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Monday Misc

Apr 14, 2014 | , , , , , , ,

It’s spring!

New York was gorgeous this weekend, and I got to spend all of it wandering around town with one of my best friends, Jessica, who was visiting from Seattle. We walked, we talked, we ate some very tasty vegan chocolate-chai ice cream. We also watched The Butler, which is a great movie. Of course I was interested in the White House setting, and it was a powerful story of life during the Civil Rights movement.

Last week, my mom’s book club met for a proper tea party and discussion of When Audrey Met Alice. This was especially meaningful for me because many of the members of her club are my former teachers and librarian–my mom taught for many years at the middle school I attended. These wonderful educators helped make me into the reader and writer I am–and I’m so grateful for the nurturing learning environment they created for me and so many other students. Here’s a picture of them at the WAMA discussion:

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Thanks, Mom, Sharon, Laura, Linda, Linda, and Mary! (And Jessica and Jane, who aren’t pictured)

And in other WAMA news, I was thrilled to find out last month that it’s already going back to press! As Alice would say, that’s bully good.

Last night, I scooped Natalie Lloyd’s A Snicker of Magic up off my nightstand. This book, guys. It’s spindiddly.

How was your weekend?

Bookanista Rec: Push Girl

Apr 10, 2014 | , , , , , ,

It’s time for another Bookanista recommendation: (my friend and fellow Bookanista) Jessica Love’s Push Girl.

Here’s the jacket copy from the publisher:

An inspiring, real, and fresh young adult novel about how life can change in an instant [cowritten by Jessica Love and] Chelsie Hill, one of the stars Sundance Channel’s unscripted series Push Girls, based on [Chelsie’s] own life.

9781250045911Kara is a high school junior who’s loving life. She’s popular, has a great group of friends and an amazing boyfriend, and she’s a shoe-in for homecoming queen. Even though her parents can’t stop fighting and her ex-boyfriend can’t seem to leave her alone, Kara won’t let anything get in the way of  her perfect year. It’s Friday night, and Kara arrives at a party, upset after hearing her parents having another one of their awful fights, and sees another girl with her hands all over her boyfriend. Furious, Kara leaves to take a drive, and, as she’s crossing an intersection, a car comes out of nowhere and slams into the driver’s side of Kara’s car. 

When Kara wakes up, she has no memory of the night before. Where is she? Why are her parents crying? And, most importantly — why can’t she feel her legs? As Kara is forced to adjust to her new life, where her friends aren’t who they seemed to be and her once-adoring boyfriend is mysteriously absent, she starts to realize that what matters in life isn’t what happens to you — it’s the choices you make and the people you love.

I’ve been telling every YA reader I see about this one, which is both a great contemporary YA novel and a really powerful story of handling adversity with grace, grit, and hope. Kara is a character I won’t soon forget–my heart broke for her many times as I read. I loved how as the story progressed, Kara not only started to rehabilitate physically, but grew emotionally. Her injury brings physical limitations, but the new way she looks at her world and her self brings Kara so much agency. Even before the accident, Kara encounters things in her life that are beyond her control. But it’s only after that she has gained the strength to make healthy choices about how she responds. That’s an important lesson that all teens can relate to: you can’t always control what happens to you in life, but you can control how you respond.

Push Girl is also eye-opening and informative about life with spinal-cord injuries. Reading it, I realized how many incorrect assumptions I had about how people can recover and live independently after sustaining such a traumatic injury. I watched a few episodes of the Sundance Channel show, Push Girls, after reading and I highly recommend it–it’s a really powerful and engaging series.

I think teen readers are going to get so much out of reading this book–a well-written, diverse contemporary story and an invitation to think about how one chooses to live life.

And now I really can’t wait for Jessica’s next YA novel, In Real Life, which will be out in 2015!

Push Girl releases on June 3 from St. Martin’s Griffin.

