Blogging Love

What do you love most about your blog? Share with us!!

Book Review: Hearts at Stake by Alxyandra Hart

Age: 12+
Cover Love: I like the cover, but it is not what drew me to the book. The model is pretty and I like the half face thing. LOVE the title font though.

I really enjoyed Hearts at Stake. I give it four cookies. It was light and fluffy. I liked the new vampire mythology that the author added (born vampires turning when they hit 16). I liked the two sweet little romances and it made me want to read the next book in the series (which I cannot get until October due to my own new "no acquring new books challenge").

This is the story of Solange (which was my French name when I took French in high school), a vampire princess born to the powerful and ancient Drake line of vampires. She is the first girl vampire to be born in centuries--she also has a bunch of very protective older brothers. (I like how the author gave her so many older brothers because that just leaves the story open for so many sequels--it also reminds me of when I was in college and used to read romance novels by the likes of Linda Lael Miller & Judith McNaught--they always made up a family of brothers or sisters so they could write a bunch of books about one family). There is also a prophecy that says Solange will become the new vampire queen which makes her a target for the current vampire queen and her followers. Solange's best friend is a human named Lucy who has a cute love/hate thing going on with Solange's older brother Nicholas.

There is some kidnapping and a romance with a vampire hunter who misunderstands vampires for Solange, and lots of fighting. All in all it made for a quick, fun read that introduces an interesting new vampire series!

Melina-this is Carter

He does, read. Occasionally.

I Want This

Time Riders by Alex Scarrow. The first part of this trailer might make you go, Hmmmm, but if you give it a few minutes, the rest of it might give you goosebumps. It did me!!

Quick Draw: Campfire Marshmallows

Burned or Browned?

Razorbill: I LOVE You!

Razorbill is a division of the Penguin group. They have published a lot of great books that I have read. I even got a few ARCs from them this past spring (including The Replacement which I will be reviewing on my Searching for a Good Read blog next week). But, while roaming my local bookstore the other day I found this:

Since I am always one to be on the lookout for a book that might interest my own boys, I bought it. I left it sitting on our kitchen table until I found the time to share with them. I didn't even have to wait because Max (my youngest son at 10 years old) picked it up and started reading it right there. He even took it in the car with him when we ran errands. That never happens in my household unless I am the one carrying the book in the car (which I usually am). I was thrilled! He even read for an hour later in the day. It just makes me happy. I will have him review it for you when he is finished!

Questions, Questions & More Questions

Do you feel you have to post everyday?

What do you do when nothing comes to mind?

I feel I should post everyday, but there are a lot of times that I don't have something in mind. A few of the younger bloggers I follow have said they have their posts planned out through August. I know I couldn't do that because if I plan something, I will end up changing my mind (kinda like when I plan what to read) or something else will come up.

I have started keeping notes on ideas and subjects to post and that helps. But it also makes me see how very behind I am on reviews!

The nice thing is that it's my blog, and I can run it how I want, the downfall is that I do want people to keep coming and keep commenting. It's a never-ending cycle!! (But it's a fun ride)

Quick Draw Results: Peanut Butter!! That wasn't even a choice but that was everyone seemed to like that one the best.

Quick Draw: M & M's

Plain or Peanut?

Ellen Potter Week!

I have had my book blog for a few years, but was never really that active, nor promoted my self until this year. I pretty much started posting on a regular basis in January. Ellen Potter was one of the first authors who made a comment on my blog. Can you even imagine my excitement to see a comment from an author on a post I made about her? In my mind, she can now do no wrong! So, this next week I am going to focus on three of her books I have in my TBR pile: Pish Posh, Slob and The Kneebone Boy. It's always fun to have a theme week!

Tween Tuesday: Young Bond #5 (and a Giveaway!)

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme started by the GreenBeanTeenQueen. Check her out!

By Royal Command: Young Bond #5 by Charlile Higson
Ages: 11+

Cover Love: You bet! These are the American covers of these books. I don't love the British ones, I like the action and the sinister villains in the background of this one. Eye catching and boy friendly!

