The Lo-Down

Published January 11th, 2011

The Lo-Down | Lo Bosworth

Paperback | 236 pp.

S&S BFYR

Reality TV personality Lauren "Lo" Bosworth has witnessed her fair share of bad dating and has experienced some herself. As a star on two reality shows, she is no stranger to drama and what comes along with it. Now she is offering her advice gleaned from her and her famous friends' relationship experiences on dating and love. Featuring personal photos and anecdotes about her experiences on "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills", The Lo-Down is a further glimpse into the lives of the people that have enthralled so many.

Brent’s opinion of the book:
      I love it when  blond girls from Southern California-based reality shows write books.  It is the best thing ever.  I’m a huge fan of LC’s YA series from HarperTeen, and when I saw that she blurbed Lo Bosworth’s book, I knew I had to read it!
     Before The Lo-Down, I ‘d never heard about a dating and relationship advice book for teens.  I’m not really sure I even WANTED to hear about one, haha! I’m  not that into advice books.  I always thought that advice books were for lonely people with no friends.  But I’ve always liked Lo Bosworth (she was my favorite girl on The Hills!), so The Lo-Down was always pretty high up in my to-be-read pile.
     The Lo-Down was awesome.  It gave tons of invaluable advice on important stuff, like how to let that guy you like but don’t like like that know you’re not interested, how to tell the sweet, datable guys from the Baddies, and how you know when a relationship isn’t working.  Lo Bosworth described everything  perfectly clear.  Besides the quizzes, examples, and lists of do’s and don’ts, she wrote wonderful stories of her experiences with different guys and situations.  I think teen girls will love The Lo-Down just as much as I did.

Tell Me A Secret

Published June 22nd, 2010

Tell Me A Secret | Holly Cupala

HarperTeen

Hardcover | 256 pp.

Tell me a secret, and I'll tell you one…
In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda’s death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister’s world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.
Then two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears. Stripped of her former life, Miranda must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister’s demons and her own.
In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her own future.

Brent’s opinion  of the novel:
     This book has been on my wish list for MONTHS. Back in June, I read so many raving reviews, and near all my blogging friends loved it.  I knew had to get it.  A few weeks ago, I finally got around to buying it.  And when I finished reading it, I could’ve smacked myself for not getting it sooner.
     TELL ME A SECRET was a great debut novel, with subject lines that led the story in so many different directions.  Teen pregnancy and death.  Five years after Miranda’s sister’s death, she finds out she’s pregnant.  And that complicates everything.  Her relationship with her mother is strained, and she loses the boyfriend she thought it would stick with her through everything—including pregnancy.  As her stomach grows, her senses heighten.  Miranda is more aware than ever of the heavy loneliness she’s felt since Xanda, her sister’s, death.
     I felt so bad for Miranda.  So bad.  She’s one of those characters who, when something unfortunate happens to them, you ache for.  She was amazingly real.  Miranda—or, Rand—had two sides.  She was this sweet girl, who only wanted to be happy.  And she was this dark girl, who didn’t hesitate to let her harshness shine through.  Throughout the pregnancy, Rand starts to mature.  It wouldn’t be right to say that she finally starts to see the overall picture, because I’d say she’s always seen it.  Rand starts to see the bigger picture more clearly.  I really loved her.
     Holly Cupala’s writing is filled with tragedy and hope.  If you haven’t read TELL ME A SECRET, you really should.  I’m so stoked for her next novel, DON’T BREATHE A WORD.

Waiting On Wednesday: Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that spotlights upcoming books to get excited for.  It’s hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I’m waiting on  . . .

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

July 26th, 2011

Hardcover

Simon & Schuster BFYR

Ashline Wilde never received an instruction manual on how to be a 16-year-old Polynesian volcano goddess. If she had, it might have contained helpful warnings such as:
• Dreaming about your (thankfully) mortal boyfriend may cause your bed to spontaneously combust
• Oven mitts should be worn at all times during heavy make-out sessions
Instead, Ash has to learn these life lessons the hard way as her dormant powers erupt at the most awkward times. In the wake of a hometown tragedy, Ash transfers to Blackwood Academy, a boarding school nestled in California’s redwoods, where a group of fellow gods-on-earth have mysteriously convened. As if sophomore year couldn’t get any worse, her storm goddess older sister, the wild and unpredictable Eve, resurfaces to haunt Ashline. With a war between the gods looming over Blackwood, Ash must master the fire smoldering within her before she clashes with her sister one final time, which leads us to life-lesson #3:
• When warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

Wildefire’s cover is so beautiful that I really don’t care what it’s about.  Ha ha! No really, it sounds so good.  There aren’t really many YA books about Polynesian volcano goddesses—this definitely sounds like a cool read.

