Bookanista Thursday!

It's Thursday, which means the Bookanistas are raving about their latest favorite reads.  No post for me this week, as I am busy writing away, but be sure to check out what books the other Bookanistas are talking about on their blogs!

Christine Fonseca introduces some fabulous reads for 2012

Stasia Ward Kehoe takes a shine to A MILLION SUNS and UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Veronica Rossi adores EVERNEATH

Debra Driza is in a frenzy over LARKSTORM with giveaway!

Katy Upperman sings the praises of BEFORE I DIE

Shannon Messenger delves into DOUBLE with an arc giveaway

Bookanista Thursday: BITTERSWEET by Sarah Ockler

The last time I posted I said something about having to take a break from reading to buckle down and focus on writing for a little while.  And I did...until BITTERSWEET showed up in my mailbox. I adored TWENTY BOY SUMMER  and FIXING DELILAH, so I was beyond excited for Sarah Ockler's next contemp, which features cupcakes, hockey boys, lake effect winds, and dreams that shift and change amidst it all.  It comes out on January 3rd, and it's THE PERFECT curl-up-with-a-cup-of-hot-cocoa-and-a-cupcake kind of book.  Check it out!

From Goodreads:  Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life...and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last....
                                                      

My Thoughts:

Hudson Avery had me with this: "In three years of baking for Hurley’s Homestyle Diner in Watonka, New York, I’ve never met a problem a proper cupcake couldn’t fix."  On the surface, it's a fun line that most of us would heartily agree with.  I've put this philosophy into practice more than once in my own life, that's for sure. 

But for Hudson, it goes much deeper than that.  Baking cupcakes in her mom's diner is not only her way of trying to fix problems and keep everyone happy, it's also her way of avoiding her own feelings about her parents' divorce and the turn her life has taken in the years since.  Hudson is the kind of character I love because she's strong and vulnerable at the same time.  She takes on responsibility after responsibility, and is too stubborn to ask for any help, even when it becomes too much to handle.  At the same time though, she has this side of her that dreams and yearns for something more, and it's a side she keeps to herself until a cute hockey player by the name of Josh comes along.

There is no way I could write about this book without singing the praises of Ockler's knack for romance within a story.  As with her first two books, she knows exactly when to stretch the romantic tension between her characters, and when to let them fall headlong into it. And those moments are so well rendered I get butterflies in my stomach reading them.  Seriously.  Nobody writes a kiss like Sarah Ockler does.

My most favorite thing about this book though is how real the story felt--from Hudson's tenuous relationship with her mom, to her heartwarming one with her brother, Bug, to the ones with her friends and the boys in her life, I felt these people.  And I felt all of those moments between them--the good ones that make your heart sing, and the not-so-good ones you'd rather send off on the icy wind that is a constant in Watonka. 

BITTERSWEET is the perfect title for Hudson's story, and Sarah Ockler tells it with humor, honesty, and cupcake descriptions that will have you heading out the door in search of your nearest bakery. Like I said, it's out on January 3rd, so now is the perfect time to add it to your Christmas list!

If you want to find Sarah, you can look her up here:

Her website: http://sarahockler.com
On Twitter
On Facebook

If you want to see what the other Bookanistas are talking about this week, check them out on their blogs:

• Shannon Messenger marvels at UNDER THE NEVER SKY plus a preorder giveaway  
• Veronica Rossi is in a frenzy over FRACTURE
• Katy Upperman ponders THE FUTURE OF US
• Stasia Ward Kehoe sends Santa her YA book wish list
• Elana Johnson takes a shine to A MILLION SUNS

Mara Dyer Fabulousness!

If you are a fan of YA Lit, you've probably heard of a little book that just came out this week called THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER.  You know, the dark, twisty, sexy debut by Michelle Hodkin?  The one with this gorgeous cover:

And this BRILLIANT trailer:

But you may not have heard of the Gigantic, Enormous, Very Big, Very Huge MARA DYER Contest.