The fifth book starts with a James who is very weary after the events in the fourth book. His adventure lifestyle (although inadvertent) is not sitting well with him. However, Great Britain is on the brink of World War 2 and he gets thrown right into the middle of a plot to overthrow the king.

I love the fast pace of the young Bond books. Charlie Higson doesn't bog down the plot with a lot of history but gives you just enough to learn something and to stay interested. I also love that these books are set in the 30's--there are no gadgets for James. He has to find his way out of every situation using his own ingenuity. He is also just enough rough around the edges to fit the image of the current James Bond, Daniel Craig. He has been smoothed out by years as a spy. And, these are books the just keep getting better and better with each new one!

Of the many spy books out there for boys right now, the Young Bond series and the Alex Rider books are my favorites. So, I am giving out the FIRST book from each of these series (Stormbreaker & Silverfin). Here is a chance for you, or a young boy reader in your life to get caught up with these great tween spies! Fill out this form to enter. This contest will close on August 6.

Food For Thought: MG Series--boys or girls

Piggybacking on my post from Saturday I found this post by Hannah Moskowitz about boys and YA books. It is interesting and while I don't agree with everything that she said there is some stuff to really think about. The comments are very interesting, I kind of skimmed over most of them. Lots of opinions. One person pointed out that there seem to be a lot of middle grade books she can point boys to (she works in a book store) but not as many YA. That got me really thinking. In the last few years (let's say 10-15 years) there have been a lot of great MG series with boys as the main character, but I couldn't come up with hardly any with girls as the main character. Probably I am having summer brain and just not using it fully but here's what I recall as I sit here:


Boys: Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Artemis Fowl, Alex Rider, Young James Bond, The Ranger's Apprentice, Dairy of a Wimpy Kid, The Last Apprentice, Pendragon, Leven Thumps, Airborn, Steep Trapp, Magyk series

Girls: Fablehaven (this could be both because Seth is featured a lot in the later books, but Kendra really seems like the MC in the first book), Skulduggery Pleasant, The Penderwicks, The Mother-Daughter Book Club, Elvis & Olive

Both: Series of Unfortunate Events, Peter and the Starcatchers, Kane Chronicles, The 39 Clues


I am not counting Allie Finkle or Clementine because there are more for 3rd-4th grade readers.

Help me out, I know I am missing a bunch. Think MIDDLE GRADE--written for 10/11 year olds to probably 13 year olds. (This is why I am not putting down The Hunger Games, I think that is for just a bit older kids).

Winner!

Sadly, the Got Books? event is over. For me this was very successful! I gained lots of new followers and discovered lots of new blogs to follow!

The winner of my event was Robin!!

She doesn't have her own blog I can link to but I know she has a little girl so this will be perfect for her and her daughter to share! Her favorite girls from literature is Lindy from The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodle by Julie Andrews. I will be spotlighting this book in a Tween Tuesday soon.

Other favorite girls from literature included Ramona, Nancy Drew, Anne Shirley, Bella, Emma, Amy & Jo March, Madeline, Harriet the Spy, Hermione Granger, Laura Ingalls and Katniss. There were many others as well!

This giveaway was so much fun and amazing that I am thinking about doing a "boy" book giveaway soon--especially since I am just a few people away from 100 followers and this right here is my 300th post.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Wow, Food For Thought!

Rick Riordan's twitter (@camphalfblood) was the very first one I started following. He is not super active, but today he posted this:

Compare: how to get boys reading: http://huff.to/dtZNST w/recent cover trends: http://bit.ly/9OOXEQ See any boy friendly covers?

The first link is to an article that is just alright. The second link is super cool. Someone put together a bunch of YA and MG book covers of books published this year by trend. It is super cool to look at, but Mr. Riordan is right, how many of those covers do you think are attractive to boy readers?

(I like the article because it gives me some more books to add to my TBR--but not until October).

(Remember you have until midnight on Saturday to enter my GotBooks? giveaway. The form is below. And WELCOME to all my new followers! I will be checking out your blogs soon as well! This event has been more successful for me than I had ever thought it would be. I will be posting and contacting the winner on Sunday since I will be out of town on Saturday when the contest ends!)

