Posts Tagged: harper collins

Best I’ve Read 2011 Day 2- Die For Me #BIR2011

12 Dec, 2011 by in Uncategorized 40 comments

Our Best I’ve Read 2011 choice for day two is Die for Me by Amy Plum. We have the official book playlist as well as one copy donated by the author and publisher for giveaway.

Die For Me
by Amy Plum
Hardcover, 341 pages
Published: May 10th 2011
by HarperTeen
ISBN 0062004018
5 stars

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I’m fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family’s—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

Kate is a recently orphaned teen who has moved with her sister Georgia to Paris from the United States. The death of both her parents turns her inward, cutting off socially and finding relief in books, museums and hidden cafes. Kate is so completely immersed in grieving and going through the motions of life, which all changes the day she spots a handsome dark boy watching her intensely and she returns the stare. Vincent is kind and wise, handsome and chivalrous, but a little rusty on his people skills. So the two of them have many waters to navigate before they decide to get to know each other and trust one another. Their attachment, while seemingly immediate, takes trials and time to come into fruition.

Die for Me captured my attention so fully that from the moment I picked it up yesterday morning to the completion of the book at the very end of the day, I fell into the story and could not come out. Amy Plum paints a lush beautiful portrait of Paris from a native eye and sketches each character out fully and realistically. Harperteen does not disappoint with the quality of books they are releasing in the paranormal YA genre. Everything about this book felt new and untouched. The concept of revenant, the mythology and plot are spot on and achingly romantic. Besides falling in love with the main characters, I found a place in my heart for each member of the cast. Especially for funny, flirty Jules and Kate’s older sister Georgia. I hope book two will flesh out full roles for them. I also have my fingers crossed that the publisher chooses to stick with the cover on the advanced reader’s edition. It is breathtaking with Kate in a red boat on the Seine.

What can I say other than I won’t forget this book. I’m literally speechless. Die For Me leaves a mark in my mind as fresh as a stoke of a paintbrush and as lasting as a masterpiece. There are a few gruesome scenes that make it for readers who can stomach violence. Otherwise it is refreshingly clean and absolutely amazing. I love that it highlights the arts and history of France as well as close family relationships. Will I be picking up book two? As soon as I can get my hands on it!

You might also like: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand and Hereafter by Tara Hudson.

The Playlist:

Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

DIE FOR ME’s THEME SONG: Kiss Me Slowly (Parachute w/Lady Antebellum)

Zombie (The Cranberries)
American Girl (Val Emmich)
Mad World (Donnie Darko soundtrack, Gary Jules)
Marian (Nouvelle Vague)
Pretty (The Cranberries)
Parallel Universe (Gypsy and the Cat)
I’m Not Done (Fever Ray)
Requiem for Anna (Portishead)
The Waltz (Diving With Andy*)

About The Author: Amy Plum is the author of the International Bestseller DIE FOR ME, which is an Indie Next List pick, Romance Times top pick, and recipient of a starred review from School Library Journal. DIE FOR ME is the first novel in a YA trilogy set in Paris.

After being raised in Birmingham, Alabama, in a rather restrictive environment, AMY PLUM escaped to Chicago to an even more restrictive environment at a university that expelled people for dancing. (And where she was called to the dean’s office for “wearing too much black”.) After all of that restrictiveness, she was forced to run far far away, specifically to Paris, France, where she only wore black and danced all she wanted.

After five years in Paris, she ventured to London, where she got an M.A. in Medieval Art History, specializing in Early Sienese Painting (1260-1348) mainly because it promised almost no hope of finding a paying job afterward. During grad school she married a ridiculously handsome Frenchman named Laurent, who she subsequently dragged with her to New York after securing her degree.

Amy worked in the world of art and antiques in New York, while Laurent used his French guy charms and started a very cool wine shop in Brooklyn. But after almost a decade of high-pressure lifestyle in the Big Apple, they decided to swap their American city for a French village of 1300 inhabitants. With their Bronx-born big red dog Ella, they moved to a tiny town in the Loire Valley down the road from Laurent’s father.

