BREAKING NEWS

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Wild Ink by Victoria Hanley (Review and Interview)

Wild Ink: Success Secrets to Writing and Publishing in the Young Adult Market by Victoria Hanley
Prufrock Press Inc.
ISBN: 978-1593638641
Published May 1, 2012
Paperback, 350 pages

After writing my first book, I started several other novels but nothing came of them and I found myself a little lost, until I started finding myself drawn more and more toward YA. I eventually started a YA novel, but I've encountered several obstacles. When I was offered to review Wild Ink, I jumped at the chance because it's just what I've been looking for.

I've read many good books on novel writing, but this one is geared for writers who want to break into the ever so popular YA genre. It's easy to read, well-organized and covers everything you need to know to write for teens, get an agent, and learn about the YA publishing industry. Hanley writes with an engaging style, and I found this resource book a pleasure to read.

Even though I know about novel writing, I paid particular attention to the two chapters that covered elements of novel writing, such as voice, point-of-view, dialogue, setting, conflict, themes, and so on. Writing for teens is different than writing for adults and I appreciated the advice and tips. The chapter that really got me thinking was the one that dealt with obstacles. I'm stuck in my writing and the author tackles each of the most common obstacles with good reasoning. Now I just need to apply the advice!

What I also found unique about this book is that Hanley includes tons of interviews with YA authors, and also some agents and publishers. I liked reading what they had to say. She also covers writing nonfiction YA, editing, and self-publishing. A lot of the info in this book was familiar to me mostly because I am a self-published author who's worked with editors, done research on marketing, and now blogs about books. Book reviewing has opened up the world of publishing to me better than any research. Therefore, I was able to appreciate how Hanley covers this in her book.

So if you are thinking of writing and publishing a YA novel, this one will set you on the right track. Hanley even made sure to include a whole chapter on resources for writers to complement Wild Ink and to help you hone your craft.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

A Short Q&A With Victoria Hanley

How did the idea for Wild Ink come about?
Participants in my workshops at writers’ conferences were eager for more complete information on writing for young adults (YA). There’s so much to say about this fascinating subject—more than can be covered in a few hours.

Why do you write young adult fiction?
I’m drawn to coming-of-age stories full of intensity, growth, and passionate voices.

What do you see as the future of young adult fiction?
More and more readers will discover this genre, and for good reason. YA novels are fast-paced and well-written, starring dynamic young characters who wrestle with all the pressures of life. Irresistible! I expect the market to keep expanding.

What about the future of YA nonfiction?
Nonfiction YA is an exploding genre right now. Hundreds of topics are just waiting for knowledgeable authors to write about them in a refreshing style that appeals to teens. (Wild Ink includes a chapter on writing nonfiction YA.)

What makes Wild Ink stand out from other books on writing/publishing YA fiction?
Wild Ink is packed with examples from novels such as Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, giving readers in-depth tips on how to turn their own ideas into riveting stories. Dozens of interviews with writers, editors, and agents provide an inspirational view of what’s happening in the industry and how to approach finishing a book and getting published.

How can I contact you to learn more about Wild Ink or the young adult market?
Please contact reviews@prufrock.com for more information on my book or visit my website, http://www.victoriahanley.com, to find out how to contact me directly.


About the author:
Victoria Hanley loves to nurture emerging writers. She is the award-winning author of the best-selling books, Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write and Wild Ink: How to Write Fiction for Young Adults. She is also a YA novelist published in 13 languages. Her books have received awards and honors in the U.S. and abroad, including the International Reading Association Young Adults’ Choices, the Colorado Book Award, Kallbacher-Klapperschlange Award (Germany), Colorado Authors League Top Hand Award, Publishers West Silver Award, and New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. Her work has also been placed on state award lists in Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, and Colorado, and earned a Carnegie Medal nomination in the United Kingdom.