Got Books Event: Celebrating Girls

If you have read my blog for any length of time you know that I only have sons. I would be an awesome mom for a daughter, but it was not in the cards for me. Oh well, I find there are perks to being the mom to boys (like, anything pink or glittery I bring home I get to keep--if I bring home things that could be unisex, I tend to "lose" it eventually to one of my children).

For the Got Books event I wanted to do something different than YA because my blog highlights both YA and MG so I decided to celebrate some of my favorite girls in literature. I picked four of my favorite books starring some wonderful girls:

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary. A true classic! Up until this book Ramona was just Beezus' little sister and a girl who annoyed Henry. This book made her the break out character for Beverly Cleary. She went on the star in five more Ramona books (I am not counting Ramona and Beezus because that one was before Ramona the Pest). This is my favorite Ramona book!

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker. Clementine is a Ramona for the new millenium! She is so much fun!

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall. One of my absolute favorite books. This is one that I shove into the hands of any young reader who is looking for something to read. Every one of them has loved it. It is such a sweet, fun story!

Allie Finkle Rules for Girls: Moving Day by Meg Cabot. Allie is a relatively new (and welcome) addition to the ranks of fun girl characters. I adore Allie and the growing and learning she does in each book.

Because I also want to celebrate all things girl I am also including a pack of glitter pencils and some lipsmackers! To enter my Got Books Giveaway (for you or a girl reader in your life) please fill out the form below!

Enter soon because this giveaway ends at midnight on Saturday!
(US only please)
Thanks for stopping by!

Got Books

Check back tomorrow for my Got Books giveaway! It will be running from midnight on Friday to midnight on Saturday. Check out the Got Books website for other great blogs and giveaways!

Sigh...Literary Crushes

I have found two really fun posts today that I want to share with you. First of all The Story Siren posted her top 10 literary crushes. I actually have only read 3 of the books on her list so I can't dispute most of them, but I always have loved Stefan more than Damon and I totally agree with her feelings on Peeta.

Suey at All About Books posted her list of literary characters her daughter could date. Great list!

I once posted my literacy crushes. My list included: Henry Huggins, Alex Rider, Peter Pan (the one from Peter and the Starcatchers), Po (from Graceling), Stefan and Gilbert Blythe. You can read that post here. Since I did that post before I read the Airborn series and I must add Matt Cruse--he would probably be at the top right now. And from this summer's reading I have to add Eugenides from The Queen's Thief books by Megan Whalen Turner. I also love James Bond from the Young Bond series.

What about you? Do you have a literary crush?

Waiting on Wednesday: Upper Elementary Boy Edition

Dav Pilkey is coming out with a new book. It will be out next month. My youngest son is so excited. I am too because that means I will actually get him to read a book this summer.

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Check out some images from the book on Dav's website.

What Book Did It For You?

Most of you who read this blog are MG/YA enthusiasts--we are all in good company. So what was the book that did it for you? I bet most of you just never grew out of reading YA books as you got older. I didn't. I had plenty of years where I read mostly "adult" books, but when I started teaching I got bounced around from school to school for a few years. The first person I always got to know really well was the librarian. One school I went to got a big order of new books right before Christmas break and I checked out a bunch to take with me on break. I also had a few adult books, but I didn't even touch those. I just whipped through all of the ones I had brought from the school library. Finally I just decided what the heck, and I went to mostly YA/MG. I haven't looked back.

What about you? What book or books finally made you realize where you reading interests lie?

Help Please--Need Interview Questions...

I am thrilled to have a chance in August to participate in a blog tour for David Ezra Stein's upcoming book Interrupting Chicken. It's going to be an adorable book. However, the blog tour is an interview one--I need question ideas!! This is my first one ever and I want to come off looking a little smart. I implore you all, please give me some ideas!


Thanks!

Over & Over

Awhile ago I asked what books did you LOVE that you just know you'll never read again.

Now I am wondering what book have you re-read the most? My sister reads It Take a Village Idiot at least once a year and I used to read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory once a year.

