"Waiting On" Wednesday - Moonglass

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:


Moonglass

By Jessi Kirby
Publication Date:  May 3rd 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

from Goodreads:

From Jessi Kirby, a debut novel about confronting the past in order to move ahead.

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.
While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

I actually have an ARC of this one that I'm just dying to get to!  It seems like a great summer read and I am getting summer ready! 

"Waiting On" Wednesday - I'll Be There

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

I'll Be There

By Holly Goldberg Sloan
Publication Date:  May 3rd 2011 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Raised by an unstable father who keeps the family constantly on the move, Sam Border hasn't been in a classroom since the second grade. He's always been the rock for his younger brother Riddle, who stopped speaking long ago and instead makes sense of the world through his strange and intricate drawings. It's said that the two boys speak with one voice--and that voice is Sam's. 

Then, Sam meets Emily Bell, and everything changes. The two share an immediate and intense attraction, and soon Sam and Riddle find themselves welcomed into the Bell's home. Faced with normalcy for the first time, they know it's too good to last.

Told from multiple perspectives, Holly Goldberg Sloan's debut novel offers readers fresh voices and a gripping story, with vivid glimpses into the lives of many unique characters. Beautifully written and emotionally profound, I'll Be There is a story about connections both big and small, and deftly explores the many ways that our lives are woven together.

I'm very intrigued by this one because it deals with a child who has not been in school, forced to take care of his younger brother.  The fact that the younger one doesn't talk and the older one still knows how to communicate with him fascinates me.

Saturday Snapshot - April 2

Last weekend, 2 of our granddaughters came over for a little while.  They rode horses and then my husband washed down the horses before putting them up.  Our youngest granddaughter had so much fun playing in the mud that when she left, she was only in her shirt and diaper.  Boy, was she a mess!!  This picture was taken after she had been splashing in the water.  She was laughing because she thought it was so funny!

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books.  To participate, just post a picture that you, family, or a friend have taken.  The amount of captioning is up to you.  Pictures must be clean and appropriate for all eyes.

"Waiting On" Wednesday - Starcrossed

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Starcrossed

By Josephine Angelini
Publication Date: May 31st 2011 by HarperTeen

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Sounds so good!!!

"Waiting On" Wednesday - Red Glove

I am pleased to say that Rodeo Houston has come and gone for another year!  Not that I don't enjoy my volunteer time out there, because I do, it's just that it takes SO much of my time, that reading and blogging get put on the back burner.  I'm glad to be back in the blogging world and am anxious to share with you many of the books that I've been receiving for review.

 "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Red Glove

By:  Holly Black

Publication:  April 5th 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry 

from Goodreads:  Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

I received an ARC of this title in the mail and I'm anxious to read it as I loved White Cat, the first book in the series.   

Mailbox Monday - 3/14/2011

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme started by Marcia at The Printed Page.  You can read all about it at the Mailbox Monday blog.  Well, the mailbox has gone on tour.  This month's host is I'm Booking It.

I love this meme because it lets me take a peek into other bloggers' mailboxes and find out what they received over the last week.  I will warn you, it does lead to more books as you will find many that you want because of others mailboxes.  If you'd like to join in on the fun, post about your books and link up!

I had a rather large mailbox this week and I'm not sure why because I haven't been requesting as many books lately due to lack of time to read.  Many of these were unrequested, just sent from the publisher, and I'm thankful.  I also have some packages at the post office that I hope will be delivered today.  Work has been so busy lately that I can't seem to get out of there in time to get to the post office before it closes.  Hopefully the mailman will be nice and deliver my packages so that I can put them in next week's mailbox.  This week is Spring Break, so I'm hoping to get a lot of reading in.  You may not see me online very much, but know I'm around...I'm just catching up on some reading.

 

Amaryllis in Blueberry (ARC) by Christina Meldrum, from Simon &  Schuster

Women Food and God by Geneen Roth, from Simon & Schuster

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard, from Knoph Delacorte Dell Young Readers Group

The Queen of Water by Laura Resau and Maria Virginia Farinango, from Knopf Delacorte Dell Young Readers Group

Jersey Tomatoes are the Best by Maria Padian, from Random House Children's Books

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus, from Random House Children's Books - I've already read and reviewed this one, so I will be giving it away.