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Sourcebooks for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday, What Are You Reading? for July 29


This is the last day of our vacation! We are heading back to Montreal. We had a blast. Yesterday, we participated in a sandbuilding competition on Panmure Island Beach in P.E.I. and we came in 2nd place among 10 competitors! It was so much fun.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia who now blogs at Mailbox Monday. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Jennifer at Mrs Q Book Addict will be hosting for the month of July. You can also view the touring blog list here for the upcoming months.


Don't know what came in the mail this week since we haven't been home, but I did pick up the audio version of Anne of Green Gables. How could I resist? We were in the land of Green Gables.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (audio book)

One of the most beloved heroines in all literature has captivated generations, both young and old. Young orphan Anne Shirley eventually brings happiness and love into the lives of her foster parents on Prince Edward Island. But first she must convince the dismayed Matthew and Marilla, who had requested a boy, not to return her to the orphanage. First in the series.



This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. This is where we keep track of what we are currently reading and plan to read.

I've been mainly reading in the car as we drove from one place to another....

Read and reviewed:
Delirium Lauren Oliver (Loved it!)
Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) by Amy Thomas (Delicious read)

Currently Reading:
Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

Have any of you read these books?

Friday, July 27, 2012

Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) by Amy Thomas

Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) by Amy Thomas
Sourcebooks
ISBN: 978-1402264115
Published Feb 1, 2012
Trade paperback, 304 pages

This was the perfect book to bring with me on vacation. I read most of it as we drove from Montreal to the Atlantic provinces—and it got me excited about trying new sweets and foods just like Amy Thomas writes about in her memoir about living in Paris.

For a chocolate lover like me this book had me drooling through all the detailed descriptions of the mouthwatering treats at the patisseries and boulangeries the author discovered as she toured the shops and cafés in Paris. Thomas, a freelance writer in New York was offered to work in Paris to write ad copy for Louis Vuitton. She jumped at the chance to live in one of her favorite cities in the world. I loved following her on her delicious journey as she alternated between Paris and New York, sometimes comparing, but mostly sharing the best and beloved sweets in the world.

You cannot read this book without getting hungry. I looked for chocolate shops with new interest as we toured new places and towns on our travels, but although I found some good chocolate, nothing compared to the unique chocolate experiences Thomas wrote about. I have been craving the “strawberry balsamic truffle made with strawberry purée, eight-year-old La Vecchia Dispensa Italian balsamic vinegar, and 66 percent dark chocolate, which was dusted with freeze-dried strawberry powder”. I mean, c'mon, doesn't that sound amazing? One bite would bring me to heaven!

Interspersed between such heavenly descriptions are Thomas' reflections on her singlehood and what she wanted to do with her life. She speaks openly about being an expat, about loving both cities (NY and Paris) and how at times she felt she wasn't completely part of either. She writes about her struggles and frustrations with the French culture and how finally she comes to terms with all of this. I could relate to Thomas even though my situation is very different from hers.

Thomas writes about the chefs, (Pierre Hermé, Jean-Paul Hévin, Eric Kayser, to name a few...) and gives a brief history of their place in the chocolate or baking world, some of the baking secrets that make their treats so renowned, and where you can find their delightful creations. So in a way, this memoir is also a reference book, and therefore, a keeper on my bookshelf. It's one of the books you'll want to carry with you if you are heading off to Paris or New York and are interested in touring bakeries and chocolateries. This book has given me a newfound appreciation for chocolate bonbons, cakes, viennoiseries, and everything else to do with one of my favorite foods—chocolate.

Note: This book is rated P = Profanity for 5 f-words and a few mild religious expletives.

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Sourcebooks for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (Audio Book Review)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Harper Audio 2011
Listening Library
Narrated by Sarah Drew
Duration: 11 hours 42 minutes

I have been wanting to read this book forever and so finally decided to listen to the audio book for three reasons. The first is that it was listed as one of Goodreads top best YA audio books, second because listening to it fitted my schedule better than reading it, and thirdly because I just discovered the allure and excitement of audio books. This book was everything I hoped it would be. Exciting, passionate and a fantastic listen!