What about you? When you have time is there a book you go to over and over?

Do You Think You Could...

not add anything to your TBR pile for a week, or a month? How about TWO months? That is my challenge. I am going to try and not check out anything new from my library or buy anything new for August and September. I have so many books (as we all do) to get at that I want to just attack what I have. If I get an unsolicited book OR if I win a contest those don't count, I will add them. AND I already pre-ordered and paid for Mockingjay so that doesn't count either. I am going to keep a list of upcoming and just released books so that in October I can start on a fresh batch, and also give my library time to get some of them ordered. I am just going to try and not acquire anything new.

Think I am crazy? I even have my doubts that I can do this, but it is worth a shot!

Book Blogger Hop July 16-19

I decided to join the book blogger hop this weekend. I have seen this done at other sites, but have never participated--till now! It is sponsored by Jennifer at Crazy for Books. She posts a question each Friday and then you can hop around the book blogsophere to see how other book bloggers have answered! I think I will be finding some fun blogs to add to my blog roll by doing this!

This week's question: Right this instant, what book are you dying to get your hands on (past, present or future)?

Okay, I have two answers: I really want to get a copy of The Official Preppy Handbook to give to a college bound friend who is headed to Middlebury. BUT, it is out of print and used copies are very expensive. I have my own used copy, but do not want to give that away! I remember reading this over and over when I was younger. I so wanted to be as preppy as possible for a public school girl in a small town in Montana. You can see the problem. But, I still shop at LLBean a lot so some of it did rub off.

As for future books, I would really like to get Firelight by Sophie Jordan. I love dragons and this is such an interesting idea--I can't wait to read it!

Book Bloggers Are Nice People!

I am so loving having this blog and all the people I meet. I go to most everyone's blog that I follow at least once a day and if you are a follower of mine and you have a blog I try and become a follower of yours!

I just love seeing comments from JuJu at Tales of Whimsy--she is awesome. I am sure she follows a ton of blogs and she always seems to find time to comment--and respond to comments on her blog. That is just so wonderful.

Jenn at From The Mixed Up Files of Jennifer Bertman was so sweet in a comment she left on my blog: "I found your blog via BBAW and I'm really enjoying it. Your reviews are great! I feel like I'm hearing from a friend about their recent reads, which is my most preferred way of hearing about books."

I loved that because review books is not my strong point so I appreciate knowing that they appeal so some!

I love the book blogging community and am so happy with my little part of it. I can take or leave having more followers or getting more books, because I just love my little corner. I will always have online friends and I will always have great books to read.

Just wanted to send a little love to all of you and have a great day!!

Re-Imagined Fairy Tales

This week while I was at the beach I was reading Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce. One of my relatives asked me what it was about and I said "It's a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood." The next day I was reading Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George and the same relative asked me what that one was about. I started to say, "It's a retelling of Cinderella," but ended up just giggling because I was reading two re-tellings in a row, which I do not normally do. It was just funny to me.

Enjoy this Fractured Fairy Tale--remember these from The Rocky & Bullwinkle show? I showed these to my fourth and fifth graders all year last year when we had extra time--they loved them.


Anyway, what re-imagined fairy tale is a favorite of yours?

Now For a Word About Libraries:

In case you haven't caught this one Twitter, but the Old Spice guy has been doing video responses to tweets, facebook and youtube comments about him and his videos. They are so funny. Someone asked him to do one for libraries. Here it is:

Appreciate the Book Bloggers

I submitted myself for the Best Kidlit Book Blog for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. I know I am not just kidlit since I do YA also, but I thought I do enough kidlit & middle grade that I thought I should go for it (since they did not have a middle grade category--this year). Anyway, there are some really neat blogs in the category with me, check them out:

Teach Mentor Texts
Redtedart
Annie and Aunt
Write for a Reader
There's a Book
Playing by the Book
Holocaust Resources
The Fourth Musketeer
From the Mixed Up Files of Jenn Bertman
The Book Maven's Haven

Have fun!