Night Road (ARC) by Kristin Hannah, from St. Martin's Press

Amos Daragon: The Mask Wearer by Bryan Perro, from Knopf Delacorte Dell Young Readers Group

Show Time by Sue Stauffacher, from Random House Children's Books

White Cat and Red Glove (ARC) by Holly Black, from Margaret K. McElderry - both of these came packaged together, from the publisher.  I read and enjoyed White Cat, so I'm anxious to see what's in store in Red Glove.

The Source of All Things by Tracy Ross, from Free Press via ShelfAwareness

Where She Went (ARC) by Gayle Forman, from Dutton Juvenile

Go, Dog Go! Party Book by P.D. Eastman, from Random House Books for Young Readers

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe: A Counting Nursery Rhyme by Salina Yoon, from Random House Books for Young Readers

Go, Dog Go! by P.D. Eastman, from Random House Children's Books

Baby's First Book, The Poky Little Puppy, Baby Farm Animals (not pictured), and Home for a Bunny (not pictured) by Little Golden Books, from Random House Children's Books - these four titles are in Random House's new padded board book format for babies, the all-new Golden Baby line.  I gave 2 of these to my nephew for his birthday and he is enjoying them.

So Shelly by Ty Roth, from Delacorte Books for Young Readers - I have been waiting on this one, so I'm excited to get to read it now.

What was in your mailbox?

Friday Fill-Ins - 3/11/11

1. Oh gross! I thought it was flushed.

2. Kissing a pig, well THAT's off my bucket list!

3. No, you didn't really do that.

4. Marriage takes your heart and soul.

5. And then along came Jones.

6. I can't forget how lucky I am.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner out, tomorrow my plans include my nephew's 2nd birthday party and Sunday, I want to rest!

"Waiting On" Wednesday - The End of the Line

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The End of the Line

By Angela Cerrito

Publication:  April 14th 2011 by Holiday House 

from Goodreads 
Gripping and suspenseful, this powerful, no-holds-barred novel by an exciting new talent goes deep inside a young boy's mind. Thirteen-year-old Robbie is locked in a room with nothing but a desk, a chair, a piece of paper, and a pencil. He's starving, but all they'll give him is water. He is sure he's in a nuthouse or a prison. Actually, he's at Great Oaks School, aka the End of the Line. Kept in solitary confinement, Robbie must earn points for food, a bed, even bathroom privileges. He must learn to listen carefully, to follow the rules, and to accept and admit the truth: he is a murderer. Robbie's first-person account of his struggles at the school—at times horrifying, at times hilarious—alternates with flashbacks to the events that led to his incarceration. Ultimately he must confront the question: which is worse—that he wanted to kill his friend Ryan or that he killed him by accident?

Just the cover had me, but the synopsis hooked me!  The cover is different than anything I've seen in YA in a while, and the story, well I have one word for you, WOW!  I'd love to read this one before April, but I guess I'll have to wait; it's not that long, right?  I'm glad to see more male main characters in YA.  There haven't been many lately, but I'm starting to see more and more and I'm glad.  Yes, I can connect with female leads since I'm a female, but it's great to read stories from the male POV as well.  Looking forward to this one!!

Mailbox Monday - 3/7/2011

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme started by Marcia at The Printed Page.  You can read all about it at the Mailbox Monday blog.  Well, the mailbox has gone on tour.  This month's host is I'm Booking It.

I love this meme because it lets me take a peek into other bloggers' mailboxes and find out what they received over the last week.  I will warn you, it does lead to more books as you will find many that you want because of others mailboxes.  If you'd like to join in on the fun, post about your books and link up!


Here's what came into my house, via the mailbox, this week:

Young Fredle by Cynthia Voigt, from Knopf Books for Young Readers
Kickers Book 4: Game-Day Jitters by Rich Wallace, from Knopf Books for Young Readers
Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, from Knopf Books for Young Readers

Gingerbread Man Loose in the School (F&G) by Laura Murray, from Putnam
Scritch-Scratch a Perfect Match (F&G) by Kimberly Marcus, from Penguin
Baby's First Year (F&G) by Rick Walton, from Putnam

School Days According to Humphrey (ARC) by Betty G. Birney, from Putnam
On the Volcano (ARC) by James Nelson, from Putnam
Sparrow Road (ARC) by Sheila O'Connor, from Putnam

Last but not least, I received Arranged by Catherine McKenzie, from Cindy's Love of Books.  This is a signed copy that I won on Cindy's blog.  I loved finding the surprise bookmarks tucked inside the book along with a sweet note from Cindy. The Anne Geddes bookmark is my favorite!  Thanks, Cindy;  I love my blogging friends!