Magdalena (Lena) lives at a time when love is considered a disease—amor deliria nervosa. They discovered a cure for it, a procedure that every person goes through when they turn eighteen. The cure kind of numbs the people so that they do not feel the passion and pain that is associated with love and euphoria. Lena is an orphan living with her aunt. Her own mother, who had been submitted to the cure procedure three times without the desired effect, committed suicide when Lena was six years old. Lena is looking forward to the cure because she doesn't want to end up like her mother, but then she meets Alex and everything changes.

Essentially, for me, the story delves deeply into the themes of love, eros and filia, shown through her relationship with Alex, her best friend Hannah, and her mother, as seen through flashbacks. I liked all these characters and was certainly able to relate to Lena's feelings as she experienced the beauty of first love. It brought me back to my own teenage years. Of course being Italian, I totally got and absolutely loved the whole two-young-people-in-love-against-the-world concept (think Romeo and Juliette) as well as Lena's frustrations with the deluded world in which she lives.

The narrator does an excellent job of capturing Lena's voice and my heart raced as the narrator's voice intensified as the plot climaxed. She captured the moments of teenage angst, the coldness of the aunt, and Alex's tender love for Lena. I relished this listening experience, savoring every minute. This is the first YA audio book I listen to and it's made me eager to listen to others in this genre. 

The ending left me soaring and eager to read the next book in this trilogy, Pandemonium. There are a few important threads left hanging, as is expected of an ending to the first book in a trilogy. If you want to read this book, but don't have time, consider the audio book. It's really worth listening to.  

Note: This book is rated P = Profanity for 2 f-words and a few mild religious expletives, and S = Sexual for one scene with some nudity, no sex.
I will count this book toward the following challenges:  Dystopian Reading Challenge

Reviewed by Laura 

Disclosure: I borrowed this audio book from the library. I was not told how to rate or review this product.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday What Are You Reading? for July 23

We are on vacation this week! We are currently touring the Maritime provinces here in Canada. So far, we went whale watching on a tall 70-foot sail ship in St-Andrews-by-the-Sea in New Brunswick, we walked the ocean flour at Hopewell Rocks at low tide, and we are now chilling at an oceanfront cottage in Prince Edward Island. Not much time for blogging, although I did get some reading done as we drove endlessly through the beautiful hills as we went from Montreal to the Maritimes.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia who now blogs at Mailbox Monday. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Jennifer at Mrs Q Book Addict will be hosting for the month of July. You can also view the touring blog list here for the upcoming months.

This is what I got last week:


All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin (Audio win from Devourer of Books)

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.


This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. This is where we keep track of what we are currently reading and plan to read.

Read and reviewed:
Conjugations of the Verb To Be by Glen Chamberlain
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Currently Reading:
Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) by Amy Thomas (Delicious!)
Wild Ink: Success Secrets to Writing and Publishing in the Young Adult Market by Victoria Hanley

Have any of you read these books?

Thursday, July 19, 2012

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
HarperPerennial Classics
ISBN: 978-1443414081
Published January 2012
E-book (EPub Edition)


When Anna from Diary of an Eccentric and Serena from Savvy, Verse & Wit organized a read-a-long for this book, I jumped in, wanting a chance to read a classic. I may have read and studied For Whom the Bell Tolls in high school, but other than that I have no recollection of reading Ernest Hemingway's works, touted as one of America's greatest writers.

As I began to read, I realized Hemingway's writing style is sparse, revealing little emotion, except that his use of certain words reveal much, such as the descriptions of the change of season, the rain that is constant throughout, bleak and penetrating, like the war. Very different from most books whose setting is Italy. But then again, the story is about Tenente Frederic Henry, an American in the Italian Army during World War I, and his romance born out of desperation with a British nurse, Catherine Blakely.

