...Ramblings from a Librarian...(#6)

Book Reviews—Too Much Information?

While working in teen services in the public library, I am used to reading all sorts of reviews about books, whether it’s in a professional journal, a teen’s book review, or blogger’s reviews. For the most part, I read reviews to see whether the book was good, just ok, or bad. I don’t necessarily read too much into the summary of the book, because I feel like if a book is “good”, no matter what the book is about, readers will pick it up and give it a try. The one thing I do look for in a summary is whether or not the content is a little over the top, more specially, content such as sex, drugs, alcohol, ect. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I won’t purchase a book with this content, but sometimes books feature this type of content in an over the top way that it trumps the whole point of the book.

As a reviewer for VOYA, I know I’m not supposed to keep the ending being a complete surprise. Granted, I typically don’t spell out exactly what happens, but I write my reviews to include a brief summary of what happens at the end. On the other hand, when I’m writing reviews for my blog, I do not give away or come close to giving away the ending of a book…or any other story line points that would give the book away. When I’ve given book talks at local schools, as much as I might want to talk about a key scene in the book that I’ve enjoyed, if it gives away any part of the story line, I won’t talk about it.

After reading a number of blogs, I’ve started to narrow down which blogs I read when it comes to book reviews. I’ve read some reviews that, although they might be beautifully written, give away the entire book. When I first started reading bloggers’ book reviews and noticed the trend to give away the whole book, I would jump down to the bottom of the review to read the actual reviewer’s opinion of the book rather than the summary. Then it got to the point that sometimes the blogger’s opinion gave too much of the book away. When I’m reading reviews in professional journals, I typically jump to the part in the review that gives the reviewer’s critical opinion of the book so I know whether or not it’s “good”.

In the end, I think there’s a fine line between how much information to give away when it comes to writing book reviews. Although my reviews might not be as lengthy as some bloggers’ reviews are, I just don’t want to include too much information. I want to write just enough to spark interest in my blog readers without giving away the story. I don’t think this necessarily makes me a bad blogger, but just a different type of blogger.

So, how do you feel about reading reviews? Do you find it frustrating that some reviews give too much information away? Or, would you rather know what happens in the book before reading it?

In My Mailbox (#8)

“In My Mailbox” is a post that I will be incorporating into this blog to discuss various books I have either received in the mail to review, advanced reader books, or books I have picked up from the library. "In My Mailbox" is brought to you by The Story Siren.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

*Picked up from the library

Summary: Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak. Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.  With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman

*Picked up from the library

Summary: Jen and Wes do not "meet cute." They do not fall in love at first sight. They do not swoon with scorching desire. They do not believe that they are instant soul mates destined to be together forever. This is not that kind of love story. Instead, they just hang around in each other's orbits...until eventually they collide. And even after that happens, they're still not sure where it will go. Especially when Jen starts to pity-date one of Wes's friends, and Wes makes some choices that he immediately regrets.

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

*Received in the mail to review for VOYA

Summary: When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole, a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her, she can't believe she's finally found her soul mate-someone who truly understands her and loves her for who she really is. At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her best friends, Zack and Bethany, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all of her time with another boy? But as the months pass, Alex can no longer ignore Cole's small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats. As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose - between her "true love" and herself. (Summary from Barnes & Noble)

Follow Friday (#1)

It's Follow Friday!!! This is a weekly meme hosted by the one and only Parajunkee's View on Fridays to help all of us in the book blogging community get to know one another and find new, cool blogs!!! 

This week's question is: What is your current favorite T.V. show and why?

As of right now, I've been really excited that American Idol is back on the air. I've liked the changes they have been making to the competition, the new judges work really well/give good advice and critiques, and the talent this year, especially among the guys is great! I'm glad it's down to the top 24 and it's time for the live competition to begin.

Before American Idol came back on the air, I've been hooked to Pawn Stars. This show is both humorous and informative...especially Chum Lee! :-)

Future Books to Movies

It’s always interesting to see and/or hear which movies are optioned for movies. What I mean by being optioned is that there is a possibility of the movie being made, but sometimes the option runs out and the movie is not made. Even though the books currently optioned into movies listed below aren’t a sure thing, I’m still excited to talk about them!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (tba)

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (2011)

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (tba)

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (tba)

- Although there is a pretty old movie version of Fahrenheit 451 out, I was thrilled to hear they might be making it into a movie. This is by far one of my favorite classic books of all time!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman (tba)

- I thought this book was pretty good, but was surprised to hear about it possibly being made into a movie. In my opinion, I just don’t see those that haven’t read the book being drawn to see the movie.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (tba)

King Dork by Frank Portman (2011)

- I haven’t read this book, but I think fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid will be drawn to this movie.

