Guest Post: How Books Can Influence Writers

As Mistwood Week continues here at The Book Cellar, Leah Cypress has kindly written a guest post on how books can influence writers. Here's what she has to say:

Writers are also readers, and one of the issues we grapple with is that of influence. For example, let’s say you’re writing a retelling of a well-known fairy tale. Do you read all the other retellings of that fairy tale, to make sure your own is original? Or do you avoid even the summaries of those other stories, to make sure your own retelling is not unduly influenced by theirs?

This is something I’m thinking about, because I recently started writing a book about two magically-linked sisters, one of whom lives only in the other’s reflections. A few months ago, I was browsing the deals room at a science-fiction convention and I saw a used copy of Jane Yolen’s Sister Light, Sister Dark.

I stopped short. I read that book in high school, and I loved it. I still remember exactly where I was sitting when I finished it – on the floor of my bedroom with my back to the radiator. What I do not remember is anything specific about the plot. Except that it was about two magically-linked sisters, one of whom lives only in reflections.

I bought the book, and it is now sitting on a shelf while I decide whether to read it. On the one hand, I don’t want my own book to be unduly influenced by Jane Yolen’s masterpiece. On the other hand… let’s face it, it probably already is. Maybe I should read the book so I can at least be aware of the extent of that influence. What if I finish my book and it turns out to be a word-for-word duplicate of Sister Light, Sister Dark? Or – which is more likely -- a pasty, inadequate imitation?

This led me to think about Mistwood, and about the book that without question was the biggest influence on it: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. I watched the movie version of The Last Unicorn for the first time when I was about seven years old, and approximately twice a year ever since. I loved it so much that until this year, I didn’t read the book because I was afraid it would “ruin” the movie (and yes, I know the book came first; and yes, that’s kind of ridiculous; and yes, the book turned out to be even better than the movie). I know all the songs by heart. When I was bored in school, I would sometimes play the entire movie in my head, from beginning to end. On my wedding day, I walked down the aisle to the tune of the theme song.

Then I wrote a book that (a) starts with two men riding into an enchanted forest inhabited by a supernatural creature; (b) traps that supernatural creature in the form of a human girl; (c) brings that supernatural creature into a castle full of dark secrets; and (d) confronts her with a good prince who had a bad father.

What amazes me is that I actually didn’t notice this until after I had sold the book. One day I was revising the manuscript based on my editor’s suggestions and writing a new scene in which an apparently defenseless girl faces down a powerful sorcerer, who throws a magical attack at her that turns to smoke and fades away. I wrote the first draft of the scene, read it over, and thought, “Ooooooh. Right.”

(Those of you who have read Mistwood and watched The Last Unicorn know exactly what I mean. Those of you who haven’t… well, I guess you had better go do that right away. Mistwood goes on sale this week… I’m just saying…)

In retrospect, I’m glad it happened that way. If I had been aware of what I was doing as I wrote, I would have been so intimidated by the idea of comparison to The Last Unicorn that it probably would have frozen me. And while I don’t think Mistwood is in any way comparable to The Last Unicorn, I do have a fond belief that it possesses a little bit of that same sense of magic and wonder. And that’s something I can’t plan; that’s something where I have to let my subconscious do the work.

So I’ve decided not to read Sister Light, Sister Dark for now. Whatever subconscious influence it has on my writing can only improve it. And when I’m finished, that’s when I’ll read Sister Light, Sister Dark and discover exactly how much influence there was and how it played out. It’s a little bit of a risk, but I think it’s a risk worth taking.

-------------------

Thank you Leah! :)

Don't forget to visit Leah on the web at www.leahcypress.com. You can also find her on twitter here

The Tension of Opposites Trailer + Contest

The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride comes out in late May, and it is a book I am really looking forward to. I've heard so many amazing things. Today, the trailer came out, and it has me even more excited about The Tension of Opposites!!


link to trailer on Youtube

Isn't it awesome? I think the boy who plays Max is a total cutie. I love when book trailers make me even more excited for books I already am totally looking forward to!

I have been given the opportunity to giveaway some TENSION swag! 10 winners will get a gorgeous bookmark and a wonderful postcard!

Here's how to enter:
+1 Comment on this post and leave an email (required)
+1 Tweet the link to the trailer
+5 Make a blog post about the trailer
+1 Follow Kristina on twitter @McBrideKristina

This will end May 10th.

Who's Buzzing About Mistwood?

Check out this amazing trailer for Mistwood!


Look at all the stellar reviews of Mistwood!

"A traditional premise is transformed into a graceful meditation on
the ramifications of loyalty, duty and purpose... Astonishing and
inspiring."
- Kirkus (starred review)

"An unusual, suspenseful fantasy that is propelled by well-placed clues."
- ALA Booklist

"Edge-of-the-chair reading, with enemies and betrayal at every turn!"
-Tamora Pierce, author of New York Times bestseller Bloodhound

"Cypess's spare but evocative language built a world that stayed with
me long after I finished her story."
- Megan Whalen Turner, author of New York Times bestseller A
Conspiracy of Kings

"Mistwood is the stuff of true fairytale: mysterious, unsettling,
romantic, surprising. An elegantly executed novel with enough twists
to satisfy and a love story of some subtlety. I look forward to more
by this author."
- Juliet Marillier

"Mistwood charms and fascinates and sometimes leaves you breathless as
it spins a story about a supernatural heroine, a mysterious forest, a
court intrigue, and a desperate set of secrets. Leah Cypess's debut
novel explores the limits of magic, the price of love, and the cost of
being human. My kind of book."
-Sharon Shinn, national bestselling author of Archangel

"Intriguing and illusive, MISTWOOD had me experiencing tortured
heroine Isabel's every emotion as she struggled to find her place in
life, court, and love. All with an incredibly executed twist that fits
like that very last, perfect puzzle piece. A one-sitting novel!"
-Aprilynne Pike author of New York Times bestseller Wings

"Mistwood is a perfect mix of romance, action, intrigue and twists.
Isabel struggles to uncover the truth about her shadowed past and I
was with her every step of the way. A page turner from beginning to
end!"
-Cindy Pon, author of Silver Phoenix

