(February) Middle Grade Book Challenge

Are you reading middle grade books this month? If so, which titles and from which authors?

The rules again are really simply all you have to do is commit to reading 12+ Middle Grade books and posting your review and then come back and sharing your link in this post. You have from now until December 2011 to complete this challenge.

Just add your blog link/name to the Mr. Linky below. Your blog name and book titles will be fine.

Just to let everyone know I have given it some thought and I think I am going to go ahead and do a monthly giveaway. Please note it won't be a big prize just because I will be mailing it and I live in Canada so shipping can get kinda of expensive so some ideas will be a gift card for coffee, a bookmark etc.

So the only rules are in order to qualify all you have to do is come back and link your reviews and for every one you add for the month of February will count for one entry into the bowl.

Have fun and happy reading.


Julie from Booking Mama is January's winner. Thanks Julie for taking part.

Please note that SPAM links will be deleted. i verfiy each link that is left.

It's Monday What are you reading? # 8

It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila who blogs at Book Journey.

As I was getting ready to write up this post I realized that I have been doing this now for two months straight. I love taking part in this weekly meme because not only does it make me accountable for what I say I plan on reading this week but it also gives me the chance to see what you are all reading. This is a good and bad thing because after seeing what you guys are reading I am constantly adding books to my wish list.

This is also the last Monday in February and I am so happy its over and looking ahead I can see spring peeking out behind the snow clouds. Just one more month and things should be getting better.

Today was a mix bag of weather from snow, rain, freezing rain and now back to snow. Thankfully its not cold out yet so nothing is freezing but once it does it will be a mess out there with all the slush.

I had to brave the elements and go out. I was hoping that I could have got Michael into the spring break library activity today but it was filled and not one cancellation. It wasn't a wasted trip because I had over due books (so much for my New Years resolution not to owe late fees) and Michael picked up a few graphic novels to read over the week.

Last week I kept my reading very simple and light. Okay I was basically reading a bunch of graphic novels to see if they were age appropriate for Michael to read. This is what I read:




I am actually looking forward to getting more of the Lunch Lady as I think Michael will really enjoy them. I am also looking forward to borrowing number 2 and 3 in the Max Finder mystery graphic novels when the come in from the library.

Now for this week I plan on reading:


Both books sound really good and I am excited to get into Jill Mansell's book. I have read her previous five books and enjoyed them. Check back next week for my reviews as they are scheduled for then.

Anyways this is what I read last week and what I plan to read this week. What about you?

The Mailbox Post

As you know Mailbox Monday is originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Marcia has decided to put Mailbox Monday on a blog tour and for the month of February the Mailbox Monday host is Laura from Library of Clean Reads.

Kristi from The Story Siren hosts In My Mailbox that is geared towards young adult books.

I just realized that this will be Laura's ( Library of Clean Reads ) last week hosting In My Mailbox. The host for March is another Laura, Laura from I'm Booking It which just happens to be a new to me blogger. I am looking forward to checking out this new blog.

This past week I had a mailbox full of surprises.

For Review:

The first surprise I got was a package from Owl Kids and it included: Max Finder: Mystery Collected Casebook Vol 5, You just Can't Help It: Your Guide to the wild and wacky world of human behavior, You asked: Over 300 great questions and astounding answers, Spring 2011 Catalog, Lift the flap and learn The human Body and press releases to go with each book.

Thanks so much Owl Kids for sending us this great package.


I believe this is from the Blogging for Books program.


This was from Simon & Schuster Canada for an upcoming book tour that I am a part of. Thanks S&S for sending this.

I have to send out a huge huge THANK YOU to one of the most awesome authors out there, Kerry Sparks. In December Kerry contacted me about reviewing her two middle grade books Frost Bites and Jen and the Frosted Friends and I accepted the request because they sounded so cute. This was my second surprise in the mail. Kerry sent me the following goodies for reviewing the her books and the interview:

I was super excited to receive it and it really made my day. She sent me a signed copy of her second book (this is for a upcoming give away) a couple of her business cards, a ton of bookmarks and a gift card to Barnes and Nobles.