Looking for Alaska by John Green (2013)

- Ok, I have to admit…I have yet to read a novel by John Green, but I still see his books flying off the shelves. Because of this, I think fans of his, along with newbies, would enjoy seeing this movie.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (2012)

- When I heard this book might be made into a movie, I instantly thought of Twilight fans. Because of the popularity of paranormal romance, I see this movie being highly attended.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (tba)

- I’m really, REALLY excited about this one! This book, especially the meaning within the pages, is one of those books I read and will never forget. That being said, I’m wondering if the movie will even be able to meet my expectations.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (2011)

- This would make for a great movie, especially with the popularity of dystopian fiction!

Wake by Lisa McMann (tba)

- This would be quite an interesting movie…suspenseful/mysterious…I think it would be popular amongst the readers of the book and those that haven’t read it.

I've got my "favorites" that I would like to see at the theater, but which of these would you be most excited to see?

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Received: At the library

Rating: 5.0/5.0 stars

Summary: When her best friend, whom she secretly loves, betrays her and then dies under mysterious circumstances, high school senior Vera Dietz struggles with secrets that could help clear his name.

Although this book had been in my mind for a few months, it took the book being a 2011 Printz Honor book for me to move it up to the front of my “to be read” list. When I first picked this book up, I thought to myself, “Ok, this book is going to be about Vera getting over the loss of her friend and trying to figure out some mystery.” Although both of these points were in the book, there was so much more to it. The chapters unfolded in different ways. For example, there were “history” chapters in which Vera narrates her history, mostly in terms of her friendship with Charlie, since she was 11. There are other chapters told from Vera’s dad’s point of view and from Charlie’s point of view. I like this technique because, although the story is mostly told from Vera’s point of view, adding brief moments from other characters makes readers see from a whole new, rather different perspective.

This method of alternating chapters between the past and the present also allows the story to unfold slowly. Now, in no way am I trying to say that plot was slow and boring, actually it was just the opposite. Instead, bits and pieces of the story are given creating suspense and intrigue. When Vera would give away one bit of information, it made me want to continue reading the book that much more. In addition, just when you think you know what’s going to happen in various parts of the book, you will be thrown off course and surprised.

What I probably enjoyed most about this book is how easy it was to connect with the characters and feel their emotions, whether it was happiness, pain, excitement, ect. During parts of the book when Vera was sad, I wanted to comfort her like she was one of my close friends. When Vera’s dad is confused and angry, I wanted to sit down with him and explain the situation Vera was going through. Although this book features a lot of sadness and pain from Charlie’s death, there are so many more feelings explored including happiness, love, disgust, angst, terror, and more.

As a side note…how would you feel if your best friend not only haunted you to get you to clear their name…but there were hundreds of copies of the person haunting you? Literally, hundreds of Charlies haunting Vera. Crazy!

This is one of those books that not only will you not want to put down until the very end, but that features so many intricate levels and layers that you’ll want to re-read it to make sure you “got” everything. Once I started this book, I just couldn’t get it out of my head and found myself up late at night trying to finish it. Once it did end, I was sad. Not necessarily sad because of the ending, but sad that the book was done and that I could no longer connect with the characters. Please Ignore Vera Dietz was beautifully written and told a great story that will appeal to a variety of readers.

*Trailer Tuesday: Hush, Hush*

*Trailer Tuesday* is a feature on my blog in which one of my favorite book trailers will be featured, along with an explanation on why I chose it.


I really liked how this book trailer was done, especially how they kept going back to the image and sense of falling from the sky. I think this book trailer gives just enough information to create interest for readers, while not giving the whole story line away. Enjoy!

First Line & Openers

A couple weeks ago I attended a Bureau of Education & Research Conference entitled: “What’s NEW in Young Adult Literature and How to Use it In Your Program 2011”. Not only did I hear about a lot of books that sounded good…which just made my “to be read” list even longer…but I found this great display idea to use in my teen section at the library. The display idea given focuses on first lines and openers that get readers interested in and/or excited about a particular book. Some libraries have chosen to use this as a contest, in which teens have to match the first lines and openers to the appropriate book. However, I’m going to use it as a passive way to book talk books to teens.