Blog Tour Stop: Fused by Kari Lee Townsend

Hey kittens. (Is that awkward? Calling you guys kittens?  It is?  Oh well.)  We’re halfway through Kari Lee Townsend’s blog tour for her debut middle-grade novel, FUSED.  Today a character from FUSED is here for a short interview!  Trevor, the cutest eight grader around, is here to chat!

After Sam is fused with her cell phone, she's ready to conquer the world! Or at least the 8th grade...
When Samantha Granger touches a meteor while talking on her cell phone, her life is changed forever: her body now has all the capabilities of her phone (GPS, phone, text, camera). She secretly calls herself a "Digital Diva" as she rushes to answer emergency calls. But will her identity be discovered when sparks fly (literally!) between her and Trevor, her dreamy crush? Samantha has to get a handle on her abilities and quick, because when Sam gets kidnapped and the entire town is in danger, she is the only one who can save them.

So, dude. How's eighth grade going for you? You girl-crazy, yet?

Hey, Brent, thanks for having me on your awesome blog. Eight grade’s pretty cool so far. I don’t really date much since my mom died, but there is this one girl I really like. Her name’s Samantha Granger. She’s different, you know? She makes me laugh. I really like hanging out with her, but I’m not gonna lie … she’s driving me crazy! Every time we start to get close, she bails on me. I mean, literally! One minute she’s there, and the next she’s gone. And she gets these really bad headaches that kind of freak me out. I gotta admit, I’m worried about her. 

Super-cool gadgets and cell phones are a big part of FUSED. What kind of phone do you have, and are you a compulsive texter?

Nah, I’m total opposite of Sam. Don’t get me wrong. I like my phone, and everything, but I’m not obsessed with it. I’d rather be playing football any day, or just hanging with my friends outside. I love the outdoors and the mountain air. Sometimes I feel like I can’t breathe. My house has too many sad memories, and my dad won’t talk about my mom. He’s the town Sheriff and a pretty tough dude. Not exactly the nurturing type. Maybe that’s why I have such a hard time getting close to people. 

What's it like being the son of a Sheriff?

Hard! I mean, my dad’s a cool guy, and all, he’s just so strict. Always on my case about football and grades and curfews. God forbid I did something to ruin his perfect reputation. The thing is I never get in trouble. I’m a good kid, but he sometimes acts like I’m on the verge of becoming a criminal. He tells me I’m too quiet and mysteries, that I act like I’m hiding something. I am…my feelings! The truth is I just don’t know how to talk to him.

If you could have one special power, what would it be?

To fly, man. Now, that would be awesome! Take off high in the sky with nothing to think about, nothing to do, and no one bringing down. Anytime I needed to escape, I could just take off. Be at peace with the universe. Peace…that’s something I’d love to have.
 
I read somewhere that you gave Samantha Granger her first kiss!  How cute.  What do you like so much about Sam?

Sam…I could go on and on about her. She’s cool, you know. Not like any other girl I’ve met. There’s no drama with Sam. I mean, other than her disappearing acts. I don’t know, she just gets me. I can talk to her about anything, and I know she’s really listening. Like she actually cares about what I have to say. I just wish she’d talk to me more. Tell me what she’s hiding. I know she has a secret, I just don’t know what it is. That kinda sucks when she knows everything about me, but I’m not giving up. She just needs time to see I’ll be here for her no matter what it is. Speaking of Sam, I think I see her now. Gotta run, dude. Wish me luck!

Hidden In The Wild Contest

In February (which is only a few weeks away!), a gay dystopian novel will be hitting the shelves in bookstores.  Hidden, by Tomas Mournian, is described as “provocative, riveting and eye-opening.”  It’s getting great reviews from places like Publisher’s Weekly, and is featured in People Magazine. 

So what the fuck is my point, telling you about Hidden? 

I’m having a contest here at Naughty Kitties, to help Tomas Mournian promote his fiction debut. 

