10 Things That Stood Out for Me in 2009

So, I am sitting here waiting for the new year to start! And I can't help but think of all the awesome things that happened this year. I thought I would list a few (there are too much to list them all).



1. Starting my friendships with bloggers like Khy, Sarah, Mitali, Hope, and Erica.

2. Going to my first author signing, Lisa McMann YOU ROCK!

3. Going to all the other author signings! (Scott Westerfeld, Sara Rees Brennan, Sarah Dessen, and much more)

4. Meeting Khy in June! She is awesome and has killer bangs! (high-five David-stalker buddy!)

5. Receiving an ARC of Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. I am a shy person. But I ran out of a bookstore, ran around a parking lot, and screamed when I got this book. Oh,yeah. I am a fangirl.

6. MEETING DAVID LEVITHAN. He is awesome!

7. Getting to talk to the TENNERS and getting to talk to and meet some of the DEBS! Y'all are amazing!

8. Having my blogs 1 year anneversary! I never thought I would make it this far! Here's to another year!

9. Finding people who are interested in the same things as me! (Doctor Who, Spring Awakening, Rent, reading, Gilmore Girls, writing etc.)

10. Being apart of this wonderful community! I wouldn't be able to live without you all! You are amazing and I can't wait for another year with all of you!

The Center of the Universe by Anita Liberty

Welcome to the story of my life. Well, at least the story of my junior and senior years of high school. It's a profound, touching, and hilarious (if I do say so myself) tale told through cunning poems, revelatory diary entries, perspicacious (look it up) word definitions, shrewd bits of advice, and off-the-cuff (but brilliant) insights. You'll probably relate to a lot of it. Especially the parts about hating my parents, never feeling cool enough, failing my first attempt at the SATs, having an incredibly romantic (but one-sided) relationship with the coolest guy in school, and getting hexed by my ex-best friend who became a Wiccan. And if you can't relate? Well, step to the back of that humongous line. You'll probably be right behind my family. If you're lucky, my mom'll bring snacks. How can I be who I am and who my family wants me to be when the person I am wouldn't be caught dead with the person my family wants me to be?


Words cannot describe my feelings for this book. It was so confusing! Don’t get me wrong, I liked it and I read it straight through. But, the whole time I was reading the same question was going through my head. “Are these Anita Liberty’s real Journals? Are they based off her real journals? What is going on!?”
A lot of the parts left me confused and I didn’t really know what to think next.
What I did like about this book was that it was easily relatable. It really captured what it is like to be a teen.* One of my favorite parts of this book was the beginning, the poem. It was magnificent.
I recommend this book to teens. I found it nice to read a book that was pretty relatable.

* You know! One minute you hate someone/something and the next minute you are like, it’s best friend.

8 Books to Look for in 2010

In no particular order...


The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
.... This book was super fun to read! Suzanne if a wonderful author and I cant wait for the second book in the series!

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
.... I read this book a few month ago, and I still haven't stopped loving it. Kimberly Derting wrote a wonderful 2010 read!

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
.... Do I really need to say why? It is the collaboration of my two favorite authors. I have read this book so many times already, that I am starting to know phrases and such my heart. This book has everything, and then some. I strongly encourage you to pick it up when it is released!

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
Bleeding Violet was a good book that I couldn't but down. It was incredibly engaging.

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
This was an awesome and cute book. It was original and spontaneous.

Dirty Little Secrets by CJ Omololu
I loved this book so much! It is about a topic that is not really talked about in the YA world, Hoarding. Pick this up if you are looking for something fresh and new, that is still deep and mind boggling.

The Mark by Jen Nadol
This was the book that I read while sick on a week long field trip. It was really good. While I was reading it, all my friends kept stealing it to read the back... and then they were nagging me about how they wanted to read it. So, if the majority of the kids in my class like it... I think you might too!

Captivate by Carrie Jones
So... I posted my review of this last night. And, if you have read my review, you know I loved this book. It has adventures, love, danger, and much more!

xoxo
Zoe

Captivate by Carrie Jones

Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town. A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.




Captivate was just… wow. So good. I loved it. I was a really big fan of the first book in the series, Need. The sequel just took it to the next level! And first, I didn’t really get into it. But after awhile, I really got into it. This book had all of the things that are in a good book; mystery, romance, action, danger.
I found myself actually liking Astley. Don’t get me wrong, I am totally Team Nick. But… this Astley guy said all the right things to Zara and he came across as really sweet! That being said, I want to mention a pet peeve of mine. I didn’t like how Nick called Zara “baby” every time he would say that, I would mentally cringe*.
Carrie Jones did a lovely job writing this book. It was very entertaining and totally addicting. I cannot wait for another one! Forget Edward in Bella. Zara and Nick are the new “thing”, at least they should be!