"MISTWOOD is an exquisitely written, beautifully rendered high fantasy YA debut that will make it an instant favorite of fans of Kristin Cashore. The beauty and complexity of Isabel’s story literally took my breath away and left me begging for more."
-Steph Su Reads

"Mistwood is the kind of story that takes your breath away. Original, intense, and supernaturally capable of showing human emotions for what they are, it is a story to remember."
-A Sea Of Pages

"Leah Cypess does a great job of having Isabel learn about her past at different times"
-Rachel's Journal

Waiting On Wednesday (49) - The Julian Games by Adele Griffin

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

The Julian Games
Adele Griffin
Release Date: August 26, 2010

New girl Raye Archer is desperate for a way into the In crowd, so when ice-queen Ella Parker chooses her to get back at her ex, the gorgeous Julian Kilgarry, Raye is more than game. Even if it means creating a fake Facebook identity as “Elizabeth” so that she can learn enough about Julian to sabotage him. While a fun and dangerous thrill at first, what Raye hadn’t counted on was falling for Julian herself—and igniting Ella’s rage.

As Raye works to reconcile the temptress Elizabeth with her real-life self, Ella serves up her own revenge. Now it’s Raye who falls victim, as Ella creates an online smear campaign of nasty rumors and trashy photographs. Suddenly notorious, Raye has to find a way out of the web of deceit that she’s helped to build, and back to the relationships that matter.

Adele Griffin’s riveting novel explores the issues of generation Facebook: the desire to be someone else, real versus online friends, and the pitfalls and fallouts of posting your personal life online for all the world to judge.

Doesn't this one sound absolutely great? I cannot wait for it! I love the blue hair in the cover :)

Mistwood by Leah Cypess

Mistwood
Leah Cypess
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: April 27th, 2010
Pages: 304

Rating: 4 stars

From Amazon:The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.

But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

Leah Cypess is a rising author in the world of fantasy. She writes a beautifully written story filled with rich characters and storyline.

Cypess creates a magical world where you have no trouble believing in. The plot is completely original, unlike anything you've ever read. Cypess weaves a beautiful story that contains all sorts of intriquite details. There were some moments where the plot was a bit slower and I wasn't quite as enthralled, but it always picked back up again. The writing in Mistwood is outstanding. It flows extremely well and keeps you drawn into the book. Every word on the page has its purpose, so there is no extra description to let the book lag. One of my favorite things about Mistwood was that Isabel remembered little, so you were trying to figure out things just as hard as she was. You had no idea which character you could trust or what was going to happen.

The characters were all extremely well written. I loved all of them. Every character was developed and you instantly connected with them. Isabel was such a fascinating character. She was never predictable, and you grew with her as she discovered more about her past. Rokan was an interesting character. He wasn't a character you could easily figure out either.

At Mistwood's conclusion, I was a bit sad, as the world was so magical and beautiful I never wanted to leave. Mistwood was a wonderful debut, from an author I am sure will have many more amazing novels to come.

The Bright Side of Blogging

The blogashapere is such a wonderful place. It's filled with lovely people and just so much! There is so much going on in the blogasphere right now, and so much is negative and dark! I love blogging, it's one of my favorites passtimes and something I absolutely love.

I have met so many wonderful people, bloggers and authors both. I've heard people say you can't make friends online, but I have made so many wonderful friends from blogging. I talked to Chelsea from The Page Flipper for months and finally got to meet her by taking a 7 hour bus ride. It was so much fun! I talk to Khy, Sarah, and Zoe most nights out of the week. I haven't had the opportunity to meet the three of them, but in May I get to meet Khy and Sarah :). Then I've also met my fellow blogger Kristen, who has become my signing buddy. I also had the opportunity to meet the wonderful Kristi (who is even nicer in person that she seems online). This is only to name a few! I've met so many other people, and they are all wonderful.

Lately in my life, there's been a lot going on. I've been stressed, and it's so lovely to come home and I can blog, and I don't have to worry about anything else. No one has any expectations, and I don't have to worry about anything. The people in the blogasphere are the most accepting, friendly people I've "met". Despite I haven't met all of the people I've met through blogging, I feel like I know them. I love the blogasphere.

Here's the other blogs that are posting their bright side of blogging this week.
Here are the other bloggers and I hope that you visit them.
Sunday April 25th: Sarah's Random Musings
Tuesday April 27th: Zoe's Book Reviews
Wednesday April 28th: Frenetic Reader
Thursday April 29th: Persnickety Snark
Friday April 30th: The Page Flipper
Saturday May 1st: The Compulsive Reader

If you want to make your own bright side, go link it at Sarah's blog! :)

Author Interview with Leah Cypess

Leah Cypess is the author of the upcoming high fantasy novel, Mistwood. Mistwood hits stores on April 27th. You can visit her on the web at: www.leahcypess.com

How did you create the world Mistwood takes place?

The world-building for Mistwood came after most of the story was
already written. My first finished draft took place mostly in an
embarrassingly featureless, generic castle. In order to flesh out the
surroundings, I first read up on medieval and Renaissance castles,
then searched for books about castles that had lots of pictures and
diagrams. Finally, in 2004, I went to a wedding in Israel and
arranged to stop over in London for a few days on the way back. I
spent those days wandering around castles and scribbling in notebooks.
I visited Dover Castle, Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court Palace, and
a handful of others; bits and pieces of all of them (but Hampton Court
Palace especially) made their way into the final draft.

It was only during the revision process with my editor that I fully
fleshed out the larger politics of Samorna, the layout of the capital
city, and the broader world around it.

How long did it take you to write Mistwood?

Seven years... but that's a deceptive number, because I wrote
a lot of
other things during that time. During those seven years I finished an
older book, started a new book, completely revised a different
manuscript at an editor's request, and wrote and sold several short
stories. I tend to work on a number of projects at once, so that when
I'm blocked on one I just jump to another. Also, I started Mistwood
during my last year of law school, and then spent almost two years
working at a large law firm, which was a 12-hour-plus day job. During
those two years, I pretty much only had time to write during my
morning commute.

If you were the shifter, what would be your animal of choice to shift into?

A bird! I would love to be able to fly. (Not the airplane kind of
flying, which I hate.)

Did you have a favorite character to write in Mistwood?