All you have to do is take a picture of Hidden, in the wild.  You know, like your local bookstore.  Or on your bookshelf.  Or next to your dog.  Whatever the hell you want, as long as it’s a picture—taken by YOU!—of Hidden.

Here are some examples…

Hidden, on my bookshelf!

 

Hidden, on my bed!

Hidden, right next to Turtle Kathleen!

Hidden, on a table!

How to enter:

• Take a picture of Hidden (anywhere!)
• Load the picture to a site like Photobucket.com or Tinypic.com
• Send me an email at naughtybookkittens@gmail.com with a link to the image you uploaded
• In your email, be sure to put HIDDEN CONTEST in the subject line
• Also include your full name and mailing address (Don’t worry, this won’t be shared.  I just need to know where to send your prize, if you win!)
• Send in your entry by February 15th

Once you send me an email with everything listed above, I’ll enter your name in for a chance to win a (maybe signed!) copy of Hidden.  There will be five winners.  I’ll draw names using Randomizer.org.

I’ll post some of the pictures you took here on Naughty Kitties!  (Again, stop spazzing. I will not post your names on here if you enter.  Just the pictures of Hidden you send.)

Get your cameras out!

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves Giveaway!

I have two finished copies of SLICE OF CHERRY by Dia Reeves to giveaway to you guys, my super fierce readers.  SLICE OF CHERRY is one of my favorite books of 2010, so you definitely want to win it. 

My review  |  An interview with Dia Reeves

Giveaway Information:

• To enter, fill out the form below
• Open to entries until January 30th, 2011
• One entry per person
• US residents only
• Two winners will be randomly chosen, each to receive a finished copy of SLICE OF CHERRY

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for providing the prizes!

So Amazing, So Perfect

Published December 2nd, 2010

Anna and the French Kiss

Stephanie Perkins

Dutton

Hardcover | 372 pp.

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.
As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

Brent’s opinion of the novel:
     Never have I ever read a novel that was as perfect as ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. Every single piece of the story was crafted and fit to make ANNA an addicting read.  There are so many different things I loved about it, I don’t know where to begin.
     When high-school-student Anna finds out she’s going to be spending her senior year abroad in Paris, at one of the most prestigious boarding schools in Europe with hawt French guys, amazing coffee, and world-famous museums, she’s pissed.  Anna was so stoked for senior year in Atlanta, she had great friends, and a great almost-boyfriend.  And besides, what fun is Paris?  Anna is angry and homesick when she arrives at the School of America in Paris. 
     Until she meets Etienne St. Clair, the most beautiful, perfect boy Anna’s ever seen.  As she starts to talk to him, she finds he’s nice, well-mannered, and funny as well.  He seems like the perfect person to give her a tour of the city, they can go to the movies, lounge around the park,  chat over coffee in luxe French cafes . . . and meet up with his girlfriend, who he’s been with for over a year. 
     Stephanie Perkins writes so amazingly.  I love her voice.  I’ve read tons of ANNA reviews, where the reviewer compares Stephanie’s writing to Meg Cabot’s and Sarah Dessen’s… Uhm, no. Stephanie’s writing is fresh, and so unique to her.  You can’t compare it to anyone else’s.  I can’t wait to see what other books she writes and where her writing career goes. 
      The romance.  Oh, it was perfect.  Stephanie Perkins REALLY knows what it’s like to be a teenager in love.  What she wrote between Anna and Etienne St. Clair was magic.  Half of the time I was smiling and my heart was warmed, and the other half I was so frustrated with the characters I was giving the book dirty looks.  ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS evoked so many different emotions in me.
      Anna, the main character, was one of the most real, most relatable character I’ve read in ages.  There were so many times that I knew exactly how Anna felt, and I think that’s real important in writing for teens.  You know, writing characters that really are teens, instead of characters that are so under-developed and saying their teens.  I honestly think Stephanie Perkins majored in TEEN LOVE in college.
      ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS was so amazing, so perfect.  That’s all there is to say about it.

Across the Universe Giveaway!

Across the Universe || January 11th
Beth Revis || Razorbill

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.


Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone--one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship--tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

I have one ARC and one pack of signed swag (bookmarks, postcards, bookplates) to give away!

Open to entries until February 1st—US adresses only.

Fill out THIS FORM to enter.

Hold Still

Paperback Edition Published October 5, 2010

Hold Still | Nina Lacour

Speak

Paperback | 256 pp.

