(Sequel to The Summoning which includes *Spoilers* for that book)
Chloe's still devastated by her aunt's involvement with the Edison Group. She's now stuck in a new house where things are supposed to improve. She's supposed be learning how to control her power, but she's not willing to give up too much information. She doesn't tell anyone that she can talk to Liz's ghost. Meanwhile Derek and Simon are still at large and the group desperately wants to capture them. They try pumping Chloe for information, but she's not budging. Finally after many threats, she weakens and says she might be able to remember something if she can look for it. But underneath she just wants to escape. Between a truce with Tori - who offers her help, the two of them elude the guards the group sent with them to the factory. With Liz's help, they remain out of sight until they meet up with the boys. Together they come up with a plan escape to find someone the brothers know and trust. Unfortunately, they have little money and can't risk Chloe's face being recognized. With difficult circumstances, they split up. Each group will meet at the house, where hopefully, they'll find the answers they've been looking for.
The cover of the first one drew my eye, but the story sucked me in. Now questions of the supernatural powers keep rising. Derek almost changes into a werewolf and Chloe keeps raising the dead - sometimes in her sleep. They have so many questions they need answered before they can learn to live in peace and they might not be able to live normal lives in society. But they're ready to try. The love triangle between the characters creates great tension. I know who I want Chloe to end up with. With book 3 not scheduled to come out until May 2010, it's going to be a long wait....
I always have trouble buying biographies for teens - partly because they very quickly become outdated for current celebrities, partly because patrons need to have a certain number of pages for school assignments (but not too many pages), and partly because I don’t want to duplicate books in the children’s/adult departments.
This leaves me either buying popular, but soon to be outdated material or purchase biographies of dead people.While I’m not opposed to either, I primarily want the books to be interesting to teens.I have a small selection of biographies and I’m always on the lookout for more.
After watching Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, I wanted to learn more about Amelia Earhart.
I loved this book- which is an example of a cross over children/YA title. It's a photobiography of DK, which slightly copies the Eyewitness style on a grader scale. Tons of pictures fill the book along with Earhart's life: including her struggles, her difficult life with her parents, and her passion for flying. The book ends with an in depth look at her last flight and possible scenarios for her tragic end.
Amelia Earhart was a social worker, a nurse, a fashion designer, and a feminist.
Her life story amazed me.
I'm happy there is a series of these photobiographies. I plan on reading several of them. Next up for me: Princess Diana.
There are other biographies that catch my eye, but I never seem to pick them up. I do try to have a handful of current athletes, pop stars, and rock stars, but it's unclear if teens actually like them.
I’m also not looking strictly at singular biographies. I’ve read some excellent group biographies including:
But for me the question remains: Are there biographies published with teens in mind that they will enjoy? If there are, please let me know because I want to make every purchase count this year.
Risa's been waiting for this day here whole life - the day when she finds out which god will choose her for their school. A huge celebration is planned for Risa and her brother, but when the gods determine that Risa isn't a chosen one, her day is ruined and quite possibly her life. Never before has there been someone from the seven and thirty families not chosen for the schools. She spends her time hiding away in her family's glass shop where she makes her own unique items. There's unrest going on in the capital with the royal family. The King is dying and his son is trying to take over the throne but tradition states that the families of the seven and thirty must unanimously give their consent to the next ruler. When her parents are escorted to the castle and never return, she suspects something's amiss. When a note arrives from her mother using a secret code, she learns that her parents are being held hostage by the Prince. Without her family, the magic performed each night in thanks for the day can not be performed. Without the magic, the houses will fall one by one. Can Risa perform the magic and save her house or will the kidnapping of her parents mean the end for her family?
Vance Briceland writes a stunning novel of art (the creation of glass objects), magic and the ancient traditional foundations of Risa's town, and the feel of Venice in the Renaissance Era. His descriptions will transport you into a new world. Risa comes alive through friendships, blossoming romance, and her determination.