Thanks so much Kerry for the goodies you sent. I had a blast reviewing your books and working with you.

My third surprise was:

I want to send out a huge thank you to the person who sent me this. There was no address on the envelope or any indication where it came from and the only thing inside was a note saying "I saw this on your wish list post. Enjoy!" So thank you book fairy.

Then if that wasn't enough, my super duper friend gave me a box of books that were from her cousin to pass onto me. They are:


I was so thrilled when I opened the box and spotted the Melissa Marr books because just recently I mentioned once my book buying ban was over that they were the ones I was going to buy and now I don't have too because I have the complete set now. My friend told me that her cousin wanted to apologize for not having book four but there as an accident with the book but she figured I would buy it which I don't have to because I picked it up at BEA last May.

Then finally I borrowed this book because I am a huge fan:

Its been a while since I have read anything from V.C. Andrews and I thought I would give it try. I think I have read 30-35 of the previous books. I don't know why I stopped reading them but I did continue to buy them so I have the whole collection sitting here. Perhaps this year I will make it a point to read them.

Finally not pictured I got a book mark from Linda Lael Miller.

This is what I got in my mailbox and delivered to my door, what about you?

Author(s) Meet Up and Books Bought/Give Away

Today I got the chance to see Catherine McKenzie author of Spin and Arranged. She was at my local Chapters signing Arranged (her newest novel) and Spin.

Its always nice to meet up with a local author and one I have worked with. I enjoy Catherine's books and I love being able to show case her and her books.

It was great talking to Catherine. She informed me about the Harper Collins Canada March Madness contest. Every year they run this event and you are asked to vote on books in each category. I believe I am able to vote but I can't enter the contest because you guessed it, its void here in Quebec and valid only in Canada.

Catherine told me that Spin (38%) is up against Water for Elephants (62%). Also included in that is The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan, Inside Out Girl by Tish Cohen, Alice I think by Susan Juby, Wonderous Strange by Lesley Livingston, Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill, The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Some pretty great Canadians in that first round. If you get the chance why not head over and vote and show your support to some great authors. I know I just did.

The overall previous winners were: 2008 Mystic River by Dennis Lehane, 2009 The judas Strain by James Rollins and 2010 Getting the Girl by Susan Juby.

Catherine also mentioned how some US bloggers are inquiring about getting both her books and you can order them through Amazon.ca and chapters.indigo.ca To save on shipping you could order both books.

Spin
Spin Amazon
Spin Chapters

Arranged
Arranged Amazon
Arranged Chapters

Giveaway Time!!

Of course Catherine graciously signed my ARC of Arranged and I bought a copy of Arranged (the above pic) and its signed by Catherine and I am giving it away to one lucky winner.

All you have to do is fill in the form:


Rules:
-Open to Canadian and US mailing addresses only (Sorry about that but shipping can get expensive to mail elsewhere)
-Valid mailing address no PO Boxes.
-Contest is open until March 2nd Wednesday.
-One entry per person.

(Review) Will Work For Prom Dress

Title: Will Work For Prom Dress
Author: Aimee Ferris
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication Date: February 2011
Pages:272

Source: I received this book as part of an ARC Tour group I am in.

Publisher Comments:
Quigley Johnson has, reluctantly, given up the rest of her last year of high school to take part in her best friend Ann's Betterment Plan, which will turn them into the best-dressed, most sought-after, most admired girls at their senior formal. Because - hey - who doesn't want the perfect prom, complete with a dream dress and a devastatingly handsome date?

But the prom costs money - lots of money - and even though the girls could easily have Ann's mom design their dresses (she's only Victoria Parisi, one of the most famous designers in the world), Ann insists that they pay their own way. And that's how Quigley gets stuck making artistic topping masterpieces on frozen pizzas canvases, before becoming a live model for Ms. Parisi's fashion design class, where she meets Zander.

