Blog Link-Up #17 - 5/31/09

This week's round-up is small because many of the participants left for BEA on Thursday or Friday, and the last thing on their mind was sending links for the round-up; totally understandable.  I have been following their weekend on Twitter and can't wait to read all the blog posts when they return.  So, I have some links for you as well as some other bookish news you might be interested in.

The cry around the blogosphere, for those who did not go to NYC this weekend, has been "No BEA? Books Anyway!"  Devourer of Books posted about this very thing last week and wanted to let you know what it was all about.

Books and Movies has posted Part 2 of her memoirs list.  She also has a review for The Sense of Paper by Taylor Holden.  She says, "It’s part art history, part romance, part psychological thriller; this book was a great way to spend my reading time the past few days."

I have a friend, YA blogger, who is very talented in photography and graphic design.  She is currently working on a book trailer for Michelle Zink, author of Prophecy of the Sisters, due out in Aug.  Also, she has designed some postcards and bookmarks for Michelle to use in promotion of her book. She is wanting to reach out to other authors, so she posted about it on her blog.  You can see an example of her work; which is great by the way.  If you are an author, I encourage you to get in touch with Vania.  If you know an author, please feel free to pas this information on to them.  

All of my current giveaways have ended or will be ending tonight.  If you haven't entered for your copy of The Real Real, hurry and get your comment in before midnight.  All contest winners will be announced this week.  I am waiting on Sarah Ockler to choose the 5 winners of Twenty Boy Summer. I'm hoping she'll stop by for a guest post when she does.  I'll announce the 200th post giveaway winners tomorrow evening, as it will take me some time to go through all the comments and extra entries.

Up this week, I have Mailbox Monday tomorrow, Teaser Tuesday on Tuesday as well as a review and giveaway for a Pump Up Your Book Promotions blog tour.  Wednesday brings Wednesday Wanderings, review of Eyes Like Stars on Thursday, Friday Fill-Ins on Friday, and the return of Snapshot Saturday to end the week.  There may be more in store as the week goes on, but for now, that's how it works out.

One more thing...if you have or want to read Twenty Boy Summer, are a fan of YA or Sarah Ockler, then you need to make sure you are following Sarah Ockler on Twitter.  This Friday, June 5, there will be Twenty Tweet Summer, Twitter Launch Party from 7-11 PM EST.  The invite is up on Facebook and at Sarah's blog if you're not on Facebook.  Come join in the fun as we tweet the release of Sarah's book!

Summer Reading Tips & Giveaway

I know that many of my readers have children that will soon be out of school for the summer.  As a teacher, I've always had parents ask me, "What can I do over the summer to help them, accelerate them, keep them reading, etc?"  Well, when I was in the classroom, I would always send home any leftover workbook pages, copies of books we had made, summer reading lists, and anything else I could think of that parents and students could use for remediation and/or reinforcement.  The parents were always appreciative.

Well, I have the opportunity to do something similar for my readers today.  I was asked to participate in Summer Reading Tips promotion from Macmillan/McGraw-Hill.  What does that mean for you?  I am going to share with you summer reading tips, you share your own tips, and you can be entered to win a series of 3 readers from the Treasures program (age specific, depending on winner!).  How great is that?

Summer Reading Tips from Tim Shanahan, author of Macmillan/McGraw-Hill’s best selling elementary reading program, Treasures.  Dr. Shanahan is also the past president of the International Reading Association.

1.  Read Together! Summer usually allows families to spend more time together. This is a great opportunity to read more with your kids to help keep their skills fresh. Children learn a lot when you read to them. Even if your child can read by himself, take turns reading to each other, and be sure to talk about what you are reading. Ask questions, answer questions and explore the ideas together.

2. Share the Experience. As kids get older, help them find books, magazines, or newspaper articles that they would enjoy reading. Take the time to read them too so you can discuss them. The point is to share the reading experience.

3. Ask Questions. Even if you are not reading the same books they are, talk to your children about what they are reading. Ask them questions such as what happened in the story or what might happen next, who is their favorite character, or who is the villain. This builds summarization and recall skills, and your interest helps increase their interest.

4. Designate a Reading Spot. Create a summer reading nook or spot in your home where your child can read. Make sure there is good light and comfortable seating and try to set aside one TV/video-game-free night per week for family reading. Reading night can be a special snack night, too. There is nothing better than reading with a big bowl of popcorn!

