A Few Fun Things!

Hey all!

I am sure by now you have all heard of a little book called MATCHED by Ally Condie that I love and adore (and will be reviewing soon!!!) I think the trailer is great! But of course I understand what's going on. Tell me what you think after watching it here: http://io9.com/5668369/watch-the-book-trailer-for-the-next-dystopian-ya-sensation-matched (sorry I can't embed it yet)

Also, tonight I will be at The King's English bookstore to see Julie Berry and Jessica Day George! I hope to see lots of you there! It is an adorable indie bookstore and two of my favorite authors! It's a win-win!

WaHooo!!!!!!!

What are you excited about today? I am excited about the release of CRESCENDO!!!



Patch here I come!!!!!!!!

Book Signing: James Dashner!

On Tuesday night I was lucky enough to go to my favorite local Indie bookstore The King's English for the Launch Party for THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner! It is always fun to be among local book lovers! And James is a HILARIOUS speaker.

So here is some stuff that James told us (paraphrased from my notes:

• THE SCORCH TRIALS starts a few hours after MAZE ends
• I promise you that by the end of the third book you will know everything. It's not like LOST.
• The ultimate ending will surprise you.
• In THE SCORCH TRIALS lots of bad things happen to the main characters. So, those of you who are sick and twisted will like it.
• I shouldn't use the word "fart" in front of small children.
  

• right now he is editing the 3rd book in MAZE and starting a new series
• The new series is set in the future, and involves simulated reality. So the characters deal with what is real and what is not

Then James took Q&A, here were some of my favorites

Q: How do you keep your mind straight working on all of this at the same time?

A: Ideally I am not working on too many things at the same time. But right now I am really tight on deadlines and working on all 3 of his different series'. Sometimes I'll use the wrong name or think that one character from one series can help out in a different book. Really it comes down to taking a break to get my mind straight.


Q: How much research went into your real world scenario for THE SCORCH TRIALS?

A: Research....I did some. I actually looked at a map once, does that count? I had to look up viruses and how they could affect the brain, that was like a 10 minute online search. Had to use some quantum physics but kindof had already done research on that for THE THIRTEENTH REALITY series.

Q: How was it hitting the NY Times best seller list.

A: I had wanted to be an author my whole life and that is a title you hear and dream of. I got very emotional. I called my mommy!


Q: Do you ever feel constrained by what you wrote in earlier books?

A: I thought book three was perfect when I wrote it, but my editor had a different idea. The problem with writing a series is that in book one, you can pretty much write whatever you want, create any reality you want. Book two you have to kind of stick to the world, but anything that comes up that doesn't fit perfectly you can just say "it's alright, I'll explain that in book three". But then with the third book everything needs to be tied up and correctly. It is harder.

There was lots more, many laughs and it was good fun! Keep your eyes out for your favorite author's touring schedules! There is nothing better than meeting them and getting a signed book!

Which came first?

Okay, so I know the old addage "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" doesn't quite fit this scenario, but it is what I think of when I see the thing this post IS about.

Sometimes there are books where the cover displays the author's name larger, bigger, and before the book title.

You have all seen them. It is common with books by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Dan Brown to name a few. It is not unheard of. But in the YA world it is very uncommon.

Now, authors and potential authors reading this: know I love you, I adore you, I herald the work and time and years and years of effort each book entails. I obviously know that you came before the egg, or novel as it may be. The novel would not exist without you.

I guess my issue is just a matter of the cover look. I am not a fan of the author's name being more prominent than the title of the book I am buying, and I have seen it happen more and more often. It is a matter of opinion, but I wonder, what do you think about it?

Winner of Boys Pack!

Random.org is my friend....is it yours? The winner of the Boy Pack is...

Carrie!

Thanks so much for everyone entering the contests! We love our readers so SO much! It has been fun doing lots of HUGE giveaways this month! I usually try to do at least one giveaway a month and of course we are always reading and bringing you reviews! So I hope all of our readers new and old continue to come and read and comment!

The results of this giveaways questions were really intriguing!

I asked "What is your favorite "boy" book?"
The top answers were: 1) Harry Potter and 2) The Maze Runner!

I also asked "Do you think boys read as much as girls?" I was really interested in what you had to say about this! The answers were very polarized.
Yes: 32%
No: 68%

I think this is something we should all think more about. Maybe encourage the boys to read by giving them books that they want more. I know I am always looking for something else to buy for my husband to read because he isn't going to pick up the romantic books I am reading.

