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The 2011 YA Contemporary Challenge

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Here's a list of names: Courtney Summers. Jenny Han. Simone Elkeles. Amanda Howells. Jennifer Echols. Nina LaCour. Sarah Dessen. Kody Keplinger. Elizabeth Scott. Lauren Strasnick. Jay Asher. Julia Hoban. Julie Ann Peters. John Green. Gail Giles. April Henry. Stephen Chobosky.  Yes, they're authors. YA authors. And they have written some of THE best contemporary novels on the market. We know we've missed others and did not mean too. But the purpose of listing these authors is to draw your attention to a new challenge we recently heard of.  ReggieWrites  at her wonderful blog, The Undercover Book Lover , is running a challenge: The 2011 YA Contemporary Challenge .  We agree with what Reggie said in her post about this challenge. We love paranormal, fantasy, and other genres, but contemporary novels have a power the others don't--they can make a place within our hearts or psyches and remain either for a long time or forever. Yes, fantastic books like the Harry Potter...

In My Mailbox (January 9,2011)

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We received gift cards over the holidays and took advantage of the many End of Year and clearance sales. We also swapped a bunch and received some for review. We received for review: Human Blend by Lori Pescatore The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor House of the Star by Caitlin Brennan Libyrinth by Pearl North Sugar Rush by Kimber An Thanks to Tor Books, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Lori Pescatore and Kimber An These are Touring books we received: The Sapphire Talisman by Brenda Pandos Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach Faerie Winter by Janni Lee Simner Dark Moon: A Wereling Novel by Steve Feasey We swapped these ARCs: Plague: A Gone Novel by Michael Grant Numbers Two: The Chaos by Rachel Ward Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell The Lying Game by Sara Shepard Winter Bloom by Tara Heavey How to Make a Bird by Martine Murray The Snowball Effect by Holly Nicole Hoxter The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley N...

YA book review: All Just Glass by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

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Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (January 11, 2011) Summary: Sarah Vida has given up everything for love. From a legendary family of vampire-hunting witches, Sarah was raised to never trust a vampire, to never let her guard down, and to avoid all tricky attachments of the heart. But now Sarah IS a vampire—changed by the boy she thought she loved. Her family has forsaken her, and Sarah herself is disgusted by her appetite for blood. Aida Vida is Sarah's older sister, the good, reliable sibling who always does her family proud. But when Aida's mother insists that Sarah be found and killed, Aida is given the one assignment that she may not be able to carry out.  Our review: "When witch-kin is slain, there shall be no safe haven, no higher law to protect the guilt. Every hunter shall turn her blade to the task, and there shall be no rest until those responsible have been slain." The words  from ...

MG Book Review: Finally by Wendy Mass

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Reading level: Ages 9-12 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (March 1, 2010) Summary: You can pierce your ears when your twelve. You can go to the mall with your friends when you’re twelve. You can babysit little Timmy next door when you’re twelve. You can get a cell phone when you’re twelve. Hey, you can even ride in the front passenger seat when you’re twelve, when you’re twelve, when you’re twelve . . . My name is Rory Swenson, and I’ve been waiting to turn twelve my whole life. In exactly 18 hours, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds, it will finally happen. My life will officially begin. My review:  Rory’s been waiting all her life to turn 12. This number is so magical for her she's fantasied about blowing out the candles on her cake and FINALLY getting to do everything she’s been adding to her “12” list: getting a cell phone, going to boy-girl parties, drinking coffee, shaving her legs, staying home alone and much more. Rory has so many expect...

Reading Resolutions Giveaway Hop

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What a better way to begin a brand spanking new year than with a giveaway hop. Thanks to Candace at Candace's Book Blog , Lori at Pure Imagination , and Angel from Reading Angel for hosting. This Giveaway hop begins today and runs until midnight on January 9. Please make sure to stop by all of the other participating blogs listed below. ReaderGirls have decided to do some organizing and put together a nice box of contemporary YA titles as our prize. As winter continues there may ne some snow days we can take advantage of by catching up on our reading. These books would be great to read cuddled up somewhere warm with a mug of hot cocoa. Our box contains:  A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker (ARC). Summary: When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life canat get any worse. Then she marries her ahusbanda: jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, A...

YA book review: Spray by Harry Edge

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Reading Level: YA Paperback: 240 Pages Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (November 9, 2010) Book Summary: A group of of teens sign up for an assassination game on the streets of a big city. Their weapons: pressurized water guns. It's meant to be a game, a sport. But for some, it's more than harmless fun. To win, they'll use "any" means necessary. Two hundred players. Three weeks of tense cat-and-mouse action. Every stalker is being stalked and only one player will be left standing. No one will be the same. My Review: For those over the age of fifteen, an all out war has broken out in a fictitious city. The objective: to assassinate your target. Weapon: water gun. This all out Super Soaker war was created and is constantly maintained by the mysterious man referred to by all as the “Gamekeeper.” A select group of assistants are the only help he receives in keeping track of the score and handing out the laminated cards that contain the details of each play...

Picture Book Review: It's a Book by Lane Smith

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Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; First Edition edition (August 17, 2010) Summary: Playful and lighthearted with a subversive twist that is signature Lane Smith, It’s a Book is a delightful manifesto on behalf of print in the digital age. This satisfying, perfectly executed picture book has something to say to readers of all stripes and all ages. My review: I read Lane Smith's It's a Book to my six-year old son and his smile never wavered until the end when he wanted to hear it all over again. That's the proof that a picture book is good.   The story is about a monkey trying to read a book while a donkey, with his laptop on his knees, wonders what has his companion so captivated. Donkey then begins to ask questions about this mysterious marvel Gorilla has and Gorilla, always patient, answers him. His Mouse buddy, conveniently hidden under Gorilla's cap, makes an appearance twice and both times steals the story. By th...