5. Use Resources. If your children’s school program provides materials for home activities over the summer, absolutely use them.

6. Find Reading Opportunities Everywhere. If you are taking a trip this summer, send for brochures and maps and have your children read them aloud with you.

7. Leverage Pop Culture. Don’t ignore the value of graphic novels or a popular series like the Twilight books or Harry Potter. These are great ways to encourage adolescents to read more.

8. Plan an Outcome Activity. Whether you are reading to your children or they are reading themselves, plan an outcome event or activity based on the reading. For instance, if the book has been made into a movie, watch the DVD together after reading the book. Book reading can lead to picnics, museum visits, ballgames or even family vacations.

9. Write Letters to Your Children. Writing to your kids is a great opportunity to remind them of experiences that they had when they were younger or to tell them about the lives of older people in the family, like their grandparents. Kids love getting letters and you can even encourage them to write back, helping them practice their writing skills.

10. Mix it up. Don’t just focus on storybooks. Kids often prefer to read about fact rather than fiction, including books and articles about the environment, animals, current events, sports, and other topics. Talk to them about what they like and help them find reading materials that match those interests.

What reading tips can you share?  Leave them in the comments and I will randomly draw a winner to receive an 3 age specific books from the Treasures series.  This contest is open to US/Canada addresses and will run until Friday, June 5.

Friday Fill-Ins 5/29/09

1. It's cold and I can't find my sweater.

2. I love home-grown tomatoes.

3. My favorite health and beauty product is lipstick.

4. Going to Dallas will be a nice long ride.

5. Well, first of all I'd rather be reading.

6. Me, Latrice; those were the cast of characters in a recent dream and it was weird to be dreaming about school and other children's grades.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed early because tomorrow my plans include leaving at 4:30 AM to drive to Dallas for a graduation and Sunday, I want to work in the yard!

Other Friday Fill-Ins can be found on Janet's blog in the comments section.

Blog Tour Review: Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully

Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully by Julianne Moore

Now Available on Amazon.com - To Order Your Copy Today - http://www.amazon.com/Freckleface-Strawberry-Dodgeball-Bully-Story/dp/1599903164

For complete tour information and the complete schedule, visit her tour home page at: http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2009/04/freckleface-strawberry-by-julianne.html

Title:  Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully
Author:  Julianne Moore
Illustrator:  LeUyen Pham
Review Copy Provided by:  Bloomsbury

About the Book:  Freckleface Strawberry loves the Early Bird program at school because it means extra time on the playground–except when it rains. Rain means indoor playtime...and facing the school bully Windy Pants Patrick in a bruising game of dodgeball. Ignoring him seems the safest thing, but what's our freckled heroine to do when she's forced to confront the bully alone? Beat him at his own game, of course.

About the Author:  Julianne Moore is U. S. Ambassador for Save the Children working with children and families in rural areas, focusing on literacy and early childhood education. She successfully launched the Save the Children Valentine program in 2008 whereby children’s book illustrators donated art work for cards, with the proceeds benefiting poverty in the United States. 

She is also a member of Reach Out and Read, a children’s literacy organization dedicated to educating parents on the importance of reading to their children, as well as an acclaimed actress who has appeared in such movies as:  The Hours, Far from Heaven, The End of the Affair, and Boogie Nights.

Ms Moore was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting from Boston University’s School of the Performing Arts. She now lives with her husband and children in New York City.

My Review:  This is just a cute book for kids.  The bonus is that it deals with a very serious issue, in a fun way, bullying.  Every kid, at some time in their life, has dealt or will deal with bullying in school.  As a teacher, I see it every day, and there aren't alot of books out there, to show kids that bullies can be dealt with, and usually very easily.  Ms. Moore has done a great job of telling a story of a little girl that loves school, but is scared of one of the boys there.  When she embraces the monster inside her imagination, and plays her own game, she finds out that the bully isn't such a bad person.  You have to give kids something to relate to in children's books and Ms. Moore has done exactly that.  All children have imagined/pretended playing monster, so they get this.  Now, not many of the kids today have played dodgeball because most schools don't allow it.  I know, it's sad.  But kids can relate to playing some game in PE or at daycare where they were hurt. The author's use of onomatopoeia, sound words, really add to the feel of this story.  I love when these are used in a book, because children love sounds.

