Giveaway! Signed copy of "Don't Even Think About It" by Sarah Mlynowski

Want a signed copy of Sarah Mlynowski's newest book, Don't Even Think About It? Of course you do! You can enter to win below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner of "Love Unlisted"

Soooo I know it's been like half a week since I was supposed to post the winner, but the winner of Love Unlisted by Stephanie Haddad is....

Andrea L from MA!


Thanks to everyone who entered!

Review: "Love Unlisted" by Stephanie Haddad + giveaway

Title: Love Unlisted
Author: Stephanie Haddad
Publisher: Stephanie Haddad, 2011

Grace makes lists. Lots of them. Lists for her favorite things, the pros and cons about certain decisions she makes, even about the men she dates. She has to be in control of situations, and the lists help her do that. But her life is beginning to get much more complicated when her brother invades her three-bedroom apartment that she shares with her best friend, Bernsie; she's got the chance to become a full-fledged event planner instead of just as assistant, but she needs to prove herself first; not to mention she keeps bumping into Colin Kilbourne, a sexy musician with the geek look Grace so loves (Pro) but with unfortunate facial hair (soul patch) and the tendency to spill coffee on her (Con). She needs to figure out a way to get a handle on things—or just lose control completely.

So let me start my review with a story. I walked into a local coffee shop with my fiance where Stephanie Haddad had set up a table with her books, selling and signing. I approached her just before we were about to leave and asked if she would consider giving me a book for an honest review, and she accepted my offer. I'm glad I went up to her—she definitely has talent as a writer and gives Grace a fun, quirky voice that won me over.

I enjoyed Love Unlisted for the most part. The story was nothing too crazy, just a twentysomething woman at a crucial moment in her life and trying to get through it (though her compulsion to list is a main part of how she deals with it, not something typical of most people). The plot itself was not really what kept me reading, since the only things happening were at Grace's job, the stuff going on with her brother moving in, and the relationships going on. Though it was fun to see all the ways things turned out wrong for Grace in the party planning stuff.

What I really liked was watching how Grace and Colin developed their relationship, and watching the secondary characters' going about their own business. Grace also really has to wrestle with her listing habit, especially when it gets in the way of not only her relationship Colin but the rest of her life, as well.

Being from Boston, I loved reading a book set in my city. I don't live in the city, but if I were to pick one to be mine, I'd definitely pick Boston. I've been to the places Haddad writes about, so it was just a little extra fun thing for me.

This is technically an adult book, and I would classify it as chick lit, but I could easily see teens reading this. There are no explicit scenes and I think the only obstacle for teens reading this would be the inability to relate to Grace's situation as a young woman in the workforce.

My biggest gripe about this book is all of the typos throughout. It wasn't enough to drive me crazy, but there were more than normal. Granted, this is a self-published title and the typos were mostly things a spell-check wouldn't catch, but they were there. But that's my biggest problem, and it wasn't really too big of a deal.

Overall, I liked this book. Not the greatest I've ever read, but it had a fresh feel, the language had some kick to it, and it was nice to just sit down with a fun book.

If you'd like to read this or any other books by Haddad, check out her website. She lives in my hometown, which is of course how I met her, so if you're in the Boston area check to see if she'll be anywhere nearby anytime soon. She's a nice lady.

If you'd like a copy of Love Unlisted, I'm going to pass on my (signed!) copy to one of you! To enter, just leave a comment on this post with a way to reach you (email would work just fine for that). I'll announce the winner on Friday, January 27. And also, her other book A Previous Engagement is available free right now in ebook form pretty much everywhere they sell ebooks. Here's a link if you have a nook, and here's one if you have a Kindle.

Disclosure: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Winner of "All These Things I've Done"

Congrats to Kayla, who has won a copy of Gabrielle Zevin's All These Things I've Done! I hope you enjoy it. I certainly did—watch out for my review later this week.

"All These Things I've Done" Trailer and Giveaway

Hi everyone! I've been given the great opportunity by Zeitghost Media to bring to you the trailer for Gabrielle Zevin's latest book, All These Things I've Done. See if this dystopian story is something that could intrigue you by checking out the video below. Long story short, chocolate and coffee are illegal, New York is rife with crime, and our main lady Anya Balanchine is the daughter of a notorious (and dead) crime boss, though she is not involved in that part of her family's business herself.

If you'd like the chance to win a copy of your own, please fill in the form below the trailer. Enjoy!




