Book Contests!

This is a weekly compilation of all the contests in the YA book blogosphere, arranged here for your enjoyment. The list is posted once a week, but updated throughout the week, so remember to check back often!


On-Going:

Elizabeth Scott generally has weekly giveaways.

Alyssa at The Shady Glade hosts Contest Monday, and gives away a new book each week.

Stephanie Kuenhert hosts Women Who Rock Wednesdays on her blog, and they come with freebies. Check it out!

There's a new giveaway every week at Free Book Friday Teens (and while you're at it, check out their adult site, too).

Melissa Walker hosts Win-It Wednesdays over at her blog.

Teenreads.com has a monthly Grab Bags of Books contest.

RandomBuzzers has an ARC giveaway every Friday. You have to be a member to be eligible, but sign-up is simple and free, and participating in activities gives you the chance to get other free books!

Linda Gerber hosts Freebie Fridays every week at her blog, so remember to check back.

Carmen Rodriguez hosts Take it Home Tuesdays on her Myspace.

YA Books Central have a couple of giveaways each month, just check on the right on their main page.

Teens Read Too have a monthly contest.

One-Time Things:



Steph Su is giving away two Cara Lockwood novels. (Ends: 4/14)

Katie's Bookshelf is giving away a copy of the Shape of Water (4/15)

Steph Su is giving away a copy of Swim the Fly (4/17)

Aye Captain is having a winter themed giveaway of two cool new books. (Ends: 4/19)

Reading is Bliss is giving away a copy of Cold Hands, Warm Heart. (Ends: 4/20)

Sharon Loves Books is giving away a copy of Me, My Elf, and I (Ends: 4/21)

Addicted to Books is giving away four books to celebrate their sweet sixteen. (Ends: 4/29)

Reader Rabbit is having an Ultimate Canadian Giveaway! (Ends: 4/29)

Reader Rabbit is also giving away a copy of Courtney Summers' Cracked up to Be (Ends: 4/29)

Carrie's YA Bookshelf is giving away City of Bones and The Summoning. (Ends: 4/30)

Shalonda is giving away your choice of 2 books and a $25 gift certificate. (Ends: 4/30)

Big contest surrounding How to Ditch Your Fairy, by Justine Larbalestier. (Ends: 4/30)

Shooting Stars Mag organized a HUGE contest around the release of Willow by Julia Hoban. TONS of awesome prizes. (Ends: 4/30)

Keri Mikulski is giving away four cool books in her Spring Giveaway! (Ends: 4/30)

WORD for Teens is having an April giveaway. (Ends: 4/30)





This is by no means a complete list, but I keep track for myself and I'll keep ya'll posted as well. If you've got a contest you'd like to have listed, just let me know in the comments!

Review: How to Build A House, Dana Reinhardt

How to Build a House
Dana Reinhardt

Official Summary:
Harper's Dad is getting a divorce from her beloved stepmother, Jane. Even worse, Harper has lost her stepsister, Tess; the divorce divides them. Harper decides to escape by joining a volunteer program to build a house for a family in Tennessee who lost their home in a tornado. Not that she knows a thing about construction.

Soon she’s living in a funky motel and working long days in blazing heat with a group of kids from all over the country. At the site, she works alongside Teddy, the son of the family for whom they are building the house. Their partnership turns into a summer romance, complete with power tools. Learning to trust and love Teddy isn’t easy for Harper, but it’s the first step toward finding her way back home.

What the Pros Say:
PW: "Reinhardt artfully parallels the construction of a house with the reconstruction of a broken family in a work as intimate and intelligently wrought as her previous YA novels."

Kirkus: "a well-paced first-person narrative spiced with summer flings and teen romance."

What I Say:
I'd heard good things about both of Reinhardt's previous novels, A Brief History of My Impossible Life and Harmless, but I've never actually read either one. Nonetheless, I was pretty excited when I spotted How to Build a House on the shelves at the bookstore. I was expecting a light, fun, summer romance, and I got that and more.

Harper's family is literally being torn apart, which means losing the woman who has been like a mother to her, the stepsister who has been her best friend for as long as she can remember, and the sense of safety that having a family gave her. Unable to deal, Harper flees, and it is as she rebuilds a house in Tennessee she finds herself slowly rebuilding her life at the same time.

Harper was a charming and relatable narrator. She was clearly flawed, but at the same time she never veered into the pathetic or the obnoxious. Instead, I loved watching as her confidence and sense of self worth grew--she slowly discovered that she was worthy of love regardless of the actions of those around her, and it was an exciting transformation to view.

Plotwise, the book didn't have too many surprises, but I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. It wasn't monotonous in the least, instead, while I had an idea of what might come next, I found myself eagerly flipping the pages to find out what would happen with Harper and Teddy, Harper and Tess, and Harper and herself.

I also think that this book addresses an interesting question that's becoming more and more important these days, and that I don't think I've seen dealt with in very many other books. What do we do when so-called "blended" families unblend? When a family is connected by love, but not by blood, what happens when the legal connections binding them together dissolve? I think that it's an important question to ask, and Dana Reinhardt offers intriguing answers in this book.

Intrigued?
Visit Dana Reinhardt's website to find out more about her and her books.

Six Word Memoirs

Evidently this has been around for a while, but it's news to me. There are a whole lot of six word memoirs and stories out there, from Smith Magazine's collection of books, to Wired's collection of six word science fiction stories.

My personal favorite? The original, Hemingway's: For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

It is at once heartbreaking and beautiful, and much of that beauty comes from its brevity and simplicity.

And there's a version especially for teenagers. Reading the stories and seeing the art that accompanies some of them is inspiring, and it seems like a pretty perfect medium for the generation of texting, twittering, facebooking teens who are growing up now.

Love Formula?

In John Green's An Abundance of Katharines, former child prodigy Colin Singleton tries to make a mathematical formula to predict the success of romantic relationships in a last ditch effort to reclaim the "gifted" title that was shoved upon him as a child. I'm not telling whether Colin was successful or not, for that you'll have to read the book, but it looks like some researchers have come up with a real life love formula, and evidently it's 94% accurate.

I don't know though, would you want to know whether or not your relationship would succeed without ever giving it a shot? I think I'd prefer to take my chances groping (heh) blindly in the dark.

Tipping Points

Here's a great way to enter a cool contest and make a little bit of a difference at the same time. Stephanie Kuehnert (author of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone and Ballads of Suburbia) is offering up an ARC of Ballads, her upcoming novel. What do you have to do? Just go to this website and vote for Tipping Points, an awesome company that was started by her cousin.