Beach Reading

Well, I am spending the next week at the beach for a family reunion (husband's side). I will try and update a bit, but probably won't get tons of chances until later in the week when we are all really sick of each other and are retreating to our own spaces so we don't have to talk. Good times!

Hope you are all having a great summer!

Book Trailers Work

I read Fallen and it was okay. I liked Hush Hush much better--just a personal feeling. But (really stupid wings aside--have they never seen Supernatural? Those are wings) this book trailer makes me want to read the sequel...

Fun Giveaway

Random Acts of Reading (by Random house) wants to get more followers. If you go and sign up for email updates for their blog you will be entered to win copies of their four favorite books from teh fall catalog! Pretty sweet. Enter and read about it here!

Taking a Break

I was reading two middle Grade books: Cosmic and The Magnificent 12. Both are very good. The problem was that I got so into listening to The Thief, then I had to read the next two, The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia. Now I am finding it hard to get back into the two previous books because I want to be back in Attolia with Eugenides. I did buy the next book in the series, A Conspiracy of Kings, but I am not letting myself read it until I get some of these other ones done!

Just because I took a break from the other books I was reading doesn't mean they are not good. Do you ever find yourself taking a break in the middle of a book?

(oh, and kudos to whoever recommended listening to the audio version of The Wee Free Men, it is awesome)!

Weirdest Place You've Read?

I did something I am not proud of today, but I could not put the book down! I have read in some weird places--soccer fields, drive thru lines, red lights, and my friend's 40th birthday party when I snuck out on the porch for a few minutes to read. But today I topped them all and I don't think I can even admit to you all what I did...

What about you, what it the weirdest place you have ever taken a few minutes to read a few more lines in the book you cannot just put down?

TaDa!

I listened to The Thief and absolutely loved it. So I started listening to The Queen of Attolia--the second book. About 30 minutes into it I was sitting there stunned thinking, "that didn't just happen," over and over. So I decided to just get the print version because I can read faster than I can listen...

It wasn't available at our bookstore (that's right, we only have one) nor was it in at the library. Do you know how frustrating it is when you want to read a book right now and you can't get your hands on it?!

Then I thought to myself, I bet it is available at the middle school library...the very one where I will be librarian next year. One problem, I don't have keys yet. But, I decided to give it a try. The school was open due to open gym for a boy's basketball team. The coach was there who is a friend of mine, he gave me the keys to get into the main building. I found a janitor to let me into the library and..

I GOT IT! And The King of Attolia too! Breathe easy.

Tween Tuesday: Young Sherlock Holmes (future read)

I subscribe to the MacMillian Kids blog, which is always fun to read. Last week they had an author, Andrew Lane, post about his book, Death Cloud. It's a retelling of Sherlock Holmes as a 14 year old. You all know how much I love the Young Bond books, so imagine my excitement when I saw this. It won't be published in the US until this winter, but it is already available in the UK, and I was able to find a copy on Amazon. I ordered it and it is on it's way to me right now!

I am always excited to read "origin" books and glad that authors take a chance to bring these older, beloved characters to life for a whole new generation. Check out the website along with a book trailer for this first Young Sherlock Holmes novel. I will be looking forward to reading and reviewing this one!

Tween Tuesday was started by GreenBeanTeenQueen. Check her out!

BBAW

I decided I wanted to participate in Book Blogger Appreciation Week, so I registered my blog. To do so, I had to pick FIVE posts that highlight the niche I registered myself in (kidlit). Here are the five I chose (three have to be reviews, two can be my choice)

1)Book Review: Chaos Walking Trilogy.
2)Puppy Love (Tween Romances in Books)
3)Food From Fiction: Blondies (The Penderwicks)
4)Mini Reviews: Trip Reading
5)Book Review (Tween Tuesday): The Underneath

If you want to register your blog you have until July 7th to do so! There is also a part on the form for registering your favorite books of the past year. That was too overwhelming for me so I only nominated a few of them. Maybe you can do a better job!