He's cute, and cool, and funny, with a killer design sensibility (even if he can't sketch). But is he too good to be true? And what about David, the hot, talented artist at school, who's also kind of a jerk, but won't leave Quigley alone? And Ann - she started the Betterment Plan to improve Quigley and herself, but it seems like it's ripping their friendship to shreds.

This road to the prom dream may just end in disaster.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. When I received this book I for some reason thought that this was a debut author but that's not the case. Aimee is actually the author of S.A.S.S Girl Overboard which came out in 2007 and its a middle grade book. I will have to keep my eye out for that one.

The main characters are Quigley and her best friend Anne. Anne has come up with a BP (which means a betterment plan) and the goal is to get jobs so that they can get prom dress to go to their prom. I think Anne was sort of a great role model for Quigley because its evident that Anne has money, her mother is a famous fashion designer, (Victoria Parisi) and she could easily afford a prom dress or better yet have her mother design it for her but instead she decided it was better to work for the dresses.

All that is on Anne's mind is getting the perfect dress and having the perfect boy on her arm for the event. Quigley reluctantly agrees and goes along with her best friend. Figuring they were working towards a goal what could possibly go wrong and how much trouble could they possibly get into?

Little does Quigley realize she is in for the ride of a life time (boy problems, feelings and someone going to jail). Anne manages to get them several jobs such as working an assembly line with frozen pizzas where the girls decide to get creative with the process (which you know, no good will come of this), then Anne gets them hired to work in a dinner theatre, but fails to tell Quigley what roll she will be playing and finally when Anne's mother, Victoria, offers them a job to model clothes for upcoming designers. Anne jumps at the chance and drags Quigley with her. Little does Quigley realize that this will be the chance of a lifetime and will change their lives dramatically. Will it be the change that the girls want? Good or bad?

I loved the love interest that they girls had especially Quigley who had David (a boy her age and went to school with her) and Zander (who is a little older). You could see that David like her and at times I thought he was a bit of a jerk but realized he was doing it because he liked her. I loved Zander and I have to say that I loved that he was a designer who couldn't sketch a design if his life depended on it and at one point I must admit that I thought he was a jerk but once I realized what then it all made sense. I liked how you didn't know who would end up with Quigley in the end. Just as soon as you thought it would be David it flipped and you would think Zander and back and forth. I am really happy with the guy she ended up with.

Thanks to Holly for allowing me to be a part of the ARC Tour for this book.

(Review) Save As Draft

Title: Save As Draft
Author: Cavanaugh Lee
Publisher:Simon & Schuster
Pages:336
Publication Date:2011/02/01

Source: I received this as a ARC (egalley) from Simon & Schuster's egalley list.

SAVE AS DRAFT @Readers A love triangle evolving over e-mails, texts, and Facebook messages that makes you wonder if the things we leave unsaid—or rather unsent—could change the story of our lives.
6:59 PM Feb. 14th via twitterfeed

Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011

From: Izabell

To: Reader

Subject: Save as Draft


Are we Facebook friends yet? I’m the wactress (waitress/actress) turned lawyer who lives her life online. (Don’t we all these days?)

Anyway, I’ve got this problem. . . . There’s this guy. His name’s Peter. He’s my best friend and co-worker, and we just started dating, which is potentially a huge mistake. But, that’s not all. There’s this other guy, Marty. I met him on eHarm, and he ran with the bulls in Spain. I can’t get him off my mind. What a mess. I’d love your advice if you can take a second out of your crazy, high-tech life. Shoot me an e-mail. Or text me. Or BB messenger me.

And friend me if you haven’t already! You can find me on Facebook under Save as Draft.

Izabell

My Thoughts:
When I first heard about this book I was curious to read it because its done in the format of emails, texts and facebook messages. Which is a format I have enjoyed in the past with books such as Holly's Inbox and Meg Cabot's Boy Meets Girl. A reader is always skeptical because sometimes this format can work and sometimes it can't but in this case it worked perfectly.

I have to admit at first it was a little rough getting into the book until you get into the swing of things because its goes between emails sent and emails saved to draft but once I got into the book I really enjoyed it and read it fairly quickly. It was a simple and fun read. It was a great way to pass a cold morning curled up on the couch.