Interested? Fill it out, but only if you're over 13, live in the US or Canada, and do it before Friday, September 9 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Foverever Giveaway Winner!

I've picked a winner for my Forever giveaway with the ever-handy random.org, and the magic number made Annette from Annette's Book Spot my winner! Congratulations, Annette! I hope you enjoy your signed ARC of Forever by Maggie Stiefvater!

On a side note, I'll be in Michigan for the rest of the week, with limited Internet access. And by limited, I mean strictly from my phone. So you will not be seeing much of me, though I hope to be on Twitter fairly often. Oh by the way, it's quarter to four in the morning and I'm awake so that I can get to the airport on time. BOOO.

Anyway, have a good week everyone!

Giveaway of "Forever" by Maggie Stiefvater!

Hi all! In apology for being so inactive on here, I'm giving you all an "I'm-sorry" present. Here's a giveaway to win a SIGNED ARC of Maggie Stiefvater's Forever, out this month!

I had the pleasure of meeting Maggie, along with Libba Bray and Meg Cabot, at a Scholastic lunch celebrating This Is Teen! earlier this summer. Again, I'm sorry for the terrible posting job I'm doing talking about these events.

Anyway, if you'd like to enter to win this lovely autographed ARC, please fill in the form below! Some rules:

Must be 13 years or older to enter.

This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on July 31, 2011.

US or Canada only.

Only one entry per person. I will find out if you enter more than once; trust me, I check.

Good luck my friends! No need to be a follower to enter, but it would be appreciated.

Short hiatus and giveaway winner

First things first. I know you're all dying to know who won my Ruby Red giveaway, and here it is!

Anna Freud of My Open Books! Congratulations, Anna!

sodahead.com

In other news, I will be on a short hiatus probably for the rest of the week. You might have noticed I sort of disappeared recently. That's because my poor little laptop wasn't working right and is in the computer hospital to get all better. I'm hoping to have it back by the end of the week.

"Ruby Red" Giveaway!

I've been presented with the opportunity to host a giveaway of Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red for all of you, my lucky and loyal readers. Haven't heard of the time-travel adventure yet? Here's a quick summary provided by the publisher:

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

I personally enjoy time travel stuff, especially when paired with London stuff. Especially when it's London of the past AND the present. So I have good expectations. The trailer is pretty cute too.

Look out for my review later this summer. In the meantime, sign up to win your own copy of Ruby Red! Also, many thanks to Zeitghost Media and Macmillan for providing me with said copy.

Fill out the form below the rules.


Rules
*This giveaway will end at 11:59 p.m. EST on June 13, 2011.
*Entrants in US or Canada only.
*One entry per person.
*Must be 13 or older to enter.
*You do NOT have to be a follower to enter.
*If I contact you as the winner and you don't respond within 48 hours, I will pick a new winner.

Winner of "The Secret Society of the Crystal Ball" hooray!

And the winner is! Drumroll please...

Brrrrrrrrrr (that's my drumroll)

Andrew from Massachusetts!

Congratulations Andrew, you will be receiving a signed copy of The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green!

Woohoo!

Review: "The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball" by Risa Green

Title: The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball
Author: Risa Green
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire, 2010
Where I got it: I was sent a copy by the publisher for review.

Erin Channing leads a pretty boring life. She has the highest GPA in the tenth grade, does nothing out of the ordinary, takes no risks, and plays by the rules. That is, until she inherits a Pink Crystal Ball (think Magic 8 Ball, but clear with pink opaque liquid inside) from her recently deceased Aunt Kiki. After the initial grief of losing her aunt, Erin and her friends realize there's more to this Pink Crystal Ball than it first appears. Could it grant her wishes for real? This might be the answer to all her problems, including her boring life—but it also might come at a cost.

At first I was a little worried about the way certain concepts and practices were treated in this book. Green takes real religious practices and things that are taken very seriously by some people, and kind of mocks them a bit—it made me slightly uncomfortable. But then I took a step back and tried to enjoy the story for what it was: a light, fun comedy of errors/coming-of-age story with a dash of romance and magic.

At first I didn't really like Erin or her friends, but as time went on I definitely changed my mind. I kind of was like Erin in high school, though I did do other things besides study. They're all pretty easy to identify with, for the most part, and I ended up invested in the outcome of their story.