Believe me--like the book, this is NOT something you want to miss out on.  So go! Now!

Then check out what the other Bookanistas are up to this week!

Elana Johnson interviews Elle Strauss, author of Clockwise
LiLa Roecker discusses S R Johannes' e-book experiment
Christine Fonseca is wowed by The White Assassin - with giveaway
Shannon Whitney Messenger loves Lola & the Boy Next Door – with giveaway
Beth Revis delights in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer – with giveaway
Shelli Johannes-Wells falls for Fracture
Carolina Valdez Miller adores Ashfall – with giveaway
 Shana Silver steps up to Audition
Corrine Jackson is crazy about Cracked
Stasia Ward Kehoe swoons for Swan and To Dance

 

  

Bookanista Thursday: What Happened to Goodye

Wow. I feel a tad out of practice with this whole blogging thing, but with summer winding down, and the little people of the house going back to school in a few days, I'm thinking it'll all come back to me quickly.  And hopefully eloquently.

To be perfectly honest, I am nervous about this Bookanista review.  Not because I haven't written one in a while, or because I really haven't written anything all summer.  No.  I'm nervous because I can't figure out how in the world to write a review of Sarah Dessen's WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE.

See, Sarah Dessen is my real life hero. Seriously. Her books, and the characters that live in their pages feel like home to me.  They stay with me like the truest kind of old friends, and inspire me in the way only the best stories can.  How do I begin to "review" that?

Here's the thing--Sarah Dessen has set the standard for Contemporary YA.  Writing a review of her book is like writing about how great chocolate is.  We all know it. But the whole aim of The Bookanistas is to spread the word about books we love, and WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE is most definitely one of those books, so here we go:

From Goodreads:   

Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out.

Combining Sarah Dessen's trademark graceful writing, great characters, and compelling storytelling, What Happened to Goodbye is irresistible reading.


My Thoughts:

In WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE, Sarah Dessen delivers all of the goodness I've come to expect from her novels: a relatable main character with realistic issues, well-drawn relationships, and subtle, gracefully woven themes that will resonate with everyone.

From the beginning, McLean is loveable character.  She's accustomed to being new, and comfortable adopting different personas and the lives that go along with them as a way to keep any connections she makes from getting too deep.  It's her defense mechanism.  What she's not used to being is herself.  And that self is someone who has been hurt by her parents' divorce, who has a lot of unresolved anger toward her mom, and who is fiercely loyal to and protective of her dad.  She's also someone who is incredibly sympathetic, doesn't judge, and has a soft spot for underdogs. Once she's in Lakeview, being anything other than herself becomes next to impossible, and that's due to the relationships she builds there. 

Relationships are everything in this story.  McLean's relationship with her father is tender, heartfelt, and the sweetest one in the novel.  With her mother, things are tangly and complicated, but driven by love and a bond that she can't seem to break no matter how hard she tries.  And then there are the friends she makes: Deb, Riley, and Dave.  Each of these characters are endearing and come with flaws of their own that allow McLean to open up and be herself around them. It's through these relationships that McLean learns to trust, to forgive, and ultimately rediscovers who she is. 

I think all of have at some point wished we could step into a different life, drop all of our problems and past issues, and become someone brand new.  But McLean says it best herself: "Your past is always your past. Even if you forget, it remembers you."  Ultimately, it's what makes us who we are, for better or worse, warts and all.  And that's a good thing.

WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE ranks right up there with my other Dessen favorites, and if you're looking for a book to curl up with on this last weekend of summer, I can't recommend it enough. 



