My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters Giveaway!

Sydney Salter has generously donated a copy of her book My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters to give away! Thanks, Sydney! :D You rock.

Here's the description of the book, straight from Amazon:

It’s the end of junior year, and summer is about to begin. The Summer of Passion, to be exact, when Jory Michaels plans to explore all the possibilities of the future--and, with any luck, score a boyfriend in the process. But Jory has a problem. A big problem. A curvy, honking, bumpy, problem in the form of her Super Schnozz, the one thing standing between Jory and happiness. And now, with the Summer of Passion stretched before her like an open road, she's determined for Super Schnozz to disappear. Jory takes a job delivering wedding cakes to save up for a nose job at the end of the summer; she even keeps a book filled with magazine cutouts of perfect noses to show the doctor. But nothing is ever easy for accident-prone Jory--and before she knows it, her Summer of Passion falls apart faster than the delivery van she crashes. In her hilarious and heartbreaking debut novel, Sydney Salter delivers a story about broadening your horizons, accepting yourself, and finding love right under your nose.

----

Sounds good, right? I'm reading it now and it's super cute so far. If you want to read a good review of the book, click on one of these blog titles to read their thoughts:

• Ten Cent Notes
• Books by Their Cover
• Persnickety Snark
• Serene Hours
• My Favorite Author (review at Presenting Lenore)
  
• The Book Muncher
• The Story Siren
• Pop Culture Junkie

Now that you've read all those people's thoughts, I'm sure you want to enter? Riiiight?

Here are the contest rules and such:

• To be entered, leave a comment telling me what your opinion of tapirs is. (Tapirs do, in fact, relate to this book. They have big noses!) If you don't know what a tapir is, here is a picture:
• Or you can tell me how cute this baby tapir is:
• Extra entries: +1 for linking to the contest somewhere. Leave a link to where you linked in a SEPARATE comment so you don't make me mad. +1 if you comment on Sydney's interview. But you can't just write "Great interview!" That's no fun.
  
• All you lovelies outside of the US should be happy, because the awesome Sydney has opened up this contest internationally! Yay!
• The contest will end on July 13- two weeks from now. So enterenterenter!
  

And be sure to check out Sydney's website and blog while you're at it.

Thanks again for the giveaway, Sydney! =D

Adventures in Debsland: Sydney Salter

Today's interview is with Sydney Salter, author of My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters,the September release Jungle Crossing, and the 2010 release Swoon at Your Own Risk.

So without further ado, here's how Sydney got here:

Did you always want to be a writer?

I can’t remember not wanting to write, but for many years I was so afraid to fail at my dream that I didn’t even try. I did keep a daily diary throughout my teen years and that helped me develop my writing voice and learn to write without self-criticism. (I still can’t go to sleep without writing about my day in my diary.)

What was the most difficult part about writing My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters?

Writing about Jory came pretty easily because I identified with her insecurities (I hated my nose in high school). The hardest part has been talking about my nose so much now that the book is published. I keep thinking: why didn’t I write about a girl who hates her knees? I wouldn’t mind talking about my knees. But I’m really glad that I’ve had to confront my feelings about my appearance—I’ve learned a lot about myself. If only I could go back and tell my 17-year-old self what I know now!

What is something that helped in you actually finish writing your story?

I wrote this book during National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org). I plugged away while making Thanksgiving pies, early in the morning, late at night, and in some really unusual locations (cafés, repair shops, the food court at the mall...). I really wanted that winner’s certificate! I highly recommend NaNoWriMo for writers who have trouble finishing novels or simply want to shake up their writing routine like I did (I’ve since written two more NaNo novels).

I LOVE NANO! NaNo is the best thing ever. So, did you always want to write for young adults, or did you just get lucky it turned out that way? ;)

Oh, no, I wanted to be a “real” writer so I penned truly awful stories about professional football players (I don’t know any, don’t really follow sports, but it seemed glamorous, I guess). The only stories that ever received positive comments were those in which I used a younger voice. So I finally came to my senses and started writing for teens. I preferred to read YA novels so why not try to write them?

Can you describe your road to getting an agent and publication?

Long, bumpy, and full of lessons about patience, persistence, and hanging onto dreams. My Big Nose And Other Natural Disasters is my fourth manuscript. I’d become quite familiar with rejection, but I also learned how to revise (big, important skill) as I wrote new manuscripts and fixed old ones. Now I’m really grateful for those frustrating years because I learned so much about myself and my writing. I had submitted earlier novels to editors I’d met at writing conferences, but I knew that this one had more commercial appeal so I only submitted it to agents. I got several really nice, almost feel-good (if that’s possible), rejection letters. One agent who liked the book, but didn’t want to represent it, recommended Firebrand Literary. And they signed me!

What was your reaction when you first heard you got an agent/publisher?

Well, first, when my agent called, I liked him right away and could tell that I would really enjoy working with him (I do!). It was also a strange feeling to have someone who didn’t know me love my manuscript (sometimes I worried that my family, friends, and critique partners were just being nice). And then I jumped up and down a whole bunch.

My agent and I accepted Harcourt’s offer to publish my novel while I was in the airport on my way to a Society of Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) conference (I’m a regional advisor for Utah & Idaho). I loved celebrating with my writing friends!

How has the blogging community and fellow authors helped you in your journey?

One of my biggest regrets is that I’ve come to the blogging community late—I wish I’d made these connections much earlier. I know I’d be a ball of nervous quivering Jell-O if it weren’t for the support fellow bloggers have offered me as a debut author. I’ve made so many wonderful friends and learned so much from more experienced authors (thank you, everyone!). I’m grateful that we all help each other navigate this crazy publishing business. Plus, I love knowing so many people who read the same books I do!

---

Thanks so much, Sydney, my fellow Wrimo! (Wrimos = NaNoWriMo authors, if you didn't know.) Wrimos are awesome, and you are especially awesome, Sydney.