With that being said, here are some interesting first lines and openers provided during the workshop, including the title of the book and author’s last name:

“After four nights on the run, I was finally safe, tucked in bed and enjoying the deep, dreamless sleep of the dead…until the dead decided they’d really rather have me awake.” The Reckoning by Armstrong

“Now I have to start lying.” Split by Avasthi

“I suppose there are worse things than being soggy and dateless and shoveling bunny carcasses into a garbage bin on Valentine’s Day, but if there are, I can’t think of any.” The River by Beaufrand

“Zach, I’m pregnant.” Reaction by Choyce

“It’s tough, living in the shadow of a dead girl.” Tell Me a Secret by Cupala

“Paradise sucked until I found the suicide note.” Tangled by Mackler

“People often ask how I got these scars.” The Secret to Lying by Mitchell

“Everyone has secrets. Some are just bigger and dirtier than others.” Dirty Little Secrets by Omololu

“I liked him first, but it doesn’t matter.” The Unwritten Rule by Scott

“If he touches her, I swear I’m going to rip out his guts with my bare hands and send them to his next of kin for lunch.” Bruiser by Shusterman

What do you all think of the “power” of a first liner and/or opener? Does it make you more likely to read the book? Do any of the first liners and/or openers above intrigue you more than some of the others? Are there any first liners and/or openers that I don’t have listed that you think I should include?

In My Mailbox (#7)

“In My Mailbox” is a post that I will be incorporating into this blog to discuss various books I have either received in the mail to review, advanced reader books, or books I have picked up from the library. "In My Mailbox" is brought to you by The Story Siren.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

*Picked up from the library

Summary: When her best friend, whom she secretly loves, betrays her and then dies under mysterious circumstances, high school senior Vera Dietz struggles with secrets that could help clear his name.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

*Picked up from the library

Summary: As an apprentice to a monster-hunting doctor in 1888, Will Henry and his boss are brought a corpse entwined with an Anthropophagus--a supposedly extinct monster that feeds through teeth in its chest--and the two must race to stop it and its kind from consuming the world.

Nothing by Janne Teller

*Ordered through Interlibrary Loan

Summary: When thirteen-year-old Pierre Anthon leaves school to sit in a plum tree and train for becoming part of nothing, his seventh grade classmates set out on a desperate quest for the meaning of life.

Book Blogger Hop (#1)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy-for-Books where book bloggers answer the weekly question and hop around to other blogs and see what other bloggers have to say. The goal is to discover new blogs, "connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!"

Question: If you are a fan of Science Fiction what is your favorite book? If you haven't read Science Fiction before...any inkling to? Anything catch you eye?

Although Science Fiction isn't my favorite genre, I have read some books in the genre. My favorite Science Fiction book is Unwind by Neal Shusterman. Not only did this book give me a whole new, positive outlook on Science Fiction books, but it is one of my favorite books to share with teens. For those that haven't read Unwind, it's a dystopian novel in which teens between the ages of 13-18 can be forced to "unwind". Whether it's a parent who is unsatisfied with their teen or a teen who is not seen as "good" in society, they are forced to go to a hospital and have their body parts harvested, meaning they take all of your body parts apart and give them to people throughout the country. Unbelievable! I really, really liked this book!

ARC Review: Popular by Alissa Grosso

Popular by Alissa Grosso

Received: ARC Tour from Good Golly Miss Holly

Release Date: May 2011

Rating: 3.75/5.0 stars

Summary: Meet the clique that rules Fidelity High: Olivia, Zelda, Nordica, and Shelly, each one handpicked by uber-popular Hamilton Best. You know you’re “in” when you make the guest list for one of Hamilton’s parties. And in the thralls of senior year, everyone wants to get noticed by Hamilton. But Hamilton’s elite entourage is coming apart at the seams. Olivia fantasizes about finally having a boyfriend, Zelda dreams of ditching high school, Nordica wants to be alone with her photography, and Shelly’s plotting to dethrone Hamilton. Lies and secrets are ripping away the careful ties that have kept them together for years. But Hamilton has the biggest secret of all, one that only her boyfriend Alex knows. If the truth got out, it would shock everyone and destroy Hamilton’s fragile world—and she’ll do anything to protect her secret and keep her clique together. (Summary from Alissa Grosso’s website: HERE)

Like many books currently being published, Popular is told using different points of view. This book is also broken into two parts: Part 1--The Clique and Part 2--Alex (the main character’s boyfriend’s point of view). From the very start of the book, readers learn that there is a clique made up of five teen girls, all somewhat quirky and different from the rest of the group. I must admit, I am kind of over the whole teen clique/mean girls teen novels. I don’t know, I guess I just get to the point that all of these types of books just tell the same story with different characters. The first half or so of Popular had me kind of struggling to get through the various chapters. I felt like the plot itself moved slowly and some of the events were not fully developed. I also didn’t feel like I could fully connect with the characters.