The illustrator, LeUyen Pham, has given this book a retro look, and I think it's perfect since this book is about dodgeball, a retro game.  Even the pages have an old feel to them.  The expressions on the children's faces are just priceless!  It reminds me alot of the look and feel of Gerald McBoing Boing by Dr. Seuss.  Bright, vivid colors are used, which I think are best to capture young reader's attention.  

I recommend this book for classroom teachers at the elementary level and parents of young children.  Bullying is an issue that does not need to be ignored.  Children need to be aware of it and how to deal with it.  What better way to get them talking about it than with a fun book?

Download Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully Acivity Kit 

Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry on Being a Writer - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFcob8mRtec

Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry About Reading - www.youtube.com/watch?v=rboRF5ipxPU

Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry About being a Redhead with Freckles - www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JZYtwEpdbs

Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry on Writing Children's Books - www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NlGFJW7AbQ

Julianne Moore on the Name "Freckleface Strawberry" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvFlqKdaogs

Julianne Moore Author of Freckleface Strawberry on Balancing Family and Career - www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4koJKpoNxc 

Blog Tour - Mating Rituals of the North American WASP

 

Today is the blog tour for Mating Rituals and I've dropped the ball on my end of it.  I have to admit that I haven't finished the book yet, but didn't want to let the other tour members and Miriam at Hachette down by just NOT participating.  That's not how I am.  I gave my word, but LIFE got in the way.  Yes, I know it happens to all of us, but I wanted to give you something today having to do with this book.  There are great reviews for this one all over the blogs today, so you won't be getting that from me (hard to do anyway, when I haven't finished it.)  What I am going to give you is plenty of info about the book and the author, to whet your appetite for this book, should you choose to read it.  

About the Book: After arguing with her live-in boyfriend about his inability to commit, Peggy Adams flies to a friend's bachelorette party in Las Vegas, and wakes up next to a man she can't remember. Hung-over and miserable, she sneaks out of the sleeping man's hotel room and returns home to New York, where her boyfriend apologizes for the fight and gives her a Tiffany box containing a pre-engagement ring. Not what she expected, but close enough! The next day she receives a phone call from the Las Vegas one-night stand, Luke, claiming she's already married to him¬-and he faxes her the license for proof! Both are ready for an annulment, until Peggy arrives in quaint New Nineveh, CT, where Luke cares for his Great Aunt, and the old woman makes Peggy an offer she can't refuse.

About the Author:  Lauren Lipton is the author of two novels, It's About Your Husband (2006) and Mating Rituals of the North American WASP (2009). She is also a freelance journalist who specializes in style, business and trend stories.

She is currently fashion, beauty and lifestyle editor at ForbesWoman magazine. She has also contributed features on society and media to the New York Times Sunday Styles section. A former Wall Street Journal staff writer, she reported on copycat brides who steal their friends' wedding ideas, pajama parties for grown women, and luxury homes with his-and-hers garages.

Her work also has appeared in Conde Nast Portfolio, In Style Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Best Life, Glamour, Marie Claire, Fit Pregnancy and Working Mother, and on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. She began her career at the Los Angeles Times.

Born in Providence, R.I., Lauren grew up in the North County of San Diego and in Los Gatos, Calif., before moving to Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and anthropology from Occidental College and a master's degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California.

She lives with her family in New York City and in Litchfield County, Conn.  

You can read more about Laura in her NY Times profile or Vanity Fair Culture & Celebrity blog. 

Quotes to tease you:

"She'd passed out in a strange man's room.  Her next thought was, My purse!  She half expected not to find it, but it was there, on a table with a scattered stack of papers, two smudgy champagne glasses, and a bottle nose-down in a bucket of melted ice.  The man's jacket was draped neatly across the back of a chair."

"Sweetie, stop.  All that happened was you drank too much and had fun with a man and didn't make it back to our hotel room.  Nothing bad.  You'll go home and your life will be exactly as it was before."

"Peggy shook Luke Sedgwick's hand as briefly as she could.  He mumbled, 'Nice to see you," though she wass pointedly avoiding his eyes...She recalled, suddenly, the way he'd looked asleep on the hotel bed in Vegas  Had at any point his legs been entwined with hers?"