Here's the description of My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters, straight from Amazon:

It’s the end of junior year, and summer is about to begin. The Summer of Passion, to be exact, when Jory Michaels plans to explore all the possibilities of the future--and, with any luck, score a boyfriend in the process. But Jory has a problem. A big problem. A curvy, honking, bumpy, problem in the form of her Super Schnozz, the one thing standing between Jory and happiness. And now, with the Summer of Passion stretched before her like an open road, she's determined for Super Schnozz to disappear. Jory takes a job delivering wedding cakes to save up for a nose job at the end of the summer; she even keeps a book filled with magazine cutouts of perfect noses to show the doctor. But nothing is ever easy for accident-prone Jory--and before she knows it, her Summer of Passion falls apart faster than the delivery van she crashes. In her hilarious and heartbreaking debut novel, Sydney Salter delivers a story about broadening your horizons, accepting yourself, and finding love right under your nose.

---

I haven't read this one yet (I bought it the other day though!) so I can't offer my opinion, but if you want to read a good review of the book, check out Jordyn's review over at Ten Cent Notes. ugh why are jordyn's reviews so good

Links: Sydney's website/blog

Graphia/Paperback/$7.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound

Top 5 Fictional Boys

Jordyn and Kelsey told me I should post my top 5 favorite fictional boys, since we were ~*inspired*~ to pick our favorites after reading Trish Doller's post on the subject.

So, here are my top five (in no particular order):


---Seth from Wicked Lovely

He's got a lot of tattoos, but oh well. Seth is undeniably sweet and worries about Aislinn so much even though he doesn't have to. I haven't read Fragile Eternity yet, but he can't go that bad in that book, can he?

---Darragh from the Sevenwaters Trilogy.

He's not well known, but that doesn't stop me from liking him so much. He's so sweet. He travels all over the country to protect the girl who doesn't even like him back at first! And he sells his pony. His gorgeous pony that he loves. If that doesn't show true dedication, I don't know what does.

---Kartik from the Gemma Doyle Trilogy.

LOVELOVELOVE. He's so sweet and awesome and the ending of The Sweet Far Thing made me want to WEEP. He's just so...Kartik.

---Spencer from Suite Scarlett

He's not the romantic lead of the book, but who cares?! He's Spencer. He's hilarious and completely adorable.

---Dexter from This Lullaby

Dexter is endearingly clumsy. And he is a band, and writes songs, and cares for Remy no matter what. How do you not love Dexter?

And just for fun, here's five fictional boys I don't see the appeal in:

---Edward Cullen.

No. Just no.


---Jacob Black.

Again, just no.


---Jace from the Mortal Instruments series

HE'S SO ANNOYING I CAN'T STAND HIM. He's so arrogant and gah. He bugs me. SIMON IS BETTER!

---Marcus from the Jessica Darling series

Really, what's so appealing? He's not terrible, but I don't like him, unlike many others do.


---Zane from the Uglies series.

TEAM DAVID ALL THE WAY. (David was competing with Seth and many others for the last spot in the list of boys I like.) Zane isn't bad either, but really? Zane over David? Did anyone not see how Zane us- ok, I can't spoil it.

---

I now encourage all of you to either blog your 5 favorite YA boys or post them in comments. Lists are FUN!

I like tapirs/Alea is good at spreading the tapir love.

This is a tapir:
Isn't he/she cute?

I'm sure you've heard of Alea of the awesome blog Pop Culture Junkie. But did you know she's obsessed with tapirs? SHE IS.

Did you know that's she good at spreading the love/obsession of tapirs around? SHE IS. You can tell that she is because I'm making this post.

Zong this baby tapir is too cute.

You can also tell that she's good at spreading the tapir love because the amazing, fabulous, wonderful, awesome Trish Doller wrote a STORY about tapirs. This story is the best ever. Seriously. Go read it and tell Trish how amazing it is.

That is all for today.

Videoooo.

In which I discuss freshmen, Leviathan, and what I got in the mail:

~*Excitement.*~

FUN STUFF:

Along for the Ride hit the #1 spot NYT Bestseller list this week. YAY. I like that book very much. When I met Sarah Dessen last week, I may have gotten a signed copy of Along for the Ride to giveaway. SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT POST. (There's a contest going on the Sarah ning for two ARCs of Along for the Ride if you don't want to wait for my contest to begin.)

UNRELATED: MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR JULY 8TH AT 5:00 PST/8:00 EST.

Are they marked? Did you mark them? Mark them now!

Why am I marking my calendar? you may be asking yourself. You are marking it because Sharon and I have plotted another author chat!

This chat is part of a little thing Sharon and I like to call "Meet the Tenners Summer." So this is the first chat with the amazing fabulous Tenners. The Tenners are the debut YA authors of 2010, in case you didn't know. These chats are so that you can "meet" the Tenners and get all excited for their books.

So, which Tenners will be at the chat? you might be wondering. That's the best part- WE DON'T KNOW! It's a surprise! Sharon and I do guarantee that there will be Tenners there. We just don't know which ones. There's a bazillion of them, so there will probably be plenty.

So mark your calendars! I'll be making the chatzy room closer to the date, so keep an eye out for that. Also prepare questions for them and check out the Tenners site to read up on them.

Just so you get an idea of who may come, here are some Tenners that have showed up in non Tenner chats before:

• Trish Doller
  
• Suzanne Young
  
• Josh Berk
• Lindsey Leavitt
• Kay Cassidy
• Emily Horner
• Tara Kelly
• Becca Fitzpatrick
• Holly Hoxter
• Teri Hall

If all those lovelies (I think there were more too. I just can't remember for sure who. xD) came when it wasn't a Tenner chat, just think of the Tenners who will come if it is a Tenner chat. Whoo!

Note: if the date changes, don't be surprised. xD The chat was originally going to be on the 15th, but HP6 comes out that day.