Henry is an ambulance driver in the army, a man who takes decisive action and has a wry sense of humour. Not much else is known about him, such as why he joined the Italian Army. He becomes injured on duty and is taken to the hospital where his relationship with Catherine blossoms into an affair. They pretend they are married and everything is wonderful, and their relationship continues on this way even later when she is pregnant. It forebodes bad times ahead leading to an ending I found abrupt, with unresolved issues, and ultimately very sad. The most interesting part of the book is when the army decides to retreat and some of the officers are accused of deflecting and are killed. Henry escapes with his life and it is never known if the authorities catch up to him eventually or what happens to some of his close army buddies.

Sometimes when I was reading scenes with dialogue, it was almost like reading a play. I had to fill out the rest with my imagination. I caught the humour and perhaps at times the irony or sarcasm in the speech, but I will be honest in saying that there are several scenes that were boring, repetitive, and frustrating. Catherine irritated me at times with her clinginess, but with a War raging it was understandable, after all they were both young and if they were juvenile and petty it was a way to cope with the heaviness of the war. I did enjoy the Italian references to places and food and the expressions some of the Italian soldiers used. Rinaldi was very Italian, kissing Henry every time they met, a customary Italian way of greeting.

A Farewell to Arms is easy to read, but not always easy to understand. I would have wanted to know more about Henry's feelings, especially since the story is written in the first-person point of view. I'm not sure I will attempt another Hemingway novel. His writing style leaves much to be desired for me. However, it's clear Hemingway's own experiences during the war make this a diary-like story (albeit an emotionally-restrained one) of a soldier during WWI and a good study in the effects of life in wartime.


Note: This book is rated P = Profanity for religious expletives.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: World War I Reading Challenge, I Love Italy Reading Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: I bought this book from the Kobo store. I was not told how to rate or review this product.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Conjugations of the Verb To Be by Glen Chamberlain

Conjugations of the Verb To Be by Glen Chamberlain
Delphinium Books
ISBN: 978-1883285500
Published Sept 6, 2011
Trade paperback, 208 pages

This is a collection of short stories that explores the themes of living, loving and dying—hence the catchy title. Chamberlain's writing is beautiful, making even the mundane sound inspiring. I felt like every sentence held meaning, and I sometimes re-read certain passages which begged to be scrutinized and appreciated. This doesn't mean that I cared or liked every character or situation in the stories but they certainly made me reflect.

All the stories take place in Buckle, Montana, a setting that is alive and as much a character in every story as those the author introduces to us, whether a teenager who shares a mother/daughter moment that I loved in Amongst the Fields or a hired hand whose magical view of horse birthing was lovely to read in Horse Thieves:

“It's that first stolen breath, a big, startled one, the biggest one ever because the baby's lungs have never had anything in them before. Nothing at all. After that, all the other breaths will be married up in pairs of in and out, except that last one where the body comes full circle and gives back what it took when it was born, and nothing's telling it to, but everything is.” p.97

Stacking, one of my favorites,  kept me turning the pages fast, a tale that expanded three generations. I got a few chuckles out of Conjugations of the Verb To Be--the introspective thoughts of an adjunct professor who teaches composition at the university, contemplating her life as she does a crossword puzzle. It made me wonder how much of it was from the author's own experience of teaching. Off the Road: or the Perfect Curve Unfound was another that I liked because the main character grew by the end of the story, and her experience made her a better person. With most of the stories, the reader is never sure where the author will take him.

The stories are filled with descriptions of the Montana land and ranch life, making the author's love for this state obvious. The stories seem to touch each other even though only a few characters appear in more than one story. Most of all, I was taken by the author's imagination as she spun stories that were different, especially Twin Bridges, Montana about the orphans who find something unexpected under the pond's ice. The last story had a sadness to it, and I was sorry the collection ended this way, but it seemed to bring things full circle. 