Other places to find Laura Lipton:

Laura's website 

Laura's blog

Please visit the other bloggers on the tour:

http://thereviewfromhere.wordpress.com/
http://librarygirlreads.blogspot.com/
http://hiddenplace.wordpress.com/
http://kylees2009.blogspot.com/
http://www.devourerofbooks.com/
http://burtonreview.blogspot.com
http://bookopolis.blogspot.com/
http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/
http://www.foreigncircuslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://www.xanga.com/bravehsgirl
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/
http://inbedwithbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookconfessions.com/
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/
http://www.readingwithmonie.com/
http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/
http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.squidoo.com/bookbin
http://www.acircleofbooks.com/
http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset
http://www.thisbookforfree.com
http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://lastexilewords.blogspot.com/
http://unmainstreammomreads.blogspot.com/
http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
http://www.bermudaonion.wordpress.com/
http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/
http://abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com/
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://bookslovejessicmarie.blogspot.com
http://www.thenovelbookworm.com/
http://proudbookworm.blogspot.com/
http://kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com/
http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
http://epicrat.blogspot.com/
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/
http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
http://www.thebookzombie.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/
http://www.linussblanket.com/
http://donnasbookreviews.blogspot.com/
http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/
http://www.morbid-romantic.net/
http://www.brimfulcuriosities.com
http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/
http://savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com/
http://danys-san.blogspot.com
http://www.iheartmonster.com/
http://debbiesworld.wordpress.com
http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com
http://ebogie.blogspot.com

Wednesday Wanderings - 5/27/09

I wander around the blogosphere and bring you what I find.

Here are the contests/giveaways that I thought might interest you this week.  I am putting some in my sidebar periodically, so you can go there to see some others as well.

Booking Mama has a great post about a Fantasy Road Trip Contest for teens and parents of teens, and along with it, she is giving away an audio copy of Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty.  Enter until June 9th.

Speaking of audiobooks, Bookin' with Bingo has 3 copies of Mr. Popper's Penguins to giveaway.  Hurry and enter as this one ends at 8 AM, Sat. May 30th.

Traveling to Teens has a copy of Exclusively Chloe up for grabs.  You have until the 10th of June.

Over at Mrs. Magoo Reads, she has a great feature called Movie Monday.  There is always a giveaway and this week's is The Sacred Sin.  Enter until this Sunday.

Author Rachel Vincent is giving away an ARC of her new YA book, My Soul to Take.  This one ends May 30th.

Amanda at A Patchwork of Books reviewed and is giving away a cute children's book: Abigail Spells.  She has 3 copies to giveaway.  Enter until Sun. May 31st.

There you have it, now go forth and enter!

Review and Giveaway: Twenty Boy Summer

 

Title:  Twenty Boy Summer

Author:  Sarah Ockler

Review Copy Provided by:  Little, Brown

About the Book:  

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

My Review:    The perfect summer, beach read.  Not just because it takes place on the beach or because summer is in the title, but because this book just screams summer: vacation with friends, California, teenage love, love lost, best friends, growing up.  What more could you ask for?  I really enjoyed Ockler's debut YA novel.

Anna, the main character is so easy to love and such a typical teenager.  She has a best friend, well two, but one's a boy, they live next door, and they spend ALL their time together.  Everything is perfect, until Anna's 15th birthday.  The best friend, who's a boy, becomes more and Anna has to hide it from everyone, including Frankie, her best friend.  Anna's conflict is with herself; should she tell, did Matt really love her, what would have happened with them, is she cheating on a ghost if she dates other guys?  That's more than one teen should have to deal with at a time.  But, Anna is strong.  She finds solace in her journal until she learns that even the journal can't bring Matt back.

Ockler unfolds a great story as two friends learn more about each other in 3 weeks on the beach than they ever thought possible.  Will this friendship survive the ABSE (Absolute Best Summer Ever) when everything backfires?  You'll have to read it for yourself and see.

5/5 stars for Sarah Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer.  Take it with you to the beach, and enjoy!