Here's the description of what Tipping Points does: Greg Lowe (Greater Philadelphia-Camden Corps ’05) is the founder of Tipping Points Test Prep, an organization that provides high-quality, low-cost tutoring and test preparation services to at-risk, underprivileged youth to help them access college and higher education opportunities. Compared to for-profit models like Kaplan, Greg’s approach will only charge $50 per student for a 12-week tutoring course, but still attract high-quality tutors by paying them at the same rate as Tipping Points’ for-profit competitors. By helping erase part of the resource gap between low-income youth and their more affluent peers, Tipping Points hopes to play a role in closing the achievement gap.

Once you've voted, head over to Stephanie Kuenhert's blog to enter the contest for Ballads!

Review: The Other Side of the Island, Allegra Goodman

The Other Side of the Island, Allegra Goodman

Official Summary:
Honor and her parents have been reassigned to live on Island 365 in the Tranquil Sea. Life is peaceful there-the color of the sky is regulated by Earth Mother, a corporation that controls New Weather, and it almost never rains. Everyone fits into their rightful and predictable place. . . .

Except Honor. She doesn't fit in, but then she meets Helix, a boy with a big heart and a keen sense for the world around them. Slowly, Honor and Helix begin to uncover a terrible truth about life on the Island: Sooner or later, those who are unpredictable disappear . . . and they don't ever come back.

What the Pros Say:
PW: The plot line depends on coincidence and inconsistencies, but dramatic pacing and otherwise shrewd psychological insight help camouflage these flaws
Booklist: . . . the book is at its best when it's inside Honor's head, as she struggles to balance her parents' unorthodoxy with her craving to belong . . . will keep readers engaged.

What I Say:

I picked this one up because I was in the mood for a dystopian read, and I wasn't disappointed. While the story is fairly predictable, it's also thoroughly enjoyable, and Honor is a strong and sympathetic protagonist. While her parents are fiercely opposed to the controlling government, Honor has no idea why her parents are so different, and as a result does everything she can to be normal.

This is an interesting juxtaposition of a child's wish to differentiate herself from her parents and her wish to fit in, and while the reader hopes that Honor will snap out of her conforming ways, her desire to fit in is completely understandable. At the same time, the world and the chilling force of "Enclosure" is well drawn and understandable. Interestingly, this novel takes the approach of over-zealous climate-lovers having taken over the planet instead of your typical military dominance by eevil forces.

I wouldn't say that this is a particularly earth-shattering read, but if you're in the mood for something futuristic and dystopian, then this should fulfill your needs. Pick it up, it's a good way to fill a few hours.

Intrigued?
Check out this cool cover story from the artist's perspective, and read the first chapter here.

Book Contests!

This is a weekly compilation of all the contests in the YA book blogosphere, arranged here for your enjoyment. The list is posted once a week, but updated throughout the week, so remember to check back often!


On-Going:

Elizabeth Scott is giving away books every day leading up to the release of her (much-anticipated) latest, Something, Maybe.

Alyssa at The Shady Glade hosts Contest Monday, and gives away a new book each week.

Stephanie Kuenhert hosts Women Who Rock Wednesdays on her blog, and they come with freebies. Check it out!

There's a new giveaway every week at Free Book Friday Teens (and while you're at it, check out their adult site, too).

Melissa Walker hosts Win-It Wednesdays over at her blog.

Teenreads.com has a monthly Grab Bags of Books contest.

RandomBuzzers has an ARC giveaway every Friday. You have to be a member to be eligible, but sign-up is simple and free, and participating in activities gives you the chance to get other free books!

Linda Gerber hosts Freebie Fridays every week at her blog, so remember to check back.

Carmen Rodriguez hosts Take it Home Tuesdays on her Myspace.

YA Books Central have a couple of giveaways each month, just check on the right on their main page.

Teens Read Too have a monthly contest.

One-Time Things:


In Bed With Books is having a huge blogiversary contest, with different giveaways all the time! Check out the rules here. (Ends: first round: 3/18)

Win a copy of Wherever Nina Lies at Reading is Bliss! (Ends: 3/27)

Epic Rat is giving away five copies of the Little Red Book. (Ends: 3/27)

Karin's Book Nook is having a huge giveaway to celebrate two years of blogging. Check it out here! (Ends: 3/27)

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf is giving away a copy of Siobhan Vivian's A Little Friendly Advice. (Ends: 3/27)

The Book Muncher is giving away a copy of Circle of Friends by Diane Wolf. (Ends: 3/28)

Reading Keeps You Sane is giving away two personalized copies of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. (Ends: 3/30)(Check out my review)

Addicted to Books is having an awesome contest to win FIVE books. Check it out!

Mrs. Magoo Reads is giving away a copy of the Rule of Won. (Ends: 3/30)

Carrie's YA Bookshelf is having a contest to win three cool books. (Ends: 3/31)

Epic Rat is giving away a copy of Sapphron Dreams. (Ends: 3/31)

Word for Teens is giving away three great books in their March Giveaway. Check it out! (Ends: 3/31?)

Genevieve at Caprubia is giving away a copy of What Would Emma Do? (Ends: 3/31)

Booklover Carol's Reviews is having a big giveaway here! (Ends: 4/1)

Join Sarah Land for a chance to win an early copy of Sarah Dessen's latest,Along for the Ride!(Ends: 4/1)

Bookworm Readers is giving away a copy of Violet in Private by Melissa Walker as the first of their weekly March Madness giveaways! (Ends: 4/1)

The Story Siren is giving away a copy of Willow by Julia Hoban (Ends: 4/2)

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf is giving away a copy of This Is What I Want to Tell You. (Ends: 4/3)

Sarah's Random Musings is giving away a copy of Mackenzie, Lost and Found. (Ends: 4/4)

Writing it Out is giving away a signed copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth along with goodies from the launch party. (Ends: 4/4)

Presenting Lenore is giving away a six-pack of awesome books. (Ends: 4/5)

Over at the Story Siren, you can enter to win TEN ARCs. (Ends: 4/7)

Steph Su is giving away two Cara Lockwood novels. (Ends: 4/14)

Aye Captain is having a winter themed giveaway of two cool new books. (Ends: 4/19)

Addicted to Books is giving away four books to celebrate their sweet sixteen. (Ends: 4/29)

Big contest surrounding How to Ditch Your Fairy, by Justine Larbalestier. (Ends: 4/30)

Shooting Stars Mag organized a HUGE contest around the release of Willow by Julia Hoban. TONS of awesome prizes. (Ends: 4/30)

Keri Mikulski is giving away four cool books in her Spring Giveaway! (Ends: 4/30)

Amanda Ashby is giving away her fresh novel Zombie Queen of Newbury High. Check out her blog to find out how to win. (Ends: when her blog tour does)

Yan at Books by Their Cover is having a random giveaway of Going too Far by Jennifer Echols! (Ends: Unkown)




This is by no means a complete list, but I keep track for myself and I'll keep ya'll posted as well. If you've got a contest you'd like to have listed, just let me know in the comments!