An arresting story about starting over after a friend’s suicide, from a breakthrough new voice in YA fiction.
dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t.
Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself.

Brent’s opinion of the novel:
     I have no fucking clue what I’d do without my best friend.  I’d probably spend my days rocking back and forth, arms curled around my knees, with a want so bad you’d think I was an addict without drugs.  Without my best friend, who else would I tell about that cute boy I met over the weekend?  Who else would even care?  Who else would I laugh with?  Who else could even  make me laugh? I started asking myself once I heard of HOLD STILL, the debut novel from Nina Lacour. 
     Ingrid didn’t leave anything behind for Caitlin.  Except for her notebook.  Caitlin is clueless why Ingrid killed herself,  and her notebook doesn’t help at all with revealing Ingrid’s intent.  All Caitlin finds in there is pain, portrayed in ugly words and beautiful illustrations.  Horrified by the Ingrid’s feelings that she was oblivious to,  Caitlin struggles to be happy again.  Can Caitlin ever be happy again, with her best friend dead? 
     I loved every word of HOLD STILL.  Nina Lacour told one of the most beautiful stories I’ve read in a long time.  There are tons of YA novels about suicide.  But they’re all about the person who killed their self, and why they did it, and what they were thinking.  HOLD STILL is unique because it isn’t about that.  It’s not a story about a girl’s descent into depression, it’s a story about the person who loved that person who committed suicide.  It’s Caitlin’s story, completely. 
     Who are we without our friends?  Who is Caitlin?  She doesn’t have a clue, but through art and music and people and love, she discovers. 
     Nina Lacour is an amazing writer.  With her  imagery and realistic depictions of the ordinary things like walking and driving and sleeping, Nina Lacour’s writing will resonate with you.

Awakened

Published January 4th, 2010

Awakened | P.C. & Kristin Cast

St. Martin’s Griffin

Hardcover | 290 pp.

At the start of Awakened, the pulse-pounding eighth installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey has returned, mostly whole, from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey—or her relationship with her super- hot Warrior, Stark—ever be the same? Stevie Rae is drawn even closer to Rephaim, the Raven Mocker with whom she shares a mysterious and powerful Imprint, but he is a dangerous secret that isolates her from her school, her red fledglings, and even her best friends. When the dark threat of Neferet—who is coming closer and closer to achieving her twisted goal of immortality—and Kalona returns, what will it take to keep the House of Night from being lost forever, and what will one desperate girl do to keep her heart from being irreparably broken?

Brent’s opinion of the novel:
     The House of Night series is my favorite series ever.  Each book is better than the last, and as each one is released, I fall more in love with the characters P.C. and Kristin have written.  I can spend hours—no really, hours—talking about the books with my friends who have read them.  Whenever they’re released, they take over my mind.  I can’t focus on anything else but Oh my God is Zoey gonna get killt?, and Damn, I hate Neferet, and Ha ha!  I can’t believe Aphrodite said that!  I love the House of Night books more than Ke$ha loves glitter. 
     AWAKENED opens up where BURNED left off:  everybody’s completely fucked.  Zoey, still healing from her shattered soul and the death of her human sorta-kinda-ex-boyfriend, is staying on the Isle with Stark.  Back in Tulsa, Aphrodite, Stevie Rae, Damien, and the gang are keeping the House of Night under control.  And they’re doing a good job.  Until Neferet returns to her former position as High Priestess.  She claims that she was under Kalona’s influence, and that now she’s returned to the path of her Goddess.  Psh, yeah right. 
     Everyone believes Neferet.  Except, of course, Stevie Rae and the gang. When tragedy meets the group of friends, they know Neferet was behind it.  They need Zoey more than ever.  But now, can even Zoey save them? 
     AWAKENED was intense.  More intense, I think, than the previous books.  These books are the only ones that make me so nervous I feel it in my stomach.  I’m always scared someone’s going to die, or that bitch Neferet is going to take over, or some other crazy stuff will happen. 
     I think it’s because I care about the characters so much.  That’s probably the best thing about the House of Night series.  The characters.  Three years ago, when I read MARKED for the first time, I was  completely blown away by how well-developed the characters were.  Zoey, Stevie Rae, Damien, Shaunee, and Erin felt like my best friends.  Before reading MARKED, I didn’t even know I could love a group of COMPLETELY FICTIONAL people.  Those painful in-between-release-date times are so awful, ‘cause I start to miss the characters so much. 
     In the second book, there’s this one character that sorta kinda dies.  It’s about halfway through the novel. Anyway, when I was reading it for the first time, I BAWLED MY EYES OUT.  That’s how invested I was in the characters. 
     AWAKENED was another one of those books where I BAWLED MY EYES OUT.  It’s funny, actually.  I was in second period, totally not paying attention or taking notes.  My best friend Emily read AWAKENED before me, and warned me not to read past page fifty during school, promising me I’d start crying in  front of my everybody.  You all know me, I’m a dumb bitch.  So I didn’t listen to her.  Anyway, I’m sitting there—supposed to be doing vocabulary words or something like that—and  I just start tearing up.  Emily wasn’t playing.
     The House of Night series is probably the most diverse series I’ve ever read.  Just another reason why I’m so in love with it!  There are characters of pretty much every race, religion, sexuality.  I think sometimes writers might get so caught up in their stories they forget to include the other things that matter.  Like, African-American characters, and gay characters.  AWAKENED was dedicated to LGBT teens, and I thought it was so sweet of P.C. and Kristin to have mentioned them.  They say “Gender preference does not define you.  Your spirit defines you.  It gets better.  We heart you.  No matter what ‘they’ say, life is really about love, always love.” I think they’re right. 
     AWAKENED was a dark book.  But, at the end, even after all the terrible shit that happened, it was still a story about hope and light.  No matter what tragic shit happens in the House of Night novels, no matter how many times I cry like a freaking baby, I’m always left smiling at the end.