Save As Draft is about a young lady named Izabelle (Izzy to her friends) who is lawyer in Atlanta (a city I want to visit one day). Izzy is lonely and dying to meet the guy of her dreams. Realizing that its hard she turns to eHarm (a online dating site) in hopes of perhaps finding the guy. She is curious about the whole online dating and figuring she has nothing to loose decides to register.

The first guy she meets is Marty. Marty sounds like a sweet guy and honestly would be the perfect match for Izzy because they both are huge movie/music buffs and you can see that through out their conversations when they recite lines from movies. Izzy likes Marty.

But IRL (in real life) Izzy has a best guy friend named Peter and he has been there for her and she has had a serious secret crush on him for a long time but little does Izzy know but Peter feels the same way. Could this possibly work?

Izzy is stuck between a rock and a hard place once Peter makes his move. Who does she chose Marty or Peter?

I have to say I was torn about both guys and loved them both and didn't know who would be better for her. Both guys had pros and cons. Thankfully Izzy is the one who had to make the decision and not me.

I realized as I was reading this book just how much we communicate via emails, texts and facebook. Thankfully I can say I am not a huge texter but I know a lot of people who are and wonder how we would survive if we didn't have these forms of communication? I personally can say that I am lost if I can't check my emails or facebook on a daily bases. Am I the only like this?

It's Monday What are you reading? # 7

It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila who blogs at Book Journey.

(Edit) For some reason I had this post scheduled to post on Monday and it never appeared and continued to sit there. Not sure why that happened but when I went back to look at my last weeks post I noticed a few others that didn't appear so please forgive me if your feed readers are loaded down with my posts.

I really can't believe how fast February is flying by and honestly I am happy that its going by like the wind because I am offically through with winter. The weather here is crazy one day its almost 0 and then the next its like -20. I am longing for the warmer weather and being able to sit in the sun.

So last week my current read was:

I finished that within a day or two of starting it. This was for an ARC Tour. Hopefully my review for this will get up this week.

I mentioned last week that I was hoping to get to Weird Sisters and Across the Universe but I didn't. I ended up reading the following:

These are graphic novels called Night School Vol 1 & 2.

I had started to read Weird Sisters but I could tell I wasn't into reading so I figured I would pick up some light things to read and these were borrowed from my library and were due book this week.

I noticed reading wise I felt like I was going into a slump and not sure why. Perhaps I have been pushing myself with reading and reading too much. So I decided that I was going to take a break and I didn't do much reading. With not doing alot of reading I turned to the tv and I think I have watched more tv in the last week or so then I have in awhile.

Is anyone watching Survivor? Its been a long time since I watched it and I think I might be hooked with this one with the redemption island twist.

Okay back to what I read. Last week I also read:

These are graphic novels.

I am not quite sure where I heard about these books but since Michael has been enjoying the Geronimo Stilton graphic novels I thought he might enjoy these. So I wanted to read them before he did so I would know if they are age appropriate. Thankfully our library ordered them for us and we were able to get #1-3-4 to read. Michael will probably read these during spring break next week. Still waiting for #2
to come in.

That is what I read last week. Now for this week I will probably read

and perhaps I will get to


Have you read any of these books? If so please let me know.

An Awesome Author Event (+ Books Bought)

If you remember a little while ago I mentioned I was going to see Mo Willems with Michael. Well today was the day. Michael was super excited and constantly kept asking if it was time to go yet and not to forget his book to get signed.

Which I did remember to put in my purse and he did get it signed.

We were shocked when we walked in to the book store because the place was packed and they were handing out numbers for what group you would be in when he signed the books. I was in group number two. Not exactly sure how many were in each group and we were only allowed to have one non bought book signed (meaning if it wasn't bought at Babar you were allowed only one)

Going to author events like this I like to support the store (especially this great indie bookstore near me) and the author so I bought:

Some how Michael also managed to convince us to get him:

If you have read his Knuffle Bunny books you will recognize this as the Knuffle Bunny. This is his new best friend.