Review: Jellicoe Road, Melina Marcheta

Jellicoe Road
Melina Marcheta

Official Summary:
"What do you want from me?" he asks. What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him. More.

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.

In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future.

What the Pros Say:
Printz Award Committee Chair Mary Arnold: "This roller coaster ride of a novel grabs you from the first sentence and doesn t let go. You may not be sure where the ride will take you, but every detail from the complexities of the dual narrative to the pangs of first love is pitch perfect."

Kirkus: "A beautifully rendered mystery."

What I Say:
This is one of those books that grabs hold of you somewhere deep down and doesn't let go until long, long after you've snapped the book shut for a long time. I was caught from this sentence in the prologue:

My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die.

I counted.

I had to know what happened. I had to know whose story this was and why they were waiting and watching and counting while their father died. The plot summary posted above does the story little justice, although it was enough to intrigue me into buying the book in the first place. This is Taylor's story, and the story of five intertwined lives that were lived on Jellicoe Road long before Taylor ever set foot there. It's maddening, and frustrating, but more than that it's captivating.

Taylor is injured and guarded, and she has a difficult time letting anyone in, and in that she's one of the most relatable damaged heroines I've ever read about. You can see her destroying herself, and you just want to reach into the page and give her the hug that you know she deserves and have never been able to get.

I won't try to summarize the plot myself, or to say too much about what happens. It'll just have to suffice to say that this is a beautiful, beautiful book, and that while I think some people may be frustrated by it, or tempted to put it aside, it is one of those books that is simply worth reading, word for word, all the way through. And then, when you've put it down, pick it up and read it all over again, because there is no way to pull the full oomph out of this story with one reading, and maybe not even with two, or three. It is beautiful, the kind of book that should simply be read and loved and not forgotten.

Intrigued?
Check out Melina Marcheta's website.

Vampire Neck Cream

Just what I was looking for, a neck cream that attracts vampires...I blame a sparkly someone.

Rockville, CA

I've been checking out the new online TV show Rockville, CA, and I've really been enjoying it. It's straight from the Josh Schwartz (The OC, Chuck) school of television entertainment, complete with an awkward, gawky, dark-haired protagonist (a little like Josh himself, perhaps?). The show centers around a music club and the young wannabes who hang out there, and incorporates a new band playing live in the club in each episode. It's cool and short, so check it out here.

Year One

I've been digging the idea of Year One since the day I heard Michael Cera was starring (opposite Jack Black, who's no slouch in the comedic department either).

The Year One follows the journey of two dumb hunter-gatherers (Cera and Black) who are forced to embark on an epic quest after being banished from their primitive village. I was planning to watch it simply based on the fact that Cera's in it (what can I say?), but the brand-new trailer makes it look pretty darn good too.

'Year One' Theatrical Trailer @ Yahoo! Video

Review: Year My Sister Got Lucky, Aimee Friedman

The Year My Sister Got Lucky
Aimee Friedman

Official Summary:
When Katie and Michaela Wilder are uprooted from NYC and planted in rural Fir Lake, Katie is horrified by their new surroundings: the too-friendly neighbors, the local uniform of sandals paired with socks, the very idea of milking a cow. But while Katie suffers through shopping withdrawal, Michaela transforms into a small-town social firefly, flirting with the hot quarterback and soaking up nature with her new hick-town friends. As in, people who think camping is *fun*. Does Katie even know her sister anymore? And after Michaela hides a jaw-dropping secret from her, does Katie even want to?

What the Pros Say:
PW: "Friedman deftly demonstrates the positives of moving forward and not clinging to the past; she also presents a sister dynamic that many girls-particularly younger sisters-will recognize."
SLJ: "Though the conflict seems perhaps a little too weak to carry a 400-page book, and parts of the plot seem totally unrealistic, the story is still likely to be popular. There's sweetness in Friedman's teen world, and some of her characters are delightful. And who can resist a good sister book?"

What I Say:
I went in expecting something fun and light, and got just what I expected. This one's not particularly memorable, but Katie and Michaela's story is definitely entertaining enough to while away a few hours.

In terms of the story, it's fairly predictable, but there are enough fun details to keep the reader interested. Katie's dislike of Fir Lake is understandable, and as we see her getting to know her new town and the people within it she becomes infinitely more likable. Michaela and Katie, first seen in the tense world of dance, seem to loosen up as their days in Fir Lake continue. Maybe all the fresh air is getting to them?

I doubt I'd reread this, but I don't regret picking it up for a first go-round. If you're looking for something quick and cute that will leave you smiling, try this out!

Intrigued?
Check out Aimee Friedman's website.

More?
Read an interview with Aimee Friedman at Teens Read Too.

Where the Wild Things Are...creepy?

So there's a new poster out for the Where The Wild Things Are movie. I love, love, loved reading about Max and his wild things when I was a kid (who didn't?), but am I alone in thinking that this movie poster is just a little bit creepy?

Smart Girls

The latest (and last) episode of Amy Poehler's online television show featured Cameron, a ten year old who has been writing paranormal fiction for years now. It's always great to see that there are smary, eloquent girls out there growing up to do great things (and probably read lots of YA fiction) and I think it's pretty great that Amy Poehler is showing these girls off to the world.

The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins

Official Summary:

COULD YOU SURVIVE ON YOUR OWN, IN THE WILD, WITH EVERYONE FIGHTING AGAINST YOU?

Twenty- four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives.

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

What the Pros Say:
Booklist: "...a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance."

NYT: "...brilliantly plotted and perfectly paced...a futuristic novel every bit as good and as allegorically rich as Scott Westerfeld's 'Uglies' books."

What I Say:

I'm an unabashed lover of dystopian fiction, and The Hunger Games is a satisfying addition to the genre. Katniss, Peeta, Gale...all of the characters are appealing and understandable, and the nature of the gladiator-like competition of the Hunger Games provides constant suspense and conflict.

