazy handles book reviewers come up with—tell us how you came up with yours! A little bit about how you got into book reviewing would be cool too.I don’t have a funny or interesting way that I came up with my handle. I wish that I did though. I just wanted something that would reflect what I was trying to do as a book reviewer. But instead of luring people to their deaths as some sirens do, I just lure them to good books!
Obviously I read all the time and I always have. I mean, I would hit the library up every week for four to eight books for the week. So I would often find myself being asked by my friends and family what I was reading and if I liked it, or if I knew any good books, so it seemed to make sense at the time that I would just review the books I was reading. Then my book blog was born. I was just planning on reading books I’d gotten from the library. I never anticipated authors asking me to review their books! Initially my blog was just reviews, but now I have contests and author interviews too.
We love contests and interviews! Or is that stating the obvious? What's not always obvious, book ratings. Describe your grading system and how that translates to the reader?I actually just started doing a rating system. I’m really addicted to google reader, I think I subscribe to more than 200 blogs! As much as I want to read every post, I just don’t have the time. I really liked when a reviewer would use a grading system because whether or not I read their entire post, I could find out quickly if they liked the book or not. So I decided I should utilize a grading system too.
I have a five star system with five being the highest. Basically I break it down like this:
Five Stars: I love this book!
Four Stars: I really like this book!
Three Stars: I like this book!
Two Stars: This book was okay.
One Star: I didn't like it.
So a two star review doesn't mean: thanks for ruining my day, sucky author. I'll be suing you for making my eyes bleed? Good to know, this is why we need this kind of interview... why are you looking at me like that? Was that TMI on how authors think? Moving along... How do you pick the books you review? Or are they picked for you? Do you ever read books that wouldn’t normally interest you—and if so have you ever been surprised by what you’ve read?
Most of the books I review are offered to me, but I still have a say in if I want to read them or not. I don’t usually tell an author “no” if they ask me to review their book though. I’m willing to give anything a chance at least once. I’ve found myself being pleasantly surprised by some books that I never would have picked up on my own. I think that is an awesome aspect of being a reviewer. My reading horizons continue to expand. I just recently emailed an author to see if they would send me a copy of their book to review. I’ve never done that before, I’ve always been asked by the author. I didn’t have the guts to ask before, but it turned out to be a great idea. Although I’m not completely comfortable asking for some reason.
Most of us probably feel the same way about asking you! LOL. So, what are the best ways to find new books? Any advice for authors about getting their book noticed by reviewers?
I’m a frequent book store browser. I just love going to the book store and smelling the new books.. Ahhhh. So I find a lot of new books that way. Recommendations from the ladies at the library, my family and friends, and I also get really good book suggestions from some of my patients. I also check out book groups like HarperTeen First Look, BookDivas and Random Buzzers.
As far as authors getting their books noticed by reviewers, I would say network. The internet is a fabulous tool. Use it. So many authors have MySpace or Facebook. It is a great way to connect with potential readers. Just believe in your book and talk about it.
Great advice! Now, if you really aren’t feeling a book—will you make the ultimate sacrifice and finish it for the sake of the review?If I start reading a book, I have to finish it. I don’t know why but I just do. I especially feel obligated if the author asked me to review the book for them. I owe them to finish it.
And if you really love a book—will you read it again? If so—what are some of the books you just had to read more than once?
Of course! I don’t re-read books now near as much as I used to. I’m too busy with new ones to read! But I do enjoying rereading a book and many times, I find something new and find my opinion changing.
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. The first time I read it I was less than thrilled and I really didn’t like Jacob, by the third or fourth time I read it, I switched to Team Jacob and it just may be my favorite book of the series.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. I liked this book the first time I read it, but I was confused at some aspects of the story. I reread it after I watched the movie, and I understood it so much better.
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. This was my first faerie book. I was thinking this would be a story about Tinker Bell, although she is technically a pixie. Anyway, amidst the concepts of “glamour” and other faerie lingo, I was a tad bit confused. The second time I read it, I knew exactly what everything was and I got so much more out of the story.
That's so cool that you give book second chances! Do you have a basic philosophy on what should be included in a review—or does it depend on the book itself?
I think it depends on the book and the person who is reviewing it. I like to give a overall look into the book, even though I have a hard time summarizing! If you have to, I think it’s acceptable to use the synopsis from the book. Your feelings on the book, I think, are the most important aspect.
I don’t have a set plan for my review. Sometimes the plot really grabs me, so most of my review will compliment the plot other times it is the characters or the authors writing. It just varies from book to book. I think it is important to be truthful and informative. I try to write my reviews like I’m talking to one of my friends or my sister. They are much more informal than professional!