Check out my interview with P.C. Cast, which was posted on Lambda Literary yesterday, here.

Guest Post: Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Lorraine Zago Rosenthal was born and raised in New York City. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in education from the University of South Florida. She also earned a master's degree in English, with a concentration in American and British literature, from Northern Kentucky University. In addition to writing fiction, Lorraine enjoys reading, exercising, watching movies, and spending time with her husband. Other Words for Love is her first novel. Visit her at http://lorraine-zago-rosenthal.blogspot.com/

I couldn’t imagine OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE taking place anywhere but in New York. Because I was born and raised there, I might be a little biased. In fact, I set just about everything I write in New York. It’s a place that can easily spark an author’s imagination and create opportunities for scenes in which the exhilaration of the city is felt through the characters.

New York is filled with history, culture, and opportunity; so many different types of people; and lots of contradictions. It’s glitzy but gritty, colorful in some places, but very dark in others.

These elements and contradictions play an important role in OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE. The novel’s main character, Ari Mitchell, is a native Brooklynite from a middle-class background who is quickly swept into an intense relationship with Blake Ellis—a handsome and wealthy college student from the Upper East Side of Manhattan. It is through Blake that Ari is introduced to a different world—one that’s close to home, but still so far away.

She’s a sensitive and artistically talented high school student who longs for what most teens want—love, appreciation, a date on Friday nights. Ari suddenly goes from feelings of lonely invisibility to an existence filled with romance and excitement, expensive sports cars, and time spent in the Hamptons. All of these things are fresh, thrilling, different, and intimidating. It is only the Brooklyn Bridge that separates Ari from the lights of Manhattan, yet there’s a wide gap between the life she’s used to and the one she finds with Blake. But when their relationship takes an unexpected turn, Ari learns that while the city sparkles at night, it can often be gray in the morning.

Antithetical elements co-exist in New York. It’s the rich vs. the not-so-rich, the city vs. the boroughs, flashy vs. simple, and old vs. new. In OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE, Ari lives these complexities and contradictions—and tries to find her place, and herself, in a city with so many options.

Fused by Kari Lee Townsend Review + Giveaway

Published November 1, 2010

Fused | Kari Lee Townsend

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Paperback | 192 pp.

After Sam is fused with her cell phone, she's ready to conquer the world! Or at least the 8th grade...
When Samantha Granger touches a meteor while talking on her cell phone, her life is changed forever: her body now has all the capabilities of her phone (GPS, phone, text, camera). She secretly calls herself a "Digital Diva" as she rushes to answer emergency calls. But will her identity be discovered when sparks fly (literally!) between her and Trevor, her dreamy crush? Samantha has to get a handle on her abilities and quick, because when Sam gets kidnapped and the entire town is in danger, she is the only one who can save them.