Friday Fill-Ins - 3/3/2011

1. Bring your favorite snacks.


2. Drinks are included.

3. That is exactly what I said.

4. Well, you see, the real story is...

5. See ya soon!

6. But what if I need you?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing in my chair while watching tv with my husband, tomorrow my plans include a trip to Trinity for a baby shower and some reading in the evening and Sunday, I want to read after I work the rodeo all day!

Mailbox Monday - 2/28/2011

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme started by Marcia at The Printed Page.  You can read all about it at the Mailbox Monday blog.  Well, the mailbox has gone on tour.  This month's host is Library of Clean Reads. 

I love this meme because it lets me take a peek into other bloggers' mailboxes and find out what they received over the last week.  I will warn you, it does lead to more books as you will find many that you want because of others mailboxes.  If you'd like to join in on the fun, post about your books and link up!

Thanks to my mail lady not wanting to drive to my gate and drop some packages, I have 2 or 3 waiting for me at the post office.  Therefore, I'm posting this late on Sunday because I will probably be updating it on Monday afternoon or posting an addendum to this mailbox.

Puddleby by Leah Wilcox, from author
The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler, from author
A True Princess by Diane Zahler, from author

What You See in the Dark (ARC) by Manuel Munoz, from Algonquin
When Tito Loved Clara  (ARC) by Jon Michaud, from Algonquin
Something for Nothing  (ARC) by David Anthony, from Algonquin

The small square package on the bottom right has 3 little books in it that are excerpts of the three I received from Algonquin.  It's a great marketing tool!

Saturday Snapshot - February 26

My husband took this picture of the elephants at the Houston Zoo this past week.  He is a concrete superintendent and his company does all the concrete work at the zoo.  This past week he worked on a new sidewalk around the elephant's habitat.  In this picture are 3 females (the large ones in the back), 1 young male and 1 young female (the 2 little ones in the middle).  The dark one on the left is 45 years old.

He has come home with some funny stories about the elephants!

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books.  To participate, just post a picture that you, family, or a friend have taken.  The amount of captioning is up to you.  Pictures must be clean and appropriate for all eyes.

Mailbox Monday - 2/20/2011

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme started by Marcia at The Printed Page.  You can read all about it at the Mailbox Monday blog.  Well, the mailbox has gone on tour.  This month's host is Library of Clean Reads. 

I love this meme because it lets me take a peek into other bloggers' mailboxes and find out what they received over the last week.  I will warn you, it does lead to more books as you will find many that you want because of others mailboxes.  If you'd like to join in on the fun, post about your books and link up!

I had a pretty big week this week, so there's only one picture of all the books stacked up.  This week I only had to make one trip to the post office because there was a package that wouldn't fit in the mailbox.  Clicking on the book titles will take you to their Goodreads page.

Starting from the bottom of the stack:

Before There Was Mozart by Lesa Cline-Ransome, from Random House
Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming, from Random House
Adventures in Nowhere by John Ames, from Pineapple Press for a Pump Up Your Book Tour
Flesh & Blood so Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy by Al Marrin, from Random House
The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander, from Walden Media
Throat by R.A. Nelson, from Knopf Books for Young Readers
The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier, from Knopf Books for Young Readers
Four Seasons by Jane Breskin Zalben, from Knopf Books for Young Readers
Exposed by Kimberly Marcus, from Random House for a blog tour.  I will be reviewing this one on the 22nd, with a guest post from the author on the 23rd.
The Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena & Voyage with the Vikings by Paul McCusker, from Tyndale House Publishers for a blog tour in April.
Tall Story by Candy Gourley, from David Fickling Books
Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, from Random House
Twosomes: Love Poems from the Animal Kingdom by Marilyn Singer, from Knopf Books for Young Readers
Animal Colors by Beth Fielding, from EarlyLight Books
Nosh, Schlepp, Schluff by Laurel Snyder, from Random House

What came into your house?

Friday Fill-Ins - 2/18/11

 
1. New experiences and possibilities abound every day.

2. Around an unexpected turn on a daily walk I ran into a biker.

3. I'm looking forward to one day being a mom.

4. Kids do some things I never have imagined.

5. Try to find the good.

6. My hair is what's extraordinary about me.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner out, tomorrow my plans include setting up tents to get ready for rodeo and Sunday, I want to rest!