TBS was not due to hit shelves until June, but someone let it out early and it's being spotted in bookstores all over the states.  To see TBS on the map, make sure you stop by Sarah's blog.  She is hosting the Put Twenty Boy Summer on the Map contest on her blog where she's giving away a beach prize pack, and she's also giving away a copy on Goodreads.  Other bloggers have gotten in on the excitement and contests are popping up everywhere!  Here is the list:

Beautiful Creatures Book Club has an ARC and Swag Bag of goodies - ends 5/29

The Story Siren has 5 hardcover copies - ends 5/30

Reader Rabbit has 3 hardcover copies - ends 6/2

Well, I have one to add to that list.  Little, Brown has given me 5 copies to giveaway to my readers as well.  I know, you want to know how you can win one?  Well, it's easy; all you have to do is leave a question for Sarah in the comments.  You have until Friday May 29, at midnight (CST) to ask your questions.  After Friday, I will send all the questions to Sarah, she will choose 5 to answer on my blog, and those 5 people will win a copy of Twenty Boy Summer.  So, what are you dying to know?  Start asking!  Be sure you leave an email address so we can get in touch with you. Contest is open to anyone in the US/Canada; no PO boxes please.

Book Tour Review: The Tablet of My Heart

Title:  The Tablet of My Heart
Author:  Elizabeth Walker
Review Copy Provided by:  author

About the Book:  The world turns upside down for a young girl when her father begins a fatal battle with the merciless affliction cancer. Before his illness finishes it’s devastating rampage through her adolescence, she is confronted by a new demon. She falls victim, by the hands of a trusted adult, to sexual abuse. The devastation of these events causes her to question God’s roll in her life, and whether He ever loved her at all. The Tablet of My Heart is a collection of Poetry from the journal of that young girl.

My Review:  I read this book in 2 hours last night, even though it was a hard read.  Not hard in the sense of the writing, but hard because of the topic.  This book deals with sexual abuse, told from the victim's point of view.  The victim in this case was a child.  The book is written by the victim and gives you insight into her thoughts and feelings as she uses her journal entries to tell the story.  Her journal is filled with poems that no child should have to write.  I don't want to share too much for fear of giving the story away, but let's just say I was awestruck at how a mother would not believe her child and then have her lie about what happened because she was afraid of the repercussions.  As someone who works with children, I was furious!

I loved the way the author mixed the poems in with her narration of the story.  It was a real different way to read and I enjoyed the break in the narration.  I will share one of the poems that really touched me.  Remember, this poem came from a child.

Little Playmate

On my insides I was weeping,

When he stole myself away.

Before he came along,

Me and daddy used to play.

But daddy never played like this,

Daddy didn't make me cry.

Daddy didn't touch beneath my skirt

And tell my mommy lies.

Mommy is so busy, and she always looks so sad,

I just won't be alone with him

That shouldn't make him mad.

I just won't be alone with him

So I don't have to say,

How bad it makes my tummy hurt

The way he wants to play.

I recommend this book to parents and anyone who has been a victim of abuse.  It really makes you stop and think about the perspective of a child.

This book review is for a Pump Up Your Book Promotions blog tour. 

I apologize for not having pictures, but my work computer won't let me upload them for some reason.  I will add them from home later.

Teaser Tuesdays - Eyes Like Stars

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser is from Eyes Like Stars, by Lisa Mantchev.  This YA book will be released in July so look for it in your stores then.

Then she was upright once more, with both armas above her head.  Fountain spray drifted over them, dampening Bertie's skirts and spangling her hair with blue-diamond brilliants. ( p. 181)

What are you reading?

Mailbox Monday - 5/25/09

It's been a couple of weeks since I've given you a Mailbox Monday post.  I'm happy to be back this week sharing with you what came in the mail.  If you'd like to see what others received, head over to The Printed Page where Marcia hosts this great meme for us every week.

Here's what made it's way into my house, via the mailbox:

It's Not You It's Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffman, from Delacorte Press

Red Carpet Riot by David Van Etten, from Delacorte Press

Cool Jewels: Beading Projects for Teens by Naomi Fujimoto, from author

China - Land of Dragons & Emperors by Adeline Yen Mah, from Delacorte Press

Tempo Change by Barbara Hall, from Delacorte Press

The Debs: Love, Lies. and Texas Dips by Susan McBride, from Delacorte Press

Summer of 49 by David Halberstam

The Wet Nurse's Tale by Erica Eisdorfer, from Shelf Awareness

Guinevere's Gamble by Nancy McKenzie, from Random House

The Sorceress by Michael Scott, from Random House

Mare's War by Tanita Davis, from Random House

Tantalize by Cynthia Leititch Smith, from I Heart Monster

Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort, from Simon & Schuster

DinoTrux by Chris Gall, from Little, Brown

Strawberry Hill by anny Ann Hoberman, from Little, Brown

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, from Little, Brown

So, what came into your house last week?