That would have to be a tie between Isabel and Clarisse. Isabel is my
favorite character overall, but Clarisse was a lot of fun to write.

What made you decide to write high fantasy?

It's what I love to read. A lot of my favorite books -- by David
Eddings, Dave Duncan, Juliet Marillier, Megan Whalen Turner -- are
high fantasy.

What is next for you? Do you have any future plans for another novel
in the world of Mistwood?

I do indeed, and it's currently scheduled to be published in 2011!

In My Mailbox (43)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This week I got:



For Review:
She's So Dead To Us by Kieran Scott
One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt
The Healers by Thomas Heric
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

From Sarah:
Boys, Bears, and A Serious Pair Of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald

From Trade with Kelsey:
Getting Revenge on Lauren Woods by Eileen Cook

From Katie:
Ever by Gail Carson Levine
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
The Elite by Jennifer Banash
In Too Deep by Jennifer Banash

Bought:
Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson

27 Reasons To Be Team Ash

As you know, The Faery Face Off is going on. And I'm here to give you 27 reasons to be Team Ash. (Which total out dos Team Puck's list of 26 Reasons to be Team Puck!)

Adorable - He is absolutely adorable in every way.
Badass - Ash is 100% badass and can kick your butt.
Chivalrous - Total gentleman
Dreamy - *insert sigh here*
Exlusive - He is unique in all sorts of ways!
Fascinating - Every aspect of Ash is basically fascinating, and you love every new thing you learn about him
Grand - He's keeps his word, is a prince, the list goes on and on!
Hot - Need I add anything?
Ice Prince - *swoons*
Jerky - He can be a bit of a jerk at times, yet still is absolutely wonderful
Kind - He can cold hearted at times, but when it comes down to it he's kind.
Lethal - Nothing to add here.
Master of the sword - He is an epic sword fighter.
Noble - Keeps his word.
Observant
Practically perfect - Everything about him is wonderful.
Quite handsome
Rare - He's a rare type that you don't see very often!
Stunning Eyes - Ya, Meghan mentions these several times.
Thoughtful - He can be really deep
Understanding - He listens to Meghan
Very swoonworthy - Every page with him makes you swoon!
Well mannered - He doesn't forget his manners
Xtrodinary - What can I say?
Yummy - Ash is absolutely yummy.
Zealot
Dependable - You can count on him

In case you forgot, you can win a SIGNED copy of The Iron King and a painted Grimalkin Rock here.

You can enter for a chance to win here as well:
My co-captain for Team Ash's blog at Ticket To Anywhere

The opposition, also known as Team Puck Word For Teens or Page Turners Blog

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely
Melissa Marr
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: March 31, 2007
Pages: 328

Rating: 5 stars

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty-especially if they learn of her Sight-and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. His is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost-regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; everything.
Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale.

This is a book I really wish I had read earlier. I had picked it up months ago, and it sat on my shelf. Finally I picked it up, and I am regretting not reading Wicked Lovely sooner, as it was fantastic!

As soon as I started reading I was hooked. Starting with page one, I was loving Ash's story and her "rules" she lives by each day. Right away I knew something was going to skew the rules, and I was wondering how that would play out.

I loved the characters. Each character was very easy to relate to. Aislinn had a great voice, and was interesting. She's smart and can keep it together. *swoons* Seth. He's the absolute dream guy!

This is a absolutely wonderful book that has made its way into my favorites. It's different and has a wonderful story. There wasn't one thing I didn't like about it. Plus it has a simply gorgeous cover!

A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker

A Match Made In High School
Kristin Walker
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: February 4, 2010
Pages: 277

Rating: 4.5 stars

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: Jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer. Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

I. Loved. This. Book. A Match Made In High School is one of the funniest books I've ever read. It was absolutely hilarious, I was almost crying I was laughing so hard at parts. It was cute and just an overall great read!

I loved the characters in A Match Made In High School. At several points different characters did begin to get slightly on my nerves, but they redeemed themselves later in the story. The main character, Fiona, was a bit too self centered at times. I loved Todd, he was hilarious.

A Match Made In High School wasn't what I was expecting. I wasn't thinking it was a book that would really make you think, but it really got you thinking about different lessons you can learn through high school. Everything that went down between Todd and Fiona had me laughing. You'll have a hard time putting down A Match Made In High School, once you start reading!

This is a must read! I cannot believe I didn't read it sooner, it is that great!

Waiting On Wednesday (48) - The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

The Karma Club
Jessica Brody
Release Date: April 27, 2010

"Personally, I’m tired of waiting for the universe to get off its butt and start fixing stuff. I don’t want to wait around for Mason to get what’s coming to him. Or Heather Campbell, for that matter . . . I want to be there to see it happen."

Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. It’s that mysterious, powerful force that brings harmony to the universe. You know—do good things and you will be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what’s coming to you. A sort of cosmic balancing act.

But when Mason Brooks, Maddy’s boyfriend of two years, gets caught tongue-wrestling with Miss Perfect Body Heather Campbell, and absolutely nothing happens to either of them—except that they wind up the hot new couple of Colonial High School, it seems like Karma has officially left Maddy in the lurch. That’s why Maddy and her best friends, Angie and Jade, decide to start the Karma Club—a secret, members-only organization whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind. Whether they’re modifying Heather Campbell’s acne cream as part of “Operation Butterface,” or righting a few wrongs when it comes to Angie and Jade’s own slimy exes, they know they’re just doing what Karma should have done in the first place. They’re taking care of one another.

Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. Because it turns out, when you mess with Karma, Karma messes back. Now Maddy must find a way to balance her life for good, even as everything around her seems to be toppling to the ground.

Oh my goodness, I am so excited for this one! It sounds so great! I can't wait.

Have you guys seen the epic trailer for it?


I just love it!

The Light by D.J. MacHale

Morpheus Road: The Light
D.J. MacHale
Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: April 20, 2010
Pages: 352

Rating: 3 stars

Marshall Seaver is being haunted. In the first installment of this chillingly compelling trilogy, sixteen-year-old Marshall discovers that something beyond our world is after him. The eerie clues pile up quickly, and when people start dying, it's clear whatever this is - it's huge.