Brent’s opinion of the novel:
     If I told you to read this book, you’d probably say “Are you kidding me?  Do I really look like I’m in pre-school? Are you trying to joke on my height?”  That’s what I first thought when I saw it!  I typically go for middle-grade novels that are symbolic, and have meaningful, artistic covers.  Like, The Tale of Despereaux and Keeper.  I’m thrilled to tell you “No, you must read it, though!  The words inside are actually much more compelling and meaningful than the cover!”
     Samantha Granger was walking home one day when she saw a glowing, orb-like rock.  What did she do?  She touched it.  And then turned into a superhuman with the powers of a cell phone.  Samantha freaks out.  Doesn’t she have enough on her plate already, without being part cell phone?!  Her biggest concern used to be how to get Trevor Hamilton—the cute boy in her grade—to notice her.  Now it’s to not catch the eye of the government while putting her powers to use. 
     While reading Fused, I kept gushing to myself about how cute the characters were.  (Made me remember my days as a tween!) Samantha was sweet and funny—like any tween-turned-gadget would be. Kari wrote a wonderful protagonist in a way that makes readers able to relate to her—Samantha is afraid to talk to her crush, gets grounded by her parents, is bullied by The Mean Girls at school.  Kari also wrote fabulous characters to accompany Samantha on her journeys through  the middle school years—Trevor and her best friend.  
     Fused is a fun, light-read.  I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to you if you’re looking for something emotional, but I do recommend it if you’re in to reminiscing about all the crazy stuff you did when you were young!  You obviously didn’t turn into a cell phone… but still. 

I have *one* finished copy of FUSED to give away.  It will be signed/personalized, and you have until Monday of next week to enter.

Other Words for THIS BOOK IS AMAZING

Published January 11, 2011

Other Words for Love | Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Delacorte Press

Hardcover | 368 pp.

A Debut Author Challenge novel

When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York—and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future.
When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?

Brent’s opinion of the novel:
     Back in July, thumbing through Goodreads, I found this book.  And I immediately knew I had to read it!  That cover, right?  It’s gorgeous!  Without even glancing at the description, I knew this would be a wonderful novel set in one of my favorite places to read about:  New York City. 
     Ari Mitchell is an artist.  She loves sketching and painting, and would love nothing more than to be accepted into an art school.  Her mother’s pushing her to be the best she can be, and Ari wonders why her mother didn’t push her sister, who seems to be depressed these days, with two kids and a husband.  Ari wants to forget art—even though she loves it the most—but it’s hard with her mother on her back.
      But being an artist seems big and scary… and she starts to let it dissolve into thin air as she transfers to Hollister, an elite Manhattan school.  Ari feels out-of-place at Hollister.  Like she doesn’t belong.  There she meets Leigh, another artist, who she quickly becomes friends with (her only friend at Hollister, really).  After traipsing through town with Leigh tons, Ari is introduced to Leigh’s cousin,  Blake. 
     Blake is a teenage dream.  He’s hot and sweet (god, why do those boys exist only in fiction?).  And rich!  Ari abandons everything for Blake:  her art, a good SAT score, her relationship with her mother, her friendships.  Soon Ari and Blake fall hard for eachother, but as their relationship speeds up and hits the fast-lane,  Ari asks herself… Were her feelings true love, or something else?
     I loved so much about OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE.  But two things that spoke to me the most and stuck out were the main character and the lessons she learned throughout the novel.  Ari Mitchell was a smart, put-together teen girl.  She was just like the girl’s at my school—my friends.  There’s nothing I hate more than a character in a YA novel that seems too childish or too mature. Lorraine Zago Rosenthal really understands her audience.  Ari was so beautifully developed… every time something bad happened, I felt like it happened to me!  Some chapters, I felt like I just got screwed-over big time, just because Ari and her emotions jumped off the page.  
     OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE was a beautiful story.  I loved Ari and the way she handled her struggles, and the vibrant setting.  Lorraine Zago Rosenthal is wonderful writer, and I’m sure everyone’s gonna be all over her debut novel.