Thanks again to all of the authors who provided material for the giveaways! I could not do this without you and your publicists who send me stuff to review!

Review: THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner

THE SCORCH TRIALS
by James Dashner
Published October 12, 2010 (Yep! That's tomorrow!!!)
Hardcover, 360 pages
Source: Publisher

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more Variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, much of the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated--and with it, order--and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim... and meal.

The Gladers are far from done running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Review:
This sequel was one that does not dissapoint! Weaving the somewhat protected world of the Maze right into the real world works great in this sequel. You thought the boys couldn't possibly have to go through anything worse than the maze? Think again!

Surprisingly Dashner makes the real world as much if not more frustrating for the Gladers than the Maze had been! With grusome new WICKED made machines, the mystery of Thomas' past and his memories coming back this one leaves you questioning what is right until the very last page. Once you think you have it figured out, something will shock you!

Everyone who likes dystopia at all should pick this one up! Many of you have asked after Hunger Games what to read? I say read THE MAZE RUNNER and THE SCORCH TRIALS!

For Utah peeps, James will be at The King's English in Sugarhouse tomorrow at 7pm for the launch! So come see me! Oh and James too! ;)

And remember to enter our boy pack giveaway! Open until tomorrow night and WIN my SIGNED ARC of THE SCORCH TRIALS!

Review SPLURCH ACADEMY FOR DISRUPTIVE BOYS: THE BIZARRO BEETLE by Julie Berry and Sally Gardner

SPLURCH ACADEMY FOR DISRUPTIVE BOYS: THE BIZARRO BEETLE
by Julie Berry and illustrated by Sally Gardner
Published August 19th 2010 by Grosset & Dunlap
Paperback, 208 pages
Source: Author

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights!

Summary:
With Cody's arch-nemesis, Headmaster Farley, banished from the school, Cody should be celebrating . . . but something is bothering him, eating at him . . . literally gnawing on him. Dark forces are on the rise at Splurch Academy and Cody Mack isn't sure which side of the battle he's on.

Review:
Julie Berry and Sally Gardner do it again! In fact I think I liked this second book in the series even more. We didn't have to spend time getting to know the characters, we could just jump right into the silly and yet sinister plot. For a moment there I was even sincerely worried for our protagonist Cody Mack! If you like the first one you'll love this second one!

Without giving too much info, I think there isn't much else to say. These books are worth it. Now everyone go buy them and let your boys (and girls) own and destroy these books as they devour them!

Local Utah readers, want to know where you can not only get these books but meet Julie? (Who is seriously made of awesome-sauce!) Check out one of these events! (you can click on the image if you need to see it bigger)



And don't forget to sign up to win signed copies of these first two Splurch books, and many other books for boys! HERE.

Review SPLURCH ACADEMY FOR DISRUPTIVE BOYS: THE RAT BRAIN FIASCO by Julie Berry and Sally Gardner

SPLURCH ACADEMY FOR DISRUPTIVE BOYS: THE RAT BRAIN FIASCO
By Julie Berry and illustrated by Sally Gardner
Published August 19th 2010 by Grosset & Dunlap
Paperback, 208 pages
Source: Author

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
When Cody Mack is called to the principal's office yet again, he finds something far worse than detention awaiting him: Splurch Academy, a frightfully sinister boarding school for disobedient children run by a group of monstrous teachers. One where the headmaster has a sinister plan for how to make the boys behave.

Review:
This was the first MG designed to attract boys to reading that I have read for a long time. I loved Julie's first YA novel THE AMARANTH ENCHANTMENT, and I love Julie. She is an amazing person! So I was worried about reviewing this one because I wanted Julie to know how much I love her, but still be honest about the book -- especially since this isn't the age range I am usually attracted to.

However, I had nothing to fear!

Julie Berry with the amazing illustrations of her sister Sally Gardner have created a classic series for boys. One they will connect to, love and crave for more. The illustrations are not just a superfluous part of the book to attract reluctant readers, they are a tool for the telling the narrative, something that boys and girls will love.

Funny, witty, a bit twisted in all the right ways, SPLURCH ACADEMY FOR DISRUPTIVE BOYS will keep you and your kids wanting more! (And thankfully there is more!) And it is a perfect read for October!