Tuesday, March 30, 2010

This or That With Robin Brande!

Hey Readers!
Today on the agenda? “This or That” with Robin Brande! She’s a rebel! She couldn’t just give me a simple answer (but we love you for it, Robin)! :)
1. Chocolate or vanilla? Peanut butter. 
2. Realistic fiction or fantasy? Love a combo of them both! Real people in fantastic situations. I consider Harry Potter great realistic fiction as far as the emotions and relationships go. The fact that there’s magic on top of it all is a bonus. 
3. City mouse or country mouse? Country! 
4. Pop music or classical? Pop.
5. Dogs or cats? Dogs!
6. Pen or pencil? Pen. Even though I make mistakes and then can’t erase them.
7. Cursive or printing? Bad cursive. Like, unreadable.
8. Summer Olympics or winter Olympics? Personally I prefer summer sports, yet I’d rather watch the Winter Olympics. Can’t explain.
9. DVDs at home or movies in the theater? DVDs at home. Because I watch a movie all the way through, then love to watch it again with the director’s and/or screenwriter’s commentary. I always feel I can learn so much that way about storytelling, plot, dialogue, editing, etc. I consider watching movies to be part of my job, so I take it seriously! (At least that’s what I always tell people who wonder why I’m goofing off so much and watching so many movies. Research, people.)
10. Hardcover or paperback? Paperback. I feel too stressed about getting my hardbacks all banged up. I like the casual nature of the paperback.

Monday, March 29, 2010

This or That With Ben Mikaelsen!

What’s up readers?
I’ll tell you what’s up! Ben Mikaelsen’s “This or That” survey!
1. Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate
2. Realistic fiction or fantasy? Realistic Fiction
3. City mouse or country mouse? Country mouse
4. Pop music or classical? Classical
5. Dogs or cats? Dogs
6. Pen or pencil? Pen
7. Cursive or printing? Printing
8. Summer Olympics or winter Olympics? Winter
9. DVDs at home or movies in the theater? Movies in a theater
10. Hardcover or paperback? Hardcover

Sunday, March 28, 2010

This or That With Alisa Libby!

Hey Readers!
Yikes! I already missed a day on “This or That!” Sorry, sorry, sorry!
Today we have Alisa Libby …
1. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla
2. Realistic fiction or fantasy? Fantasy!
3. City mouse or country mouse? City mouse
4. Pop music or classical? Pop
5. Dogs or cats? Dogs
6. Pen or pencil? Pen
7. Cursive or printing? Printing
8. Summer Olympics or winter Olympics? Winter Olympics!
9. DVDs at home or movies in the theater? DVDs
10. Hardcover or paperback? Hardcover
Check back tomorrow to find out about another awesome TBF author!

Friday, March 26, 2010

This or That With Martin Wilson!





Hey Readers!
I’m baaaaaaaaaack! I don’t have any reviews for you yet, but I do have something else equally exciting … today begins “This or That!” You’re probably asking, “What’s ‘This or That,’ Carly?” so allow me to explain. About a month ago, I asked our TBF authors to fill out a quick survey and email me their responses. Over the next 20 days, I will post the survey responses of our authors. 
Today’s featured author is … Martin Wilson!
Here’s what Martin had to say about his preferences:
1. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla
2. Realistic fiction or fantasy? Realistic
3. City mouse or country mouse? City
4. Pop music or classical? Pop
5. Dogs or cats? Dogs
6. Pen or pencil? Pen
7. Cursive or printing? Printing!
8. Summer Olympics or winter Olympics? Summer
9. DVDs at home or movies in the theater? DVDs
10. Hardcover or paperback? Paperback
So readers, now you know a little bit more about Martin Wilson. Come back tomorrow to find out who the next featured author is!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

The Emerald Island



Hey Readers!
Tomorrow I'm leaving for a week-long trip to Ireland! So ... don't expect to hear from me for the next week. However, I will be reading "Betraying Season" and "The Dust of 100 Dogs" IN Ireland, which I think is pretty darn cool considering that's where they're (at least partly) set. 
Also, readers, when I get back, in addition to reviews of "Betraying Season" and "The Dust of 100 Dogs," I will be posting a really awesome surprise for all of you!

Friday, March 5, 2010

The Gleaner on "Tricks"

Hi Readers!
I’m on the student newspaper, “The Gleaner,” here at Nazareth and I just recently wrote a book review of Ellen Hopkin’s “Tricks” to be published in “The Gleaner.” I thought I’d post it here in case any of you are interested in what I thought!
From the award winning author of “Crank,” “Glass,” and “Impulse” comes “Tricks,” a grisly novel-in-verse that follows the lives of five teenagers sucked into prostitution. Ellen Hopkins has created another enthralling, yet horrifying, read of young people faced with very real, very serious issues. Arguably the first author since J.K. Rowling to convince teenagers to pick up a book that easily tops 600 pages, Hopkins continues to rebel against the invisible boundaries of what many believe to be “appropriate” reading topics for young adults. 
“Tricks” details the lives of five young people caught in the vicious cycle of teenage prostitution. Eden, the daughter of a fundamentalist Christian preacher, turns to prostitution in order to escape from the reform school where her parents have sent her as a punishment for having a boyfriend without their permission. Seth, a young gay man struggling to accept his sexuality in a small, conservative town, trades sexual favors for a place to live after being kicked out by his father. Whitney, a young girl convinced that her mother loves her sister best, sells her body to a smarmy pimp who lures her away from her home with promises of his love. Ginger’s mother has been a prostitute since before her birth, and while Ginger promised herself that she would never go down that path, a shocking family secret forces her out of her grandmother’s house and onto the streets of Las Vegas. Cody turns to gambling to numb the pain of his beloved step-father’s death and, soon enough, debt forces him into prostitution in order to support his addiction. 
If you’re looking for a light read, run screaming from “Tricks.” However, if you’re open to a novel that will challenge every stereotype of a prostitute that you’ve ever held, then I highly recommend this one. While “Tricks” is fictional, Hopkins based several of the characters on teenagers that she has met at book signings and other events. That alone should be enough to make you think twice.
Hopkins will be at Nazareth on May 15 for the Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival. For more information about the Teen Book Festival (TBF), and to find out how you can volunteer during the festival, visit www.teenbookfestival.org. To read more book reviews and interviews with authors attending the TBF, visit the official TBF blog at www.carlyreads.blogspot.com. 
So, readers, do you agree? Let me know what YOU thought of “Tricks!”

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

A Sneak Peek at Barry Lyga's "Archvillain"


Hey Readers!
This morning on facebook, Barry Lyga posted a link to a sneak peek of his newest book, aimed at middle schoolers, "Archvillain." Follow this link here. I'm WELL beyond middle school, but I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on a copy as soon as it's published!
Check it out and let me know: are you as excited as I am?
73 Days Till TBF 2010!