Nana Star Book/Doll Winner

The Children's Book Week celebration giveaways come to an end with the posting of this winner today.  I want to say thank you again to all the authors who stopped by to guest post, participate in an interview and the authors and publishers who provided books for giveaways.

Without further adieu, the winner of the Nana Star book and doll...

andreaneville

Be sure to check the sidebar for Current Giveaways and Online Contests You Might Like.

Blog Link-Up #16 - 5/24/09

Here we are again, another Sunday, and another edition of the weekly link round-up.  For my new followers, this is a weekly post that some of my fellow book bloggers and I do to highlight our favorite post of the week.  If you are a blogger who would like to join in, please email me and I'll get you the information.  

Looking for something to read?  Read these reviews; maybe you can find what you're looking for.

Devourer of Books has 2 great reviews this week.  First up is Shanghai Girls by Lisa Lee.  Her thoughts, "It was a wonderful story about trying to do the best with what you have and about the difference that perspective makes."  You can enter to win this book, but look carefully because she hid the giveaway in the review, sneaky girl!  She also reviewed a book I've been dying (no pun intended) to add to my TBR list.  It's Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender.  What did she think?  "Oh my gosh, was this ever a creepy book!"  See what else she had to say.

Any short story fans?  Beth Fish Reads reviewed Great Dream of Heaven by Sam Shepard, a collection of 18 short stories.  "Each story is almost like a scene out of a play, self-contained but well-oriented in the larger world," says Beth.  I will definitely have to look into this one!

Over at Linus' Blanket, there are also 2 reviews you might want to check out.  The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam is not a new book, but one you may have missed last year.  It is a memoir about a girl from Cambodia and Nicole says, "This haunting memoir is a must read."  The other title she reviewed is Fault Line by Barry Eisler.  This thriller came out in March, and according to Nicole, "Overall this was a solid and enjoyable read."

Non-review posts...

S. Krishna has started doing a series of posts on book swapping sites, a topic that she gets alot of questions about.  The first installment is titled, Book Trading, An Overview.  If you're wondering how to get rid of some of your books, or how to get some books, you should be following this series.

As I've come to expect, Books and Movies has a new list for us.  This week Carrie is listing her favorite memoirs.  This is part one, so if you like memoirs, stay tuned for part 2!   She also has a poll posted this week.  If you are a Stephanie Plum fan, you definitely need to participate in this.  The question is: Ranger or Joe Morelli?

That's it for this week's installment.  I did want to let you know that I have added something new to my sidebar, Online Contests you Might Like.  I will be linking to contests and giveaways on other sites that I visit. Want me to add your contest? Just let me know.

Snapshot Saturday #15

This time last year, I spent alot of time in my yard planting flowers, just as I've been doing this year.  Most of the time, I'm on my own to choose, plant, and care for everything I put in the ground around here.  Well, last year, my granddaughter was finally at the age where she cared about helping me with every bit of it.  So, we bought kid sized garden gloves, tools, and lots of flowers.  We came home ready to beautify the yard, but she had other ideas.  She did help me, a little, but she took lots of breaks too!  As always, I ended up doing most of the work, and that's okay.  She had fun in her own way and looked cute doing it!

 

I caught her playing in the dirt and apparently so did the dog!

My Blog is Enchanted!

Well, according to I Heart Monster, this blog is enchanted!. She has gifted me with the Enchanted Blog Award.

Here is what she had to say,

"I'd like to pass this on to Shelly at Write for a Reader who just hosted an awesome Children's Book Week. If you don't read her, you should!"

Aw, thanks! I haven't been the best blogger about posting and gifting blog awards, but I promise from this day forward to do better. Besides, I don't want the fairies to get me; read the fine print about this award. So, now I have to pass this on to 5 bloggers who I see as caring; hmmm, let me think.

I'd like to pass this on to the following blogs:

Bermudaonion's Weblog - she never fails to comment on my posts.
Maw Books Blog - she's always there to help
Kindergardenblooms- her comments on my posts always make me smile
Reverie Book Reviews - I always seem to make her laugh and that makes me feel good. She's a great artist and photographer as well.
Jenn's Bookshelf - she has a cool looking blog and is always there to listen when I'm on Twitter.