Marshall has no idea what's happening to him, but he's soon convinced that it has something to do with his best friend Cooper, who's been missing for over a week. Together with Coop's sister, Marsh searches for the truth about what happened to his friend, ultimately uncovering something bigger than he could ever have imagined.

The Light is an interesting new series filled with wonderful characters. It's suspenseful, and will keep you on the edge of your chair.

The Light is filled with an abundance of well rounded characters. All the characters felt so real, and were unique in their own ways. I loved the development all the characters had throughout the book, particularly Sydney and Marsh. They started as basic characters, and by the end were these layered, complex characters.

The plot had a bit too much going on at times. There was so much description, you had to concentrate to understand exactly what was happening. This aside, the plot was very entertaining. I love ghost stories. MacHale did an awesome job playing up the eerie aspect of the horrors in this. I was continuously creeped out by all the different happenings in the book, as well as by Gravedigger. It was a dark book, and that added to the creepiness. After finishing it, I felt creeped out and had a need to keep lights on at all times.

The ending was my favorite part of the book. I am definately intrigued, and am interested to see what will happen next!

Check out the epic trailer for Morpheus Road. I think I'd have to say it is one of my favorite book trailers!

The Faery Face Off: Ash vs. Puck + Contest

The Iron King. A wonderful book. Filled with faeries, a quest, and marvelous characters. It has Ash. It has Puck. Which will you choose? (If I missed anything, I'm sure it's covered over at Julie's blog

I, of course, am part of Team Ash. He is loverly. Here's a bit about why!



Guess what! You can also WIN!
What may you ask?

A SIGNED COPY OF THE IRON KING and a GRIM ROCK!!!! (Grim Rocks are awesome and painted by Julie Kagawa herself!)

How can you enter this wonderful contest?
+1 Comment on whether YOU are Team Ash or Team Puck and why! (Required)
+1 You can get an extra entry by putting a snazzy Team Ash or Team Puck button on your blog
+1 You can get an extra entry by tweeting, linking in your sidebar, or posting about the contest.

It will end May 3rd.

Visit my co-captain for Team Ash's blog at Ticket To Anywhere

If you wish to visit the opposition, go to Word For Teens or Page Turners Blog

(REMEMER:You can enter here as well as at the other 3 blogs, but you can only win once!)

In My Mailbox (42)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This week I got:



Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Before I Fall by Lauren Olivers

The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Hold Still by Nina LaCour
Demons Are Forever by Julie Kenner
Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Brunettes Strike Back by Keiran Scott
The Queen of Everything by Deb Caletti
You Maybe by Rachel Vail
Wide Awake by David Levithan
Crystal Mask by Catherine Roberts
Squire by Tamora Pierce

Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

The Snowball Effect by Holly Nicole Hoxter

The Snowball Effect
Holly Nicole Hoxter
Publisher: Laura Geringer Book
Release Date: March 23, 2010
Pages: 368

Rating: 4.5 stars

18-year-old Lainey Pike can tell you everything you need to know about the people in her family just by telling you how they died. Her reckless stepfather drove his motorcycle off the highway and caused the biggest traffic jam in years. Her long-suffering grandmother lived through cancer and a heart attack before finally succumbing to a stroke. And Lainey's mother, still devastated over her husband's death, hung herself in the basement just days after Lainey's high school graduation. Now Lainey's five-year-old brother is an orphan and her estranged older sister moves back home to act as his guardian. Dealing with her brother has always been a struggle, but sharing the responsibility with her sister is proving to be just as challenging.

Lainey knows that this is all her mother's fault, but she also knows that she eventually has to move out of the "anger" phase of the grieving process. What she can't figure out, though, is how to make peace with a dead woman.

How I loved this book! It was a really great story and a quick read. The story was so believable, despite all the crazy things that happened to poor Lainey. Despite the serious tone of parts of the book, it had a light feel to it and parts were filled with humor.

The Snowball Effect was fairly predictable, but that was part of its charm. I loved the basis of the plot. As tragic as it is, it provides for a wonderfully written story and how one girl copes with it. The first few pages, I was a little confused as to what was going on. Though once I got 2 or 3 chapters in, I was hooked and there was no putting it down.

The Snow Effect featured a cast of beautifully written characters. Every character had their own unique personality, and it was really refreshing. As a reader, you can really sympathize with Lainey. She had a really pleasant voice, though at parts I wanted to yell at her, and tell her what she should be doing. Hoxter did a wonderful job writing Lainey. Riley had to be my favorite character of the book. Riley was the guy every girl wishes she had. He was just perfect. Kara and Christine were my other 2 favorites. Kara was perfectly understanding, and Christina just cracked me up.

I loved Lainey, Collin, and Valery's dysfunctional family and how they made it work. It was lovely reading about them as they worked through all the problems, and watch them grow closer and closer to each other.

The ending didn't leave me completely satisfied. The ending felt a bit abrupt, and just going a bit more into story would have done the story more justice.

Overall, The Snowball Effect just really clicked with me, and I absolutely loved it.

Author Interview with Kay Cassidy

I'm very excited to announce that author Kay Cassidy has stopped by for an interview! I reviewed her book, The Cinderella Society back in November, and I absolutely adored it. Now here's a bit about Kay.

Kay Cassidy is the author of teen fiction she wishes was based on her real life. She is the founder of the national Great Scavenger Hunt ContestTM reading program for kids and teens and the host of the inspirational Living Your FiveTM web project. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, movies, music, and reading. Lots and lots of reading. She hopes her debut YA novel, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY (April 13, 2010 - Egmont), will help girls embrace their inner Cindy.

Also here's a bit about The Cinderella Society, in case you haven't heard all about this fab book!

What a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn't want to wear it anymore?

Sixteen year old Jess Parker has always been an outsider. So when she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret society of the most popular girls in school, it's like something out of a fairy tale. Swept up by the Cindys' magical world of makeovers, and catching the eye of her Prince Charming, Jess feels like she's finally found her chance to fit in.

Then the Wickeds--led by Jess's arch-enemy--begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers there's more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself on the outside. She has unknowingly become part of a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and now the Cindys in charge need Jess for a mission that could change everything.