I especially appreciated that Katsa was a strong player all by herself--although she and Peeta sometimes collaborated, it was made clear that Katsa was a formidable foe all by herself. She's the main provider for her family, she's selfless, she's brave...and she's caught in the middle of a game to the death and a love triangle.

Suzanne Collins has crafted a strong world and interesting characters, and the book deserves all of the buzz it's been getting. There are some interesting questions to ask about poverty and class that are tied into the novel, but overall it's just a fun, thrilling ride.

Intrigued?
Check out Suzanne Collins' website and the official website and then check out the snazzy new site for the Hunger Games series. Pretty fancy, right?

More?
Read about Lionsgate's new plans to make a Hunger Games movie then head over to TeenReads to read an interview with Suzanne Collins.

Operation Teen Book Drop

Check it out!

Storybook Fashion

Ever stopped to think what characters from the books you loved as children might be wearing if you were ever lucky enough to meet them on the street? I've got to say that the idea had never popped into my head before, but Blaze Danielle has captured some childhood faves brilliantly. Check out the first of her Storybook Fashion posts to see what Nancy Drew or Lucy Pevensie might wear today, then look at her second post for playful looks for Pippi Longstocking and Ramona Quimby.

City of Ashes, Cassandra Clare

Official Summary:
Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace.How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

What the Pros Say:
SLJ: "like watching a particularly good vampire/werewolf movie, and it leaves readers waiting for the next in the series."
Kirkus: " Readers of urban fantasy will devour this deliciously overwrought adventure."

What I Say:
If you liked City of Bones then you'll love City of Ashes. This book picks up right where the first left off, and the reader is immediately plunged back into chaos and action. Valentine has the Mortal Cup, the Clave is suspicious of Jace, and Clary and Jace are trying to deal with a difficult change in their relationship.

This one felt a little darker than the first to me, but in an enjoyable way. Clary is coming into her own as a Shadowhunter, but she is confronted at every turn by new challenges and obstacles. With drama on every page this one will be tough for fantasy fans to put down, but don't worry--the third book in the series will be out soon!

Intrigued?
Check out the Mortal Instruments website for deleted scenes, excerpts and more.

More?
Read Cassandra Clare's blog, and check out some interviews with the author at Story Siren and Chicklish.

Book Contests!

This is a weekly compilation of all the contests in the YA book blogosphere, arranged here for your enjoyment. The list is posted once a week, but updated throughout the week, so remember to check back often!

The Book Muncher has discontinued the Contest List, so I figured I'd pop my personal list up here for anyone to use. After all, who would ever say no to free things? Here's a quick roundup of some current contests to check out:

On-Going:

Elizabeth Scott is giving away books every day leading up to the release of her (much-anticipated) latest, Something, Maybe.

Alyssa at The Shady Glade hosts Contest Monday, and gives away a new book each week.

Stephanie Kuenhert hosts Women Who Rock Wednesdays on her blog, and they come with freebies. Check it out!

There's a new giveaway every week at Free Book Friday Teens (and while you're at it, check out their adult site, too).

Melissa Walker hosts Win-It Wednesdays over at her blog.

Teenreads.com has a monthly Grab Bags of Books contest.

RandomBuzzers has an ARC giveaway every Friday. You have to be a member to be eligible, but sign-up is simple and free, and participating in activities gives you the chance to get other free books!

Linda Gerber hosts Freebie Fridays every week at her blog, so remember to check back.

Carmen Rodriguez hosts Take it Home Tuesdays on her Myspace.

YA Books Central have a couple of giveaways each month, just check on the right on their main page.

Teens Read Too have a monthly contest.

One-Time Things:

Steph of Reviewer X and Lenore of Presenting Lenore have teamed up to offer twenty copies of Speak. Enter here or here. (Ends: 3/12)

Not So Closet Geeks is having a really cool Geekfest, with different interviews and giveaways all week long. Check it out! (Ends: 3/14 or 3/20)
The first contest is up, so enter! Enter to win 666 or Love is Hell with stories by Laurie Stolarz here! And win a copy of Eyes Like Stars here! Win What Would Emma do by Eileen Cook here! Win Steph Feraro's How to Hook a Hottie here! Win Lauren Henderson's books here! Win Song of the Sparrow and an ARC of Map of the Known World here!

Book Reviews by Jess is giving away a copy of Eyes Like Stars (Ends: 3/14)

Jillian Cantor is giving away a signed copy of her new book The September Sisters. (Ends: 3/15)

Win the Inside Girl books from Alloy. (Ends: 3/16)

Abby Mcdonald is giving away two ARCs of her new book Sophomore Switch. (Ends: 3/17?)

In Bed With Books is having a huge blogiversary contest, with different giveaways all the time! Check out the rules here. (Ends: first round: 3/18)

For the Love of Books is having a February giveaway where you can win Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies, Taken by Storm, or Speak. (Ends: 3/21)

Brooke of Brooke Reviews is giving away three paranormal novels. (Ends: 3/20)

Shooting Stars Mag is giving away a signed copy of Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph. (Ends: 3/21)

Book Reviews by Jess is giving away a copy of Evermore by Alyson Noel. (Ends: 3/22)

Mrs. Magoo Reads is giving away a copy of The Life and Crimes of Wallflower (Ends: 3/22)

Win a copy of Wherever Nina Lies at Reading is Bliss! (Ends: 3/27)

Epic Rat is giving away five copies of the Little Red Book. (Ends: 3/27)

Karin's Book Nook is having a huge giveaway to celebrate two years of blogging. Check it out here! (Ends: 3/27)

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf is giving away a copy of Siobhan Vivian's A Little Friendly Advice. (Ends: 3/27)

The Book Muncher is giving away a copy of Circle of Friends by Diane Wolf. (Ends: 3/28)

Reading Keeps You Sane is giving away two personalized copies of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. (Ends: 3/30)(Check out my review)

Addicted to Books is having an awesome contest to win FIVE books. Check it out!

Carrie's YA Bookshelf is having a contest to win three cool books. (Ends: 3/31)

Epic Rat is giving away a copy of Sapphron Dreams. (Ends: 3/31)

Word for Teens is giving away three great books in their March Giveaway. Check it out! (Ends: 3/31?)