This is a collection of interesting stories, with thought-provoking metaphors and a style of writing that is reflective, lyrical and rich. A reader cannot rush through it but is compelled to savor the words as they unfold into magnetic stories. 

Note: This book is rated P = Profanity for 2 f-words, a few religious expletives and a some crude words.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Short Stories Reading Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Kimberly Sorren from Delphinium Books for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday What Are You Reading? for July 16

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia who now blogs at Mailbox Monday. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Jennifer at Mrs Q Book Addict will be hosting for the month of July. You can also view the touring blog list here for the upcoming months.

No review books in the mail last week! I've cut down on review books so that I could catch up with by TBR pile, especially the ones I want to read for my challenges.



This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. This is where we keep track of what we are currently reading and plan to read.

Read and reviewed:
Star of Flint by Jill Smith Entrekin
Confectionately Yours #1: Save the Cupcake! by Lisa Papademetriou

Currently Reading:
Wild Ink: Success Secrets to Writing and Publishing in the Young Adult Market by Victoria Hanley
The Captive Heart by Dale Cramer
Evertaster by Adam Glendon Sidwell

Still Listening to:
The Woman Who Changed Her Brain by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young (Fascinating!)
Delirium by Lauren Oliver (Loving it more and more...)

Have any of you read these books?

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Confectionately Yours #1: Save the Cupcake! by Lisa Papademetriou

Confectionately Yours #1: Save the Cupcake! by Lisa Papademetriou
Scholastic Inc
ISBN: 978-0545222280
Published 2012
Paperback, pages
Ages: 8-12

My daughter and I have just discovered a delicious new series for middle-graders! It's the Confectionately Yours series with 7th grader Hayley, whose world changes when her parents divorce, her mom loses her job, they move in with her grandmother, her dad has a new girlfriend, and her best friend gets all weird on her. My daughter and I liked that it dealt with real issues realistically. What's more, one of my daughter's best friends is going through a similar situation so it helped my daughter understand what she must be going through.

My daughter and I loved Hayley's personality. She's smart, kind, and has so many insecurities. She's hurting because of all the changes in her life, but she's also funny. And she loves to bake cupcakes and share them. With her classmates and with us. My daughter and I drooled when we read the recipes for these cupcakes, including the gluten-free one. There are seven in all, scattered throughout the book and each one suited to the topic at hand. They came with original names and ingredients. We thought this was so cool, and we can't wait to try them out!

This book explores a lot of good issues for this age group: family problems, friendships, adapting to change, and standing up for what you believe in. They were all handled very well. There is a great cast of characters, one of our favourite being Chloe, Hayley's younger sister and their Gran from England who owns a tea shop. The author smoothly takes us on Hayley's journey of changes, from her home life to her school life.

The second book in this series Taking the Cake! is already out and my daughter really wants to read it. There are some unresolved issues that will be addressed in the second book, and we look forward to continuing on Hayley's journey.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read. 

Reviewed by Laura and daughter

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Star of Flint by Jill Smith Entrekin

Star of Flint by Jill Smith Entrekin
Room 272 Press
ISBN: 9780615563244
Published Nov 30, 2011
Large format paperback, 240 pages

Jill Smith Entrekin is a wonderful storyteller! This character-driven novel tells the coming-of-age story of two sister in Flintville, Georgia in the 1960s. Alison (Allie) Sinclair is a ten-year old outspoken tomboy, whereas her sister Cecelia (Cece) is a pretty fourteen year-old teen who is sensitive and has the talent for painting. The sisters are close, and their relationship cements as the years go by and they experience their share of grief and loss. It's a book that celebrates sisterhood and family. I really loved this theme in the story.

