Moderating a Panel at PLA (Public Library Association)

 Last month, I was excited to check off a huge item on my professional bucket list - be part of a presentation at a national conference. I'd requested to present at a YALSA conference before and was rejected, but this opportunity came to me.

The panel of authors was amazing. I loved all their books.

Marissa Meyer:

Review

Michelle Jabes Corpora:

Book 1 Review

Book 2 Review

And I'm waiting desperately for the last book in the trilogy

Randy Ribay

Review

Emiko Jean:

Review

Author Interview 

What a line up right?

And I was lucky enough to moderate the panel. 

We had a lightening round of getting to know you questions where we learned about the author's favorite writing snack, if they're a plotter or a panser, if they listen to music when they write, and a book they recently read and enjoyed.

I asked questions of each author. And then the crowd asked questions.

Emiko Jean has a fantastic secondary character in Jiji, the main character's grandfather. We talked about him. Marissa Meyer talked about the struggles of writing with someone else and what happens when you disagree. She also talked about her favorite types of escape rooms and tactile vs technological pieces. Michelle Jabes Corpora talked about how she writes the books as written and not each character's story first and then pieces together the story. She also talked about social media and using it as her real self - not always with make-up and not always polished. Because being real is important - especially for teens. There will be a snake with her on book tour and in some videos. Randy Ribay's book is about the possibility of death, so he talked about what he would do with his last days. He also talked about colonialism and how stories are erased from cultures. His story is steeped in Filipino mythology with his own twist.  

There was a lot of laughter. 

Of course, I was awkward, but I hope in the best way. I was a little nervous at the beginning, but I think it went well. And it would be fun to moderate more panels/author chats, so let me know if you need one!

Review: Escape Game

 

Season four of the family friendly reality TV show ended with a murder. No one won the prize that season. 

Six months later, season five is kicking off. The surprise contestant is the sister of the murdered girl - the one many believe killed Alicia. 

Now Audi, Carter, and Beck have been thrown together with Sierra to create a team. While they're good at escape rooms, they're not the fastest AND another team is targeting them. Plus, someone is dropping clues about Alicia's murder. The truth will come out, but only IF Sierra's team makes it to the finals. Can Team Helsing stay in the game long enough to collect answers?

My Thoughts: I LOVED this book: for the puzzles, the friendship, the twists and turns, and the drama of reality TV. I barely watch reality TV shows, but I love reading about them. I've never been to an escape room, but it's on my bucket list. I'm scared I wouldn't be good at it. Although I have co-built a couple rooms for my library. I loved the discussion about online personal vs. person in real life in terms of Carter and Kick-it Carter. I loved how Team Helsing bonded, but still had their moments. Everyone had secrets here. I can't wait to see what happens next after that wild ending. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Source:  ARC sent for Review

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public libraries

Marissa Meyer was on my PLA panel (more on that later)

Graphic Novel Review: We Could be Magic

Tabi can't wait to work at Sommerland theme park. She longs to be portray a Princess, but she fails the first auditions. Instead, she's stuck at the nacho stand. Her roommate gets picked to be a princess. Tabi knows that Princesses don't normally look like her, but she's not about to let that stop her. 

She keeps working to make her dreams happens. 

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. I loved Tabi's determination to make her dreams come true. She put in the work. She shared her opinions and her dismay that Princesses didn't come in all shapes and sizes. Even though she didn't get a part of the princess, she did become a character. There's a little romance, which was sweet. I love all the Disney easter eggs. The art is super cute and the ending is amazing. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: Book sent review

Why I read it: I love theme park books

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your graphic novel section.

Middle Grade Review: Let It Glow

Aviva Davis and Holly Martin meet at a holiday pageant tryout session. 

Aviva wants to be a star, but Holly's more interested in working behind the scenes. Aviva wants to create a Hanukkah song, but she's not sure that she feels Jewish enough. While her family is Jewish, they don't celebrate. But her Bubbe insists that she is. Aviva asks her parents to celebrate Hanukkah this year. 

Holly lives with her grandfather (a famous author) and her mother. She's been waiting to go get the tree, but her mom's been busy working. Lately, her grandfather hasn't been feeling himself. Her mom is worried about him being by himself so much with her at work and Holly at school. Maybe it's time for him to move to a senior community.

Once the girls meet, it's like looking in a mirror. They're both adopted. After texting with each other for a week, they decide to switch places. Will their families notice a difference?

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I'm a huge fan of the Parent Trap, so this was right up my alley. Plus, I adore holiday stories. I loved how the twins were so alike and yet so different. I loved the texts between the two of them and how they started to get to know each other. It was so cute! I loved how they both explored Christmas and Hanukkah. I loved Aviva's siblings. I enjoyed the close moments between the two families - and how the girls escaped them. One of my favorite middle grade reads this year! 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public library

**Check out the awesome activity packet with a word search, recipes, and so much more! 

Blog Tour: Renegades

About the Book: The first in a two book set.

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice. The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both. 

About the Author: MARISSA MEYER is the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles series, as well as the graphic novel Wires and Nerve: Vol. 1, and The Lunar Chronicles Coloring Book. Her first stand alone novel, Heartless, was also a #1 New York Times bestseller. She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and their two daughters.

My Thoughts:
It took me a chapter or two to get into the book, but once I was in, I was hooked. I really like Nora - I can see where she's coming from. I like how her view point wavers as she gets to know more about the Renegades. I love her team. I really like Max and his world. I found Adrian charming and I want to know more about this mother. I love his power. And his relationships. I liked the banter between him and Nova. I like how Nova tried to be tough, but she starts caring just a bit. I love all the action and the danger and the secrets. And the double crossings. 

And that ending - I didn't see that one coming. At All.

And now I need the second book.

Team Renegades or Team Anarchists?

At the moment, I'm team Adrian. I'm not sure I trust all the Renegades. And I definitely don't trust the Anarchists. 

You won't want to miss this book when it comes out November 7th.

My NaNoWriMo Post

is up at the Hub where I interviewed Donna Gephart, Jessica Burkhart, and Marissa Meyer about turning their NaNoWriMo works into published books. Check it out and leave a comment, especially if you're attempting NaNoWriMo too!