My Princess Boy

My Princess Boy

Cheryl Kilodavis

Amazon | Goodreads

My Princess Boy is a nonfiction picture book about acceptance. With words and illustrations even the youngest of children can understand, My Princess Boy tells the tale of 4-year-old boy who happily expresses his authentic self by happily dressing up in dresses, and enjoying traditional girl things such as jewelry and anything pink or sparkly. The book is from a mom's point of view, sharing both good and bad observations and experiences with friends and family, at school and in shopping stores.

My Princess Boy opens a dialogue about embracing uniqueness, and teaches you and others how to accept young boys who might cross traditional gender line clothing expectations. The book ends with the understanding that 'my' Princess Boy is really 'our' Princess Boy, and as a community, we can accept and support youth for whoever they are and however they wish to look.

It makes me smile to see books like this being written and published.  I think we could all take something from reading this book.

Check out the author/amazing mother who wrote MY PRINCESS BOY on the Today Show here:  http://www.hulu.com/watch/204120/nbc-today-show-my-son-likes-to-wear-dresses-big-deal.

Delirium Giveaway!

One of my favorite novels ever releases in just a few weeks, and to celebrate my love for it, I thought “Why the hell not do a giveaway?” So, I’m giving away my ARC of DELIRIUM! (I can’t wait until Amazon ships out my final copy.  It’s going to be a beautiful moment.)

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love - the deliria - blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

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An Interview with the Lady Gaga of YA Lit

Dia Reeves is fly like a G6.  She is the author of  BLEEDING VIOLET, a psychotic romance, and SLICE OF CHERRY, a gory novel about two sisters who enjoy slicing things up.  No, she is not actually Lady Gaga, and yes, she does live in Texas, where' she’s also a librarian.  Feel free to stalk her on her website and on Twitter, but please try not be creepy.  Website | Twitter




1) Dia! You wrote a book, called BLEEDING VIOLET, which was published last January. And now you’re back again with your sophomore novel, SLICE OF CHERRY, this January! What’s the biggest difference between BLEEDING VIOLET and SLICE OF CHERRY?
The characters. I like to write about new people each time, otherwise I get bored. While Hanna in BV was a vivacious people-person, the sisters--Kit and Fancy--in SoC are sociopaths and like to keep to themselves. At least initially. ;)

2) Where do you get your inspiration from?
I don’t really get inspired like that. Things don’t come to me outta nowhere. I just have things that I like: monsters, weirdness, ambiguous morality--the usual stuff that everyone is into. :p So that’s what I write about.

3) SLICE OF CHERRY is about two sisters who go on a killing spree. How in the hell do you come up with this stuff?
Well I wanted to write a story about sisters and all the love and hate that go with sisterhood, but I didn’t want it to be all sweet and precious, so I made them serial killers. It’s still kinda sweet and precious, but the stabbings and evisceration and whatnot more than balances it out.

4) What was the hardest thing to write—in both of your novels?
I have a hard time describing things, so description is my Achilles’ heel. Especially in Slice of Cherry—that’s why the ARCs are so fugly with errors because I was tinkering with the description up to the very last minute.

5) I was glad to read that SLICE OF CHERRY takes place in the same town as BLEEDING VIOLET, Portero. Is Portero based on a real-life- place? And would you wanna live there?
Portero isn’t based on anyplace real, which is unfortunate because I think the town is very charming. Except for the slight monster problem. And no, I wouldn’t want to live there. It takes a special person to not only survive but to thrive in Portero. I am not special.

6) What were you like as a teen? Does it have any influence on the characters you write?
I don’t think I’ve changed much since I was a teen: quiet, antisocial, morbid sense of humor. That was me then, and that’s me today. Although back then I was a lot more high-strung than I am now. It wasn’t until I got to college that I learned how to not care about things, which is a totally useful skill, btw. I think my characters reflect my own sensibilities for sure, although they tend to be way more interesting than I would ever try to be.

7) If the Publishing Gods asked you to ghostwrite Lady Gaga’s debut novel, would you do it?
I’ll write Lady Gaga’s debut novel when she agrees to let me go on tour and sing in her place.

8) You’re a librarian, as well as a writer! Any crazy, exciting shit ever happen in the library? Oh, and how has being a librarian affected your writing?
Exciting? Like when we have to call the cops on crazy people and child molesters? Or when we have to call the fire department to rescue patrons from the elevators for the billionth time? Or when we catch people making out in the stacks or having sex in the bathroom? Is that what you mean by exciting? Being a librarian hasn’t affected my writing—it’s just what I do so that I won’t starve.