After signing with HarperCollins for the DIE FOR ME series, Amy left her job as an English professor at Tours University to write full-time. She juggles restoration of their old French farmhouse, with writing fun stories in her hundreds-of-years-old office (a stone house on the other side of her garden), and playing with her two extremely energetic pre-school age children.
She is a huge fan of Edward Gorey and Maira Kalman (and collects both of their books/art), as well as David Sedaris, Amadeo Modigliani, and Ira Glass.

The Giveaway: We have one copy of Die For Me to give away to US mailing addresses thanks to Amy Plum and HarperTeen. Click here to fill out the entry form.

Everneath ARC Tour and Book Breview

07 Dec, 2011 by in ARC tour Leave a comment

Everneath (Everneath #1)
by Brodi Ashton
Hardcover, 370 pages
Expected publication: January 24th 2012
by Harper Collins / Balzer + Bray
ISBN 0062071130
Source: Author ARC Tour
4 stars
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she’s returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld… this time forever.

So here’s the deal, if you’re looking for a happy go lucky sunny walk in the park Everneath is quite the opposite. It’s a real hard look at the true to life feelings of a teen who has returned to the earth as a shell of the girl she once was. She’s lost her mother in a drink driving accident and in a moment of grief made a choice which alters her path for the next hundred years to eternity. If you know the author, Brodi Ashton, she is a hilarious human with a sassy sense of humor, but writing Everneath she followed a voice much unlike her own. Brodi says ” My book, EVERNEATH?: not funny. Not hardy har har funny. Sometimes it can be funny in a “Can you believe there’s So. Much. Death?” kind of way. Other times it’s funny in a “OMG she is so screwed! lol” kind of way. Have you ever had a story call to you that scares you because you don’t think you can write it? I say… write it! I did.” She has some guts people!


Thanks to Brodi and Windy Aphayrath for putting together a local ARC tour and giving us a sneak peek!
You Might Also Like: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter, Abandon by Meg Cabot, or The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum.
Brodi Ashton Author Bio- “Because of two parents who were Greek myth geeks, I grew up thinking the latest fashion trends were inspired by Aphrodite, and a good conversational opener was, “So, which mythological character do you most resemble?” Despite these social shortcomings, I found a great husband who’s always my first reader. We live in Utah with our two young boys, who still have no idea why I’m at the computer all the time.
I received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
I write Young Adult novels. I eat cinnamon bears. I love me some Diet Coke. My debut book EVERNEATH (the first in a trilogy) comes out January 24, 2012 with Balzer and Bray (HarperCollins).”

Everneath is a unique take on the ancient tale of Persephone and Hades with a dash of Egyptian mythology. Main heroine Nikki has just spent 100 years in the Everneath with bad boy Cole who feeds off of her life essence. At the end of her term she chooses to return to the surface for the last time. Six months to say goodbye to her family and six months to reconcile her feelings with Jack, the only bit of memory she was able to retain in the underworld. His face kept her alive while she endured her own personal hell. And now the challenge for Nikki is overcoming her emaciated sense of hopelessness to make the choice between becoming an Everliving Queen at Cole’s side or anchoring to the hope of Jack.  Told in both present and past tense, Everneath explores addiction, co dependence, parental trust, grief and the ultimate redeeming power of love. The ending is one heck of a cliffhanger, so prepare yourselves to be invested for a trilogy. Everneath is haunting, intelligent and engaging. Bravo to Brodi for being so brave. Utah residents will love the Park City setting. An awesome and unique debut! And the cover…my very favorite of 2012.As Nikki’s time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she’s forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s…Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Abarat Absolute Midnight ARC Giveaway

22 Oct, 2011 by in Uncategorized 9 comments

Abarat: Absolute Midnight
Abarat #3
by Clive Barker
Hardcover, 592 pages
Published September 27th 2011
by HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN0060291710

I know that many of you here have waited years for this Hour,” Mater Motley said, using that voice that, though it was barely conversational in volume, was somehow heard everywhere.