See what my fellow Bookanistas are recommending today:

What’s Up Wednesday, 4/2

Apr 2, 2014 | , , , , , , ,

RobotWhat I’m Reading

I read a ton of books (or what amounts to a “ton” for me) in March: No Surrender Soldier, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Leading Man, The Secret Hum of a Daisy, The Ninja Librarians, and Push Girl. Now I’m back to Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior, which I reluctantly put aside when I was in the middle of a debut-author ARCapalooza.

What I’m Writing

I’m back to revising an old manuscript and doing some research so I can begin outlining a new one. I’d love to be finished with these revisions in the next week or two so I can focus on outlining. In truth, I am itching to get to the drafting stage of this new project. I’m one of those writers who gets caught up in counting new words–sometimes I need to remind myself that reading/researching, outlining, and daydreaming is part of the writing process–and that time “counts,” too.

What Inspires Me Right Now

I am knocking on wood as I type this, but I think it’s finally warming up! Thanks to longer days, I’m loving going home from work while it’s still light out. Hooray, spring. 🙂

What Else I’ve Been Up To

I finally got back to a yoga class, after a few months off due to an injury. It was kind of a bummer to realize how much I still can’t do, but it feels great to know that I’m making progress.

A quick note on an online event I’m doing this week: Booklist Webinars is hosting me and three other New Leaf Literary debut authors for an hour-long presentation on our books and the the debut experience. It’s free, and should be a fun conversation! You can register here: https://alapublishing.webex.com/alapublishing/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=662413562

So what have you been up to lately?

What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme that helps readers and writers touch base with blog friends. You can find the link widget (and cute buttons!) on Jaime’s and Erin’s blog posts.

Finished copies!

Jan 30, 2014 | , , , , , , , , ,

Last night, I got home to a big box on my doorstep. Sent from Sourcebooks c/o RR Donnelly, so I had an inkling what was inside.IMG_2132

(Photo taken after I’d gone inside and grabbed a camera, and almost locked myself out in my excitement.)

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(Please ignore the other boxes in the background. What? You seem to remember that I moved almost a year ago? Uh . . . let’s move on, shall we?)

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What was inside was pretty freaking exciting.

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And it made for a pretty awesome night.

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Bookanista Rec: I HEART BAND

Jan 9, 2014 | , , , , , ,

It’s time for another Bookanista recommendation: Michelle Schusterman’s delightful new MG series, I Heart Band.
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Here’s the Book 1 back cover copy from the publisher:

Band Geeks unite in this fresh new middle-grade series by debut author (and former band director) Michelle Schusterman!

Holly Mead’s first day of seventh grade isn’t going as planned. Her brother ruins her carefully chosen outfit, she’s almost late, and her new band director has some surprisingly strict rules. Worst of all, it seems like her best friend, Julia, has replaced her with Natasha, the pretty, smart, new French horn player! Holly is determined to get first chair, but Natasha is turning out to be some pretty stiff competition—and not just in band. Band might be a competition, but friendship isn’t—and Holly needs to figure it out before she loses Julia for good.

First things first: I ♥ I HEART BAND!

(And now second thing second, which is a disclaimer: I’m about as biased as you can get about this series because not only am I employed by the publisher, but the author is a friend. That said, this post is solely my opinion, and my enthusiasm for these books would be just as strong even if I weren’t professionally/personally involved in their publication.)

imagesI love what this series features: friendship, community, and creativity. Oh, and French horns, which I played in my middle-school band (oh, the memories!) In addition to being hilarious and heartfelt (and containing an ideal amount of pitch-perfect MG crush and friend drama), this series admirably celebrates music education, which is disappearing from far too many schools.

Both Book 1 and Book 2 (Friends, Fugues, and Fortune Cookies) are available today!

See what my fellow Bookanistas are recommending today:

2013 in Reading

Jan 5, 2014 | , , , , ,

What I read in 2013, more or less*:

Screen shot 2014-01-04 at 11.52.38 PM

Screen shot 2014-01-04 at 11.53.25 PM(How much do I wish I’d read two more books to get a nice, neat last row?)