Sadly while I was stuck in line paying for the books and the Knuffle Bunny, Mo began his readings, which Michael was down stairs to listen (and he got a great spot in front thanks to the staff who made sure all the kids could see Mo) and I forgot to give my camera to him so I don't have any recordings from this event. Which is really to bad because I did get to hear him and he is awesome. He is very animated and into his books.

He read:


This isn't my video I found it on YouTube but I thought I would share this so you can see exactly what he is like when he is doing a reading.

He was amazing with the kids and after he each story he would allow a mini Q&A and he always had a funny story and/or comment. One question that was asked was something about writting and his books and he said "One word--Mortgage!" The adults laughed at this one.

This is only my second children's author book event and it was hands down the very best. Mo was amazing with his readings and after wards with the signings. He took the time to speak with each person and allowed photographs to be taken (minus the flash photography which was his request) and Michael was great with him answering all his questions. Plus we got to see who the real Trixie was.

If you are looking for some great children books I have to suggest Mo Willems books. We love then and since meeting Mo we have decided that we will slowly build our collection up.

Here are some pics from the signing:

This is in line and Mo trying to guess what Michael's name was.


Mo signing Michael's books. With the signature was a little drawing he did.


Mo graciously posed with us for this picture.

Thanks to Mo (who I hope might read this) for coming to our little corner of the world (and it didn't rain this time) and to Babar Books for organizing this fantastic event.

BTW MO told me he was going to be at BEA again so if you get the chance stop and say hi.

Here is an article (interview) about Mo that our local newspaper The Montreal Gazette did on Saturday with him.

The Mailbox Post

As you know Mailbox Monday is originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Marcia has decided to put Mailbox Monday on a blog tour and for the month of February the Mailbox Monday host is Laura from Library of Clean Reads.

Kristi from The Story Siren hosts In My Mailbox that is geared towards young adult books.

This past week I have to say was really quiet in my mailbox. Which is okay. I only got two books and a prize win. This is what came to my house:


ARC copy to be released May 2011

Synopsis
Cinderella's Prince Charming is divorced and at a dead-end in his career, so he opens a bookstore and travels the land ordering books and discovering new authors. Still handsome and still charming, he has given up on women, royalty, and anything that smacks of a future.
Mellie is sick and tired of being called the Evil Stepmother. She did her best by her stepdaughter Snow White, but the girl resented her to no end and made all kinds of false accusations.

Neither of them believes in happily ever after anymore, but both of them believe in happily for the moment...

February 2011 The sequel to Dreaming Anastasia

Synopsis
Anne is trying her best to live a normal life, but she's still got some power sparking inside her. She's hearing and seeing things that she tries her best to ignore-like being haunted by a Russian sea nymph that claims the princess Anastasia is still alive.
That's when Ethan Kozninsky-he of the stunning blue eyes, thick brown hair, and former immortal status-returns. Anne soon realizes that everything she's been trying to forget might be impossible to bury.

Thanks to Sourcebooks for sending both these books my way.

Also this past week I received my prize win from Heidi Ya Bibliophile. If you haven't heard about Hiedi and her blog Ya Bibliophile you should really go and check it out. She is a great YA blogger. I love reading her blog posts and her IMM vlogs.


The above picture includes: Heidi's business card, some stickers (love the one of the girl), an Eat, Prey, Love. sticker (which I already have placed in The Dead Tossed Waves), a Firelight bookmark (which is already in my Firelight book), a Melissa Marr bookmark which shows the covers of her Wicked Lovely series (this is already in my Radiant Shadows book) and a super cute water bottle and I just noticed that the girl sticker matches the one on the water bottle. Love it.

Once my book buying ban is over I am planning on getting Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity. I have been hearing a ton of great stuff about it.

Also included in the prize win was these two books:

A signed copy of Black Cat by Holly Black and an ARC of Janette Rallison's newest book that is coming out April 12, 2011.

Thanks again Heidi for this great prize win. Love it.

This is what I got in my mailbox, what about you?