“The waiting is over. Tomorrow there will be no dawn. Only midnight, absolute and eternal.”

And so begins a new chapter in the epic story of sixteen-year-old Candy Quackenbush and her journeys through the world of the Abarat, where every hour is an island in one eternal day, and nothing is as it seems.
Candy travels through the Abarat from island to island and across the sea with an unlikely band of friends: the escaped prisoner Malingo the Geshrat, the quarrelsome John Brothers, who all share the same body but never the same opinion, and the many other colorful characters they meet along the way.

The problem is that trouble finds Candy wherever she goes. And soon she discovers a secret plot, masterminded by the diabolical Mater Motley, who is obsessed with becoming Empress of the Islands. Her method is simple. She will darken the skies, putting out the suns, moons, and stars. She will bring absolute midnight.

To enter to win an advanced reading copy of Abarat: Absolute Midnight from Fire and Ice and Harper Collins comment below. Open to US mailing addresses. Ends November 18, 2011

J Scott Savage’s Exciting News & A Giveaway

29 Jul, 2011 by in Heather Gardner Photography 7 comments

Local author J. Scott Savage made a very exciting announcement yesterday…

“My middle grade horror series, The Grimville Case Files had sold! Here’s the listing from Publishers Weekly:

Andrew Harwell at HarperCollins Children’s Books has bought a new middle grade series, The Grimville Case Files. It stars three monster-obsessed boys who must solve “fiendishly funny” mysteries; the first in the series is scheduled for publication in spring 2013. Michael Bourret at Dystel and Goderich Literary Management brokered a three-book deal for North American rights.

“My editor is the totally cool Andrew Harwell who you can follow on twitter at @andrewasalways. My agent is the rocking Michael Bourret of Dystel and Goderich. The first book in the series comes out Winter of 2013. It’s called Zombie Kid, and it may be the funniest and scariest book I’ve ever written.”

Congratulations Jeff!!

Here’s some photos I took of him at one of his signings and us with two of his other titles…

About this author:
J. Scott Savage has been creating stories for as long as he can remember. He lives at the mouth of a canyon where morning and evening winds keep the air clear and blue—along with blowing over patio tables, trees, basketball stands, and the occasional small child. He has a wonderful wife who has stuck with him for more than twenty years, four great children, a spastic border collie, and possibly three or four fish. (The pond is still frozen, so he isn’t quite sure.)

Scott has held too many jobs to count, including: a mall Santa, French chef, CEO of a dot com, plumber, radio station talk show host, and the guy who sits in the little photo developing booth. He has completed one marathon and hopes to complete another when the memories finally fade away. He loves reading, writing, camping, playing games with his family, and especially hearing from and meeting his readers. To e-mail him or schedule a visit, come to his website http://www.jscottsavage.com/


To celebrate Jeff’s news Fire and Ice is giving away a hardback copy of the first book in his Far World series

Far World Water Keep
Hardcover, 413 pages
Published September 12th 2008
by Shadow Mountain
ISBN 159038962X
http://www.readfarworld.com/

Other people may see thirteen-year-old Marcus Kanenas as an outcast and a nobody, but he sees himself as a survivor and a dreamer. In fact, his favorite dream is of a world far away, a world where magic is as common as air, where animals tell jokes, and where trees beg people to pick their fruit. He even has a name for this place-Farworld.

When Marcus magically travels to Farworld, he meets Kyja, a girl without magic in a world where spells, charms, and potions are everywhere, and Master Therapass, a master wizard who has kept a secret hidden for thirteen years, a secret that could change the fate of two worlds.

But the Dark Circle has learned of Master Therapass’s secret and their evil influence and power are growing. Farworld’s only hope is for Marcus and Kyja to find the mythical Elements-water, land, air, and fire-and convince them to open a drift between the worlds.

