Top Ten Tuesday: Traveling

This week's topic is all about traveling. I love it when a book makes me want to travel. I'll share a few recent reads and some old favorites. I adore travel romances, so I could go on forever, but I'll stop after 10. 

Side note: I also love books that make me want to travel to the fictional town. Like Stars Hollow. (I know that's a TV town, but you all know what I mean...)

- meme from That Artsy Reader Girl

Recent Reads:

Go hiking (I'm doing this later this summer)

Go to a beach side town

Visit Alaska

Visit Scotland

Some old favorites

What books make you want to travel?

Review: Lucky in Love

Maddie's got her life planned out; she studies hard to earn a college scholarship. After a lackluster birthday, she buys a lottery ticket. She's shocked when she discovers she's won. All of a sudden her life changes; she's no longer concerned about money. She has enough to pay for college. She can give money to her parents and her brother. Maybe it will turn their luck around.

She's also throwing money around by hosting a party on yacht one night, a clothing shopping spree, and a diamond necklace. Soon she's realizing that people are talking to her because of her money. Maddie's not sure who her real friends are after an article appears about her spending habits.

Her only solace is her job, working at the local zoo and hanging out with Seth, who doesn't know anything about her recent windfall. Sooner or later, she'll have to tell him. When she does, will everything change?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I liked the study parties, especially the snacks. There were times when I wanted to yell at Maddie about her decision, but I like how it all played out. I loved the moments at the zoo. I adored Seth and his banter with Maddie. Of course this made me think of all the things I would do if I won the lottery. There are a lot of ideas!

Cover Thoughts: Adorable - it sold me on the book before I knew what it was about.
Source: My Library
Final Thoughts: A fun cotemporary romance perfect for the summer

Summer Reading Program at Your Local Library

Joining the Summer Reading Program at your local library is important for several reasons.:

For Your Child:

1. It helps prevent summer slide, reading just six books over the summer truly helps.

2. It helps give children time to read for fun - something they need to cement their love of reading. Let them choose to read whatever they think looks fun. 

3. There are TONS of programs at your library this summer - programs targeted for all ages.

For Parents:

1. Children model their behavior after parents, which means they need to see their parents reading. All of their parents. It doesn't matter what you're reading (although it's harder for them to recognize you're reading articles online). Let them see you reading; let them see you picking out books. I read before bed every night, but if your kids don't see you reading, you're missing a huge opportunity. Share your passion for reading with your kids.

2. Libraries have programs for adults too. (My library has a program where you read a book and get to pick out a free book. We also have weekly raffle prizes to local businesses)

3. Talk about books, authors, illustrators, and libraries - not in school based way but in general everyday conversation.

4. Read together 

5. Read aloud - it's fun for everyone. Plus you can talk about the story together.

For Your Library:

1. Summer is the busiest time of year for the library.

2. We count on summer to coast us through the lighter months (Winter in New England) when people don't come to the library as much.

3. We want you to come to our programs because we're hosting them for you.

4. But we want you to check out books; we need our circulation statistics to be amazing. 

5. Our summer numbers help boost us over the edge when it's budget time.

6. We want to help readers find books that they will love to read

7. Say hello to us, because we love it when we recognize library families. 

Also, some libraries have summer lunch for kids 18 and under, which helps replace the free lunch from school. If your library has it, it's available for ALL kids, no questions asked.

So head to your local library this summer, changes are they are doing amazing things!

Review: Life Inside My Mind

31 YA authors share their personal stories in small essays.

My Thoughts: Oh boy. This was a great book to read and to start conversations, but it was also hard to read because of the subject matter. I love that so many authors shared their stories and I hope that this book spurs conversations among teens. I hope they see they are not alone. I hope they find themselves sharing their own stories. There isn't any judgement here, it's all very matter of fact. I love that so many of the essays talked about what worked for them and how it won't work for everyone. I love how they advice readers to get help and figure out the method that might work best for them. This book is so powerful - from the number of authors sharing their stories to the range of mental illnesses shared. It's an eye opening read.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: ARC sent for review
Library Recommendation: A must have for middle school, high school, and public libraries.

#YAPromtoRemember

Today is all about Proms. Here's a secret. I didn't go to either of my high school proms. In junior year, my friends and I decided to skip it and make our senior year awesome. But by the time senior year rolled around, I wasn't friends with them any more. I actually didn't really have friends my senior year of high school.

I did however go to a prom with a work buddy. It was awkward as anything because it was a small school and I'm an introvert. But I was excited to go and it was sweet. I had a nice time, but it would have been better if I had a friend or two there.

My mom made my dress and here I am posing with my sister. It's one of my favorite pictures together.

I've written a lot about proms and prom books, mostly because they are so much fun to read.

Here are some prom book covers and matching dresses.

Here is ten favorite Prom books from 2011 and earlier 

Here's my If You Like pin about Proms

Picture Book Review: Princesses Wear Pants

Princess Penelope Pineapple believes there's more to life than pretty dresses; she has things to do. In order to achieve her accomplishments, she wears pants. Of course, they help her save the day!

This is a great picture book with a fantastic message. Princesses get stuff done. The illustrations are fun as well. Grab this one for your feminist picture book collection; it's both girly and feminist, showing girls that you can be both.

Giveaway: Supergirl

About the Book:
Welcome to Midvale, home to Liberty High School and an unusual girl names Kara Danvers. While it may seem like your ordinary town, girls like Kara make it extraordinary. She's super-strong, she can fly, and she crash-landed on Earth in a rocket ship. But for Kara Danvers, winning the next track meet, celebrating her 16th birthday, and surviving her latest mega-zit are her top concerns. Now Kara's incredible powers are kicking into high gear and people she trusted are revealing creepy motives. The time has come for her to choose between the world where she was born and the only world she's every known.

About the Author:
Markio Tamaki is an award-winning Canadian writer living in Oakland California. She's the author of Saving Montgomery Sole and the co-creator with Jillian Tamaki of This One Summer, which received the prestigious Eisner and Ignartz awards as well as Caldecott and Printz honors. Her growing slate of critically acclaimed comics and graphic novels included Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tomb Raider, Adventure Time, She-Hulk, Lumberjanes, SuperGirl and New Super-Man.

On Thursday, I got to chat with the author.

Today I'm giving away one copy!
(US only please)

a Rafflecopter giveaway