Bella's getting the shock of the life when her mother agrees to remarry. She's marrying Jake - a mid-western man with two boys of his own. Therefore forcing Bella to move from her socialite life in New York City to a small town farm. She loses her boyfriend, her awesome friends, fabulous stores, and her father in one fell swoop. Soon she's also losing her credit cards. While life is horrible - its about to get so much worse. Usually a super popular girl - Bella has written about the people of new home town on her blog from her old school. People are buzzing about her harsh worlds and massive unhappiness. She's soon the town pariah. She'll do almost anything to bulk up her popularity skills - even dig through the school dumpsters looking for a story. While digging through trash, she overhears something that triggers her curiosity. Is there some kind of initiation going on with the football team - causing accidents and deaths in this small town. Bella vows to investigate and figure it out. Is she taking her redemption too far?
The first of a new series takes a socialite and plunks her down in a small town making her miserable - but ultimately allowing her to discover more about herself in the long run. What ever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Bella is funny, a bit shallow, but she has a kind heart. Plus she's very determined. A fun start to a brand new series.
Amy and Dan have once again been double crossed by family members,but now they're on their way to Egypt in search of the next clue. They're looking for a statue that may or may not have already been discovered. When running from Irina, they run into someone who knows about them. They quickly realize that he's the grandson of their grandmother's best friend. The siblings have been questioning the reasoning behind the search. They've escaped death numerous times, double crossings, and back stabbings - surely their grandmother didn't have this in mind when she wrote her will. At Hilary's home, Grace's best friend, gives the siblings presents Grace left in her care. With their confidence restored, the siblings are more determined than ever to see this mission through. Have they been duped once again to trusting the wrong people?
The quest continues and each day presents new multiple dangers. Amy and Dan must lean on each other and their smarts to keep themselves both alive and still in the game. The 4th book in the series doesn't let up with the fast paced action and the series just keeps on getting more and more addicting.
Kate has her summer all planned out - hanging out with her BFF and playing tennis. But she doesn't count on her mother dragging her across the country to visit her college friends and to get away from her husband. Kate knows that her parents have their marital issues - but why does she have to be pulled into their fight. At first she's seriously annoyed at her mother. They have to stay in the guest cottage - which is actually a garage. Kate has to share the one room with her mother who won't stop talking, which is a problem because Kate and her mother have never been close. Tina has a daughter the same age as Kate and the two moms force the girls to hang out. Kate feels more and more like an outsider with Sarah and her friends as Sarah's making it perfectly clear that she doesn't want to hang out with Kate. Slowly Kate begins chatting with her friends and finding her own groove. Celebrating the 4th of July, Kate has a romantic moment that changes her summer. Adam is everything a girl could want in a first boyfriend. Kate's finally happy being in Cape Cod , but in just a few days her world comes crashing down. Will it be a summer to remember or a summer to forget?
Melissa Kantor pens a sweet summer novel filled with romance, family drama, friendships, and finding yourself. The cover is cute and eye-catching. Check it out if you're looking for something fabulously fun.
On a side note, she's also the author of which I just adored. While I was at a book signing last week for Sarah Dessen, I overheard some girls talking about this book. I didn't join in, but I wanted to. It's a super fun cover, plus that title is to DIE FOR!
Callie is a class A klutz. She's convinced her mother to allow her to go to England as part of a class trip. Now that she's here, she's completely miserable. If leaving the hotel, they have to use the buddy system, and her buddy is definitely not interested in hanging out. When Callie overhears her buddy and her BFFs talking about sneaking out and going to a club, she vows to go too. But first she needs a new outfit. She uses her mom's emergency only credit card to purchase some new Prada shoes. On leaving the store, she trips and flat on her face - knocking herself unconscious. When she wakes up - nothing is the same. In fact, she has no idea where she might be but one things clear, she's not in London. She starts walking until she stumbles upon a house. She's mistaken for a long-lost friend and taken in. Callie soon discovers that she's in 19th century England. From klutz to incredibly awkward, Callie's life doesn't improve. There's so much that she doesn't know: social rules, fashion, and dancing. While she's pretending to be someone else, she's also trying to figure out how to get back to her own life. Callie must play by the rules of 19th century England even though she no idea what they are or if she'll ever get back to modern day London. All she has are those gorgeous Prada shoes...and a talent for getting into trouble.