Overwhelmed, Jess wonders if The Cinderella Society made a mistake in choosing her. Is it a coincidence her new boyfriend doesn't want to be seen with her in public? And is this glamorous, secret life even what she wants, or will she risk her own happy ending to live up to the expectations of her new sisters?

Now here's for the questions!

A Cindys are a great group always doing good and the message of The Cinderella Society is fantastic. What is the one thing you are hoping readers take away from The Cinderella Society?


I hope it gives them a better understanding of what it really means to be comfortable in your own skin. That's the one thing I wish *I* had understood better when I was a teenager. It would've made my life sooo much easier than trying to always look like/act like/be what I thought I needed to be to blend in/land the right guy/be accepted. High school is completed, no? :)

What was your inspiration behind The Cinderella Society? Was any of that inspiration somewhat the same that inspired you to start Living Your FiveTM?

The Cinderella Society actually came from a magazine article about high school sororities. I'd never heard of that before and, once I started thinking about the kind of society I would create if I could, it all snowballed from there and The Cinderella Society was born.

For Living Your FiveTM it was more personal. I'm a big believer that every single person can make a difference in the world if they choose to. It's simply a matter of focusing on what matters most to you and using your unique talents to shape things for the better. Living Your FiveTM stemmed from my need to stay focused on the things that really matter to me – the five ways I want to make a difference in the world – even when life gets chaotic. (Which is pretty often.)

How long did it actually take you to write The Cinderella Society?

My answer is either 4 years or 25 days. :) I'd been working on the book for several years and not really finding the heart of the story the way I envisioned it. It wasn't until the last piece clicked into place and blew the doors of the Sisterhood wide open that I realized it was much bigger than I ever imagined. I'm a huge plotter, so I plot every scene in advance (otherwise I tend to write myself into dark corners). Once the plotting was done, which took several months, I scrapped everything I had ever written on the book and started fresh from page one. I wrote the entire new first draft in 25 days. (There was a lot of non-sleep involved.) A couple of months editing and then it was off on submission trying to land an agent.

Sarah Jane is All-American dock side prep and Kyra's flirty and fresh romance. What would you say your signature style is?

Hmm… lazy writer chic? (No Wicked chatter, Kay!) ;-) Actually, I did narrow down my own signature style as part of the process of writing the book. My signature style is feminine, flattering, comfortable. I'm all about comfortable!

Are you a fan of music while you write or do you need complete silence? If you like music while you write, did you have a playlist of songs you listened to while writing The Cinderella Society?

I had a full playlist when I wrote The Cinderella Society but I don't listen while I'm writing because it's too distracting for me. But there were times when I was struggling to nail the emotion of a scene that I listened to a particular song over and over trying to absorb the emotions it evoked in me. And then I could write the scene the way it needed to be written. Sometimes it's hard to sit down and immediately have to dive into writing a really emotional scene when the laundry is going and the phone is ringing and the dog just threw up on the rug. (A random example bearing no resemblance to my real life. Ahem.) Using specially selected music is a good way for me to block everything out and really get into the zone of that particular scene.

Thanks so much Kay for stopping by!

You can visit Kay on the web at http://www.kaycassidy.com

Waiting On Wednesday (47) - Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Sisters Red
Jackson Pearce
Release Date: June 7, 2010
Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.

Twenty-five-year-old Jackson Pearce delivers a dark, taut fairy tale with heart-pounding action, fierce sisterly love, and a romance that will leave readers breathless.

I'm loving the sound of this one, I can't wait to read it!

Top 100 YA Books - Voted.

I decided to post about my thoughts on the voted list of the Top 100 YA Books. (I stole this from Sharon and Nicole). It's really sad how I haven't read a LOT of these books.

100. Hate List by Jennifer Brown - I've been meaning to read this one for ages!
99. Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix - haven't read
98. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly - haven't read
97. Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix - LOVE this series, though I still need to read the last book!
96. Bllood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Claus - haven't read
95. Forever by Judy Blume - haven't read
94. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale - I love this book. I think it should be up a little higher on this list
93. Tithe by Holly Black - It was good....
92. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott - been meaning to read!
91. Wings by Aprillynne Pike - I've heard mixed things about this one, but haven't read it myself yet
90. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green - haven't read
89. Angus, Thongs And Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison - they are awesome! tales of a teenage British girl :)
88. Marked by PC And Kristin Cast - haven't read
87. Maximum Ride series by James Patterson - haven't read
86. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - haven't read
85. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson - haven't read
84. I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak - haven't read
83. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli - haven't read
82. The Mediator series by Meg Cabot haven't read
81. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - This look is absolutely awesome
80. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin - haven't read
79. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - haven't read
78. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen - I never finished this one...
77. Evernight by Claudia Gray - LOVE
76. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman - Dying to read!
75. Life As We Knew It series by Susan Beth Pfeffer - haven't read
74. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston - this was lovely
73. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. This is another I think should be up a bit higher...
72. Alana: The First Adventure series by Tamora Pierce - haven't read
71. Stardust by Neil Gaiman - haven't read
70. Unwind by Neil Shusterman - haven't read
69. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech - haven't read
68. Paper Towns by John Green - haven't read
67. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles - haven't read
66. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith - haven't read
65. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli - haven't read
64. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Mark Haddon - haven't read
63. The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell - One I've always meant to read...
62. Blue Bloods series by Melissa De La Cruz - haven't read
61. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous - haven't read
60. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - haven't read
59. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt - haven't read
58. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen - LOVE LOVE LOVE
57. Eragon by Christopher Paoloni - These are great
56. Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine - Meaning to read
55. The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith - LOVE THESE
54. Fallen by Lauren Kate - haven't read
53. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett - haven't read
52. The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot - Read about half of these. They are great.
51. Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke - haven't read
50. Number The Stars by Lois Lowry - haven't read
49. Lord Of The Flies by William Golding - haven't read
48. The Maze Runner by James Dashner - haven't read
47. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares - haven't read
46. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - Really great.
45. The Summoning series by Kelley Armstrong - Absolutely amazing.
44. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - I wasn't that impressed with this one
43. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - haven't read
42. Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card - haven't read
41. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - haven't read
40. Wake series by Lisa McMann - haven't read
39. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - haven't read
38. Are You There Good? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume - haven't read
37. Looking For Alaska by John Green - haven't read
36. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - LOVE
35. A Great And Terrible Beauty series by Libba Bray - How I love this series. Fantasy: Check. Awesome dresses: Check. Strong Charactered women: Check - I could go on all day about these books.
34. His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman - haven't read
33. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - haven't read
32. Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare - Good
31. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain - Fell in love with this one
30. Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr - haven't read
29. Forest of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan - haven't read
28. Holes by Louis Sacher - I tried to read this one, but never got through it
27. The Outsiders by SE Hinton - I need to actually read this one. We listened to it on audio tape in class, and I couldn't stand it. The audio tape might have had something to do with it.
26. The Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger - haven't read
25. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - haven't read
24. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson - LOVE
23. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank - haven't read
22.Uglies series by Scott Westerfield - haven't read
21. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia - haven't read
20. Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder - Absolutely amazing.
19. Book Thief by Markus Zusak - haven't read
18. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carlson Levine - I absolutely adore this book. It's so cute!
17. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead - About the best series out there!
16. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - I loved this one so much.
15. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - haven't read
14. Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery - haven't read
13. The Giver by Lois Lowry - This was pretty good.
12. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare - loved them
11. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - Great
10. Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis - haven't read
9. A Wrinkle In Time series by Madeline L'engle - haven't read - but I've been meaning too
8. Graceling series by Kristin Cashore - Graceling was good, Fire was amazing
7. Percy Jackson And The Olympians by Rick Riordan - haven't read
6. Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan - haven't read
5. Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen - One word: AMAZING
4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Pretty good
3. Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer While I do love this series an awful lot, I don't think they belong in slot #3 with books like Vampire Academy and The Iron King behind them. These books definately belong on this list, and probably closer to the top than farther away, but not #3
2. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling - I can't even describe these books, says the girl who has read the series like 26 times :D
1. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins - I honestly have no read these yet. *hides*