Two Girls of Gettysburg by Lisa Klein

[description from B&N]

Lizzie and Rosanna are cousins. But when the Civil War breaks out, fifteen-year-old Lizzie finds herself committed to the cause of the Union, while Rosanna is swept up in the passions of the old south—and in her love for a young Confederate officer. Torn in their alliances, yet as devoted as sisters, each girl finds herself grappling with the senseless brutality of war, and the sacrifices that must be made in order to survive. It will take one of the war’s bloodiest battles—fought on the farmlands of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania—to bring them together again. Unflinching in its portrayal of war, and inspiring in its depiction of two resilient young women, this is a historical novel of exceptional depth and reach.

Review:

Mixed feelings about this one, so I'll just jump right in:

One of my main problems with this book was that I never felt that Rosanna and Lizzie were best friends. They keep talking about how much they miss each other and how they're friends, but they weren't together long enough for me to really believe they're friends. It was like the only ties between them was that they used to live together and are related. Sure, they're stories intertwined at times, but often it felt like they were two totally separate stories. The girls were together at times as well, but still.

The girls' voices were so drastically different as well that it separated their stories even more. Rosanna's diary entries are sad, emotional, and packed with a bit too many historical details and descriptions, while Lizzie's are more hopeful and...sweet, I suppose. (She had an actual romance going on. A predictable one, but still sweet.) The tones definitely helped to show the girls' distinct personalities and they're development throughout the novel, but it separated them a bit too much. Rosanna's chapters were filled with so much detail that it became tedious and I looked forward to Lizzie's chapters more.

Two Girls of Gettysburg is a bit predictable and boring at times, but the great characterization and war action make it enjoyable. It's interesting to see the two separate sides of the war at once. Still, I think I'd recommend this one to those who really like historical fiction.

I'll still be on the lookout for another book by Lisa, especially this one, because it sounds awesome.

7/10

Links: Lisa's website

Bloomsbury/Hardcover/$16.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound

Sprout by Dale Peck

[description from Amazon]

How many secrets can you hide in plain sight?

Sprout Bradford has a secret. It’s not what you think—he’ll tell you he’s gay. He’ll tell you about his dad’s drinking and his mother’s death. The green fingerprints everywhere tell you when he last dyed his hair. But neither the reader nor Sprout are prepared for what happens when Sprout suddenly finds he’s had a more profound effect on the lives around him than he ever thought possible. Sprout is both hilarious and gripping; a story of one boy at odds with the expected.

Review:

Hmm. I'm not really sure what to think about this one, honestly. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. It's entertaining, but it's a little messy. It's better than good, but not exactly great.

For most of the book, Sprout is commenting on everything. He writes about his friends, his family, his sexuality, his teachers, his classmates, and the writing competition he is preparing for. He just talks and talks and talks, which isn't necessarily a terrible thing because he is quite funny and entertaining, but I kept wondering where the book was going. It's a bit tedious to read. There are subplot things going on while he talks, but many of those happened in the past. Near the end an actual plot emerges, but it took a lot of time to get to that point.

What Sprout lacks in plot, however, is made up for with the characters. Sprout is so observant that he could be the gay male version of Jessica Darling*, except he's less annoying. His humorous, witty descriptions of his peers bring them to life and the ways he views them help to define him as well.**

Although Sprout is a bit tedious, it's still entertaining and smart. I'll definitely be on the lookout for another Dale Peck book.

7.5/10

*I don't actually like that series very much (don't hurt me), but there's no denying that Jessica is crazy observant.
**Yes, I am going all John Green Paper Towns on you.

Bloomsbury/Hardcover/$16.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound

Thanks for the book, Anna! (:

"What's on your desk?" Wednesday

I was tagged by Mik over at I Am Nonfiction to show you what is on my desk. But the problem is, I don't have a desk. So here is my bedside table dresser thingy instead. Apparently the rules are 1) I can't clean my "desk" 2) I must say what 5 bookish things on my "desk" are 3) I must say what 5 non bookish things on my "desk" are. And I have to post a photo. I also get to tag five people.

Photo:

Five bookish things:

• Um. There are books in the box part?
  
• There's some Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist movie buttons.
• There's a Borders receipt there, but you can't see it.
  
• The pencil in the glass is a Richelle Mead Vampire Academy pencil.
• My photo album.

Five non bookish things:

• The million cords and chargers.
• My stuffed okapi.
• My cow beanie baby.
  
• Carmex. Such a lovely invention.
  
• My ipod, which contains a bunch of musica.
  

I tag:

1. Can I tag Tenners? I am going to anyway. I tag Trish Doller. Also, who thinks Trish should blog more? I DO.
2. MORE AUTHORS: I tag Margaret Stohl. I'd tag Kami too but Kristi already did.
3. Um...Sharon.
4. Sarah. You should be glad I tag you since I think it counts as a post.
   
5. Zoe: same reason as Sarah. xD
   

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

Waiting on Wednesday is the day where everyone drools over upcoming books. Jill started it.

Today's pick:

The Mark by Jen Nadol

description from the Tenners site:

Sixteen year-old Cassie Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back.

The one time she pointed it out taught her not to do it again, so Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until the day she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, always careful to hide her secret. How does the mark work? Why her? Most importantly, if you know today is someone's last, should you tell?

---

Why I want it:

• Jen is a Tenner! Love those Tenners.
  
• It sounds vair vair interesting, doesn't it? I want to see how that last question in the description is answered in the book.
  
• The cover is nice. It kind of reminds me of a movie poster though. But maybe that's just me.
• There's an excerpt on Jen's website, and it is super intriguing. It's one of those excerpts that make me want the darn book already.
  

Released in early 2010!

Someone needs to explain this...

Someone explain what this person means in this article: http://indexmb.com/oprah-for-teenage-readers-where-are-you/

Because I don't really get it. What on earth would you put on a show like that? What would you do? What does Oprah do for her book club that someone is supposed to imitate? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

And don't some people (like, I don't know, ME. Sometimes) kind of do that "teen recommending on youtube thing" already? Just not on one channel in every video?