Check out what the other Bookanistas are up to this week:

• LiLa Roecker travels to The Day Before
• Shannon Whitney Messenger swoons over Flyaway by Lucy Christopher – with giveaway
• Scott Tracey is overwhelmed by A Vast Field of Ordinary
• Stasia Ward Kehoe ponders the issue of plot spoilers in book reviews – with giveaway
• Shana Silver is mesmerized by Possess
• Corrine Jackson's celebration continues her “Blogiversary” with YA Authors sharing Lessons Learned
• Veronica Rossi says bravo to Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Bookanista Review: A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie

This week, it's my pleasure to introduce a book by a fellow English teacher, Matt Blackstone!  I was excited to read A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE, first, because the premise is totally intriguing and different, and secondly because I love reading books written by teachers.  Writers are observers by nature.  Put a writer in a classroom, and that person will have characters and story ideas that ring uniquely true.  This is definitely the case with Blackstone's OCD main character, Rene. 

From Goodreads:



Rene, an obsessive-compulsive fourteen year old, smells his hands and wears a Batman cape when he’s nervous. If he picks up a face-down coin, moves a muscle when the time adds up to thirteen (7:42 is bad luck because 7 + 4 + 2 = 13), or washes his body parts in the wrong order, Rene or someone close to him will break a bone, contract a deadly virus, and/or die a slow and painful death like someone in a scary scene in scary movie. Rene’s new and only friend tutors him in the art of playing it cool, but that’s not as easy as Gio makes it sound.







My Thoughts:

Rene is one of those characters who grabs at your heart (and sense of humor) from the very beginning and doesn't let go.  Navigating high school is hard enough as it is, but add to it Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, an absent father, and a very tired mother, and you've got a situation that would be more than a challenge for anyone.  And Rene handles it the best way he knows how.  By wearing his cape to school, washing his hands obsessively, eating the same bowl of Lucky Charms every day, and keeping to all of his other routines that make him feel safe.  He's not shy about it.  He knows the ins and outs of his disorder and has a wry sense of humor about it.

And then things change, in a good way.  Gio is everything Rene wishes he could be: cool, calm, well-liked, friends with Mr. Head, the English teacher Rene admires.  Gio is also the thing Rene needs most: a friend.  When Gio befriends Rene, he also gives him strength and confidence enough to face the scariest scenes Rene comes up against, and that is my most favorite part of this story.  As unlikely as it seems, the friendship between Rene and Gio is real and touching.

If you've read any of my reviews, you know that character is the most important thing to me in a story.  Blackstone's characters are well-drawn, quirky, and sympathetic.  Definitely a pleasure to read.  If you haven't had a chance yet, be sure to pick up A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE.

You can find it here:

Indiebound

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

You can also check out Matt's website here:  http://www.mattblackstonebooks.com/

And finally, go see what the other Bookanistas are up to this week!

Or on their blogs:

• LiLa Roecker glories in The Goddess Test
• Shannon Whitney Messenger delves into The Future of Us – with giveaway
• Carolina Valdez Miller shivers over The Eleventh Plague – with giveaway
• Scott Tracey and Shana Silver are wild about Wildefire
• Stasia Ward Kehoe embraces All the Things You Are
• Corrine Jackson sneaks into Sean Griswold's Head
• Christine Fonseca is impressed by Imaginary Girls

Bookanista Review: Where Things Come Back

This week it is truly my pleasure to bring you a review of WHERE THINGS COME BACK, by John Corey Whaley.  This...is a book that humbled me as a reader and a writer.  And one I have a feeling we'll all be hearing more about come award time. Yep. That's what I said.  This book will win awards, and they will be well-deserved.

From Goodreads:

Just when seventeen-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. . . .

In the summer before Cullen's senior year, a nominally-depressed birdwatcher named John Barling thinks he spots a species of woodpecker thought to be extinct since the 1940s in Lily, Arkansas. His rediscovery of the so-called Lazarus Woodpecker sparks a flurry of press and woodpecker-mania. Soon all the kids are getting woodpecker haircuts and everyone's eating "Lazarus burgers." But as absurd as the town's carnival atmosphere has become, nothing is more startling than the realization that Cullen’s sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother Gabriel has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared.
 
While Cullen navigates his way through a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young missionary in Africa, who has lost his faith, is searching for any semblance of meaning wherever he can find it. As distant as the two stories seem at the start, they are thoughtfully woven ever closer together and through masterful plotting, brought face to face in a surprising and harrowing climax.