*Based on Goodreads–I didn’t join until summer, so I might’ve missed a few books.

Superlatives Blogfest 2013: Best in Show

Dec 19, 2013 | , , , , , , ,

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It’s time for the 3rd Annual YA Superlative Blogfest! Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and Katy Upperman host this blogfest, which highlights favorite YA novels, covers, characters, and story elements. It’s fun to go through the list of 2013 YA releases I’ve read, and it’s even more fun to get a bunch of new titles to add to my TBR list. Today wraps up the blogfest with Best in Show.

Best in Show

Favorite Cover: I loved the cover for The Art of Wishing–it was dreamy but grounded, and it had a lovely script-inspired font.
Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime (Book you couldn’t put down): The 5th Wave, definitely. Once I started reading, I should’ve cleared my calendar. It was truly unputdownable.
Best Repeat Performance (Favorite sequel or follow-up): This feels like a cheat, but Just One Year. Both books were their own stories within a closely tied pair. I suppose Just One Year could’ve felt redundant, but instead it built on the story in Just One Day, beautifully.
Best Old-Timer (Your favorite read of the year published BEFORE 2013): I finally read Code Name Verity this year, which was worth the wait. (Or maybe I shouldn’t have waited, because it’s a really excellent, powerful book.)
Book Most Likely to Make a Grown Man Cry: Probably Second Chance Summer, which is such a tearjerker that the book should be shrink-wrapped with a big box of Kleenex.
Most Pleasant Surprise (Book you didn’t think you’d like, but totally did): I’m going to have to give this one to The 5th Wave, too–I don’t like aliens, and sci fi/dystopians are not usually my thing. But I really enjoyed this one. 
Favorite Outlier (Favorite picture, middle grade, or adult 2013 book): A favorite MG of this year was Tim Federle’s Better Nate Than Ever, which is hilarious and heartwarming, and should be required reading for mildly disgruntled New Yorkers. It made me want to go kick up my heels in Times Square–and that’s saying something!
My superlative: Best Friendship: And that goes to Red. I love reading about strong, honest, and supportive female friendships, and that’s exactly what Felicity’s trio is!

What were your picks for Head of the Class? I skipped over a few categories, so I’d love to hear your picks for those!

Superlatives Blogfest 2013: Head of the Class

Dec 16, 2013 | , , , , ,

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It’s time for the 3rd Annual YA Superlative Blogfest! Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and Katy Upperman host this blogfest, which highlights favorite YA novels, covers, characters, and story elements. It’s fun to go through the list of 2013 YA releases I’ve read, and it’s even more fun to get a bunch of new titles to add to my TBR list. Today kicks off the blogfest with Head of the Class, and I’ll be posting again on Thursday for Best in Show.

Head of the Class 

Favorite Science Fiction: I was a little iffy on how to categorize The 5th Wave, but I’m pretty sure it fits best as Science Fiction. This book is riveting, and I can’t wait for the sequel, out this spring. Coming from someone who regularly has nightmares about alien invasions, that says a lot.

Favorite Contemporary: Sure, Just One Day/Just One Year are technically romances. But what I loved about this contemporary duo was how the very romantic story was about self-discovery (for both characters!) as it was about love and passion. The journey, both literal and figurative, that we went on with Allyson and Willem was as sweetly compelling as the romance.

Favorite Historical Fiction: Out of the Easy is full of secrets and strong women and a really great setting (the French Quarter of New Orleans in the 1950s). Ruta Sepetys again has created characters and places that you can’t soon forget.

Favorite Comedy: Alison Cherry’s Red is technically a satire–and it’s a wickedly funny one. IMHO, the best humor is smart humor, and the pageant shenanigans in Scarletville are full of that.