*needs explanation*

Also, what is SpineBreakers?

Thanks to the fabulous Tenners for the link.

Breathless by Lurlene McDaniel

[description from Amazon]

What is the toughest request anyone can be asked to fulfill?

Travis Morrison is a champion diver and one of the most popular kids at school. On the first day of summer vacation, while boating on the lake with his friends, Travis attempts a silly stunt dive that goes wrong. He fears he has broken his leg. Instead, his trip to the hospital reveals he has a rare form of cancer, and to save him, the doctors tell his parents they must amputate. In an instant, Travis’s life and the lives of everyone around him are forever changed.

Travis is determined that he and only he should decide the course of his life. He has a plan, but he can’t carry it out alone. Will he convince one of his friends to fulfill his most important request?

Review:

This is my first Lurlene McDaniel book, and I have to say that I'm not overly impressed. I have heard that Lurlene books rock, but I wasn't that impressed with this one. It's most likely just this book that I wasn't impressed with, but I was expecting more.

It's a really quick book. Quick because it doesn't take long to read, and everything happens so fast. Because the book is so short, there's not much time to build up the events or really have time to process them. Travis jumps off the cliff right at the beginning of the book, and after that it's decision after event after decision after event. The subject matter- euthanasia- is thought-provoking and interesting to discuss, but there's so much quickly going on that it's hard to think about it until the end.

I usually like multiple POV in books, but because there were four points of view in this already short book, I felt that it was a lot to handle. The characters usually don't speak for more than five or six pages at a time, so there's constant back and forth. It's nice to see the characters differing perspectives on Travis's problems and decisions, but there's just a lot to take in. I also don't think the first person narrative it helped to develop the characters that much. The characterization was done well enough so that the characters are believable, but not entirely realistic. They change throughout the book, but it's not that obvious or that much.

My thoughts on this book can be summed up in one word: ok. Breathless was interesting and thought provoking, but it could have been a lot better.

6.5/10

Links: Lurlene's website

Delacorte/Hardcover/$10.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound

Suite Scarlett Giveaway!

I'm super excited to be holding this contest because I love this book a lot. It is amazing and wonderful and it has Spencer, who is one of the best male characters EVER.

Here's the book info [from amazon]

Her new summer job comes with baggage

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City, and Scarlett lives there with her four siblings - Spencer, Lola, and Marlene.

When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest called Mrs. Amberson.

Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.

Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery, Broadway glamour, romantic missteps, and theatrical deceptions. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.

---

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO YOU SHOULD ENTER. You should also check out Maureen Johnson's website and blog if you haven't already because they are awesome.

Giveaway info:

• Five (5) winners will win a paperback copy of Suite Scarlett.
• Sorry, but the giveaway is US only.
• To be entered: leave a comment. IT'S THAT EASY.
  
• For +1 entry, link to the contest somewhere and tell me that you did in a SEPARATE COMMENT so you don't make me mad.
• The contest shall end on July 6, so ENTER AWAY
  

And you should also watch this video, just because:

I was interviewed!

By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, authors of Beautiful Creatures! And I was interviewed ON FILM. You can now see how much I play with my hair (I do about every four seconds. I CAN'T SIT STILL.)

So I kind of failed the bloggiesta.

It is true: I failed the bloggiesta. I wrote a total of 2 reviews and made the two videos that were posted yesterday.

Those events were really long, but totally worth it because they were awesome. So today I think I will do a non bloggiesta because I have summer school tomorrow and will have less time to do things.

I get to have ceramics class for 5 hours a day for a month. ISN'T THAT JUST GREAT? /sarcasm.

In other news, I am reading Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld right now instead of reading How to Buy a Love of Reading like I should be. I couldn't resist Leviathan. So far, it is pretty darn good. And has pretty pictures! I don't even remember the last book I read that had pictures and wasn't a graphic novel.

This comes out this week:

Fairy Tale Cyn Balog

[from Amazon]

A captivating and witty dark fantasy that will have girls lusting after it.

Morgan Sparks has always known that she and her boyfriend, Cam, are made for each other. But when Cam’s cousin Pip comes to stay with the family, Cam seems depressed. Finally Cam confesses to Morgan what’s going on: Cam is a fairy. The night he was born, fairies came down and switched him with a healthy human boy. Nobody expected Cam to live, and nobody expected his biological brother, heir to the fairy throne, to die. But both things happened, and now the fairies want Cam back to take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Even as Cam physically changes, becoming more miserable each day, he and Morgan pledge to fool the fairies and stay together forever. But by the time Cam has to decide once and for all what to do, Morgan’s no longer sure what’s best for everyone, or whether her and Cam’s love can weather an uncertain future.

----

I want to read it. o.o


Also....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YAN!

Moar video.

Here's some LAYAPALOOZA and Kami Garcia/Margaret Stohl footage:



Kami and Margaret are pretty darn awesome. They gave me swag prezzies and extras to give away eventually. (not now.) They are fabulous and entertaining and wonderful! <3

Sarah Dessen Signing

The audio of her talking SUCKS so you will have to turn up the volume. Sorrrry. I was far away and the camera stinks.

Bloggiesta

It's 8:21 AM. I should be asleep. But instead, I am participating in the Bloggiesta, hosted by Natasha at Maw Books.

Stuff I have to do:

Reviews
Let's not list how many.

Interviews
Format some.

Contests
Write a post for one.

Guest Posts
Write some.

This is the kind of introduction post you get at 8:21 in the morning. I am too tired to make long lists.

Also, I have no idea how much I will get done because today I am meeting Sarah Dessen and Kelsey, and tomorrow I am going to a pizza fiesta and meeting Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl (the authors of Beautiful Creatures!!) and a bunch of author lovely YA authors.

So I have this extra copy of Lovestruck Summer.

And I thought I'd give it to one of you loverly readers.