Ok, I’ll be honest…there were times I just wanted to give up on this book. I really, really forced myself to read it because one of the requirements of ARC tours on Good Golly Miss Holly is to write a review. As I’m slowly making my way to around three quarters of the way through the book, A COMPLETELY SHOCKING twist happens in the story. I can’t give too much information after this point in the story because I don’t want to give away the twist and the ending. All I have to say is that I am so thankful I did not put this book down. The plot twist in this book completely surprised me and I did not see it coming. Once this plot twist is given, the suspense and pacing of the book moves faster and faster until you realize, “Wow, I just finished the book!”

In the end, although I wasn’t all that impressed with the first part Popular and really wished it was more exciting and more developed, I just can’t stop thinking about this book. All I can say is “Wow! I didn’t see that coming!” The conclusion is wrapped up, kind of quickly, but it is still complete. I have not been this shocked/surprised while reading a book in a long, long time. What can I say, not all clique/mean girl books are the same and Popular has proven that to me.

...Ramblings from a Librarian...(#5)

ARCs vs. Published Books

When I first started blogging and getting more involved in the blogging world, I realized just how popular reading and reviewing ARC books seemed to be. I always knew one of my ultimate goals, when it comes to the library world, was to review books for a book review journal that is popular throughout the country. One of these types of journals I use as a “go to” resource for choosing/buying books for the teen sections I manage is Voice of Youth Advocates, better known in the library world as VOYA. I really liked this resource because the reviews give an honest opinion of the book, including a summary, and rate it by not only popularity, but also by writing style. After browsing a number of journals, my mind and heart was set on reviewing books for VOYA.

After applying to be a reviewer, I found out I was accepted (YAY!) and received my first ARC to review, RIVAL by Sara Bennett Wealer. When the ARC arrived, I was thrilled! I was holding a book in my hands that wasn’t going to be published for a few months! It might sound nerdy, but getting this ARC made me as excited as a kid at Christmas. The book was new…fresh…and for me to not only read and enjoy, but to critically review so other librarians could decide whether or not the book was worth being purchased. As a side note, this being my first ARC, I felt so lucky that I could start this new “journey” with a book I truly enjoyed reading.

Since receiving that first ARC, I have received a few more ARCs to review for VOYA, some through bloggers giveaways or bloggers ARC tours, and others through e-book galleys. When I initially started receiving more ARCs in the mail, I was still thrilled, excited, and just plain happy. When I receive ARCs for VOYA, and even for some book tours, I *have* to finish them even if I don’t actually like the book. This is just part of the responsibility of being a reviewer. Although this isn’t something I love about reviewing books, it’s something I can normally push aside…especially if it’s just 1-2 “bad” books.

After recently attending a conference that was all about the “best” books of 2010, I started getting kind of down. I had a whole pile of ARCs to review at home, some that I had started and knew just weren’t the books for me. I started to feel like I was putting 95% of my reading time into reading ARCs, which might not necessarily sound like a bad thing. Yet, I wasn’t reading the books that my teens in the library were reading. I wasn’t reading books that I hear being spoken about in the library world. Sure, reading ARCs allows me to decide on whether or not I want to purchase books for my library, but I feel like reading so many is sort of putting me behind.

I don’t want to sound whiney by any means, but I guess the initial thrill of reading so many ARCs has kind of dwindled. Rather than focusing so much of my time on ARCs, I think I’m going to try to do some sort of balancing act. I will, of course, read ARCs I receive through VOYA and I will also read ones that I don’t have a really short deadline to read and/or a mandatory review to write. I don’t want reading to become a burden or make me feel burned out. Instead, I want to read for the reason I’ve always wanted to read…it’s just something I enjoy, for pleasure. A book allows me to escape my life, connect with the characters within the pages, and ultimately just relax.

So…how do you all feel about the balancing act of reading ARCs and reading published books? Do you have any advice on how to balance reading in general, such as trying to read books in a variety of genres?