This book made me laugh and it made me cry. And of course, the Southern flavor in the dialogue and setting added to my enjoyment of this novel. Allie is a strong female character, but she is also vulnerable, which brought out my compassion when she messed up at one point. I loved watching her grow up and deal with all the things life threw at her. She made me laugh. She was spunky and smart. Cece was so different from Allie, but she understood her sister so well and was there when she needed her. Cece had a more delicate nature with inner strength. I ached for her at times. The cast of characters is wonderful, from loving Diddy to self-sacrificing Aunt Bird and intuitive Berthie.

The synopsis focuses on a shocking secret that Allie discovers that ignites an explosive chain of events a decade later. But in reality, Allie discovers only clues that foreshadow what will eventually lead to the uncovering of a shocking secret much later in her life. The author spends a lot of time building the characters and their life from children to young women that the mystery is really in the background. However, we become invested in these characters because we get to know them intimately so that the shocking secret touches us too. The secret is not their story. Their sisterhood is.

When Allie becomes a teenager there are several scenes with drinking and dirty talk with guys, one of whom is a homosexual. I didn't care for these scenes, which bogged down the story for me, or some of the crude language. I know guys can talk that way, but I don't necessarily want to read it. Also, the large format of the book (7 x 10 inches) was odd for a novel and hard to carry around. I loved the book cover though.

This author's debut is a great and promising start. She can sure spin a wonderful story! If you love Southern tales this one will definitely please.

Note: This book is rated P = profanity. There are 4 f-words, plenty of religious expletives and crude language, especially relating to sex.
I will count this book toward the following challenge: What's in a Name 5 

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday What Are You Reading? for July 9

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia who now blogs at Mailbox Monday. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Jennifer at Mrs Q Book Addict will be hosting for the month of July. You can also view the touring blog list here for the upcoming months.

The Woman Who Changed Her Brain by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young (audio for review)

This is the story and work of a remarkable woman. Barbara Arrowsmith-Young was born with severe learning disabilities. Undaunted, she used her strengths to develop brain exercises to overcome her neurological deficits. Not only did she build herself a better brain, she developed a brain training program that has helped thousands of others do the same and changed countless lives. Young’s work is one of the first examples of the extensive and practical application of “neuroplasticity.” As the individuals described in this book change their brains, readers see how the brain works and what a profound impact improved mental capacity has on how we can participate in the world. Here her personal story is interwoven with fascinating accounts of the clinical mysteries and triumphant stories that Barbara has encountered during her career.

Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camilleri (bought used)

A young Don Juan is found murdered in front of his apartment building early one morning, and an elderly couple is reported missing after an excursion to the ancient site of Tindari - two seemingly unrelated cases for Inspector Montalbano to solve amid the daily complications of life at Vigata police headquarters. But when Montalbano discovers that the couple and the murdered young man lived in the same building, his investigation stumbles onto Sicily's brutal "New Mafia," which leads him down a path more evil and far-reaching than any he has been on before.



This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. This is where we keep track of what we are currently reading and plan to read.

Read and reviewed:
And Laughter Fell from the Sky by Jyotsna Sreenivasan
Don't Laugh at Giraffe by Rebecca Bender
Mom, I Fired the Babysitter by Colleen H. Robley Blake

Currently Reading:
The Conjugations of the Verb To Be by Glen Chamberlain
Evertaster by Adam Glendon Sidwell

Listening to:
The Woman Who Changed Her Brain by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young (Fascinating!)
Delirium by Lauren Oliver (Loving it)

Have any of you read these books?

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Kid Konnection: Picture Books with Positive Messages

Don't Laugh at Giraffe by Rebecca Bender
Pajama Press
ISBN: 978-0986949562
Published May 15, 2012
Hardcover, 32 pages
Ages 4-7

Book Synopsis:
Giraffe and Bird squabble and get on each other's nerves. There's nothing the irrepressible Bird likes more than to have a laugh at the expense of his dignified friend, and one thirsty day at the water hole, he gets his chance. Giraffe's awkward attempt to reach the water without getting his hooves wet raises a snicker from a flamingo, a chortle from a zebra and a howl from a hippo. Soon everyone is laughing—especially Bird. In fact, Bird is having a ball until he realizes that his mortified friend has left the water hole without so much as a sip. Now Bird is ashamed. How will he get Giraffe back?