Here's a description of the book for you, straight from Amazon:

Austin music fest

Yay, summer in Austin!

Good food, good times. Fun for everyone!

Okay, living with my sorority-brainwashed cousin, who willingly goes by "Party Penny," is not exactly what I had in mind.

All your favorite bands

But the cute musicians I've met totally make up for it . . . like Sebastian. Swoon.

All ages welcome

So why can't I stop thinking about Penny's friend All-American Russ and his Texas twang??

Saturday & Sunday, from noon to midnight

Don't wait up!

---

You can my review of the book here. And if you want some more opinions on the book, click on one of these blog titles to read their review:

• Sarah's Random Musings
• The Chick Manifesto
• Cupcake Witch
• Steph Su Reads
• Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Contest rules and whatnot:

To be entered I need you to answer this question, which has absolutely nothing to do with the book: Bunnies or unicorns? (Sarah from the aforementioned Sarah's Random Musings and I disagree on this issue and need more opinions. Please note that we got that question from this glorious video:

• Because I feel nice and this is a tiny book, this contest is open internationally.
  
• Link to this contest (twitter, sidebar, blog post, doesn't matter.) gets you +1 entry. Leave a link to where you posted about it in a SEPARATE COMMENT so you will not make me angry.
• Contest ends two weeks from now, on July 3.
  

It's Not You, It's Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann

[description from Amazon]

Funny and touching—this is a heartfelt breakup story.

Zoe loves Henry.

Henry dumps Zoe.

Zoe wants Henry back—at any cost.

Zoe’s two best friends come up with a plan to help Zoe get what she thinks she wants. The plan: make Henry jealous.

But the plan takes a surprising turn. . . .

Spanning thirty-one days in the cycle of a breakup, Kerry Cohen Hoffmann’s humorous and poignant novel depicts a girl whose single-minded focus on her ex-boyfriend has pulled her far from the person she most needs to win back—herself.

Review:

Know how the description says the book is funny? Well, it is. In the nervous laughter kind of way. You know, the kind of laugh you do when you don't know whether to laugh because something is ridiculous or to head for the hills.

I'm sure, if you've read a review of this book, you've heard about Zoe, the main character, and how insane she is. Her behavior is where the nervous laughter funny thing comes in to play. The things she does to try to win her boyfriend back are just downright insane. I didn't know whether to laugh at how ridiculous it was or just be like "haha oh my gosh she needs serious help. o.o" I did feel bad for her since she was so hopeless, but at the same time I wanted to 1) make sure she wasn't in a tree outside my house and 2) tell her to listen to all the people trying to help her.

If there was one (actually two) things I did like about this book it was the writing and the structure. I liked that it was written day-by-day. The timeline better showed Zoe's development and progress throughout the book, because although the changes from day to day are really subtle, but they're still there, and they're more evident at the end. The writing flowed well and didn't waste any words. Maybe that's why the book was SO SHORT. I really think the book would have benefited from being longer. The characters were so flat because there wasn't time for them to be developed. Not even Zoe is very realistically; she cannot possibly just be a crazy stalker. There's got to be more to her than that.

It's Not You, It's Me was definitely not for me, but people who can relate more to Zoe (I hope there aren't that many teens stalking their exes there though. o.o) may enjoy the book more.

6/10

Links: Kerry's website

Delacorte/Hardcover/$15.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound

This review is part of a Traveling to Teens tour. Muchas gracias to Carol and Yan for putting me on the tour, and for having the RH people provide the book. Kristi over at the The Story Siren is the tour stop tomorrow, so check out her post as well. (:

Kerry Cohen Hoffmann Q&A

Here's Kerry's Q&A and bio for her Traveling to Teens tour!

---

Kerry Cohen received an MFA in creative writing from the University of Oregon and an MA in counseling psychology from Pacific University. A practicing psychotherapist and the author of the young adult novel Easy, she lives with her husband and two sons in Portland, Oregon.

---

1) Why did you decide to write the book over 31 days? Why not longer/shorter?

Well, in truth, I didn't really decide to write the book that way. It sort of just happened as I revised. I had been struggling with the structure, and I knew I wanted to capture how every day is torturous when you're going through a break-up. Then I got the idea to mete out each chapter as a day. One month seemed to put those hellish days right after a break-up under a microscope. It was like one, long month that Zoe had to live through.

2) What do you hope readers take away from the book?

Usually my books are sort of intense and heavy, and this book isn't like that at all. Really, for the first time in my life, I managed to write something that I purely meant to entertain readers with. It's a way to perhaps not take themselves so seriously when they go through break-ups.

3) This book is lighter than your others. Was is easier to write? Or just a little different?

This book was so much fun to write, and I can honestly say that I've never had lots of fun writing. I've felt tortured by writing. I've had to face my darkest self. I've found truths I hadn't known before. But fun? Never before! I make fun of myself a lot, so I thought I'd tap into that part of myself and see what I could do with a book.

4) Zombies or unicorns?

Zombies - no question. I'm not a puppies and rainbows kind of gal. And I love horror.

5) What book are you working on now?

I'm working on another memoir actually, and like my other memoir, it's meant for adults but will likely appeal to the young adult crowd as well. The book is about my relationships with my mother and sister, and how those relationships have led to difficult female friendships in my life.

---

Thanks, Kerry!

Links: Kerry's website

Delacorte/Hardcover/$15.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound

ZOMG JOHN GREEN AND WILL GRAYSON AND ZOMG.

CLICK THIS LINK AND WATCH THE VIDEO NOW:

Screening Room - YA Central - Penguin Group (USA)

Shared via AddThis

HE TALKS ABOUT WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON!!!! THE BOOK WITH HIM AND DAVID LEVITHAN!

Also known as the book that will be the greatest thing ever (I'm sure).

I AM FREAKING OUT, AS YOU CAN TELL. AAAAAAH!

I love John Green.

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Waiting on Wednesday is the day in which bloggers all across the land wish that time would move faster so they can have the books they want. Jill started it.