As Kyja and Marcus travel to Water Keep, they must face the worst the evil Dark Circle can throw at them-Summoners, who can command the living and the dead; Unmakers, invisible creatures that can destroy both body and soul; and dark mages known as Thrathkin S’Bae.
Along the way, Marcus and Kyja will discover the truth about their own heritage, strength of their friendship, and the depths of their unique powers.


Enter to win by filling out this form. Giveaway ends August 29, 2011 and is open to US residents.

Book Review: Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson

14 Jun, 2011 by in sj watson 2 comments

Before I Go To Sleep
by SJ Watson
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published June 14th 2011

by Harper Collins
4.5 stars

As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I’m still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me …’ Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love – all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine’s life.

This is one of those books that fascinated me and kept me reeled in until the very end. Maybe it’s because I have a degree in psychology and have worked with trauma victims, or maybe it’s because the writing is so completely riveting.

It’s the story of Chrissie a woman in her late forties who wakes up every day in a strange bed with a strange man who claims he is her husband. She has no recollection of how she got there or who she is, but when she looks in the mirror the reflection staring back at her is NOT what she remembered. She still feels 27 and what she sees is an old wrinkled middle aged woman. Her husband, Ben must remind her every day who he is, that they love each other. And the trickier part is that all the knowledge she gains within those 24 hours will be erased the second she closes her eyes and goes to sleep. Tomorrow the slate of her memory will be wiped clean. She’ll once again have no idea who or where she is.

Enter in Dr. Nash, a neurologist who believes he can help her. He instructs Chrissy to keep a diary of everything she remembers each day. And little by little more pieces are coming back, but the front page of the journal reads DO NOT TRUST BEN. Her husband must not and does not know this journal exists. Christine’s past is not fitting together nicely which leads us to the mystery and suspense of what memories are true, and what are false.

Before I Go To Sleep is an unsettling read as well as a peek into the personal thought process of central character Christine. She is written so believable and alive I had a hard time reconciling the fact the that he author, writing under “SJ”, is really a man, Stephen. He has nailed the inner working of a middle aged woman suffering from a debilitating neurological condition and trauma. Perhaps that’s why already this novel will be sold in 37 countries and a film version is currently being made. The story found its roots in the true story of HM, Henry Gustav Molaison, a memory disorder patient who was much like Chrissie, woke up his entire life, each day to a loss of memory.

This psychological thriller is fascinating, creepy and all around brilliant. Truly a stunning debut. It’s definitely not for young adults or children due to graphic content, violence, sex and language. I would recommend it only to readers 18 and older. While I truly loved the plot, the premise and the execution, the bad language bothered me. So, if you are an adult and you’d like a chance to read it, I’m giving away my personal advanced reading copy on twitter @fireicephotos and on our Facebook page. Ends at midnight tonight MST!

Start reading online at the Before I Go To Sleep facebook page. Learn more about the book at the author page for SJ Watson here.

Book Breview- Hereafter

29 Mar, 2011 by in netgalley, tara hudson 5 comments

by Tara Hudson Hardcover,
400 pages

Expected publication:
June 7th 2011
by HarperCollins

ISBN 139780062026774
4 stars

Can there truly be love after death? Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she’s dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she’s trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive. Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever. Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won’t want to miss.

Summary: Amelia is dead. She knows that and not much else. Each night dreaming of being churned in water of her tragic end and each day wandering aimlessly through the land of the living. Then one day a boy she’s never seen is in the water with her and she can hear his heartbeat. Somehow against all odds he can see her, can touch her. So begins a whole new chance- hope blossoms anew for Amelia. She has never felt so alive, she’s never desired to follow or know anything more than this boy Joshua. But Joshua comes from a long line of seers– those who can see ghosts. And his grandmother knows their secret. She will do anything it takes to keep Amelia and Joshua apart. Then she’ll go a step further and try to send Amelia away forever.