*WINNER of Rival ARC*

And the winner of an ARC copy of Sara Bennett Wealer’s RIVAL is:

Anaiz from Lady and The Books!

Please reply back to the e-mail I sent you with your address within 48 hours to

claim your prize. Congratulations and thank you goes to everyone for entering!

*Trailer Tuesday: Matched*

*Trailer Tuesday* is a new type of blog in which one of my favorite book trailers will be featured, along with an explanation on why I chose it.


I chose this book trailer because, having read the book, it sparks enough interest to want to read the it without giving away too much information. The trailer is short and sweet, while growing more intense as it goes along. I also liked how they stuck with the basic colors, such as white and neon green, that match the book itself.


What do you all think of this trailer? If you haven't read the book yet, check out my review HERE.

Jane by April Lindner

Received: @ the Library

Release Date: October 2010

Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars

Summary: Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, an iconic rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer, and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance. But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is tested by a torturous secret from his past.

During one of my high school honors English classes, we were assigned to read Jane Eyre. Although it’s been about 10 years since I read it, I remember it was one of the few classic novels I’ve read and actually enjoyed. When I saw that author April Lindner had written an updated version of Jane Eyre, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

One word to describe Jane--refreshing! With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it seems like romance books are the hot commodities at the library. Jane features romance, but in a different way that makes it not your average romance. Rather than being consumed with the perfect romance and/or love, the romance in Jane is complicated, yet simple and delicate. It’s the kind of romance that makes your heart smile, as cheesy as that might sound. Jane’s character is a great example of a strong female who does not just give in to the man she is interested in. At times Jane’s life isn’t easy and she doesn’t know what to do, yet she stays strong, believes in herself, and works things out as they come. She is not a cheesy, “love fool” of a character and I really liked that about her.

Jane isn’t all about love and romance. This book also features a dark mystery that will capture readers’ attention and maintain it throughout the story. When Jane begins work as a nanny for rock star Nico Rathburn, she is told that she is not allowed to go onto the third floor of the house.  Jane begins hearing laughing and strange sounds coming from the third floor, but can’t figure out what is going on. Although I read Jane Eyre and had an idea of what was on the third floor, if I hadn’t read Jane Eyre, I would have been completely shocked…which should intrigue readers. Other surprises and twists in the plot are given, which maintain a feel of suspense and mystery throughout the story.

Ultimately, it felt good to read a classic book rewritten to allow more readers that have never been exposed to Jane Eyre to get a feel for it. Lindner’s writing was beautifully done and the story line itself captured me from the first page and even had me kind of sad when it ended. This is definitely a book I recommend to those looking for a refreshing, romance read.

~Comparing Covers~ (#2)

After browsing through a number of books, checking out their covers, I was surprised that I came across a few that all conveyed the same “idea”—1 guy~2 girls. Without looking at the books’ summaries, my first thought is, “Oh yeah, here we go…a book where one guy is torn between two girls. What a dilemma!” Ok, ok…I didn’t read what these books are actually about, so I might be unintentionally misjudging them. But this blog entry isn’t about content of the book, just the books’ covers.

Cover #1. The guy has his arm around the one girl and is then facing the other girl and holding her hand. This really, really bothers me. I mean, the title of the book is He’s So Not Worth It, so maybe one of the girls realizes he is playing her….Or, at least I’d hope so. Nonetheless, this book cover conveys the idea that the guy is torn between two girls.

Cover #2. This cover is kind of like the first in that the guy has his arm around one girl and is holding the other girl’s hand. The title of this book, Something Like Fate, makes me wonder…is it fate that the guy is with the girl he has his arm around? Or, is it fate that “makes” him interested in a different girl? Once again, this book cover conveys the idea that the guy is torn between two girls.

Cover #3. Aside from the guy obviously being interested in the two girls all over him, I found this cover kind of funny. I mean, the guy has a bad boy image, with his sideways hat and how he’s standing. This book cover does seem to work well with the title of the book, Lust. Like the previous book covers, this one also conveys one guy being pursued by or interested in more than one girl.

Ok, so maybe I’m taking these covers a little too seriously. What bothers me though is that I’ve seen these covers with 1 guy~2 girls, but after looking through more than 400 books, I only found one book that featured 1 girl~2 guys. Does this mean that girls are more faithful than guys in relationships? Does it mean that guys are easier to lead astray while in a relationship? Or, are all high school relationships filled with “possibilities” of a guy finding love elsewhere? What do you all think?