Today's pick:

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern

[description from author blog]

It's Jessie's sophomore year of high school. A self-professed "mathlete," she isn't sure where she belongs. Her two best friends have transformed themselves into punks and one of them is going after her longtime crush. Her beloved older brother will soon leave for college (and in the meantime has shaved off his mohawk and started dating...the prom Princess!)...

Things are changing fast. Jessie needs new friends. And her quest is a hilarious tour through high school clique-dom, with a surprising stop along the way--the Dungeons and Dragons crowd, who out-nerd everyone. Will hanging out with them make her a nerd, too? And could she really be crushing on a guy with too-short pants and too-white gym shoes?

If you go into the wild nerd yonder, can you ever come back?

---

Why I want it:

• Um, hello. It has NERDS. Nerds are awesome. Duh.
• Isn't the title awesome? I think so.
• I have heard from a SEKRIT bookseller connection that this book is quite, quite good. She told me about it in the first place.
• And this one comes out THIS YEAR! I've been posting mainly Tenner WoWs lately, but this one is one that comes out this year. Whoo! It's out on September 29 according to Amazon.
  

VANIA IS A GENIUS.

LOOK AT THIS TRAILER:

Prophecy of the Sisters from Vania S on Vimeo.

Isn't this the best trailer? Zomg I love it. I want to steal Vania's talent. How did she gain these photography skillz? I WANT THEM.

*watches trailer again*

It fits the book very well, might I add. The photos fit perfectly with the music too. (Vania didn't make the music though. If she did, I would by saying something like "WHY DOES VANIA GET ALL THE SKILLZ?!" But Michelle Zink's son Kenneth made it.) The trailer sets the mood of the book wonderfully.

AHHHH SOO GOOD I WANT V'S PHOTO SKILLZ AND KENNETH'S MUSIC SKILLZ.

Stuff.

Here are some things to check out:

Giving It Away For Free
(the only time Momma would approve)
Serena Robar is giving it away for free the entire month of June. That’s right. A book a day, every day in honor of her latest book release Giving Up the V. All you have to do to is sign up for her newsletter and you are entered to win. Enter once and you are in the running to win a book every day the entire month of June.

----

WATCH THIS VIDEO NOW:



I love this video. A lot.

---

Also, apparently my post from earlier today, where I talked about older, awesome-sounding books, was well-liked. Is that correct? Because if it is I might do more. I like searching for old books. =D

It's like Waiting on Wednesday....

...but not. Because it's Tuesday, and these books are all out. I came across a book series the other day that sounds awesome but has been out for a while, so I figured I would post about some "old" books that I still wantwantwant.

[descriptions from amazon]

Mob Princess: For Money and Love by Todd Strasser

An offer she can't refuse.

Kate Blessing is not your typical high school junior. She's a good student who's into guys and the latest designer jeans...and she's also part of the mob. Her father, Bobby Blessing, is the head of the family, and her mom, Amanda, is the brains behind the operation. Kate may not partake in the "family business," but she knows what goes down. She's proud of her family -- and of course, there are plenty of perks: her indoor pool, Caribbean vacations, expensive haircuts...

But when Amanda gets fed up with Bobby's cheating and moves out, someone needs to make decisions, give orders, and keep things running. Kate has no choice but to step into her mother's shoes and prop her dad up.

Bobby may be the face of the mob, but it's not long before the princess is running the show.

---This is the first book in the series that inspired this post. I mean, the mob? The mob princess? This series sounds so ridiculous that it has to be awesome. And let me just say that book covers have gotten a lot better since 2007, when these books were published.


First Kiss (Then Tell)

Twenty-five bestselling authors for teens recount the story of their first kiss. Whether hilarious, heartwarming, dramatic, or regrettable, there’s something for every reader to relate to. Quotes, facts, advice, and artwork round out the collection.

---I just read Justine Larbalestier's story on her site and if the other stories are as disgusting or entertaining as hers, this anthology has to be wonderful.




The Straight Road to Kylie by Nico Medina

Life is fabulous for Jonathan Parish.

He's seventeen, out and proud, and ready to party through senior year with his posse of best girlfriends. But the year starts off with the wrong kind of bang when Jonathan -- in an inebriated lapse of judgment -- sleeps with a friend of his...a girl friend!

When word gets around that hot-but-previously-unavailable Jonathan might be on the market, the school's It girl approaches him with a proposal: pretend to be her boyfriend, and achieve popularity like he's never known. But popularity isn't what Jonathan wants. And suddenly, going back into the closet becomes Jonathan's only way to get what he's after -- a trip to see Kylie Minogue.

---I could give you a million reasons for why I want this one, but I won't. But don't you think this sounds like my kind of book? I think so.

[description from indiebound]

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

If Naomi had picked tails instead of heads, she wouldnt have hit her head on the way to get the yearbook camera and wouldnt have awakened in an ambulance with amnesia. Following her debut novel "Elsewhere," Zevin has crafted an imaginative work about love and second chances.

---I really liked Elsewhere and have been wanting to read this one for a while. Amazon tells me the paperback comes out on the 23rd, so I might finally pick it up.


There are plenty of other oldies I want, but it would take waaaay too long to list them.

My Personal 48HBC ended yesterday.

But I just remembered to post my final standings and whatnot.

Books read:

• Paris Pan Takes the Dare
• Serendipity Market
• Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty
• Triple Shot Bettys in Love
• My Most Excellent Year
• Cycler
• (Re)Cycler
  
• Moonlight
  
• Marly's Ghost
• Waiting for You
• The last 100 pages of Girl Stays in the Picture
• The first half of A Novel Idea

Total: 10 plus some.

Time spent reading: 822 minutes, or 13 hours and 42 minutes. Not a lot of time, but I read a lot. Whoo.

Good thing Natasha over at Maw Books is hosting the bloggiesta this weekend, because now I have even more reviews to write. Bleh.