Booklover Carol's Reviews is having a big giveaway here! (Ends: 4/1)

Join Sarah Land for a chance to win an early copy of Sarah Dessen's latest,Along for the Ride!(Ends: 4/1)

Bookworm Readers is giving away a copy of Violet in Private by Melissa Walker as the first of their weekly March Madness giveaways! (Ends: 4/1)

Sarah's Random Musings is giving away a copy of Mackenzie, Lost and Found. (Ends: 4/4)

Over at the Story Siren, you can enter to win TEN ARCs. (Ends: 4/7)

Aye Captain is having a winter themed giveaway of two cool new books. (Ends: 4/19)

Big contest surrounding How to Ditch Your Fairy, by Justine Larbalestier. (Ends: 4/30)

Shooting Stars Mag organized a HUGE contest around the release of Willow by Julia Hoban. TONS of awesome prizes. (Ends: 4/30)

Keri Mikulski is giving away four cool books in her Spring Giveaway! (Ends: 4/30)

Amanda Ashby is giving away her fresh novel Zombie Queen of Newbury High. Check out her blog to find out how to win. (Ends: when her blog tour does)

Yan at Books by Their Cover is having a random giveaway of Going too Far by Jennifer Echols! (Ends: Unkown)




This is by no means a complete list, but I keep track for myself and I'll keep ya'll posted as well. If you've got a contest you'd like to have listed, just let me know in the comments!

Attractive Reading?

Do you judge people based on what they read? It's something that I'll definitely admit to. When I see a cute guy reading in public, I always make sure to take a peek at the title of his book. Is it something I appreciate? Or is he reading I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, like every other college boy I've ever met. Evidently, I'm not the only one who does this. Over at The Guardian, they have an interesting article that asks: "What choice of reading material would impress you in a potential date - and which book would be a big turn-off?"

Evidently, some women think that men who read fiction are "too girly," while men would run from anyone reading a book with a pink cover. I'm not so sure about all that, but I do believe that reading material provides a decent insight into someone's interest. In this one case, I'd say it's pretty fair to judge someone by their book's cover.

City of Bones, Cassandra Clare

Official Summary:
When 15-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother?And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

What the Pros Say:

VOYA: "This fast-paced fantastic thriller will keep readers on the edge of their seats."
SLJ: "With a female protagonist and horror movie levels of gore, the novel will appeal to guys and girls who like their fantasy sometimes fast paced and often gruesome."

What I Say:
With the third book in Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments trilogy coming out soon, I figured it was time for me to check out the first two books in the series. In this series opener, we are introduced to Clary and the magical world she soon finds herself plunged into. City of Bones was great, a fast-paced, action packed book with a pretty steamy romance thrown in for some additional flair.

Clary is a great narrator, just as new to this crazy world as the reader, but eager to get going. She's strong and able; she is not the type to sit back and wait to be rescued, even if her powers as a Shadowhunter are completely new to her she's determined not to let them go to waste as she fights to protect herself and her strange new friends. If you like Buffy or you're a fan of urban fantasies, then this is definitely one to check out.

Intrigued?
Check out the Mortal Instruments website for deleted scenes, excerpts and more.

More?
Read Cassandra Clare's blog, and check out some interviews with the author at Story Siren and Chicklish.

Is Twilight Killing Radical Lit?

Over at the Washington Post there's an interesting article about the differences between the preferred reading material of the current generation as opposed to the more politically active generations of past college campuses. According to Ron Charles, the author of the piece:

Here we have a generation of young adults away from home for the first time, free to enjoy the most experimental period of their lives, yet they're choosing books like 13-year-old girls -- or their parents. The only specter haunting the groves of American academe seems to be suburban contentment.

He cites as evidence the fact that the majority of books sold on college campuses are

about hunky vampires or Barack Obama

.

I'm not sure how much I agree with his argument. Sure, college kids like to read lighter fare, but that doesn't mean that their appreciation for literature which questions the norms of society and puts forth uncomfortable ideas has disappeared (indeed, I would say that the increased popularity of YA lit as a genre says exactly the opposite). What do you guys think? Are we abandoning On the Road and Anais Nin for Twilight? And if so, what does that mean?

Review: Graceling, Kristin Cashore

Graceling
by Kristin Cashore

Official Summary:

If you had the power to kill with your bare hands, what would you do with it?
Graceling takes readers inside the world of Katsa, a warrior-girl in her late teens with one blue eye and one green eye. This gives her haunting beauty, but also marks her as a Graceling. Gracelings are beings with special talents—swimming, storytelling, dancing. Katsa's Grace is considered more useful: her ability to fight (and kill, if she wanted to) is unequaled in the seven kingdoms. Forced to act as a henchman for a manipulative king, Katsa channels her guilt by forming a secret council of like-minded citizens who carry out secret missions to promote justice over cruelty and abuses of power.

Combining elements of fantasy and romance, Cashore skillfully portrays the confusion, discovery, and angst that smart, strong-willed girls experience as they creep toward adulthood. Katsa wrestles with questions of freedom, truth, and knowing when to rely on a friend for help. This is no small task for an angry girl who had eschewed friendships (with the exception of one cousin that she trusts) for her more ready skills of self-reliance, hunting, and fighting. Katsa also comes to know the real power of her Grace and the nature of Graces in general: they are not always what they appear to be.

What the Pros say:

PW: "With this riveting debut, Cashore has set the bar exceedingly high."
Kirkus: "Katsa is an ideal adolescent heroine, simultaneously confident of her strengths yet unsure of her place in the world. . . . In a tale filled with graphic violence and subtle heartbreak, gentle passion and savage kindness, matter-of-fact heroics and bleak beauty, no defeat is ever total and no triumph comes without cost. Grace-full, in every sense."

Tamora Pierce (more on this in a sec): "Here's a WOW of a book! Seeing half-wild Katsa learn humanity as she battles soldiers, storms, and her own obsessive nature--I HAD to know how it ended!"

What I Say:

Growing up, my family took near-weekly trips to the library. The librarians would look curiously, the little girl behind a teetering pile of books that threatened to tumble at any second, but they soon found that I read my pile of books each week and came eagerly back for another. It was on one of these trips, when I was eight or nine years old, that I first discovered Tamora Pierce. I was making my usual rounds through the familiar shelves of the kid section when I spotted a new book in hardback. First Test. I took it home, read it, fell in love. I came back the next week and found myself stacks of books about Alanna and Daine and the worlds Tamora Pierce created. For years, Tamora Pierce was unquestionably my favorite author; I devoured everything she wrote. The first ARC I ever got my hands on was a copy of Lady Knight, given to me by the amazing guy who runs the local indie bookstore in my town (don't worry though, I still went back and bought the hardcover from him when it came out). I loved Tamora Pierce's books because of their strength: strong worlds, strong heroines, strong stories.