Our thoughts:
This book is a delight to read because of the beautiful and vibrant illustrations, and also the different font sizes to emphasize certain words in the text. My son took the time to observe them as I read this book to him. He really liked them. Bird is audacious and this trait helps him make up for poking fun at Giraffe. I loved his facial expressions. Giraffe is dignified. There is something about giraffes that I love. They are so graceful. But when they fall it could look anything but graceful or dignified. The author chose well the animals to portray various personalities.


It's inevitable that kids will laugh at each other as they learn to manoeuvre through life, and like Bird and Giraffe who get on each other's nerves but are inseparable, feeling sorry about laughing at a friend and making up for it is an important lesson. My son felt bad the other animals laughed at giraffe, especially his friend, so although he thought this book cute and funny, he felt for Giraffe. My son is also eight and friendships make up a big part of middle grade life. It's a sensitive topic. I can see how this book will appeal to younger children, preparing them for those times they will be laughed at. Parents can use this cute story to talk about how to deal with hurting other's feelings, and for the other party, how to get over an embarrassing moment and move on.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Disclosure: Thanks to Pajama Press for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product. 

Mom I Fired the Babysitter! by Colleen H. Robley Blake, illustrated by Randy Jennings
Strategic Book Group
ISBN: 978-1609116347
Published: August 26, 2010
Softcover, 40 pages

Book synopsis:
Alex thinks he is quite capable of taking care of himself so he resents the fact that he has to be watched by a babysitter. He fantasizes about all the reasons why she needs to be fired and tries to convince his mother. Mom becomes the go-between for Alex's and the babysitter's complaints about each other. But in the end, will the babysitter stay or go?

Our thoughts:
What happens when a kid feels he doesn't need a babysitter? He will not be happy and might want to fire her! This is how Alex feels about his babysitter. But Alex isn't an easy boy. He's naughty and rude and has chased previous babysitters away. He dreams of the things he would like to do to get rid of this babysitter. Young readers will enjoy the comic-like colorful illustrations and might get a kick out of Alex's antics. The text is in rhyme and easy to read. I really liked the illustrations, but had to re-read the story several times to make sure I understood the author's message.

I was somewhat confused about the whole situation with the babysitter. Was she really strict because Alex was a brat or did his claims that she only ate and slept an excuse to try to get his mother to get rid of her? He tries to talk to his mother about how he feels, but she doesn't listen. Finally, he talks to his older brother Stephen and his Dad about it and they agree with him and think of ways to get rid of her. I think the message here is to voice how you feel about a situation until you are heard. However, there is no advice on what to do if you don't get along with someone, other than scheme to get rid of the person.

Personally, the rules the babysitter instilled weren't bad, but it was obvious Alex did not like her and refused to listen to her. He thought her lazy and mean. But she is not some nutty old bat; she's young and pretty. My son loved the young babysitters I would hire on occasion so that my husband and I could have an evening out, so he really couldn't relate to this story. However, kids who have had their share of babysitters might just get a laugh or two from this story. At the back, the book includes three pages of questions that could be used as a tool for reading comprehension and discussion.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Reviewed by Laura and son

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.

Monday, July 2, 2012

And Laughter Fell from the Sky by Jyotsna Sreenivasan (TLC Book Tour)

And Laughter Fell from the Sky by Jyotsna Sreenivasan
William Morrow
ISBN: 978-0062105769
Published June 19, 2012
Trade paperback, 336 pages


I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked reading about the dilemma that two young Indian-Americans, Rasika and Abhay, faced when dealing with their culture's traditions and pressures, but I disliked Rasika's character and was frustrated throughout my reading of this novel. Rasika is a twenty-five year-old beautiful woman, living at home in a wealthy family. She comes across as vain, spoiled and aloof. Abhay is a smart young man who doesn't know what he wants to do with his life, much to the disappointment of his father. Although he has nothing in common with Rasika, who thinks he is not good enough for her, he falls in love with her and pursues her even as she agrees to an arranged marriage with a suitor chosen by her parents.