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Gehrman

[description from Amazon]

Geena can’t wait to spend summer vacation at the Triple Shot Betty coffee shop with her best friend, Amber, and her cousin, Hero. But Amber and Hero hate each other on sight, and Geena’s dreams of a girl-bonding summer fly out the window—then vanish entirely when a few cute (okay, drop-dead gorgeous) guys enter the picture. All is not what it seems, though, and in a story of mistaken identities, summer high jinks, and just enough romance, Geena and her friends learn that when Bettys unite, they can take on the most powerful force in their world: a hot guy.

Review:

This is another book that was reviewed and loved like crazy last year, but one I never picked up until a few days ago. And all I have to say is: WHY DID I NEVER PICK THIS BOOK UP?! People, do not be like me and wait to read the books everyone is talking about. Read it right away. And if there is anyone left who hasn't read this one, read it!

Not only are the characters awesome because some of them are baristas*, but also because they're just plain awesome. I'm sick of stereotypical characters and was relieved to see that though these characters seem cliche, they aren't. I love that Geena is not only a genius and barista, but a skater as well. I can count on one hand the number of girl skaters I've ever read about. I used to skateboard (No, seriously. I did.) so I liked seeing a skater show up. Amber and Hero also are deeper than expected; Amber has plenty of real, emotional issues even though she seems lighterhearted, and Hero seems innocent, but she can be kind of diabolical.

There's just enough stuff happening in the book to make it exciting, but not so much that it takes lots of brain power to keep up. While the romances are predictable and pretty cheesy, the rest of the book has plenty of twists. The plot twist near the end is especially grand, though a bit unrealistic. But who cares? It was hilarious, just like the rest of the book.

And just because I don't want to write a full review of the sequel, here is a review of it in six words: Just as awesome as the first.

8.5/10

*Have Liv and I ever told you about our barista cult?

Links: Jody's website

Puffin/Paperback/$7.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound

The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading Blog Tour

Today I'm hosting Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance, authors of The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading, on their blog tour. Here's their guest blog:

When people ask me about The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading I usually tell them it’s a novel about two smart, kind of geeky girls who find their way onto the varsity cheerleading squad. It’s the story of their season on the squad. But it’s also a story about falling in love for the first time, and a story about being a good friend to someone – even when that person is not being such a good friend back. It’s a story about who really matters in the world. More than anything else though, The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading is a story about expectations.

When geek girl Bethany hears her best friend whisper, “Cheerleading tryouts,” she never expects they will really go through with it. And she certainly never expects they will make the squad. She says to her friend, “There are places girls like us don’t go and cheerleading is at the top of that list.”

It’s a good thing there isn’t really a list like that, because some pretty famous (and important) people would be in Big Trouble.

Like Katie Couric. According to one of her former teachers, she was “always a great student in Math”. She was also a cheerleader…before becoming the first female solo news anchor for a major television network.

As a teenager, award winning comedian and musician Steve Martin taught himself to play the banjo and do magic tricks. How geeky is that? In college, he studied English poetry and philosophy, and considered becoming a professor.

Long before Samuel L. Jackson was a bad a** mutha****er fending off snakes on a plane, he played French horn in his high school’s orchestra – where he was also a cheerleader.

If a news anchor, comedian and actor aren’t enough to convince you that geeks really can be cheerleaders too, what about a President of the United States, or maybe four? Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush were all cheerleaders in high school or college.

And then there’s Kiki Bader. She was both editor of her high school newspaper and a cheerleader. As further evidence of her dual dorkiness, she once chipped a tooth while twirling a baton during a football game. Kiki went on to become Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Even after learning what all of these cheerleader/geeks accomplished, you might still be saying: Yeah, but none of this is exactly rocket science.

You want rocket science? What about Jaime Dyk? She first got interested in science and space when she was in the 7th grade. She was a cheerleader in high school, then went on to coach cheerleading as a part time job during college. In 2000, Jaime had an unusual choice to make. She was one of 16 finalists for the Laker Girls (NBA Cheerleaders), but she had also been offered a job with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. Hmmm… Cheerleading? Science? Cheerleading? Science? Science eventually won out and Jaime Dyk helped design the Mars Land Rover.

Expectations and stereotypes don’t really serve any useful purpose. Just because someone is a geek, that doesn’t mean they can’t be a cheerleader too. And just because someone is a cheerleader, it doesn’t mean they can’t become a news anchor, an actor, a president, Supreme Court Justice – or rocket scientist either.

There is no list of places that any of us can’t go when we decide to look – and live – beyond labels. The sky (or at least Mars) is the limit!

---

Thanks, Charity and Darcy! =D

And if you don't know what The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading is about, here's the description:

When Bethany -- self-proclaimed geek girl -- makes the varsity cheerleading squad, she realizes that there's one thing worse than blending in with the lockers: getting noticed. She always felt comfortable as part of the nerd herd, but being a member of the most scrutinized group in her school is weighing her down like a ton of textbooks. Even her Varsity Cheerleading Guide can't answer the really tough questions, like: How do you maintain some semblance of dignity while wearing an insanely short skirt? What do you do when the head cheerleader spills her beer on you at your first in-crowd party? And how do you know if your crush likes you for your mind...or your pom-poms?

One thing's for sure: It's going to take more than brains for this girl genius to cheer her way to the top of the pyramid.

---

I've already read the book, and it was quite good. Since I haven't reviewed it, I will point you towards Jordyn's review.

Every comment you leave on one of the tour posts will enter you in a contest to win a Geek Girl prize basket. So comment!

Check out the rest of the tour dates over at the Goddess Fish blog and visit Charity and Darcy at their website/blog here.

Twenty Boy Summer Scavenger Hunt- Clue #3

Want today's clue? Watch the video:



Check out all the scavenger hunt details over at Sarah Ockler's website.

And yes, I am aware that this video is ridiculous.

edit: Author for the clue's name is Laura Resau. And I think you can do both for 6 points.