Favorite Paranormal: Speaking of funny, The Art of Wishing is also hilarious–and full of action and romance. Margo is a relatable, funny, and smart narrator, and I adored her passion for music. I’m excited for The Fourth Wish this spring, so I can figure out what happens next with gender-bendy genies.

Favorite Family Drama: Bring your tissues for the family drama in Second Chance Summer, which tackles very tough subject matter with grace, empathy, love, and just the right amount of humor. This one is moving and memorable.

What were your picks for Head of the Class? I skipped over a few categories (Favorite Dystopian, Favorite Fantasy, Favorite Action/Adventure, Favorite Mystery, Favorite Romance, Favorite Genre Bender), so I’d love to hear your picks for those!

Bookanista Rec: The Desperate Adventures of Zeno & Alya

Dec 5, 2013 | , , , ,

It’s time for another Bookanista recommendation: Jane Kelley’s heartwarming and hopeful MG The Desperate Adventures of Zeno & Alya.

Here’s the summary from Goodreads:

17261182An orphaned African grey parrot who can speak 127 words. A girl so sick, she has forgotten what it means to try. Fate––and a banana nut muffin––bring them together. Will their shared encounter help them journey through storms inside and out? Will they lose their way, or will they find what really matters?

Here is a story that will remind readers how navigating so many of life’s desperate adventures requires friendship and, above all, hope.

I totally fell in love with Zeno, the “booful, briyant bird” at the heart of this story—and I’m slightly in awe of the incredible voice Jane Kelley created for the feathered characters in this story, from parrots to pigeons to hawks. I knew a little about the intelligence of African grey parrots before reading this book; now I’m fascinated by them. (Kelley drew from Dr. Irene Pepperberg’s research on parrots to write the book—read this article on the famously intelligent real bird Alex to learn more about them.)

But The Desperate Adventures of Zeno & Alya isn’t only an animal story; it’s also a book about a young girl struggling to fight a devastating illness. I enjoyed the realistic depiction of Alya’s loving family (particularly her supportive older brother), who all work so hard to take care of her during her cancer treatment. But I loved that it was through Alya’s serendipitous relationship with Zeno that she gained hope and strength.

Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite MG reads of the year: for its richly drawn and relatable characters, skilled writing, and uplifting powerful message.

I’ll never eat another banana nut muffin without smiling and thinking fondly of the most brilliant bird in Brooklyn.

See what my fellow Bookanistas are recommending today:

What’s Up Wednesday, 10/30

Oct 30, 2013 | , , , , , , , , ,

 

WUWAutumn

What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme that helps readers and writers touch base with blog friends. If you’d like to join in, you can find the link widget on Jaime’s and Erin’s blog posts. I love this idea because it gives a structured, easy way for me to keep up with blogging. Also, the buttons are cute. Thanks for the idea, Jaime and Erin! 

What I’m Reading 
Last week I read Steve Martin’s An Object of Beauty, which was a story of high art, love, money, and ambition–told in a very readable Steve Martin-y voice. Now I’m finally reading Alison Cherry’s Red! Truth: It’s making me want to dye my hair.

A 2014 debut author photo, taken by Ghenet!

A photo from Alison’s Red launch party, taken by Ghenet! (l to r, Michelle Schusterman, Lauren Magaziner, Emery Lord, me, and Kim Liggett)

What I’m Writing   
I’ve decided to work on a “palate cleanser” project–something just for fun, and for me–and I think I might try to NaNo to finish it. Which definitely makes me an unofficial NaNoer. But I’m excited to try to push myself to write as close to 50K words as I can next month!

What Inspires Me Right Now   
Still loving the Halloween time of year. Last weekend I went on a Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village, and it was super fun. (Super touristy, yes, but I strongly believe that sometimes tourists know how to have a really good time, and there is no shame in joining them.) The stories the guide told as we scuffed through leaves on the quiet, dark Village streets were fascinating–and inspiring. Not only did I have a total “I heart NY” night, but it gave me lots of ideas. (Okay, some of those ideas might have made me afraid of my basement. And convinced that the sound of a trailing vine scritch-scratching the window at night is actually a skeleton’s hand. I love ghost stories, but I also scare ridiculously easily.)