Complex but truly extraordinary, tinged with melancholy and regret, comedy and absurdity, this novel finds wonder in the ordinary and emerges as ultimately hopeful. It's about a lot more than what Cullen calls, “that damn bird.” It’s about the dream of second chances.

My Thoughts:

Several months ago, when the Simon & Schuster Summer catalog came out, I circled the title of this book and dog-eared its page because it intrigued me.  When I found out I would be on a YA Debut Author Panel at ALA with John Corey Whaley, I made sure to get a copy so I could read it before I met him in person.  I started it on my way to New Orleans, and during my three hour flight I didn’t speak to another person on the plane, didn’t get up to use the restroom, didn’t even eat the free snack they offered me, because from the first page, I was a goner for this story.

I have to emphasize the word story here because there are writers, and then there are storytellers.  It’s hard for me to pin just what the difference is, but I can tell you this: John Corey Whaley is a true and talented storyteller--the kind that pulls you in with quietly spoken questions and truths that echo long after his story is finished.   

Cullen Witter is the voice of this story, and his is an earnest one, so real I felt like I must’ve known him in high school.  He’s sarcastic, but not overly so.  Filled with hope, and doubt, and searching.  Most of all, Cullen is searching.  Not only for his brother, but for meaning and second chances—in his small town, in his relationship with his family,  in the affections of a girl who breaks his heart.  He’s a character full of questions, with a humble sense of reverence for the answers.    

The thing I admire most about this book, though, is the way in which the different narrative threads weave their way together by the end of the story to create an ending so full of grace and wisdom I couldn't think of picking up another book for a very long time because I wanted to hang onto the feeling that Whaley left me with.  His story resonates.  I can't do it justice here.

Where Things Come Back is a book I know I’ll come back to.  It’s one I will give my friends and family as a gift, and today, it’s one I cannot speak highly enough about. When you read it, you’ll see what I mean.   

You can visit John Corey Whaley at his website.

And you can find his book at:

IndieBound

Amazon       

Barnes and Noble

 Don't forget to check out what the other Bookanistas are up to this week:

Elana Johnson revels in Ruby Red

LiLa Roecker  is nuts for I’m Not Her

Christine Fonseca  interviews picture book author Michelle McLean – with giveaway

Beth Revis reveals her reading recommendations

Veronica Rossi  raves about Wildfire

Shannon Whitney Messenger swoons for Supernaturally – with giveaway

Shelli Johannes-Wells features “guestanisto” author Matt Blackstone

Carolina Valdez Miller is bedazzled by Between – with giveaway

Shana Silver wonders at The Near Witch

Stasia Ward Kehoe celebrates Selling Hope

Bookanista Thursday: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

It's summertime, which means long days spent on the beach.  And after hours of soaking up the sun, there's nothing better than retiring to the shade of the backyard and the pages of a delicious book.  This past week, that book was Myra McEntire's HOURGLASS.

From Goodreads:

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant.

Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
 
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

My Thoughts:
A science fiction fan I am not. Paranormal? Not usually. But something about HOURGLASS intrigued me and I'm so glad it did, because in it, Myra McEntire delivers a a fast-paced, sexy read with a firecracker of a main character.  And characters are what matter to me the most.

Emerson Cole is an awesome one. She's smart, feisty, brave, and real.  I loved her from the start and totally enjoyed following her through the twisty-turny plot.  I was rooting for her wholeheartedly, and she did not disappoint.

Neither did the boys in this book

Clearly, McEntire knows a thing or two about chemistry and swoon-worthy boys.  Between Michael and Kaleb, she pretty much covers everything I could ever be attracted to.  And she does it with style and humor.  Watching Emerson's reactions to and interactions with each of them was priceless and perfect. 

And then the plot. I found myself sucked in immediately by Emerson's ability and the mysteries surrounding it, and the search for answers kept me turning the pages--at quite a pace, I must add.