Mandy Hubbard debuts her first YA novel. Check out the interview here previously on the blog.It's a funny, fresh time traveling tale with an awkward girl looking to find herself. The cover's amazingly cute, check out Melissa Walker's cover story.
Welcome Tera! Thanks for stopping by to chat with us about your newest book Goddess Boot Camp. It's fabulous and she's clearly a
So let's get started...
What made you choose to write?And why YA specifically? After I got my Masters degree (in Historic Preservation, of all things) I moved back home and basically house-sat while my parents were on the road. That left me with a lot of free time in which I did a lot of reading. The more I read the more I started thinking, “That character should have said XYZ,” or, “Wouldn't it be cool if they'd done ABC instead?” From there, I decided to try writing a book in which the character said XYZ and they did ABC. I started off writing romance, but I kind of fell (happily) into YA. I came up with a title/premise that could only be a teen story (Oh. My. Gods.) and wrote the first draft in record time (six weeks, I think). It just came so easily to me, probably because I'm still a seventeen-year-old girl at heart. I love the complete and total freedom you have in writing for teens, there are no rules, no Do/Don't lists, because teens are ready for anything you can throw at them. We adults aren't usually that open-minded.
I love that you happily fell into YA. And I can't believe it only took six weeks to write Oh. My. Gods. - that's crazy! I must say, I'm glad that you did, because that book ROCKS!
Where do you write best? In a coffee shop. At home, there are too many distractions (email, laundry, television, refrigerator). At a coffee shop, I get a steady stream of caffeinated beverages, a comfy chair (usually), and all the people-watching I could want. I just pop in my headphones, tune out the world, and get to work.
Is there a topic you’ve always wanted to write about? I have a number of ideas tickling at the back of my brain (the ones that might take a few years to settle into an actual book). The one that stands out the most is an unsolved mystery/missing persons case that's based on something that happened at my high school. It's not exactly the fun, fast-paced fantasies I'm writing right now, but it's a story that I'll tell some day.
What was the last book you’ve read that you’ve been recommending to everyone?Life As We Knew Itby Susan Beth Pfeffer. (Last year it was Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart.) I am dying to be able to talk about this book with someone who has actually read it. It took me a while to get fully sucked into the story, but by the end I was completely emotionally attached. I have never cried so hard over a book before, and in a different way than books usually make me cry.
Loved this book - and I'm pretty sure I cried too.
5.How do you get your ideas?Do you use real events in your novels and if so, can you describe one? My ideas usually come randomly. The idea for Oh. My. Gods. came from the working title, Growing Up Godly, which was a twist on the reality TV title, Growing Up Gotti. The idea from Goddess Boot Camp started with the opening line(s), I. Am. A. Goddess. I do, occasionally, use real experiences in my novels. Like in Oh. My. Gods. when Phoebe is talking about the race through the Paris airport for their connecting flight, getting misdirected twice, and barely skating back through security before the door closed... that really happened to me.
How do you come up with your titles? I don't know that I have any specific methods, especially since I often come up with the title before the premise of the book. I like to play around with sounds and twist well-known words or phrases into something unique. My editor came up with the title for Oh. My. Gods. (because we thought that Growing Up Godly my come across as inspirational fiction).
Good Call!
Are there any authors you’d love to meet? Jaclyn Moriarty! She's my hero/author crush. I adore absolutely everything she writes—including her rarely-posted blog. But she lives in Australia, so I'll have to save up for that long flight.