Trilogy Review: Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness

The Knife of Never Letting Go: 5 cookies
The Ask and the Answer: 4 cookies
Monsters of Men: 5 cookies

I know I have gushed about these before on my blog, but now that I am finished with all three I wanted to do one big review. There is just something about Patrick Ness' writing that gets under my skin and will not get out. I checked out The Knife twice before finally getting around to reading it but once I picked it up I could not put it down. The Ask and the Answer was much the same, but being the middle book in a trilogy it ended on a huge cliffhanger (actually, The Knife did as well). Those of you coming to the party now are in luck because you can read one after the other without having to wait a year in between like I did.

The main character in these books is Todd Hewitt, a young boy on the very verge of manhood, who lives in a world where there are no women and men can read each other's thoughts. To avoid the ritual in his village that he needs to pass to become a man Todd runs away. And meets an empty spot in a swamp, a spot where he can hear no thoughts. In other words, a girl. Viola is from a scout ship that crash landed on the planet, A scout ship that is from a new convoy of ships coming to settle world. Todd and Viola team up to escape one of the men from Todd's village and discover that all is not as Todd has been told on this world.

I love all the different fonts Patrick Ness uses to illustrate the thoughts from the men. The word chaos comes to mind, which is appropriate since that is the title of the trilogy. These books are just so well written--short chapters, and later in the story a switch between Todd and Viola's points of view. As I read I would think, one more section, one more section, until I discovered I had read another hour--and twenty more sections. It just flowed.

The growth that Todd and Viola experience is amazing, by the end they are no longer the two scared children we first met, but a true man and woman, so strong. And their relationship is so precious and well written.

There is a lot of turmoil and ups and down in this series. I cannot say I agree with the ending, but since I have read my share of books, I had prepared myself for the possibility.

If you appreciate good writing, great voice and setting, and a very quick paced plot, you will LOVE the Chaos Walking trilogy.

Reading Ahead

I read ahead a lot. If I am just not getting into a book sometimes I find that taking a peek ahead sometimes helps me keep reading it--because I want to know how it gets to that point.

And sometimes when I start a series that already has all the books published you can find spoilers by reading the synopsis for the second book. I like doing that also because it keeps me reading the first book so I can get to the next one.

I am listening to The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. It's really good so far and one of the reviews I read mentioned a big twist at the end. So I find myself really wanting to read the about the second book but trying not to so I don't spoil anything for myself. This is a new feeling!

What about you--do you like to stay spoiler free or do you also read ahead?

New Contest & Book Trailer

Check out the book trailer for The Dark Divine by Bree Despain:

Then go to her blog to enter to win a bag of books! What a great contest. I am super excited to read this book and was lucky enough to borrow a copy from a friend of mine...looks good doesn't it?!

From the Minds of a Tween Book Review: Middleworld by J & P Voelkel

I didn't really like Middleworld. I feel really bad when I don't like a middle grade/young adult book because I am not the target audience. But, because I am a librarian, I feel like a pretty good judge of books and want to be able to "sell" a young reader on books they might like. Still, if I really didn't get a book I try and have one of my young reader friends read it and let me know what they think. Sophie is one of my tween friends. She is about to start seventh grade and since I am going to be at the middle school here in town next year--I will be her librarian. She did like the book and here is her review:

I really liked this book, first of all, because of the adventures.
Secondly, because of the change the jungle brings upon Max: from lazy-
couch-potato-gamer, to adventurer, and hero. I liked the characters
too, and their attitudes. And the determination to find his parents
was really superb. Also, I enjoyed how Max and Lola were a team.
Finally, I really enjoyed the ending, and how he saves his parents
with the help of Lucky Jim.

Thanks so much Sophie! I expect to get more reviews from her (and other young readers I know) as I have her read more of the books I have gotten in recent months! In fact, I am going to have her read The Magnificent 12: The Call as soon as I am done!

"Meets"

I got a book in the mail yesterday that had this blurb on the first page:

"Welcome to Monty Python meets Lord of the Rings." -Gordon Korman

Okay, how could you NOT read a book described this way? Besides all the good stuff I have already heard, this makes me want to start it even sooner!

What the best "meets" you've seen on a book?