SEA TRAILER

Behold everyone, The SEA Trailer at last. I have been DYING to see it for ages, and Heidi and Vania have been hinting at it's awesomeness on twitter, but not showing us. BUT today they released it. Isn't it GORGEOUS!??!




In case you didn't know, Sea by Heidi R Kling is one of my favorite books ever basically and it's pure magic! My review will be up closer to its June release date, but let me tell you this now, you will NOT want to miss this one. It's that great. I read it basically in one sitting in January and am still fangirling over it's amazingness :)

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Inside Out
Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 1, 2010
Pages: 432

Rating: 4.5 stars

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous - the only neck I risk is my own. Until I accidently start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution. I should have just said no...

Inside Out is a terrific read that will keep you on the edge of your seats, guessing what will happen next. It's another lovely novel by the wonderful Maria V. Snyder.

Inside Out took a bit to really get into, but then it was simply amazing. Snyder pulls out all the stops with Inside Out. The first thing that really sucks you in is the amazing world Snyder has created with Inside Out. It's vivid and stays in your mind. Inside Out takes you on a roller coaster filled with many twists and turns. You were never quite sure where Maria V. Snyder was going to take you next.

As in her other novels, Inside Out is filled with a full cast of amazing characters. Snyder makes every character seem real. Trella is strong, and one of those characters that makes you go wow, and admire her for everything she does. She continues to grow throughout the story, and I loved watching this. Now I must move onto my absolute favorite character of the novel - Riley. He was so cute and I loved every moment him and Trella spent together. Trella had a tendacy to be cold, and Riley "thawed" her out.

Inside Out ends with a ending that'll satisfy readers, and hold them over until Outside In comes out. Frankly, the day that Outside In comes out cannot come fast enough!

In My Mailbox (41)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This week I got:


The Heart Is Not a Size
Beth Kephart
Georgia knows what it means to keep secrets. She knows how to ignore things. She knows that some things are better left unsaid. ...Or are they?

When Georgia and her best friend, Riley, travel along with nine other suburban Pennsylvania kids to Anapra, a squatters' village in the heat-flattened border city of Juarez, Mexico, secrets seem to percolate and threaten both a friendship and a life. Certainties unravel. Reality changes. And Georgia is left to figure out who she is outside the world she's always known.

Beth Kephart paints a world filled with emotion, longing, and the hot Mexican sun.


The Summer of Skinny Dipping
Amanda Howells
After getting dumped by her boyfriend, sixteen-year-old Mia Gordon is looking forward to spending a relaxing summer in the Hamptons with her glamorous cousins. But when she arrives, her cousins are distant, moody, and caught up with a fast crowd. Mia finds herself lonelier than ever. That's when she meets her next-door-neighbor, Simon Ross. Simon isn't like the snobby party boys her cousins seem obsessed with; he's funny, artistic, and utterly adventurous. And from the very first time he encourages Mia to go skinny-dipping, she's caught up in a current impossible to resist. Timeless in feel, The Summer of Skinny-Dipping is a poignant, literary read sure to dazzle tweens and teens alike.

Bought:
Sucks To Be Me
Kimberly Pauley
Mina Hamilton's parents want her dead. (Or undead to be precise.) They're vampires, and like it or not, Mina must decide whether to become a vampire herself. But Mina's more interested in hanging out with best friend Serena and trying to catch the eye of the too-hot-for-high-school Nathan Able than in the vampire training classes she's being forced to take. How's a girl supposed to find the perfect prom date and pass third-year French when her mom and dad are breathing down her neck--literally?



PLUS I got this AMAZING poster for Jessica Brody's The Karma Club. The poster is gorgeous, and I'll get a picture up really soon :) I can't wait for The Karma Club!

What did you guys get in your mailboxes this week?

Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens by Rachelle Rogers Knight

Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens
Rachelle Rogers Kninght
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Release Date: April 1st, 2010
Pages: 352

5 stars

Perfect for teens who love to read and those who need a companion for school assignments or summer reading programs, Read, Remember, Recommend for Teens offers more than 2400 award-winning and notable reading suggestions in many genres, cross-referenced to help parents and teens chose the right books for them.

This unique journal sold out its first print run, attracting readers with recommended lists for fiction, manga, historical fiction, romance, westerns, crime novels, and poetry, as well as nonfiction sections focusing on biography/ autobiography.