It quickly becomes clear that Rasika doesn't know how to deal with the pressure of an arranged marriage. The only reason she agrees to it is because she will have the ideal husband—handsome, well-educated, and doting. She thinks she has good values because she has grace, dresses well and is beautiful. However, she is promiscuous and has short-lived relationships with men to get away from the pressures of her parents. This is what she does with Abhay too. She sleeps with him and then wants nothing to do with him because she doesn't want her parents to find out about her double life, and besides, he is from a different caste and therefore would never be accepted by her parents as an acceptable husband.

Abhay, on the other hand, understands why Rasika acts the way she does, why she is so messed up, and even though he knows she only used him for sex, he still wants her. I kept wondering what would make these two get together in the end, if at all, since they were so different and it would take a big change in Rasika's way of thinking to even accept Abhay as an acceptable mate by her standards. The ending, although a happy one, was disappointing to me as a reader because the author took the easy way out where Rasika did not have to deal with her problem. Instead, a situation took care of that and the ending was too neatly tied up with a big red bow.

There was no resolution for me, just a quick-fix ending. The only reason that kept me reading this book was the psychological aspect of how children from two cultures deal with being from two different worlds. Okay,  Rasika's coping mechanism is destroying her, so how does she finally confront the cause of her dilemma? How does she change? How does she grow as a person? Would she resort to the same tactics when things would get difficult in the future? None of this is clear by the end of the book.

So although I enjoyed the setting and the Indian culture, I had mixed feelings when reading this book, especially at the end when things became convenient for everyone. And I'm still trying to figure out the book's title, if that expression is significant in the Indian culture.

Note: This book is rated S = sex scenes. There are sex scenes in this novel, however, not at all explicit.
You can read more reviews on the TLC Book Tour page.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Reading the World Challenge

About the author:
The daughter of Indian immigrants, Jyotsna Sreenivasan was born and raised in Ohio. Her short fiction has appeared in numerous literary magazines and she has received literature grants from the Washington, D.C., Commission on the Arts and Humanities. The author of several nonfiction books published by academic presses and the creator of the online Gender Equality Bookstore, she lives in Moscow, Idaho, with her family. This is her first novel.

Connect with the author here: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Jyotsna will discuss And Laughter Fell From the Sky on Book Club Girl on Air on Wednesday, July 18th at 7 pm ET.


Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday What Are You Reading? for July 2nd

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia who now blogs at Mailbox Monday. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Jennifer at Mrs Q Book Addict will be hosting for the month of July. You can also view the touring blog list here for the upcoming months.

No review books this week but I met up with my Montreal book blogger friends and we exchanged books. This is what I got:

Matched by Ally Condie
Crossed by Ally Condie
Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif
Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi
The Secret Countess by Eva Ibbotson
The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer
Is It Still Cheating If I Don't Get Caught? by Bruce Weinstein
Ida B by Katherine Hannigan

Thanks to Amanda from Tales and Treats who has moved back to the US and Lucy from Moonlight's Gleam Bookshelf for these awesome books!



This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. This is where we keep track of what we are currently reading and plan to read.

Read and reviewed:
Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot
Your Daughter Needs a Hero by Maria C. Furloug
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott (audio review)

Currently Reading:
Star of Flint by Jill Smith Entrekin
Evertaster by Adam Glendon Sidwell

Have any of you read these books?

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

Visit Us Today

Visit Us Today
iRead: getting your book in the hands of readers
 
Back To Top
Copyright © 2009-2017 Laura Fabiani Library of Clean Reads . Designed by OddThemes OddThemes