What I loved: Both main characters. The two of them have off the charts chemistry and I found them genuine. They are likeable. They have real lives in the ordinary day to day happenings of a teen. Joshua is an all-American boy from a stable grounded family. Amelia is a captivating mystery. I’m a sucker for ghost stories and local history, always have been. So this book was perfect for me. And the cover…Gorgeous.

What I wish: The ending felt rushed and convoluted for me. I was wanting a fleshing out of evil bad boy Eli as well as why he felt a pull to Amelia. Readers will wonder why things shake out the way they do and will be left with unanswered questions. I’m hoping the sequel will answer those.

Will I read book 2? Yes Please! It’s been a long time since I’ve found a couple of characters I enjoyed as much as these two. This book will hold a tender spot in my heart as a doomed but destined story of love. Tara Hudson had my attention and held me entranced.

Source: NetGalley and HarperCollins. THANK YOU! HarperCollins is giving away a copy on Goodreads so hurry on over there to enter!

You Might Also Like: Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia, Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Book Review- Angelfire

27 Jan, 2011 by in Uncategorized 1 comment

Angelfire
by Courney Allison Moulton
Hardcover, 464 pages
Expected publication: February 15, 2011
by HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books
ISBN0062002325
series Angelfire #1
3 stars

Summary: This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers – monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell – she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie’s powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her – an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie’s soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian’s most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives – including truths that may be too frightening to remember.(less) This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers – monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell – she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie’s powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her – an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie’s soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian’s most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives – including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Ellie is your typical 17 year old teenager except for the nightmares where she is fighting something dark and ugly. As her birthday approaches a mysterious boy names Will turns up on the scene and she can’t quite figure out if he is a nuts stalker or someone she should remember. Things around town get even more strange when her favorite teacher is found dead and the nightmares become reality. Ellie is much more than an average teen…she is the Preliator, reborn each time she dies to fight the creatures of the Grim. Wielding khpoesh swords and angel fire as an ancient warrior, her life become filled with hunting the reaper and trying to contain the forces of evil. Will is much more than the dark and brooding young man watching her from afar. He is her Guardian, a tragic hero, sworn to put Ellie first and to protect her with his life over and over again. He is sent to reawaken her powers and her memories of past lives.

I truly enjoyed the history behind Will and Ellie. Will was my favorite character of the book; a conflicted man with a love he can’t pursue. I admired his loyalty and selflessness. I admit I had a really hard time connecting with Ellie’s character and growing to like her. The discrepancy between who she was as a teenager and who she is as the Preliator was too big of a stretch for me. And I couldn’t buy the big reveal of her identity in the end.

Sadly, there was a lot that didn’t work for me in this book. First and foremost was the violence. It was above and beyond what we normally see in YA fiction and this would definitely be rated R if it were played out word for word on the screen. There were times I would describe the fight scenes are gory and unnecessary. There were also unfinished questions for me that I hope are addressed more fully in the sequel. What is up with Ellie’s dad? Is he some possessed person now working for the dark side? He’s downright abusive and the change is drastic from the way he was when Ellie was a child. Also, the angel mythology seemed to come out of the blue near the resolution of the book and I couldn’t swallow it.

I’m on the fence about whether I would read the sequel. Will is a big draw for me, but it’s not a book I would run out and buy. I wouldn’t recommend it it for any child under 17 simply for the violence. As far as other content, there is brief mention of underage drinking and some domestic violence. I give it three stars. Angelfire is action packed with plenty of tension and an interesting premise, but a little too gnarly for my taste.

Special thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins for the preview.