College-bound readers will find a section to help guide their reading selections. The journal also provides room to record books read, jot down thoughts and ideas, and keep track of recommendations, books to read next, and works by favorite authors.

This is such an awesome journal! It has logs of all the different literary awards availale, and even leaves room for you to fill in future winners! There's so many amazing books on the lists I hadn't heard of, and I will definately now be checking out. Next you find a to read area, where you can list all the books you want to read. Then it gives you a chance to log all the books you've read. You can write the book then the date and what page you got to. Then it also gives you a section to right your thoughts about a book in a few short points. The next section is a area for you to write all the books you recommend to other people. You are also able to keep track of all the books you've loaned to anyone. Then there is a resource sections, filled with all sorts of resources. You can find book blogger extrodinaires in here, including The Story Siren, Frenetic Reader, Books By Their Cover, and many more! There's also teen reading sites, author sites, and other reading resources. I absolutely love this journal! I think it's an absolutely great idea. I love how it is set up. It's really simple to record everything and keep organized.

You can visit Rachelle on the web at http://www.bibliobabe.com/. Her site is full of all sorts of resources and other cool things!

24 Hour Read-a-Thon!

I can't wait for The 24 Hour Readathon! I participated in the last one, and loved it. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to read tomorrow, as I'm taking my ACT and working. My hopes is to finish as least 2 books.

Here's my potential list of choices

1. She Thief (I'm in the middle of this one now)
2. The Adoration of Jenna Fox
3. White Cat
4. Rebel
5. A Match Made in High School
6. The Mark

You can find out more about the readathon here!

For Keeps by Natasha Friend

For Keeps
Natasha Friend
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Release Date: April 6, 2010
Pages: 267

Rating: 4.5 stars

Having been deserted by her father before she was born, Josie fears abandonment and heartbreak. Her mother fuels this fear with her own reluctance to pursue relationships. Luckily Josie's best friend, Liv, encourages her to make connections with her family and with the very cute and enigmatic Matt. When the parents of Josie's estranged father move back to the area, Josie forges a friendship with her grandfather that gives her some insight into her roots. A tragedy brings the truth about Josie's family to light and provides an unexpected opportunity to forge new relationships. Believable characters and smart dialogue make this story both memorable and entertaining. Fast-paced and full of little twists, Josie's story is a sweet and savvy coming-of-age tale. The story is only slightly marred by its unfortunately saccharine ending, in which everything conveniently works out for the best. Readers will root for Josie and Matt's budding romance, sympathize with the difficulties surrounding unconventional families and be inspired by Liv's honesty and quirkiness. Hopeful and endearing.


Natasha Friend weaves a beautiful story of a girl being a teen. It was sweet and enticing. For Keeps was very well written and the writing just flowed.

I loved the characters. My favorite aspect of all of the characters in For Keeps was how easy it was to relate to them. All the characters brought something different to the table. Natasha Friend also made it easy to like all the characters. For example, Liv was such a laugh. I loved her confidence and everything she brought to the story. Big Nick had his sweet buying addiction. Josie's reactions to everything that happened continued to surprise me. Her journey she takes through the plot of the story makes you love her as a character. Matt was the guy any girl could easily fall for.

The storyline was cute, and once I got several pages into the book, I couldn't put it down! Many things that happened were very predictable, but that made it better. You knew what was going to happen, then you were waiting for characters to figure it out and see their reaction.

This was my first book by Natasha Friend, but it surely won't be my last! I would definately reccomend this one, especially to anyone looking for a quick cute read.

Waiting On Wednesday (46) - Jealousy by Lili St Crow

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Jealousy (Strange Angels Book 3)
Lili St Crow
Release Date: July 2010

Dru Anderson might finally be safe. She’s at the largest Schola on the continent, and beginning to learn what it means to be svetocha–half vampire, half human, and all deadly. If she survives her training, she will be able to take her place in the Order, holding back the vampires and protecting the oblivious normal people.

But a web of lies and betrayals is still closing around her, just when she thinks she can relax a little. Her mentor Christophe is missing, her almost-boyfriend is acting weird, and the bodyguards she’s been assigned seem to know much more than they should. And then there’s the vampire attacks, the strange nightly visits, and the looks everyone keeps giving her. As if she should know something.

Or as if she’s in danger.

Someone high up in the Order is a traitor. They want Dru dead–but first, they want to know what she remembers of the night her mother died. Dru doesn’t want to remember, but it looks like she might have to–especially since once Christophe returns, he’ll be on trial for his life. The only person who can save him is Dru.

The problem is, once she remembers everything, she may not want to…

I love this series to an absurd degree, and I cannot wait for book 3! I'm dying to know where Dru's adventures are going to take her now! And who she ends up with (Team Christophe!) The description for this one just has me dying to read it! July cannot come fast enough!

Swoon At Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

Swoon At Your Own Risk
Sydney Salter
Publisher: Graphia
Release Date: April 5, 2010
Pages: 368

Rating: 3.5 stars

It’s the summer before senior year and Polly Martin has sworn off boys. Who needs the hurt and confusion? Five recent breakups have left her with an unnatural knowledge of NASCAR, the ultimate hiker’s outfit, a student council position, the sixth highest score on the Donkey Kong machine at the mall, and a summer job at Wild Waves with ex #2 Sawyer Holmes.
Success seems a sure thing when Polly’s grandmother, the syndicated advice columnist, Miss Swoon, moves in for the summer. Polly almost doesn’t mind sharing a room with her little sister, Grace. Think of all the great advice she’ll get!
Everything is going according to plan except... Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy septuagenarian! And then there’s Xander Cooper. If only he wouldn’t keep showing up at Wild Waves with his adorable cousins every afternoon — and what is he writing in that little notebook?
No advice column in the world can prepare Polly for the lessons she learns when she goes on a group camping trip (with three too many ex-boyfriends). Polly is forced to see people for who they are — a blend of good and bad qualities that can’t be reduced to a list or a snappy answer in a Miss Swoon column.

Swoon At Your Own Risk is a quick, fun read!

I loved the characters. There a full spectrum of characters, all wonderfully written. One of my favorite characters had to be Sonnet, she was fun and had a BLOG. Xander was just oh my gosh. He was so sweet and a total cutie.