9) I heard a rumor that you have Bieber Fever. Is this true? Do you have a taste for Justin Bieber’s music?
There’s a certain high-pitched frequency that only teenagers can hear. Justin Bieber occupies his own range along that frequency. When he opens his mouth, all I hear is meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

10) Describe your writing in three words.
Bloody good fun.

If you liked Gossip Girl...

Published January 4, 2011

Slice of Cherry | Dia Reeves

Simon Pulse

Hardcover | 512 pp.

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.
It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities….

Brent’s opinion of the novel:
     Dia Reeves is so cool.  But even cooler than her?  Her books.  I read her debut, BLEEDING VIOLET, last year, and the whole time I kept thinking to myself I wonder how many drugs I’d have to take before becoming as creative as Dia. SLICE OF CHERRY, Dia’s sophomore novel, brought me back to that question!
     In SLICE OF CHERRY, it’s summertime, and the Cordelle sisters are bored.  So what do they do to pass the time?  No, they don’t go for a swing at the park or out for ice-cream cones.  They torture people, go on a killing spree.  That doesn’t come as a surprise, Kit and Fancy are daughters of Portero’s most notorious murderer—Bonesaw Killer.  The girls are extra super careful, realizing that they could get caught, just like their father.  Their lives get even more complicated/exciting when the Turner brothers start to catch an eye for them…
     So  it’s basically a gory story about two sisters having a tea party and killing a lot people.  Don’t read it if you’re a baby. 
     Dia’s world-building is the best.  I love the setting she’s created—the town of Portero.  It’s the most, random, creepy, magical, weirdest place I’ve read about,  and you best believe I’d love to visit on a field-trip. 
     Besides Portero, know what else I loved?  The sisters, Kit and Fancy.  It was so interesting, reading into their relationship.  I loved seeing how the sisters evened each other out.  Fancy seemed to be the almost-sane one, while Kit was just off-the-charts psychotic.  
     What I love so much about Dia Reeves’s writing is that it’s never dull.  I promise, while reading SLICE OF CHERRY, you will never be bored.  There’s always either a murder going on, someone getting cut, blood splattering against curtains, or girls being chased by transies. (There are demons in Portero, called transies. Yeah, kinda freaky if you ask me.)  She writes sharp dialogue and fucking awesome descriptions. 
      If you’re a fan of Gossip Girl, or, say,  any other super-girly-sunshine books,  you’re gonna love SLICE OF CHERRY. (I’m totally kidding.)

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Published November 2, 2010

The Mockingbirds | Daisy Whitney

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.
Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.
In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.

Brent’s opinion of the novel:
       Daisy Whitney’s debut novel, THE MOCKINGBIRDS, caught me off guard.  On Christmas Day, before heading out to my grandmother’s house for our family shit, I picked it up to read it in the car.  To read the first chapter, or so.  But the writing and subject matter tugged me deeper and deeper into the story, and I couldn’t stop reading.  I read it that whole day, sneaking in chapters between ripping open presents.  It was that good. 
     Alex is a good girl, a good student.  Which is why she ended up at Themis Academy, a prestigious boarding school.  At Themis, nothing bad happens.  All students act the honorable way, all the time.  Or so the staff thinks. 
     One night, Alex gets date-raped.  She wakes up confused, worried, and most of all, disgusted in herself.  She doesn’t know what to do… Stay silent, or speak loud?  When her friends convince her to go to The Mockingbirds, a secret student organization dedicated to bringing justice to the student body, she wonders what she could have done differently the night she was raped…
     Like I said, this book caught me off guard.  I was so not expecting to get slapped in the face with so much emotion and storyline.  The scenes that show the after-math of the date-rape what really grabbed me.  Alex’s self-hatred and guilt were compelling, and they were such a big part of the book.  I liked that THE MOCKINGBIRDS was Alex’s story, you know, it was about her and how she came along to realizing that it wasn’t her fault she got date-raped, and the guilt slowly fades away.  That was perfectly paced in the novel.
     Daisy Whitney’s writing is very beautiful, but it wasn’t stunning or anything.  What really made me love it, and I think others too, was the storyline.  The storyline was great, and Alex’s feelings and actions are what really made me love THE MOCKINGBIRDS.  You should definitely read it. 

Check out the hella tight trailer Little, Brown made. IT really captures the mood of the book.