I enjoyed seeing how the ball made certain wishes come true, especially since they didn't always turn out quite the way Erin envisioned. Especially when she made wishes about changing things about her body. Pretty funny, that.

But despite all of the fun and silly things that happen, there are some heavier issues explored, like grief, reconciliation, serious bullying (in person and via the Internet), family problems, not to mention three-dimensionality in some supposedly stock characters. Erin's friend Lindsay is tormented by a girl in their grade, to the point she fakes sick and stays home from school; her other friend Samantha, though rich, has to live with parents who hate each other and openly talk about their feelings in front of her; Erin and her mother both have to deal with Kiki's (her mother's sister) death and the lack of closure, as she hadn't spoken to either of them in the last year of her death.

What I was perhaps most surprised about was the development of Megan, the mean girl who tortures Lindsay and has been for years. Green gives her layers that we don't expect, especially ones that Erin herself is surprised to discover. It also makes her readers wonder about the people they dislike in their own lives.

This book is a lesson in learning to look deeper than the surface, to take a few chances in life and to enjoy it while you can. And the best part is Green manages to get this point across without being corny, and still making it a fun time.

Want your own, SIGNED copy of this book? Sign up below! Sorry, this one is for U.S. residents only, since the author is sending the book herself. One entry per person, please. This contest will end Wednesday, 12/15 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

WINNERS of my super-awesome 100-follower Laurie Halse Anderson giveaway.

Who won my Laurie Halse Anderson 100-follower giveaway? Why, I'll tell you!

Matt of teen librarian and resident of Middlesex, England will be receiving a signed copy of Wintergirls!

And Tressa from Texas will receive a signed copy of Chains!

Woooooo!!!!!! Congratulations you guys!

On a side note, Matt, when I looked up to see where Middlesex was, it made me real nostalgic and all missing-England. Someday I shall return.

My not-quite-100-followers Laurie Halse Anderson giveaway

Hi guys! So I'm tired of waiting to reach 100 followers for my 100 followers giveaway. I'm hoping that this will get me there, and if it doesn't then OH well.

So here's the deal: some of you might remember I went to see Laurie Halse Anderson recently, and that I got two awesomely awesome books, signed, for you all. Here they are in case you forgot:

And a nice cover view:

Oooo, aahhhh. What can I do to own these lovely signed editions, you ask? Why, it's as simple as filling out the form below. Just do it before November 12 at 11:59 p.m., EST. And just one entry per person, please.

EDIT: I will be choosing 2 winners. The first winner will get to pick which book he or she wants, and the second winner will get the other one.

Winner of "The Night Wanderer" by Drew Hayden Taylor!

Congrats to Kayla! She has won a copy of The Night Wanderer, whoopee!

I'll be contacting her soon to get her shipping info. Stay tuned for more giveaways in the future—I'm getting awfully close to 100 followers, and once that happens, who KNOWS what I'll do.

Banned Book Week giveaway winners!

Hi all! Congrats to the following winners of my Banned Book Week giveaways!

Winner of Forever... by Judy Blume is... Melissa Miranda from Spain!

Winner of The Perks of Being a Wallflower is... Kristina from California!

Winner of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is... Jenny from Louisiana!

Winner of Speak is... Jerrica from Illinois!

Winner of The Giver is... Mike from Massachusetts!

Congratulations everyone! I'll mail out the books sometime in the next two weeks. Happy reading!

Throwback Thursday: "The Giver" by Lois Lowry

It's been a while, Throwback Thursday fans! I've been meaning to do this book for a while, but hadn't gotten around to it. Lucky for me Banned Books Week is a perfect time to revisit a childhood favorite and a classic young adult book. Today we revisit The Giver by Lois Lowry, Newbery Winner and my very first dystopian book (or did I read Fahrenheit 451 first?). The first time I read this book was in the 8th grade. We were reading it in class, and like a couple other books that year (including Fahrenheit 451, actually), we didn't finish the reading in class. Well, this wouldn't do. I had to know how it ended! And so I did what any book lover would: I "borrowed" it from my classroom and brought it home with me. I brought it back, don't worry! I just wanted to finish it. Then I had to have a copy for myself, and of course bought one. So without further ado, here it is!


Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Bantam Books, 1993
Where I got it: I bought myself a copy from Barnes & Noble.

Jonas lives in a perfect world. Everyone is the same: families are assigned to each other (four in each, a mother, father, son and daughter), everyone gets the same privileges at particular ages, everyone lives in the same houses, everyone is assigned a job. There is no color. And people don't die until they are supposed to, with rare exceptions. With this "sameness" in their society, the result is a world with no emotions.