The only requirement for this award is that you share it with whomever you like, sharing the love is always a good thing. The blog has to show only one characteristic, caring. So, start sharing this enchanted award with five other bloggers. Let your bloggers know they have received this enchanted award. (Remember, fairies are fickle wee things, don't incur their displeasure by ignoring their gift.)

Friday Fill-Ins 5/22/09 + an oops!!

Technorati Profile
1. Moving is hard.

2. The best things in life are free.

3. My best quality is that I love deeply.

4. Pay attention to the details.

5. In nearly 10 years, I've grown more than I ever thought I would, as a person.

6. More Diet Coke and some breakfast is what I need right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a nice quiet evening, tomorrow my plans include getting DISH hooked up at home, going out with friends and Sunday, I want to rest, please!
 
More Friday Fill-Ins
 
Thank you to all the well wishes for my interview yesterday.  I felt really good about it, but now I just have to wait on their decision.  She promised I'd know before school was out (June 3) but I hope I don't have to wait that long.
 
Now, for my oops!  It's a big one.  I totally forgot to announce the winner of Wicked Lovely.  I am so sorry; for some reason, it just slipped my mind, imagine that!  So, I'm announcing the winner now.
 

The winner of an autographed copy of Wicked Lovely is:

 

WENDI B

 

Wendi, send me your mailing info and I'll send the book.  Stay tuned for another giveaway winner later today!

Just a Post + a winner

Many of you know that today, at 4:30, I go for my second interview for an assistant principal position. To say I'm nervous is an understatement.  I left school early, to be able to relax, get ready, and get my head straight.  I had plans to post my review of Strange Angels, but I just can't think straight enough to write a review right now.  I have managed to clean out Google Reader, but 13 new posts just "popped" up, oh well.  I've commented on some blogs, which I miss doing, and I've tweeted with some friends.

I've waited for this day for 2 years, and even though I may not get the job, it is a great experience.  Did I say I was one of the final 2 interviewees? Scary, huh?  All my teacher friends at school believe I'll get it, and I have high hopes, but there is still that little bit of doubt.  Everybody has that, right?  I know I'm ready, but are they ready for me?

I try to give you a blog post everyday, and I didn't want to let you down b/c I was in a non-blogging mood right now.  I hope you don't mind this real personal, semi-talking to myself post.  I just had to get some things off my chest.   I do have the winner of The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z for you.  It's exciting to be announcing winners.  So, without further ado, the winner is:

rhapsodyinbooks

Something else I learned today - Wings, by Aprilynne Pike is #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List.  Congratulations to Aprilynne.  Wings is her debut YA novel, can you believe it?

I am currently reading 20 Boy Summer.  When I get it finished, I will be posting a review with a surprise.  Just start thinking: "If I could ask Sarah Ockler anything, what would it be?"  That's all I'm going to say for now, but I promise, you'll LOVE it!!

Thanks for letting me just "share" today.

It's THE REAL REAL Tour + giveaway

No, I didn't mean to say the Real Deal Tour. The Real Real: a novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus went on sale yesterday and tomorrow they kick off their book tour on Good Morning America.

"In their first book for teens, the bestselling authors of the Nanny Diaries take aim at reality tv, where fiction masquerades as fact and the real drama is behind the scenes."

 

“Really funny, really smart, and really entertaining. I really LOVED this book!”
   — Sarah Mlynowski, author of Bras & Broomsticks and How to Be Bad

Praise for The Nanny Diaries:

“Diabolically funny.”
   — New York Times
“Impossible to put down.”
   — Vogue

The Real Real

by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

 

When Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus penned The Nanny Diaries, they had no idea of how much their lives would change with its runaway success.   They suddenly found themselves in the media spotlight with a bestselling debut novel on their hands, and a lot of attention suddenly focused on them.

Their experience inspired them to write THE REAL REAL--their first book for young adults.  The story begins when Jesse--one of the NOT rich kids at Hampton High – gets chosen to star on the Laguna Beach-style reality show filmed at her school.  Soon she’s forced to pal around with the glamorous kids whose families her working-class parents serve.  But there’s a tuition check attached to being on the show, and at the producers’ insistence, Jesse must trade her actual best friend for four people she’s gone to school with for years, but hardly knows.  As the producers play with their lives to heighten the drama, Jesse must struggle against losing herself amidst the red-carpet hype that is now a part of her daily life and try to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.

Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus are the authors of the New York Times bestsellers The Nanny Diaries, Citizen Girl, and Dedication. They live and work in New York City.

THE REAL REAL

by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

ISBN: 978-0-06-172040-6

$16.99                   Ages 14 up

On sale: May 19, 2009

www.harperteen.com

Read an excerpt of THE REAL REAL!

THE REAL REAL tour:

May 23                Bookhampton, Amagansett, NY

May 26                B&N Skokie, IL

May 27                Anderson’s, Naperville, IL

May 28               B&N Lake Grove, NY

June 2                  Changing Hands, Phoenix, AZ

June 3                  Vroman’s, Pasadena, CA

June 4                 Borders, Torrance, CA

June 5                  B&N Huntington Beach, CA

June 6                  B&N, El Cerrito, CA

June 7                  Copperfields, Petaluma, CA

June 8                 Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA

June 24               Borders Columbus Circle, NYC

Guess what?  Harper Teen wants to give one of my readers a signed copy of The Real Real, to celebrate the kick-off of the book tour!   Just answer this question: If you could be on any reality show, which one would it be?  This contest is open to US/Canada addresses and will run until May 31st.  Make sure you leave your email in your comment so I can contact you if you win.

Earn Extra Entries by:

+1 - follower

+2 - tweet this

+2 - blog this

Winners Galore!

I'll admit that I am behind on posting giveaway winners because of last week's Children's Book Week celebration.  I apologize to each of you, because I like to keep my word and post winners in a timely manner.  For that reason, this post is full of winners.  The good thing is that I have already emailed them ALL, what a chore!

2 winners of The Noticer are:

Ashley

MJ

Winner of The Light, The Dark and Ember Between:

Teddy Rose

Winner of my Blog Survey ($10 Amazon gift card)

Bridget

Winners of The Host:

Bingo

Amy

Trishalynn

Winners of a Karma Wilson book:

Kami Garcia

Brimful Curiosities

Winners of Rena Grossman's board books:

Katie

gahome2mom

Cinnamon

Congratulations to all the winners!  You have 48 hours to email me with your mailing info or I will choose another winner. 

Please know that there are still some great giveaways going on, just check the top of my right sidebar.

Wednesday Wanderins - 5/20/09

I wander around the blogosphere and bring you what I find.

 

This week I'm back with a load of great giveaways for you.  I hope that something in this list will intrigue you!

 

Presenting Lenore is having 2 HUGE giveaways right now.  One is the Penguin Fantasy Prize Pack (9 books) and the other is the Penguin Reality Prize Pack (9 books).  You can see the books on her site, but 2 books in each pack will be mystery books.  Both giveaways end June 3 at noon CST.

 

Reader Rabbit is helping get the word out about Sarah Ockler's new book, 20 Boy Summer, by giving away 3 copies.  This one lasts until June 2.

Maw Books always has the best interviews!  This time, she's interviewed Paul Harris, author of Secret Keeper.  Stop by and see what he had to say.  While you're there, enter to win a copy of his book!

Over at My Friend Amy, she is having a Week of Pure Passion.  Her contest, Take a Chance on Passion, will have 5 winners who get their choice of one of the "passion" books by Julie Lessman, one winner will get all 3 books, and one winner will get a 15 page writer's critique from Julie.  Read her review, interview, and enter to win!

Want to read The 19th Wife?  Head over to Hey Lady, Whatcha Readin'? She has a paperback copy to giveaway when you tell her who your favorite teacher was.  You can enter until 5/31.

I love Bermudaonion's Weblog!  She is a great blog buddy, and this week she has a great giveaway, The Turnaround by George Pelecanos.  Read her review, and leave her a comment to enter.  This giveaway is until 5/24.

S. Krishna's Books has a giveaway that I want to enter, because I've been dying to read this book!  You can enter to win a copy of Waiting for You by Suzanne Colasanti until 5/31.

Jenn and I are pretty close on the amount of blog posts we have done.  She is celebrating her 200th post and so am I.  Over at Jenn's Bookshelf she has 20 books up for grabs in her Mega Favorites Giveaway.  Go check it out!  You could win them all!

Finally, A Novel Menagerie has 3 copies of April & Oliver for you to win.

Thanks for stopping by to see what giveaways I've found around the blogs.