Author Interview: Sara Bennett Wealer+GIVEAWAY!!

I am *VERY* excited to have had the opportunity to interview author Sara Bennett Wealer not only to learn about her writing style and about her book RIVAL, but to learn more about her as a person. As many of you know, I really, REALLY enjoyed her book RIVAL, see my review of it HERE, so interviewing her gave me a whole new insight.

Since I enjoyed Rival so much and enjoy sharing my "love/excitement" for a book, I am also including a giveaway of my ARC version of RIVAL as part of this author interview. *Details for the giveaway are listed below the interview.* Enjoy!!

What made you want to become an author? 

I wrote a lot of fiction as a kid but never saw myself as an author; I went into journalism because I loved to write and figured it would be a good way to make a living doing something I enjoyed. I loved being a journalist when I got to cover arts and entertainment, or write features, but I really didn't enjoy being a daily beat reporter. I actually remember the moment I decided to write a book: I was standing in my bathroom, and I had this moment of clarity where I knew that if I didn't write something that came from me, something not assigned by an editor, about traffic accidents or city council meetings or tax levys, then I would probably have a nervous breakdown. It seriously felt like I was fighting for my mental health! I went to the computer, sat down and started writing a novel about a young ballet dancer. It was a terrible book, filled with cliches, but it helped me learn. And once I realized I could finish a book, I didn't want to stop writing. Then, when I finished another book, I knew I had to try to get published. I guess you could say it's been a compulsion, but I'd say it's a healthy one. Writing books, nurturing that creative side of myself, has saved me in so many ways!

What was your inspiration for writing RIVAL? 

I think it was just a given for me that I'd write a book about singing. The arts can be so competitive, and I experienced that during the years that I sang actively, so I knew there'd be some good conflict there. I also remembered some of the difficult relationships I'd had as a teen, and I liked being able to look at things from both sides, to explore why someone might do something that seems mean on the surface, or how a friendship can disintegrate even when both people have good intentions. I think a lot of girls experience that--one day you're friends with someone, the next day it's just weird. I don't know if there are any lessons to be learned from RIVAL, but I hope it shows girls--whether they're more like Brooke or more like Kathryn--that they're not alone.

Have you always wanted to write Teen Fiction? If not, what interested you in writing for teens? 

I've just always had a teen voice in my head. And when I think about writing for adults, I come up dry - there aren't a lot of "adult" issues that really interest me. With teens, everything is new and heightened, and it's OK to act like a kid while you're learning to be a grown-up. With grown-ups, I  seem to find that many conflicts happen because they're still acting like kids, and I don't have a lot of patience with that. Of course I'll never say never - maybe in a few years I'll write a book for adults!

What has been your biggest challenge when writing books geared towards teens? 

The biggest challenge is making sure you don't sound dated. Technology is changing so fast, for example, that while the *heart* of how teens relate to each other doesn't change, the *ways* that they do are always evolving.

Are you currently working on any new books? 

Yes! I've got two started right now - I think I'll finish the more romance-centered one first. It has a cool sort of supernatural twist that I'm having fun exploring.

What is your favorite book of all time and why? 

Edith Wharton's "The House of Mirth" holds a special place in my heart. It's very sad, but so well done, and I came to it at a time when Lily Bart's character just spoke to me in so many ways. I don't cry at many books, but I remember sobbing when I finished that one.

Ok, enough about books. Can you tell readers *one* interesting fact about yourself?

I interviewed Brad Pitt once! I worked for his hometown newspaper and he came to town for a charity showing of one of his movies. Of course, I got all dolled up, thinking maybe he'd take a fancy to me, but he was with Jennifer Aniston at the time and I just couldn't compete! ;-)  He was a very nice guy - very gracious to everybody - and not very tall in person!

A *big thank you* goes out to Ms. Wealer for giving me the opportunity to interview her! If you’re interested in winning an ARC copy of RIVAL, here are the rules:

- *This competition is ONLY open to followers of my blog.

- Leave a comment with your e-mail address below so I can contact you if you win.