Waiting on Wednesday- Ever’neath by Brodi Ashton

06 Oct, 2010 by in utah authors, YA fiction 2 comments

Photo of author Brodi Ashton by Heather Zahn Gardner

Our Waiting On Wednesday is

The Ever’neath
by Brodi Ashton
To Be Published Winter 2012
by HarperCollins
Book 1 of a series

“The first book in the deal, The Ever’neath, is partially based on the Greek myth of Persephone: a 17-year-old who’s been banished to the underworld escapes to her former earthly existence with her family and boyfriend. The catch is that she only has six months in the real world before being sent back to Hades, this time forever. “

Add Ever’neath your Goodreads to read list here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9413044-the-ever-neath
Follow Brodi @brodiashton in twitter and Visit her blog here

Betsy Red Hoodie by Gail Carson Levine

27 Sep, 2010 by in scott nash Leave a comment

Hardcover, 40 pages
Published September 1st 2010
by HarperCollins
ISBN 0061468703
4 stars

Betsy is finally old enough to take cupcakes to Grandma all by herself—with the company of her faithful sheep, of course. And although wolves aren’t good for grandmas, Betsy lets her best friend, Zimmo, come along too. But will Zimmo’s wolfish instincts make Grandma the tasty treat instead?

In her second picture book starring the feisty young shepherd Betsy, Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine teams up once again with Scott Nash to put a hilarious twist on an old favorite. This reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood is sure to delight readers from little lambs to cupcake-loving grandmas.

Today’s Mom’s Monday featured book is a recent release from the author of Ella Enchanted. The first thing that drew me into this book was the quality of illustration done by Scott Nash. I am a fan of anything Little Red Riding Hood. The detail in depictions of the sheep and animals make an especially beautiful read. The pictures blend old fairy tales elements with modern day retro images. Little Red is wearing a hoodie sweatshirt, Farmer Woolsey is driving a very styling yellow classic convertible and Betsy’s mom owns a hip bakery complete with cupcakes.

I tested Betsy Red Hoodie out on three of my kiddos ages 2-6 and their consensus was a thumbs up. Favorite scenes were the sheep sliding down the hill and the big two page illustration of Zimmo the wolf running through the forest. Adults will enjoy the fun conversation bubbles between sheep. The book is written as a story book for young children but definitely has elements to pull in older readers. Overall, a fun colorful read looking at how Grandma has adapted since almost being eaten by a wolf.

To learn more about Gail Carson Levine visit her site at www.gailcarsonlevine.com and be sure to check out Scott Nash’s fun website at http://www.scottnash.com/

Book Review & ARC Tour- Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

26 Jun, 2010 by in ARC tour, new YA fiction, paranormalcy 2 comments

to be published August 31st 2010 by HarperTeen
details Hardcover, 352 pages
url http://www.kierstenwhite.com/
isbn 0061985848
5 stars
Sixteen-year-old Evie’s job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone–or something–starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she’s worked hard to help become productive members of society, she’s got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal.

Normal is so overrated

I received Paranormalcy as an Advanced reader copy from HarperTeen and quite literally did the happy dance then ran inside to take pictures of the awesome cover. The pages inside are just as exciting! Evie, the main bagger and tagger at the IPCA is the perfect balance of sass and spunk complete with a blinged out pink taser and knife. She is witty and smart, part secret agent by day and crushing teen by night. She longs to live everyday experiences like going to school and having a locker. But never fear, her best mermaid friend Lish can experience it vicariously with her via their soap opera Easton Heights. Because, who didn’t have a favorite teen show when they were growing up?!!
Kiersten White does a perfect job of writing teens in a light hearted, funny way and her writing is completely clean. She creates dreamy male characters that are both fighting for Evie in their own way. Lend, the quiet artist with a changing face who is smooth as water. Reth the fairy who wants to fill Evie with his warmth is evil yet tantalizing. Each paranormal has a personality you can relate to and understand, even though they are still figuring it all out themselves. It’s a rich menagerie of mythical creatures all thrown into one setting. You’ll find yourself laughing out loud.

Paranormalcy is a must read for all teens. Just the right mix of action, sarcasm and a sprinkle of romance. Read it when it hits the shelves in August… you’ll see why everyone is raving about the book being “bleeping” fabulous! 5 stars. I can’t wait for more!!

To join our Paranormalcy ARC tour email us. Open to U.S. residents only.