I found that strength again while reading Graceling by Kristin Cashore. I'm not sure it would be possible not to love this book. Katsa is a beautifully conflicted character--she hates the Grace that has defined her since childhood, but knows that she will never be without it.

I loved the relationship that grew between Katsa and Po, and that Katsa was able to find a way to love and be loved without feeling that she was submitting herself to someone else's power. I know that there's been a lot of talk about the "anti-marriage" stance portrayed in this book, but I think that the criticisms generally fail to take Katsa's history into account. Katsa doesn't oppose marriage as a general institution, she opposes it for herself as someone who has spent her entire life up to this point living under the authority of a (cruel) man. While there's no chance that Po would turn out to be a husband in any way similar to Katsa's uncle, King Randa, Katsa's hesitance is completely understandable.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this book was the well-crafted world. The seven kingdoms, the Graces, all of it felt incredibly well-developed and real, and the strength of the world building made for an incredibly enjoyable read. This one's a definite keeper for anyone who likes fantasy, romance, action, and adventure. It's the best combination of the four I've read in ages, and it deserves all the accolades it's been receiving.

Intrigued?
Check out the first chapter of Graceling, and get hooked.

More?
Read author Kristin Cashore's great blog and check out interviews with her at Shelf Elf and Book Browse .

I Know It's Over, C.K. Kelly Martin

I Know It's Over
Author: C.K. Kelly Martin

Official Summary:
Pure. Unplanned. Perfect. Those were Nick's summer plans before Sasha stepped into the picture. With the collateral damage from his parent's divorce still settling and Dani (his girl of the moment) up for nearly anything, complications are the last thing he needs.

All that changes, though, when Nick runs into Sasha at the beach in July. Suddenly he's neck-deep in a relationship and surprised to find he doesn't mind in the least. But Nick's world shifts again when Sasha breaks up with him. Then weeks later, while Nick's still reeling from the breakup, she turns up at his doorstep and tells him she's pregnant, and with his emotions and hopes crashing in around him, Nick finds himself struggling once more to understand the girl he can't stop caring for, the girl who insists that it's still over.

What the Pros Say:

Publisher's Weekly: "Debut novelist Martin displays uncanny insight, replacing the issue-driven engine common to most pregnant-teen stories with an emotionally complex and disarmingly frank coming-of-age tale."
Kirkus: "Authentic and sophisticated."

What I Say:

I have read books about teen pregnancy before. I've read about teen mothers and teen fathers and the struggles and decisions. I've watched Juno. I've read the articles about teen pregnancy rates and sex education and condoms and nonsense. But of all those takes on the story, C.K. Kelly Martin's I Know It's Over comes the closest to the actual situations I've seen play out in real life.

Nick is fabulous. He is accidentally careless but so full of love, awkward but trying to be a good friend, lover, brother, and son. He is confused and trying to make sense of the world and of love: his and everyone else's. He is lovable without being a romantic ideal. Nick is not perfect: he says and does the wrong things, he fools around with girls he doesn't really care about, he smokes and drinks. Nick is one of the most real teenage boys I've read about in a long time.

This book will take your heart and simply demolish it. You will feel all of Nick and Sasha's pain and confusion and overwhelming love for each other and it will take you down at the knees and leave you gasping. I can't think of a single negative thing to say about this book: the plot was multilayered and fascinating, the characters were fully fleshed out and relatable, and Nick's first love, loss, and his lingering feelings will stay with you for a long time.

Intrigued? (and you should be, because this one's amazing)
Check out the first chapter on C.K.'s website and then read an interview with her over at Reading Keeps You Sane.

More?
C.K.'s second book, One Lonely Degree, will be out in May 09, but you can pre-order it now! Or check out more interviews at Cynsations and with Courtney Summers.

Dakota Fanning in New Moon?

There's been speculation about it for a while, and now it's confirmed: Dakota Fanning will play Jane in New Moon.


I like this casting. I'll admit that I'm not the most attached to Twilight (don't tell, but I still haven't seen the first movie!) but Dakota Fanning is an undeniably talented young actress, so I'm never sad to hear that she's in a movie I'll probably end up seeing.

Really, the thing that struck me the most about this announcement was just how grown up Dakota is looking. She's just barely fifteen, but she looks so grown up and composed. I have a feeling that I was not nearly so mature at fifteen. Of course, I wasn't an international movie star, so that might explain the difference.

On the heels of the Twilight casting announcement came news that she's also taken a part (opposite Twilight's Kirsten Stewart) in The Runaways, the new biopic about the 70's girl-band of the same name. I can see Fanning as a chilling vampire, but I'm having trouble picturing her as Cheri Currie, the hard-partying lead singer of the band.



What do you think?

Book Contests!

The Book Muncher has discontinued the Contest List, so I figured I'd pop my personal list up here for anyone to use. After all, who would ever say no to free things? Here's a quick roundup of some current contests to check out:

On-Going:

Elizabeth Scott is giving away books every day leading up to the release of her (much-anticipated) latest, Something, Maybe.

Alyssa at The Shady Glade hosts Contest Monday, and gives away a new book each week.

Stephanie Kuenhert hosts Women Who Rock Wednesdays on her blog, and they come with freebies. Check it out!

There's a new giveaway every week at Free Book Friday Teens (and while you're at it, check out their adult site, too).

Melissa Walker hosts Win-It Wednesdays over at her blog.

Teenreads.com has a monthly Grab Bags of Books contest.

RandomBuzzers has an ARC giveaway every Friday. You have to be a member to be eligible, but sign-up is simple and free, and participating in activities gives you the chance to get other free books!

Linda Gerber hosts Freebie Fridays every week at her blog, so remember to check back.

Carmen Rodriguez hosts Take it Home Tuesdays on her Myspace.

YA Books Central have a couple of giveaways each month, just check on the right on their main page.

Teens Read Too have a monthly contest.