I do wish the plot had picked up a bit more. In the description, it talks about a camping trip with 3 ex-boyfriends. This didn't happen til near the end of the book, and what did happen wasn't much excitement. I wish the camping trip had been played up a bit more.

Swoon at Your Own Risk was really well written. The writing was light, and it was just overall really cute. At the end of every chapter there was a blog post from Sonnet or a Miss Swoon column or poetry. Those parts were my favorite!

Swoon At Your Own Risk would be the perfect spring break read. It's light, fun and totally cute.

In My Mailbox (40)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.



People mentioned in this vlog:
Zoe from Zoe Book Reviews
Katie from Katie's Book Blog
Susan from Waste Paper Prose
Claudia Gray
Kristen from Bookworming In The 21st Century
Chelsea from The Page Flipper
Nicole from Word For Teens

She Thief by Daniel Finn
Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti
The Everafter by Amy Huntley

Won:
Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Fire Study by Maria V Snyder
Numbers by Rachel Ward
The Debs: Love, Lies, and Texas Dips by Susan McBride

Trade with Katie:
It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day
Rage: A Love Story by Julie Ann Peters


Bought:
Forget Her Nots by Amy Brecount White
Hourglass by Claudia Gray
Scandal by Kate Brian

Death By Denim by Linda Gerber
Icing On the Lake by Terri Clark
Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar
The Insiders by J Minter
Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
Aurelia by Anne Osterlund
Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiners
The Virginity Club by Kate Brian
How To Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
Chasing Blue by Jessica Burkhart
The Deep End of Fear by Elizabeth Chandler
Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall In Lovee
Heaven Eyes by David Almond
Dancing In My Nuddy Pants by Louise Rennison

The Author Hunt: April

Author Events are absolutely lovely, and The Author Hunt gives readers a glimpse of into the Author Events and Signings in their area. With the help of some amazing bloggers, we have gathered Events from all across the US. We hope this will help you in your search for some of your favorite authors. And remember, Wherever they go... we will find them.

If you are a Young Adult author that will be visiting Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, or Illinois in 2010 or aware of events that I may have missed, please contact me at thebookcellar@wi.rr.com with the event details so that the event may be featured.

Illinois:

John Green website and David Levithan Website
Tuesday April 6: 7PM
Naperville North High School
899 N. Mill Street, Naperville IL 60563
TICKETED EVENT: Tickets are $5 or are free with a HC purchase of WILL GRAYSON WILL GRAYSON. Call 630-355-2665 for tickets.*

John Green website and David Levithan Website
Wednesday April 7: 7 PM
The Theatre Building
1225 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago IL 60657
Phone: 773-293-2665
TICKETED EVENT: Tickets are $25 and include a HC copy of WILL GRAYSON WILL GRAYSON. Call 773.293.BOOK for tickets.

Gary Paulsen
April 9th: 7 PM
Borders
1540 Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173

Stephanie Kuehnert website
Saturday, April 17, 2010: 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Local Legends Reception and Book Fair
Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL

Simone Elkeles website
Sat, April 17th: 2 PM
Barnes and Noble
920 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Lincolnshire, IL 60069

D.J. MacHale Website & Scott Westerfeld website
Monday, April 26, 7:00 p.m.
Naperville, IL


Holly Black website
APRIL 26 - 27
International Reading Association
Chicago, IL

Aprillyne Pike website
May 6th, 7 PM
Anderson's Bookshop
5112 Main Street, Downers Grove, IL

Minnesota:
Patrick Carmen Website
Thu, April 15, 7pm – 8pm
Red Balloon Bookstore
891 Grand Avenue St. Paul, MN

Caragh M. O'brien website
Fri, April 16th: 7 PM
Red Balloon Bookstore
891 Grand Avenue St. Paul, MN

Patrick Carmen Website
Fri, April 16, 4pm – 5pm
Wayzata, MN
The Bookcase
607 Lake St E Wayzata, MN 55391

Patrick Carmen Website
Sat, April 17, 11am – 12pm
Barnes and Noble
8040 Wedgewood Lane Maple Grove, MN 55369

Patrick Carmen Website
Sat, April 17, 2pm – 3pm
Wild Rumpus Bookstore
2720 West 43rd St. Minneapolis, MN 55410

Missouri:

Patrick Carmen Website
Thursday, Apr 22, 2010
Reading Reptile
328 W. 63rd Street Kansas City, MO 64113

Cassandra Clare website and Holly Black website
Tuesday, May 4th: 7PM
ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY
1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO

James Dashner website
Friday, May 7
Signing- 6:30p.m.
Barnes & Noble
721 Gravois Rd.
Fenton, MO 63026
636-326-4619

For other states in the US, visit:

Frenetic Reader - California
The Neverending Shelf - Southeast region
YA Bliss - Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, or Utah
Sharon Loved Books and Cats - New England Region
Sarah's Random Musings - Washington, Oregon, or Idaho
The Story Siren - Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

The Unwritten Rule
Elizabeth Scoot
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: March 16, 2010
Pages: 224

Rating: 4 stars

Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like your best friend's boyfriend.

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.

Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.

Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...

The Unwritten Rule was an enticing, quick read. It was filled with emotional scenes, a love triangle, and a realistic feel.

I loved the story. The reality is, that this is the "unwritten rule" and Elizabeth Scott wrote an enticing story illustrating a realistic outcome. It was really easy to relate you, as most people have encountered some aspect of this "rule".

I did have an issue with Sarah. She just took abuse from Briana over and over, I was waiting for her to stand up and say enough is enough! Briana was such a snot. No matter how long I had been friends with someone, I would never take that much.

This is my first Elizabeth Scott book, and I really enjoyed it. I will definately been reading her other books now. The Unwritten Rule is an emotional read filled with a story worth telling.

Waiting On Wednesday (45) - Rae by Chelsea Rae Swiggett

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Rae
Chelsea Rae Swiggett
Release Date: August 2nd, 2010 by HCI Teens

No description yet :)

This is a memoir written by blogger extrodinaire Chelsea! I've read some of Chelsea's previous writings, and they are amazing, so basically I'm really psyched for her memoir!