I LOVED The Year of Secret Assignments.
How did you become a BUZZ girl? Stephanie Hale, who had already been asked to join the initial group (that included Heather Davis, Dona Sarkar, and Simone Elkeles), suggested/nominated me.
That's so sweet!
Can you tell us a little bit about Goddess Boot Camp? The story takes place the summer after Oh. My. Gods., just a few months after (Warning: OMG Spoiler!) Phoebe learns that she's a descendant of Nike. She's got these awesome new superpowers ... but she's having a little trouble (of the palm tree in the living room variety) controlling them. Her stepdad Damian enrolls her in Goddess Boot Camp, a special summer training program for girls who haven't quite got a handle on their powers yet. In addition to that, she's left alone with stepsister Stella while her mom and Damian are on their honeymoon, she's having a bit of a rocky time with Griffin, she's trying to train for the marathon-length race in the Pythian Games, and someone's sending her anonymous messages about her dad's death. Is it any wonder she can't keep things under control?
How many books will there be in the series? Right now, just the two. I have ideas for more stories, but the sales need to improve before my publisher is going to want more. Anyone who wants to know what really happened to Phoebe's dad, what happens in Level 13, and (finally!) who Nicole's ancestor god is, needs to tell everyone and every library they know to buy the first two books!
We NEED more. Start spreading the news about these fabulous books!
You create collages for each of your characters, and their are super cool – when did you start making those and what inspired them? Thanks! A friend of mine did a workshop at our local writing group about making book collages. The idea of a single collage representing the whole book didn't work for me, but once I started making them for individual characters then everything clicked. I'm a very visual person, so seeing that character and his/her possessions in photo format kind of fleshes them out in me head. When I get about thirty pages into a book I usually stall for a bit. That's when I make the collages, and they get me right back on track.
Any news about the option (for a TV series) from Ashley Tisdale camp? Sigh. No news yet. The option is up in July, so they'll have to decide at that point if they want to: a) buy the rights, b) renew the option, or c) drop it altogether. You can bet that as soon as there's news I'll post in on my blog!
I hope there's some news soon, I'd love to watch these books turn into a TV series!*fingers crossed*
What's up next for you?
I'm excited to tell you that FORGIVE MY FINS, the story of a half-mermaid princess attending high school on the mainland, will be a Summer 2010 release from Katherine Tegen Books at HarperCollins!
How fun! Looking forward to reading it.
You move around a lot – is there a place you’ve always wanted to live? Oh, everywhere! I've been in Houston for two years now and I'm starting to get antsy. I'm looking at New York or Denver (I've lived both places before) or maybe even L.A. (one of my dream locales). Or I might just pack everything into storage and travel for a while. There's a lot more of the world that I'd like to see.
And finally, a listing if your favorite things:
Candy – I'm not a huge candy person, but I'm not particularly picky when I am
Pizza topping – pepperoni (sometimes with pineapple or jalapenos)
Genre of books – YA, duh! (okay, maybe that's not specifically a genre, so I'll say fantasy/paranormal)
Singer and/or Song – at the moment, it's The Climb by Miley Cyrus (I know, I know, but it's a great message)
Restaurant – Does Starbucks count?
TV show /Movie – it's a toss-up between Psych and Leverage and Deadliest Catch
Color – turquoise
Shoe – flip-flops
Video Game – I love the Nancy Drew mystery games! Store – Target!
Want more? Check out this fun interview our Goddess did with Linda Gerber
I'm a Teen Librarian who LOVE LOVE LOVES books. You can also find me @ www.myspace.com/yabooknerd and
http://twitter.com/yabooknerd. I work at Otis Library in Norwich,CT as Head of the YA Department. Besides reading books and chatting about books, I'm into beading, stamping, baking, watching the Celtics, and hanging out with my friends.
(Sequel to The Summoning which includes *Spoilers* for that book)