- If you do any of the following below, you will gain extra entries towards winning this ARC. If you do any of them, please add the appropriate number of entries in your comment.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
+2 post about this author interview/give-away on your blog (as a blog entry) & leave a link

+1 post the contest on Twitter & leave a link

+2 post the comp on sidebar of your blog

***CONTEST WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNED VIA E-MAIL AND ON MY BLOG ON FEBRUARY 16, 2010.***

ARC Review: Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Received: ARC Tour on Good Golly Miss Holly

Release Date: April 1, 2011

Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars

Summary: Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. (This summary is from HERE.)

The world Nora lives in is really just plain terrifying! To think that terrorist actions are a normal part of everyday life and people live through these events having any kind of effect on them is a scary thought. Of course, people in this world have the ability to see a horrific event, go to the nearest Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, take a pill, and the memory is erased…forever! What’s even more horrific is that every trip one makes to the clinic allows the person to earn what I like to call frequent flyer miles, whether for taking a trip or buying a beverage. With this being said, people are rewarded for forgetting all of the negative things in society. If nothing else, which there are many other parts of the book I enjoyed, the world itself really sparked my attention.

Memento Nora is a fast-paced, suspenseful book told from three different points of view including Nora and her two “new” friends. I tend to be drawn to books that are told from varying points of view because I feel that I get a better view and understanding of the characters. Although some authors are unable to pull off this writing style, author Angie Smibert did a great job with it. The three main characters are diverse enough that their individual chapters will maintain reader’s interest. Nora’s chapters include much more information than the other two characters, but this works very well because it makes the story more mysterious and suspenseful.

What I liked most about Memento Nora is that from the start of the book until the end of it, the suspense continued to grow and intensify making me unable to put it down. There were not parts that fell flat or left be bored, but instead I was constantly connected to the story line. Towards the end of the book, I felt like I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what happened to all of the characters. Just like the rest of the book, the conclusion of Memento Nora will leave readers shocked, but not disappointed. Memento Nora made me feel like I was on a roller coaster that I didn’t want to get off of. What a fun, quick read!

ARC GIVEAWAY!

I have 1 ARC copy of Bumped by Megan McCafferty, set to release on April 26, 2011, up for grabs. Information about this book can be found on the following websites:

On the Author's Website

Good Reads 

HOW TO ENTER:
- *This competition is ONLY open to followers of my blog.* If you are not a follower yet, just click “follow” on the right hand side of my blog and you’re all set to go.

- Leave a comment with your e-mail address below so I can contact you if you win.

- If you do any of the following below, you will gain extra entries towards winning this ARC. If you do any of them, please add the appropriate number of entries in your comment.EXTRA ENTRIES:

+2 post about this give-away on your blog (as a blog entry) & leave a link

+1 post the contest on Twitter & leave a link

+2 post the comp on sidebar of your blog

Due to postage, this contest is only open to US residents. This contest ends on ***March 6, 2011!***  Winner will be e-mailed and announced on this blog. Good luck everyone!

In My Mailbox (#6)

“In My Mailbox” is a post that I will be incorporating into this blog to discuss various books I have either received in the mail to review, advanced reader books, or books I have picked up from the library. "In My Mailbox" is brought to you by The Story Siren.

Popular by Alissa Grosso

*ARC received from Good Golly Miss Holly*

Summary: Meet the clique that rules Fidelity High: Olivia, Zelda, Nordica, and Shelly, each one handpicked by uber-popular Hamilton Best. You know you’re “in” when you make the guest list for one of Hamilton’s parties. And in the thralls of senior year, everyone wants to get noticed by Hamilton. But Hamilton’s elite entourage is coming apart at the seams. Olivia fantasizes about finally having a boyfriend, Zelda dreams of ditching high school, Nordica wants to be alone with her photography, and Shelly’s plotting to dethrone Hamilton. Lies and secrets are ripping away the careful ties that have kept them together for years. But Hamilton has the biggest secret of all, one that only her boyfriend Alex knows. If the truth got out, it would shock everyone and destroy Hamilton’s fragile world—and she’ll do anything to protect her secret and keep her clique together.

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

*ARC received from Good Golly Miss Holly*

Summary: Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope.

Skinny by Ibi Kaslik

*Picked up from the library*

Summary: Watching her sister in a losing battle with anorexia as a result of being unable to cope with the death of their father, Holly realizes that her own dreams must be put aside for the moment in order to help her sister get through this difficult period by teaching her how to deal with the loss in a healthy way before it's too late.

Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford

*Audiobook--Picked up from the library*

Summary: Awkward freshman Will Carter endures many painful moments during his first year of high school before realizing that nothing good comes easily, focus is everything, and the payoff is usually incredible.