"Waiting On" Wednesday - Through Her Eyes

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Through Her Eyes

By Jennifer Archer

Publication: April 5th 2011 by HarperTeen

Sixteen-year-old Tansy Piper moves with her grandfather and her mother, a horror writer, to the setting of her mother's next book--a secluded house outside of a tiny, desolate West Texas town. Lonely and upset over the move, Tansy escapes into her photography and the dark, seductive poems she finds hidden in the cellar, both of which lure her into the mind and world of a mysterious, troubled young man who died sixty years earlier.

"Tiny, desolate West Texas town..." was the first thing that drew me to this book.  Being from Texas, I love to read books with a Texas setting, but even more so because it is set in a small town.  I have always felt like I was born in the wrong place.  I'm more of a small town girl than a city girl.  The whole thing sounds a little creepy to me and that's intriguing!

Mailbox Monday - 2/14/2011

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme started by Marcia at The Printed Page.  You can read all about it at the Mailbox Monday blog.  Well, the mailbox has gone on tour.  This month's host is Library of Clean Reads. 

I love this meme because it lets me take a peek into other bloggers' mailboxes and find out what they received over the last week.  I will warn you, it does lead to more books as you will find many that you want because of others mailboxes.  If you'd like to join in on the fun, post about your books and link up!

The week started off with a bang as I received an awesome package from Simon and Schuster.  You can read about the excitement of Wither in the blog post, Thank You Simon & Schuster!

Here's what else came in the mail this week:

Lucky's Little Feather  by Peggy van Gurp, from Clavis Publishing
Crinkle Animals: Garden & Crinkle Animals: Jungle by Guido Van Genechten, from Clavis Publishing
The Moonlight Message by Denice Barlow Brown, from Cypress Productions

 

West of Here by Jonathan Evison, from Algonquin Books

A Mountain of Crumbs by Elena Gorokhova, from Simon & Schuster

The Weird Sisters (audio) by Eleanor Brown, from the author (won at Jenn's Bookshelves)

What books did you get?

Friday Fill-Ins - 2/11/11

 1. Family should lift you up.

2. I've endured some of life's ups and downs.

3. Trust in yourself.

4. Hope for the best.

5. Parents are what we want to be.

6. I forgot what was said.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include walking in the Black History Parade with some of my students and Sunday, I want to read!

"Waiting On" Wednesday - Entwined

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Entwined
By Heather Dixon
Publication: March 29th 2011 by Greenwillow Books

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

So, when I read this synopsis it immediately reminded me of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which I read as a child.  I was fascinated by the "other world" that was beyond the wardrobe.  I am anxious to see what kind of "world" the Keeper lives in!

Mailbox Monday - 2/7/2011

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme started by Marcia at The Printed Page.  You can read all about it at the Mailbox Monday blog.  Well, the mailbox has gone on tour.  This month's host is Library of Clean Reads. 

I love this meme because it lets me take a peek into other bloggers' mailboxes and find out what they received over the last week.  I will warn you, it does lead to more books as you will find many that you want because of others mailboxes.  If you'd like to join in on the fun, post about your books and link up!

I had a very light week, which is good because it allowed me to catch up on some of the books that have piled up.  Just one book this week, but the author sent some giveaways, so be looking for those when I post the review.

The Monster on Top of the Bed by Alan H. Jordan, from author
Both Karrit and Suzy want to go to bed without being afraid, but when the lights go off at bedtime, the world is a scary place.

Then, Karrit visits Suzy . . . to make friends with “the monster” that had been scaring him.

Suzy is scared, but treats him the way that she would like to be treated. They both use Suzy’s grandmother’s mantra:
You’re welcome to stay, until I say “nay” Then, you’ve got to go, and You can’t say no. 

The Monster on Top of the Bed is available in several editions, including:

* A printed book that slides into a CD Jewel Case.
* The same book, accompanied by a CD that reads the story (and other material) in three languages – English, Spanish and Italian
* A download that installs on iPods and iPhones
* An audio-book download
* A .pdf book for use in the classroom and for licensing in libraries.
   
What goodies came in your mailbox?

Friday Fill-Ins - 2/4/11

1. We are on this earth because God intended for us to be here.

2. Your bad experience shouldn't ruin it for other people.

3. One of the hardest things for me to learn is to keep my mouth shut sometimes.

4. We need to stay connected.

5. I remember things I wish I didn't sometimes.

6. My marriage is one of the best parts of my life.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to staying warm curled up with a good book, tomorrow my plans include bowling with some of my teachers in a Junior Achievement Bowl-a-thon and Sunday, I want to root for the Packers while I participate in Jenn's read-a-thon!