All in all, HOURGLASS is a fantastic summer read, guaranteed to grab you and leave you wanting more--which there will be, in the sequel!

Wanna check out what the other Bookanistas are up to this week? Go see!

Elana Johnson celebrates A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie

LiLa Roecker adores Torn

Christine Fonseca is crazy about Cryer’s Cross – with giveaway

Beth Revis interviews Goddess Test author Aimee Carter – with giveaway

Carolina Valdez Miller delights in Texas Gothic AND Bad Taste in Boys – with giveaways

Shana Silver fawns over Forever

Jen Hayley is hot for Wildfire

Matt Blackstone savors Something Like Hope

Stasia Ward Kehoe jumps for Bumped

Veronica Rossi  devours Bad Taste in Boys

    

Bookanista Thursday: Imaginary Girls

The first time I saw this cover, I knew I had to read IMAGINARY GIRLS.  I had no idea what the story was about.  But this...

 

I can't think of a more hauntingly beautiful cover.  At all.  And it's so perfect for the story of Ruby and Chloe, two sisters bound by blood, water, and the secrets that lie beneath the surface.

Goodreads Summary:

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

 
But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.

My Thoughts:

Nova Ren Suma is brilliant.  This is one of those books that's difficult for me to review because it has a palpable magic to it, but I can't figure what exactly it is, or how she's done it, because every aspect of this novel is so beautifully executed. 

The Plot

The story of Ruby and Chloe unravels slowly, layer by eerie layer, through sharp prose and haunting images.   We're pulled along with Chloe as she returns to her small town, promised by Ruby that everything can go back to how it was before London Hayes was found floating in the reservoir.  Only it can't, and we realize it little by little, as Chloe does.  This isn't an action-packed, fast paced story, but Suma creates such an eerie tension you'll be turning the pages as quickly as you possibly can because you HAVE to know what in the world is going on.  Which brings me to...

The Writing

Suma's writing is subtle and nuanced, the images she paints sharp and elegant.  All of these things come together in perfect balance to create a world where the impossible is possible, and we accept it in the same way Chloe does.  It's reminded me of the magic realism of Isabel Allende, but it's unlike anything I've read.  Just masterful.

The Characters

Chloe has lived her life mostly in the shadow of the definitely mythic Ruby, but she shines in her own right.  She's a character I fell into easily--admired and feared Ruby with her, felt her need to step out of the intense and sort of twisty relationship with her sister, and needed, more than anything, to untangle the mysteries swirling around at their feet.

Ruby is a force to be reckoned with.  She lures and scares at the same time and is so boldly drawn it's easy to understand the loyalty and devotion everyone who comes into contact with her seems to have.  But as otherworldly as she seems, she's not invincible.  Her faults and her devotion to her sister make her very real, and though she holds everyone but Chloe at a distance, these things give the reader something relatable about her.

The Reservoir and Olive.  There's no question in my mind that these are characters.  The water in the reservoir and the town beneath it live and breathe.  They watch.  They haunt.

I've written this review ten different ways, trying to capture the things that are so perfect about it, and I don't think I can do it justice.  This is a book I will buy, read again, tell anyone who will listen that they have to read it, but oh so politely remind them that they'll have to get their own copy because I won't want to part with mine.  And they can do that June 14th!

Also, this Bookanista Thursday would not be complete with out a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Elana Johnson and her debut POSSESSION!!!

If you want to see what the other Bookanistas are up to this week, check out their blogs: 

*Special Note--you SO want to see what they're up to, because they've got a very special surprise for a very kick-ass Bookanista.  But I won't ruin the surprise.  Go see!