My Personal 48HBC update

Earlier I mentioned that I read Serendipity Market and Paris Pan Takes the Dare. After that update, I read Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty and Triple Shot Bettys in Love. They were fabulous.

Currently reading: My Most Excellent Year. It's thick and I'm trying very hard not to break the spine, because I am OCD like that.

I've read for 384 minute, or 6 hours and 24 minutes. That's more than half of time since the challenge started, since I started at 11:30 AM and it is now 10:37 PM.

Off to finish My Most Excellent Year now, and then on to Cycler and (Re)Cycler.

I missed the 48 Hour Book Challenge last weekend.

So I am doing my own, solo 48 hour challenge this weekend.

(Dunno what the challenge was? Click!)

I started at 11:30 AM Pacific time, and so far I've read two books: Paris Pan Takes the Dare and Serendipity Market. They were both quite good, though I liked the latter more.

I read those in 150 minutes, which equals 2 and a half hours if you don't want to do the math.

Off to read Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty now. I am probably one of the last people to read that. I remember last year that and Audrey, Wait! were everywhere, and I am late to read them both. Oops.

Also, since I'm bad at choosing what to read next, I encourage you to check out my goodreads "to read" shelf and tell me what to read.

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

[description from Amazon]

Austin music fest

Yay, summer in Austin!

Good food, good times. Fun for everyone!

Okay, living with my sorority-brainwashed cousin, who willingly goes by "Party Penny," is not exactly what I had in mind.

All your favorite bands

But the cute musicians I've met totally make up for it . . . like Sebastian. Swoon.

All ages welcome

So why can't I stop thinking about Penny's friend All-American Russ and his Texas twang??

Saturday & Sunday, from noon to midnight

Don't wait up!

Review:

Having read a bunch of glowing reviews of this book before I read it, and having read and loved Melissa's Violet series, I had fairly high expectations. The book did not exactly meet my expectations, but it is was this close.

The characters were all unique and developed, even the cross dressing dog. They could easily be stereotyped, but they all had something that prevented them from being that way, whether they had a sekrit hobby or a certain quirk. However, I never was really convinced that Quinn was an "indie" girl. Sure, she listened to an indie band all the time, was an intern at an indie label, and dated a DJ, but something about her stopped me from completely buying that she's this complete indie girl. I think it may of been her voice; with all her boy talk, she sounded more girly than indie.

Because this a romance comedy, you can probably tell what happens based just on the description. I know I did, but I was surprised that it took so long for the romance I predicted to happen. Because it took so long and so many twists showed up, it was all the more sweet and cute when it finally happened.

Lovestruck Summer is a cute, fun read that's perfect for the summer.

8/10

Links: Melissa's site/blog/twitter/I Heart Daily

HarperTeen/Paperback/$5.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

[description from Amazon]

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips…conks her head…and wakes up in the year 1815!

There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily’s family, Callie warms to them—particularly to Emily’s cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.

But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex’s heart, before her time in the past is up?

More Cabot than Ibbotson, Prada and Prejudice is a high-concept romantic comedy about finding friendship and love in the past in order to have happiness in the present.

Review:

Another fabulous debut author book! Seriously, I don't think the Debs can do any wrong. They must take some magical pills that make them and their books fabulous. This Deb book in particular was super cute and quick.

I don't have much to say about this book, so this will be a short review. All I really have to say is that this book is so cheesy and predictable, especially, as I've been told, if you've read Pride and Prejudice. (I've read that, but I didn't really pay attention to it, so I've no idea what happened. I'm just going with what everyone else said. Though, it's still predictable if you've never read Pride and Prejudice.) But even though it's so cheesy, it's cute. There are also funny bits in it, when Callie does something ridiculous and oh-so-21st century, and not only does that make Callie a little more endearing, it distracts from the predictability.

I loved the change Callie goes through in the book. I wish there was more about modern Callie, because she drops in to 1815 rather quickly, and there isn't much time to get to know her while she's in her normal environment. Still, there is a visible change by the end, which I think was the whole point. The other characters are kind of in the background, not doing or saying much. So although there is not as much to learn about the supporting characters, they still influence Callie a lot and help make her character shine.

Prada and Prejudice, albeit cheesy, is entertaining, fun, and great to read in the summer.

7.5/10

Links: Mandy's website/blog/twitter

Razorbill/Paperback/$8.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound

Waiting on Wednesday (23)

Waiting on Wednesday = started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.

Today's pick:

Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland

description from the Tenners site:

Alas, to speak thus of Polly's story would require much more time allotted here, but I shall make a gallant attempt. At the blossoming age of thirteen, Polly Madassa is anything but a material girl living in a material world. On the contrary, though she lives in our contemporary world, Polly is certain she was born for a more romantic time. Her heroines are the lovely Anne of Green Gables and the charming Elizabeth Bennet. So upon finishing up that glorious work of fiction Pride and Prejudice, Polly is convinced that her true calling is to bring lovers in her small beach town together...whether they like it or not. For wasn't it she who introduced the bull dog down the road to the Dalmation across the street? And what better way to bring two people together than a chocolate croissant or fresh baked scone from her family's own bakery?
She is certain that, just like Elizabeth and Anne, she will not fail...but when you're matchmaking for your sixteen-year-old sister, your best friends father, and the "plump" lady down the street, life turns out to be much more complicated than in a book.

---

Why I want it:

1. The cover is PURPLE! I enjoy purple covers. Purple pretty.
   
2. Know how there are a bunch of titles that are plays on Pride and Prejudice? Well, finally, there is a different Austen title that's being mixed up.
   
3. It sounds cuuuuute. Last time I read a matchmaker book- Miss Match- I really liked it. So let's hope this one is just as good.
   
4. Lindsay is a TENNER! Tenners are fierce.
   

Release date is December 22, 2009. So I guess she's like a Tenner-Deb hybrid. I dunno.