What Else I’ve Been Up To 
Becoming an aunt! My nephew was born in the wee hours on Monday morning. He’s adorable, and I am counting the days until I hop a plane to meet him.

So what have you been up to lately?

 

What’s Up Wednesday 10/16

Oct 16, 2013 | , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

WUWAutumn

What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme that helps readers and writers touch base with blog friends. If you’d like to join in, you can find the link widget on Jaime’s and Erin’s blog posts. I love this idea because it gives a structured, easy way for me to keep up with blogging. Also, the buttons are cute. Thanks for the idea, Jaime and Erin!

What I’m Reading 
Last week I read Just One Year in just one day. I loved getting to see the other side of the story; I’ll say nothing else because I don’t want to spoil anything. Then I lucked into an ARC of Nikki Loftin’s Nightingale’s Nest. It’s beautiful and unique and haunting, and I’m savoring every word.

What I’m Writing   
Still doing odds and ends for the business side of writing. When I’m not doing that, I am playing around with a new idea. This is a project I’d maybe like to work on for NaNo in some form. I guess for now I’m treating it more like a writing exercise and less like a WIP, if that makes sense. Sometimes you need space to play with words in order to work with them.

What Inspires Me Right Now   
I had the day off on Monday, so I went up to the Bronx Zoo. A lot of little kids were running around in their adorable Halloween costumes.  Dime-store capes and some face paint are all it takes to let them create adventures for themselves.  It’s always fun to see children being imaginative and playful, and I find the creativity surrounding Halloween really inspiring–that’s probably why it’s one of my favorite holidays. (Also the candy. Mmm, candy. I think I might actually get trick-or-treaters this year, so I have an excuse to stock up.)

What Else I’ve Been Up To
Last Friday I went to Alison Cherry’s launch party for her debut, Red! It was at the lovely BookCourt in Brooklyn, and it was a fabulous time.

And in other news, there’s a Goodreads ARC giveaway for When Audrey Met Alice going on right now. You can sign up here!

So what have you been up to lately?

 

Bookanista Rec: Better Nate Than Ever

Oct 10, 2013 | , , , , , , ,

It’s time for another Bookanista recommendation: Tim Federle’s hilarious and heartfelt Better Nate Than Ever.

Here’s the summary from Goodreads:

13414183Nate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he’s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he’d settle for *seeing* a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he’s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby’s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York. There’s an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical, and Nate knows this could be the difference between small-town blues and big-time stardom.

You know how movie ads used to always feature an announcer saying, “Blah Blah Movie will make you stand up and cheer!” Well, Better Nate Than Ever will make you stand up and cheer. (So since you’ll be standing up and cheering, watch what you’re wearing while you read because it might also make you pee your pants. It’s that funny.) Nate is a protagonist you will root for, cringe with, and want to give a big huge hug. Mostly, you’ll wish you could be there in the scenes with him, to watch him be in the world with such hope and wonder. I love how exuberant the boy on the cover is; I love it even more after reading the book and knowing that Nate encounters some real hardships.

Reading this felt like a bit of bibliotherapy for me. I do a lot of my reading on the subway, and as much as I love New York, sometimes it seems one or more of the following: stressful, crowded, dirty, stinky, rude, exhausting, expensive, noisy. Et cetera. While reading, I felt like I could vicariously fall in love with my new hometown all over again, seeing it through Nate’s eyes. Or at least laugh hysterically at the uber realistic details Tim Federle weaves into the story–and bonus, that makes the people next to you on the crosstown bus scooch away and give you a little more space! Win win.

See what my fellow Bookanistas are recommending today:
 

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