Elana Johnson and  Stasia Ward Kehoe savor Bad Taste in Boys
LiLa Roecker celebrates The Summer of the Bear
Christine Fonseca has got a surprise for a Bookanista buddy (ooh—curious?)
Beth Revis  interviews Blood Magic author Tessa Gratton
Carolina Valdez Miller enjoys a special celebration
Bethany Wiggins is crazy about Delirium
Shana Silver sings praises for Starcrossed
Jen Hayley applauds Possession
Veronica Rossi hails Hereafter
Carrie Harris glories in Texas Gothic

Megan Miranda gushes over Imaginary Girls

Bookanista Thursday: POSSESSION

It's been a little while since I've done a Bookanista review, and this week I'm so happy to be getting back to it with POSSESSION by Elana Johnson!  This kick-ass dystopian tale of controlling or being controlled hits bookstores June 7, and believe me--you want to be there when it does.

Before I get to the review though, let's first take a moment to ogle this gorgeous cover. Beautiful, no?




 Now, here's how Goodreads sums it up:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.



My Thoughts:

Holy wow. Seriously.  From beginning to end, those two words were on an endless loop in my mind. But the thoughts were my own.  Not like in Vi's world, where one can never be sure where a thought comes from.  In POSSESSION, Elana Johnson gives readers a peek into a well-drawn, believable futuristic world that poses question after question regarding freedom, control, will, and rebellion.  And she does it at a crazy fast pace with engaging characters you'll want to follow.

Vi is a strong personality from the get go with her just-right mix of intelligence, sarcasm, and will.  Through her perceptive eyes, we see the lines between good and bad blur. We see assumptions smashed and  unanswered questions scatter like shrapnel afterward.  We also see Zenn and Jag, two clearly different characters, both charming in their own way, each tugging Vi in a different direction.  The question is, which one will she choose?

POSSESSION is wild, intelligent ride that will hold on to you until the very end.  And um, let me just say, when you get to that end... your mind...it will be blown.  Just sayin.

Look for it soon!


Curious what the other Bookanistas are up to this week?  Check it out:

 

Elana Johnson sings praises for SEAN GRISWOLD’S HEAD

Shannon Messenger is wild about WILDFIRE + an ARC giveaway

Carolina Valdez Miller adores A NORTHERN LIGHT

Lisa and Laura Roecker dotes over DIVERGENT

Megan Miranda thinks MOONGLASS is marvelous

Carrie Harris reveals the BAD TASTE IN BOYS Book Trailer

Sarah Frances Hardy delves into DIVERGENT

Stasia Ward Kehoe delights in BITTER MELLON

Christine Fonseca relishes in the RED GLOVE

  

Bookanista Thursday: Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler

The first Bookanista review I did was for Holly Shindler's gorgeous debut, A BLUE SO DARK, which stunned me with its voice and the sheer beauty of the writing.  So you can imagine how excited I was when I heard she had a second book coming out!  You can also imagine how high my expectations were  after being so impressed the first time around.  Today, I'm so, so happy to say that Holly totally exceeded my expectations. PLAYING HURT is an entirely different kind of book than A BLUE SO DARK, but once again, she gives us a beautifully crafted contemporary full of grace and depth.

From Goodreads:

Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone's admiration back home. Then she took a horrible fall during senior year. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.
That summer, Chelsea's dad hires Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player and "boot camp" trainer, to work with her at a northern Minnesota lake resort. As they grow close, Chelsea finds that Clint's haunted by his own tragedy. Will their romance end up hurting them all over again—or finally heal their heartbreak?

My Thoughts:

Everything I read about this book before it came out called it a "summer romance,"--which there is plenty of, believe me. Delicious, steamy romance.  But I think categorizing this book as only that is selling it short. Holly writes at a depth way below the surface, and that's what I loved most about this story of loss and healing between two ex-athletes.

PLAYING HURT is told in the alternating viewpoints of Clint and Chelsea, which is irresistably fun on the romance front.  I don't think there's a single one of us around who hasn't wished we knew what our love interest was thinking.  Schindler gives us that luxury, allowing us to fall for Clint in all his gorgeousness even quicker than Chelsea does.  And in Chelsea, we get to experience that fluttery feeling of falling that's impossible to fight.     