Informal is great! After all it is hard to stay detached and professional when reading amazing books. Tell us about the last time your jaw dropped open, you laughed, or you cried while reading a book.All of these things have happened to me recently! I finished Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot the other day. I love this series. But I couldn’t stop laughing the whole time I was reading it! On top of that there were a lot of jaw dropping moments! I love reading Meg’s books she always has me laughing. If I need a feel-good book, I’ll try to pick up one of hers. The last time I cried was while reading The Comeback Season by Jennifer E. Smith. She isn’t a 2k8er but she is a debut author this year too. It was a very touching story, I wish that I had read it a lot sooner.
Love it!! Okay, so here comes one of our favorite questions--is there any character in a book that you wish would come to life? Or any place you wish existed?
This is a loaded question for me! Absolutely, every time I read a book I wish I could step into the pages or the character would come to life! That is what a book is for me ultimately, it is an escape to a place that I only wish could exist! If I had to pick a specific place, I would love to be a student at Hogwarts! I recently posted on my blog about how I would love to go back and live in the historical fictions books I’d been reading. Like La Petite Four and Bewitching Season! I also wouldn’t mind living in a parallel world that isn’t much different from ours now, but with a few additional characters. Like the world for Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments, or even Tantalize or Blue Bloods. I’d be more scared of the dark I think, but it would be worth it!
LOL, yeah there are a few things in books that would be downright terrifying if they came to life! So let's change the subject to something less scary! What books do you find yourself recommending over and over and why?I find myself recommending authors more so than books. Jodi Picoult, Catherine Murdock, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Mary E. Pearson, just to name a few.
Excellent authors! Okay, we've been gentle up till now, but it is time for the E.S.Q. Really bad reviews—do you ever fear giving them? Ever had an author get upset with you? (It’s okay—you can tell us, just don’t name names!) And what advice do you have for authors who get a bad review?
I don’t have a fear of giving bad reviews, but I hate the fact that someone might not read a book just because I didn’t like it. I try to remind whoever is reading the review that this is just my opinion and if they want to read the book, they should. Some of the books in my favorite pile are books I’ve read bad reviews for. And no, I haven’t had an author get mad at me, but I try not to be brutal!
If I got a bad review for a book I wrote I think I would be devastated! But unfortunately not everyone is going to like your book. So take what they say at face value and use it. The main thing I think is to remember that it’s only one person’s opinion.
Great advice!! And great answers! Thanks so much for joining us in the Hot Seat! One last question: if they aren’t scared off by all that bad review talk and an author would like you to review her book, what should she do?I am always thrilled when I have an author contact me. It never gets old. It’s like Christmas morning every time! It’s really easy to contact me. You can email me at thestorysiren (at) hotmail (dot) com!
Okay reader you know what to do--leave a comment and you'll be entered to win La Petite Four by Regina Scott. Here's what The Story Siren had to say about it:
"This was a great read! I love historical fiction and La Petite Four is a wonderful addition to the genre! Regina Scott is an awesome writer! I really enjoyed this book and I hope she continues with books for Young Adults. La Petite Four has a little bit of everything; mystery, suspense, romance and of course really beautiful dresses!" The Story Siren
(Click here for more great Hot Seat interviews)
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Soudns like a great challenge, Caroline! Thanks for the link to the e-gallery - I hadn't heard of that! Our library is a lot like yours! I usually end of going to Chapters - but this Christmas, I'm getting an E-READER!!! So I'll be able to get books super easy now!(Okay, I peeked in the closet. Yes, I'm a peeker.)
I won't be able to read much YA or MG in the coming year, but I'll watch to see what you read and like. :)
I'm always on the lookout for new things for my kids.
Wow! That's awesome! Do you know if anybody does this, but for women's fiction/contemporary romance?? I'd be all over that. I love reading debut novels!
Katie, I don't know. I'd Google debut author challenge + women's fiction and see what you get.
thanks so much for joining the challenge!! happy reading and good luck!
There are still so many debuts from 2010 that I want to read! I have to pick and choose and pray that my library will pick some up! Neat that you can read your fellow debuters!
Sounds like fun! I don't read a whole lot of YA, but whenever I stumble across those who do, I always feel like I'm missing out on the party of the year! Guess I better pick up some good YA titles this year, huh?
I have several elevensies already on my TBR! :)
I love reading debut authors. This year I've read 20 debuts and a few more are in the pile on my nightstand :)
You know, I'm not sure if I'm still stuck in the "English Major" mindset (which I desperately tried to shake in library school and working in Terrebonne), but I RARELY EVER read debut authors. I'm super inspired!
And I have tons of pre-pub from all my conferences. hmmmm.