One-Time Things:

TV and Book Addict is giving away Geek Charming by Robin Palmer. Giveaway here! (Ends: 3/10)

Liv's having a Blogiversary, and you can win any book of your choice (under $10)! (Ends: 3/11)

YA Book Realm is giving away a copy of Jillian Cantor's September Sisters. (Ends: 3/13)

Steph of Reviewer X and Lenore of Presenting Lenore have teamed up to offer twenty copies of Speak. Enter here or here. (Ends: 3/12)

Not So Closet Geeks is having a really cool Geekfest, with different interviews and giveaways all week long. Check it out! (Ends: 3/7-3/14)
The first contest is up, so enter! Enter to win 666 or Love is Hell with stories by Laurie Stolarz here! And win a copy of Eyes Like Stars here! Win What Would Emma do by Eileen Cook here! Win Steph Feraro's How to Hook a Hottie here! Win Lauren Henderson's books here!

Book Reviews by Jess is giving away a copy of Eyes Like Stars (Ends: 3/14)

Jillian Cantor is giving away a signed copy of her new book The September Sisters. (Ends: 3/15)

Win the Inside Girl books from Alloy. (Ends: 3/16)

Abby Mcdonald is giving away two ARCs of her new book Sophomore Switch. (Ends: 3/17?)

In Bed With Books is having a huge blogiversary contest, with different giveaways all the time! Check out the rules here. (Ends: first round: 3/18)

For the Love of Books is having a February giveaway where you can win Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies, Taken by Storm, or Speak. (Ends: 3/21)

Brooke of Brooke Reviews is giving away three paranormal novels. (Ends: 3/20)

Shooting Stars Mag is giving away a signed copy of Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph. (Ends: 3/21)

Win a copy of Wherever Nina Lies at Reading is Bliss! (Ends: 3/27)

Karin's Book Nook is having a huge giveaway to celebrate two years of blogging. Check it out here! (Ends: 3/27)

The Book Muncher is giving away a copy of Circle of Friends by Diane Wolf. (Ends: 3/28)

Reading Keeps You Sane is giving away two personalized copies of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. (Ends: 3/30)(Check out my review)

Addicted to Books is having an awesome contest to win FIVE books. Check it out!

Carrie's YA Bookshelf is having a contest to win three cool books. (Ends: 3/31)

Word for Teens is giving away three great books in their March Giveaway. Check it out! (Ends: 3/31?)

Join Sarah Land for a chance to win an early copy of Sarah Dessen's latest,Along for the Ride!(Ends: 4/1)

Bookworm Readers is giving away a copy of Violet in Private by Melissa Walker as the first of their weekly March Madness giveaways! (Ends: 4/1)

Over at the Story Siren, you can enter to win TEN ARCs. (Ends: 4/7)

Big contest surrounding How to Ditch Your Fairy, by Justine Larbalestier. (Ends: 4/30)

Shooting Stars Mag organized a HUGE contest around the release of Willow by Julia Hoban. TONS of awesome prizes. (Ends: 4/30)

Keri Mikulski is giving away four cool books in her Spring Giveaway! (Ends: 4/30)

Amanda Ashby is giving away her fresh novel Zombie Queen of Newbury High. Check out her blog to find out how to win. (Ends: when her blog tour does)

Laura's Review Bookshelf is giving away one copy of Janeane Garsee's Say the Word (Ends: Unkown)




This is by no means a complete list, but I keep track for myself and I'll keep ya'll posted as well. If you've got a contest you'd like to have listed, just let me know in the comments!

Top Teen Books?

There's a fun meme on YA books going around right now, and I figured I would jump on the bandwagon.

The following list of books teens love, books teens should read, and books adults who serve teens should know about was compiled IN ABSOLUTELY NO SCIENTIFIC MANNER and should be taken with a very large grain of salt.

Instructions:
Put an "X" next to the books you've read
Put a "+" next to the books you LOVE
Put a "#" next to the books you plan on reading
Tally your "X"s at the bottom
Share with your friends!

1. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy / Douglas Adams X
2. Kit's Wilderness / David Almond X
3. Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian / Sherman Alexie X
4. Speak / Laurie Halse Anderson X
5. Feed / M.T. Anderson X
6. Flowers in the Attic / V.C. Andrews
7. 13 Reasons Why / Jay Asher X
8. Am I Blue? / Marion Dane Bauer (editor)
9. Audrey Wait! / Robin Benway
10. Weetzie Bat / Francesca Lia Block
11. Tangerine / Edward Bloor X
12. Forever / Judy Blume X
13. What I Saw and How I Lied / Judy Blundell
14. Tyrell / Coe Booth
15. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants / Ann Brashares X
16. A Great and Terrible Beauty / Libba Bray X
17. The Princess Diaries / Meg Cabot X
18. The Stranger / Albert Camus
19. Ender's Game / Orson Scott Card X
20. Postcards from No Man's Land / Aidan Chambers
21. Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky X
22. And Then There Were None / Agatha Christie
23. Gingerbread / Rachel Cohn X
24. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist / Rachel Cohn and David Levithan X
25. Artemis Fowl (series) / Eoin Colfer X
26. The Hunger Games / Suzanne Collins X
27. The Midwife's Apprentice / Karen Cushman
28. The Truth About Forever / Sarah Dessen X
29. Little Brother / Cory Doctorow X
30. A Northern Light / Jennifer Donnelly X
31. Tears of a Tiger / Sharon Draper
32. The House of the Scorpion / Nancy Farmer X
33. Breathing Underwater / Alex Flinn
34. Stardust / Neil Gaiman
35. Annie on My Mind / Nancy Garden
36. What Happened to Cass McBride / Gail Giles
37. Fat Kid Rules the World / K.L. Going
38. Lord of the Flies / William Golding X
39. Looking for Alaska / John Green X
40. Bronx Masquerade / Nikki Grimes
41. Out of the Dust / Karen Hesse X
42. Hoot / Carl Hiaasen X
43. The Outsiders / S.E. Hinton X
44. Crank / Ellen Hopkins
45 The First Part Last / Angela Johnson X
46. Blood and Chocolate / Annette Curtis Klause X
47. Arrow's Flight / Mercedes Lackey
48. Hattie Big Sky / Kirby Larson
49. To Kill a Mockingbird / Harper Lee X
50. Boy Meets Boy / David Levithan X
51. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks / E. Lockhart X
52. The Giver / Lois Lowry X
53. Number the Stars / Lois Lowry X
54. Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie / David Lubar X
55. Inexcusable / Chris Lynch X
56. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things / Carolyn Mackler X
57. Dragonsong / Anne McCaffrey X
58. White Darkness / Geraldine McCaughrean
59. Sold / Patricia McCormick
60. Jellicoe Road / Melina Marchetta X
61. Wicked Lovely / Melissa Marr
62. Twilight / Stephenie Meyer X
63. Dairy Queen / Catherine Murdock X
64. Fallen Angels / Walter Dean Myers
65. Monster / Walter Dean Myers X
66. Step From Heaven / An Na
67. Mama Day / Gloria Naylor
68. The Keys to the Kingdom (series) / Garth Nix
69. Sabriel / Garth Nix X
70. Airborn / Kenneth Oppel
71. Eragon / Christopher Paolini X
72. Hatchet / Gary Paulsen X
73. Life As We Knew It / Susan Beth Pfeffer X
74. The Golden Compass / Phillip Pullman X
75. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging / Louise Rennison X
76. The Lightning Thief / Rick Riordan
77. Always Running: La Vida Loca / Luis Rodriguez
78. how i live now / Meg Rosoff X
79. Harry Potter (series) / J.K. Rowling X
80. Holes / Louis Sachar X
81. Catcher in the Rye / J. D. Salinger X
82. Push / Sapphire
83. Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi
84. Unwind / Neil Shusterman
85. Coldest Winter Ever / Sister Souljah
86. Stargirl / Jerry Spinelli
87. Chanda's Secrets / Allan Stratton
88. Tale of One Bad Rat / Brian Talbot
89. Rats Saw God / Rob Thomas X
90. Lord of the Rings / J.R.R. Tolkien X
91. Stuck in Neutral / Terry Trueman X
92. Gossip Girl / Cecily Von Ziegesar X
93. Uglies / Scott Westerfeld X
94. Every Time a Rainbow Dies / Rita Williams-Garcia
95. Pedro and Me / Judd Winick
96. Hard Love / Ellen Wittlinger X
97. American Born Chinese / Gene Luen Yang
98. Elsewhere / Gabrielle Zevin X
99. I am the Messenger / Markus Zusak X
100. The Book Thief / Markus Zusak