The other thing using alternating viewpoints accomplishes is to show us the similarities between Chelsea and Clint before they recognize them themselves.  Both have experienced painful losses and are in search of their identities in light of those losses.  When they finally let their guard down around each other and move beyond their crazy physical attraction, they're able to help each other toward healing.

In PLAYING HURT, Holly Schindler accomplishes what I admire most about my favorite contemporary stories.  She writes a careful balance of gorgeous prose, fluid plot, and engaging characters who have true emotional depth.  If you're in the mood for a perfect summer romance that's more than a summer romance, you need to read this book.  I thought about doing a giveaway with my copy, but the truth is, I love this one too much to part with it.  You'll just have to pick it up, find a comfy spot in the sun, and soak up this beautifully told story.    


But first, you should check out what the other Bookanistas are up to this week:

• LiLa Roecker gets silly over Spoiled
• Christine Fonseca has a passion for Possession – with giveaway
• Shannon Messenger marvels at Moonglass – with giveaway
• Jamie Harrington adores Invincible Summer
• Shelli Johannes-Wells is in the grip of Possession
• Scott Tracey bathes in Blood Magic
• Carolina Valdez Miller interviews Invincible Summer author Hannah Moskowitz
• Bethany Wiggins delves into Divergent
• Shana Silver presents a Guestanista gushing over Between Here and Forever
• Carrie Harris sings out about Shift
• Rosemary Clement-Moore applauds Abandon
• Sarah Frances Hardy enjoys Me Jane
• Matt Blackstone loves Like Mandarin
• Corrine Jackson delights in The Duff
• Stasia Ward Kehoe discusses Displacement

And don't forget--tomorrow is the last day to enter and win the Moonglass-inspired mermaid prize pack here on the blog.  Check it out!

Bookanista Thursday: The Pull Of Gravity

Holy cow, how is it Thursday again already???  It snuck up on me, but I'm happy because this week I'm so excited to present Gae Polisner's debut, THE PULL OF GRAVITY.  It comes out soon--May 10th, to be exact, and I can't wait for word to spread about this awesome story.

From Goodreads:

While Nick Gardner’s family is falling apart, his best friend, Scooter, is dying from a freak disease. The Scoot’s final wish is that Nick and their quirky classmate, Jaycee Amato, deliver a prized first-edition copy of Of Mice and Men to the Scoot’s father. There’s just one problem: the Scoot’s father walked out years ago and hasn’t been heard from since. So, guided by Steinbeck’s life lessons, and with only the vaguest of plans, Nick and Jaycee set off to find him.
Characters you’ll want to become friends with and a narrative voice that sparkles with wit make this a truly original coming-of-age story.





My Thoughts:  

I love a great quest story.  If it can be told with wit and quirkiness and heart, that's even better.  In THE PULL OF GRAVITY, Gae Polisner accomplishes all those things, leaving the reader with a touching story of friendship that could easily be taught in the English classroom, alongside OF MICE AND MEN.

At the story's center is Scooter' last wish, and he's a character so tenderly written I'd have taken the trip myself if he asked me to.  And then we have Jaycee, who is the kind of girl I'd love to have as a friend--she's bold and honest, with a touch of rebelliousness.  But it's Nick who makes the story.  His anger at his dad, self-consciousness around Jaycee, and love for Scooter make him a very real, endearing character.  And for me, it's always about the characters.

I followed these characters through the ups and downs of their journey buoyed by the same hopes they embarked on it with.  There were surprises along the way, and setbacks, of course.  But all these things add up to those moments that bring travel companions closer and ensure they'll have a lasting bond over what they've made it through.

As a story, THE PULL OF GRAVITY is the same way.  It's one I won't soon forget because it touched me and made me hope and feel for its characters.  I can't wait for everyone to have the chance to read it!