When Jonas turns 12 and he is assigned his position, he is surprised. He will be the new Receiver of Memory, a mysterious position that he doesn't know much about. He meets the old Receiver, now known as the Giver, who begins to show him the true joys, and with this comes the true pains, of life that his community has lost. He keeps these experiential memories as a burden so the others don't have to experience them. But when Jonas' father, who works at the birthing center, brings home a child named Gabriel who is taking a bit too long to develop, Jonas realizes he must make a choice, one that could condemn him and Gabriel to an unknown fate.

Lowry gives us the classic dystopia here, but disguises it in the form of a utopia. There is no pain in this world, no worries or fears. But this means there is no true joy, happiness or love. Family and love are only ideas, concepts that the people of this community know about but don't understand. Jonas is given the responsibility that no 12-year-old should have to have; being the Atlas of his community, holding each memory, good and bad, that they are no longer privileged to have, and not tell others what they are missing in life.

Despite the community having no problems or pain, there are some things clearly wrong with the society, horrifying things that Jonas finds out through the course of the book. There is no such thing as a completely perfect society, since problems and the unexpected crop up no matter how much you plan. And these problems and unexpected occurrences need to be fixed.

There is not a whole lot to say about most of the characters, since they largely have no personalities. They all have their own preferences, yes, but the needs and desires of the society are stronger and unquestioned. The only characters who are really worth taking a look at are Jonas and the Giver. Jonas is an inquisitive boy who doesn't completely bend to the will of the community like his peers, which perhaps singles him out for the job of the Receiver. He has a clear sense of right and wrong, even though he is not taught this. He is also brave in his departure from the normal, showing remarkable courage in the face of adversity and possibly death.

The Giver is a wise old man. He is the only one who knows true pain and loss, and has also felt true love and devotion. We learn of a previous Receiver who he attempted to pass on the memories to, and what happened to her. He has had his heart broken more than once by his memories and by the things he has had to endure, being the only person who truly remembers the way it once was. He gives Jonas all of the courage and support he can when it is necessary.

**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**

Again, Banned Books Week. This book has been banned many times over the years because of the society's use of euthanasia and suicide to help create this perfect community. Death is painless, but once you reach a certain age, that's it. You are done and need to be "released." Most of the elderly are happy to go, but there are some people (not necessarily elderly) who are taken unwillingly. And those banning this for these reasons are simply missing the point of the book. This is a society we clearly don't want to be a part of. Choice is taken away completely (kind of like the world book banners are trying to create—they take away our choice to read). Yes, there are attractive aspects of this society, but they are largely outweighed by the subtle horrors that are hidden from plain view. I'm also pretty sure I've read somewhere (can't remember where) that it has been banned for its positive portrayal of a communist society, which is just plain silly.

Banned Book Week begins today.

Today begins Banned Book Week, a time to celebrate free speech and challenged and banned books. It is also a time to mourn the loss of literature and ideas that result from the removal of materials from libraries, bookstores and classrooms. Though we fight against challenges and bans all year long, this week gives us a chance to remember and educate those who think banning is a thing of the past.

This week I'll be posting reviews of banned and challenged books, and I'll also be hosting giveaways of each book I review. Please keep checking back to see if I've posted the reviews, and keep reading (no matter who tells you you shouldn't)!

"Firelight" winner!

Hi all! Thanks to everyone who entered my contest, I can't believe I got so many entries! And now the moment we've been waiting for, the announcement of the winner! And the winner is...

*Drumroll*

Kelly D!

Thanks again for entering, I will most likely have more giveaways in the future so keep a look out.

"Firelight" Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I'm giving away my ARC of Firelight by Sophie Jordan to spread the wealth. You don't have to be a follower or anything, this time around I'm just asking you to fill out the form. You don't have to put your mailing address if you don't feel comfortable, but it will be one less step if you win.

This is an international contest and will end September 14, at 11:59 EST.

Winner of "Monsoon Summer" giveaway!

Hi everyone! After a very scientific name-pulling-out-of-a-hat procedure, I have the winner of the Monsoon Summer giveaway! Congratulations to: Gaby!

Thank you to all who entered. Keep a lookout of another giveaway soon—this one will be an ARC of a highly anticipated book to be released on Tuesday.