Which I think makes 59 out of 100. Not too shabby, but this will definitely add some good fodder to my TBR list. Some of these I've never even heard of, which is always a welcome surprise. How many have you read?

Contest Alert

Over at the Story Siren there's an awesome contest to win TEN, yes you heard that right, TEN ARCs.

They are:

Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart (June 23, 2009)
Warrior Princess by Frewin Jones (January 27, 2009)
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith (January 22, 2009)
Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman (April 16, 2009)
Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors (July 21, 2009)
Sloane Sisters by Anna Carey (April 28, 2009)
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Anne Sandell (April 15, 2009)
Sea Change by Aimee Friedman (June 1, 2009)
Something Maybe by Elizabeth Scott (March 24, 2009)
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (March 10, 2009)

Head on over and check it out!

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Author: Beth Fantaskey
Official Summary:

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction

What the Pros say:
Publisher’s Weekly: “The romance sizzles, the plot develops ingeniously and suspensefully, and the satire sings."

What I Say:
This one will be perfect for Twilight fans looking for their next fix of vampire lovin’, but there’s something here for those of us who aren’t diehard Twihards. Sure, Lucius is gorgeous, mysterious, and aloof, but Jessica’s transition from detestation to lust is both believable and understandable, and the healthy helping of disbelief on Jessica’s part makes the romance much more enjoyable.

Jess is a cool, down to earth girl from the beginning—she helps her parents out by mucking stalls in the barn and has no qualms about stabbing a creepy guy in the foot with a pitchfork when he’s bugging her, but throughout the novel she becomes more certain of herself as she grows into her unique beauty. Lucius, in contrast, is demanding, bossy, and opinionated, hardened by a lifetime of grooming to take on his role as a King in the world of vampires, but he is softened and brought into touch with his human side through his relationship with Jessica.

All in all, this one’s a fun, tongue in cheek blood-sucking story that brings some real romance along with the satire. If vampires are your thing, this one’s a sure bet, and even if they’re not, it’s worth a look.

Intrigued?
Hit up Beth Fantaskey's official website to get the basics, then head over to Persnickety Snark to hear about where the idea for the book came from and...winged monkeys?

More?

Read Beth's Author Tale over at the Story Siren or check out The Five Randoms for some more Q&A with Beth.

My Life in Pink and Green, Lisa Greenwald

My Life in Pink and Green

Author: Lisa Greenwald



Official Summary:

Twelve-year-old Lucy Desberg is a natural problem solver. After the local homecoming queen shows up at her family's struggling drugstore with a beauty disaster that Lucy helps to fix, Lucy has a long line of makeover customers for every school dance and bat mitzvah. But all the makeup tips in the world won't help save the pharmacy. If only she could find a way to make the pharmacy the center of town again—a place where people want to spend time, like in the old days. Lucy dreams up a solution that could resuscitate the family business and help the environment, too. But will Lucy's family stop fighting long enough to listen to a seventh-grader?

What the Pros say:

PW: “Greenwald makes a bright debut with this timely story.”
Kirkus: “This refreshing novel successfully delivers an authentic and endearing portrait of the not-quite-teen experience.”


What I Say:

My Life in Pink and Green is an immediately endearing story. The Old Mill Pharmacy, the business that Lucy’s family revolves around, is in danger of going out of business, and Lucy will stop at nothing to save it. Lucy is strong, smart, and resourceful, and her spunk and green solutions will appeal to readers young and old.

The Old Mill Pharmacy sounds like the perfect place to hang out, and Lucy is determined to revive the aging establishment’s popularity in her town before it’s too late. While her activist mother is busy trying to save the world and her more down to earth grandmother is trying to get Mom to see reason, Lucy uses her skills, friendships, and initially reluctant membership in the Earth Club to fight for the pharmacy she loves.

The relationships depicted by Greenwald are strong and believable; Lucy’s mother and grandmother are loving but somewhat condescending towards Lucy’s attempts at business innovation, while Lucy’s best friend and older sister are helpful comrades in her plans.

The novel manages to entertainingly combine makeup, environmentalism, and first crushes to tell the sweet story of Lucy, her friends, and her family. This one’s definitely a younger read, but was endlessly cute and enjoyable.

Intrigued?

You're not alone! Amazon only has one copy left.

Check out Lisa Greenwald’s (very well designed) website. She’s a debut author, and a member of the Class of 2k9, a very cool group of authors with YA books coming out in ’09. You can also find Lisa blogging on the collaborative children’s writer’s blog Longstockings.

More?
Catch Lisa chatting with shelfelf, or check out her interview with Katie over at Katie's Bookshelf.