In the meantime, check out what the other Bookanistas are up to this week:

Christine Fonseca caws about Scrawl

Shannon Messenger gets passionate about Possession

Shelli Johannes-Wells takes a shine to Shimmer

Scott Tracey raves about Red Glove

Carolina Valdez Miller interviews Invincible Summer author Hannah Moskowitz

Shana Silver delights in The Day Before

Carrie Harris takes The Goddess Test - with giveaway

Corrine Jackson swoons for Starcrossed

Stasia Ward Kehoe is outspoken about Addie on the Inside

Sarah Frances Hardy celebrates The Best Birthday Party Ever

The Bookanistas Give Back



Charitable donations are a very personal thing. There are so many ways our hard earned money can help others, and lately our world seems to be breaking into pieces around us. Needs are many and great. The Bookanistas want to give back, so in the coming months, we're going to be looking for ways to pour into communities, both bookish and worldwide. 

For the month of April, we've chose to spotlight Run For Your Life an event that's raising money for a cancer hospital, largely because the framework is already set up (we'd like to keep it simple our first time out), and also because of personal connections to the cause. Most everyone has lost a loved one to cancer or knows someone who has. 

*To encourage you to donate, we're going to give away some sweet prizes! 

Here's how it will work:* 

1. Go to the Run For Your Life page

. 

2. Make a donation. $5 is suggested, but lower or higher is fine. (Also know 

that for every dollar you donate, you'll be entered to win a private, advance screening for twenty people for Breaking Dawn. The Bookanistas have NOTHING to do with that part - that's all Charlie Bewley and Summit Entertainment.) 

3. Come back and fill out the entry form on this page. We're *trusting you* to be honest about giving, and about the amount you give. Don't be a mamby pamby. Keep up our faith in mankind. 

4. The Bookanistas will be giving away a selection of prizes (see list below). You will be entered *one time *for* each dollar* you donate ($5 = 5 entries). If you wish to be entered to win a specific prize, let us know in the designated section of the entry form. 

5. We're following the guidelines set forth by Run for Your Life, which means this particular event will only be open to those in North America. Entries will be closed on April 30th, and we will contact randomly selected winners shortly thereafter. 

6. Spread the word. Tweet, post the Run For Your Life logo (above) with a link to Charlie's site on your blog, or Facebook about the event, and receive an entry (one entry TOTAL for doing all or one of these things). Place a link/links in the place provided on the entry form.

HERE'S THE LIST OF BOOKANISTA PRIZES (this list WILL be added to, so check back): 

JUST ADDED by an anonymous donor!:

A signed copy of CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassie Clare

From Veronica Rossi:

A fifty page manuscript critique

From Carolina Valdez Miller: 

Signed copies of BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton, XVI by Julia Karr and RIVAL by Sarah Bennet Wealer

From Shannon Messenger: 

A signed copy of WHITE CAT and a signed copy of RED GLOVE by Holly Black

From Carrie Harris: 

A 50 page manuscript critique

From Jessi Kirby: 

A signed copy of MOONGLASS

From Gretchen McNeil: 

A swag pack of POSSESS goodies, a signed copy of A TOUCH MORTAL by Leah Clifford and a query critique

From Corrine Jackson: 

A 50 page manuscript critique 

From Stasia Kehoe: 

A signed copy of AUDITION

From Shana Silver: 

A query and first chapter critique

From Lisa and Laura Roecker: 

A signed copy of LIAR SOCIETY and bookmarks

From Shelli Johannes Wells: 

A box of ten mystery advance reader copies

From Elana Johnson: 

A Dystopian Trifecta of Awesome - a signed copy of DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES by Carrie Ryan, a signed copy of MATCHED by Ally Condie, and a signed ARC of Elena's own POSSESSION

From Christine Fonseca: 

Signed copies of EMOTIONAL INTENSITY IN GIFTED STUDENTS and 101 SUCCESS SECRETS FOR GIFTED KIDS

From Myra McEntire: 

A signed copy of DEMONGLASS by Rachel Hawkins (AND Rachel is throwing in a signed Demonglass totebag), a signed copy of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis, a signed copy of TORMENT by Lauren Kate, a unicorn, and a signed, annotated HOURGLASS. 

So, what are you waiting for???? Click here to enter!