* I was talking about this with Erica of The Book Cellar about 5 minutes ago… and she agree’s. If Zara is getting called baby more than her own name, it is wrong.

10 Favorite Books of 2009

In no particular order.....


Willow by Julia Hoban
Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan
Hot to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman
Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner
20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz



xoxo
Zoe

New Years Read-a-Thon

So. I have decided to host a New Years read-a-thon! I thought it would be fun to start of the year with some good books, and I figured I would invite you all to participate!

This Read-a-Thon will last:

From- Midnight on New Years
To- Monday the 4th of January

Any books count.

PRIZES-

There will be 2 prizes given out to the two people who read the most books. Both prizes will be envelopes of book-swag such as cards, bookmarks, and buttons.

At the end of the read-a-thon participants who would like to have a chance to win the swag should email me at zaser_jam AT yahoo DOT com, this email should include the number of books you read and the titles of these books.
All emails should be received by Thursday January 7th.

Feel free to post about this on your blogs/twitter/etc. If you are participating, please leave a comment! Thanks and happy reading!


xoxo,
Zoe

Since the Year is Coming to an End...

Since it is almost 2010, I have made a Survey. I would like you readers *we should really come up with a name for all who read Zoe's Book Reviews.... maybe... I dont know... suggestions in the comments?* to do a survey telling me what you like and do not like about my blog and what you think I should work on in the upcoming year.

If you would like to take the survey.... *it is completely anonymous.*


CLICK HERE

Thank you so much!

xoxo,
Zoe

How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

New to town, Beatrice is expecting her new best friend to be one of the girls she meets on the first day. But instead, the alphabet conspires to seat her next to Jonah, aka Ghost Boy, a quiet loner who hasn't made a new friend since third grade. Something about him, though, gets to Bea, and soon they form an unexpected friendship. It's not romance, exactly - but it's definitely love. Still, Bea can't quite dispel Jonah's gloom and doom - and as she finds out his family history, she understands why. Can Bea help Jonah? Or is he destined to vanish?




How to Say Goodbye in Robot was brilliant. I would like to thank David Levithan for recommending this book at the author signing, without him recommending it I probably wouldn’t have discovered one of my favorite books this year. Natalie did a wonderful job writing this book. I normally don’t like books that don’t have at least a bit of romance in them, but Natalie wrote this book in such a way that I didn’t care that the two Main Characters were just friends and nothing more*.
Ghostboy was terribly sweet while still being mysterious. RobotGirl was pretty awesome too. One of my favorite things about this book is that the characters are common. They are realistic in the most lovely way. A lot of books are about the popular kid. This book was about the loner-ish people, the people who don’t have many friends, and the outcasts. Which, honestly, I can relate to**.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone, even adults. It shows that even the people who you may see and shy away from- are really cool people, and to just give them the time of day. I cannot wait to read another book by Natalie Standiford!

* I don’t read romance books or anything, but I DO love a good love story every once and awhile.
** Im not really a loner, I don’t think. It’s just that a lot of the time I like to be left alone. I think WAY to much… and I am just a quiet person.

10 Favorite Blogs of 2009

In no particular order...




* The Book Cellar
Erica's blog is amazing. She is totally nice! And her reviews are honest. She has lovely contests, and I suggest you check her blog out!


*Frenetic Reader
Khy is terribly funny, every day I check her posts and almost every day she makes me laugh.


* Sarah's Random Musings
Sarah is one of the nicest bloggers whom I have known. Her reviews are amazing, and so are all of her other posts.


* The Story Siren
Kristi is the unwritten queen of Book Blogging. When I get home from school, one of the first things I do is go read her blog. She has a huge fanbase, which she totally deserves.


* Persnickety Snark
Adele is lovely! She is fun to talk to and she is Australian! Yay!


* YA Book Queen
Lea is a fairly new blogger, who is awesome. Her blog is very good as are her reviews.


* Hope's Bookshelf
Hope is just... awesome. She is very very nice and her blog is very very good.


* Books By Their Cover
This is another one of those blogs that I check constantly. The posts are always fun yet honest.


* Pop Culture Junkie
This is one of the most interesting book blogs you may come across. You will find reviews and crafty things here. Alea is very welcoming and she is terrifically amazing.


* The Compulsive Reader
Tirzah is one of the hardest working book bloggers out there. Her reviews are always stunning and you can tell she puts a lot of work unto her... work.



xoxo
Zoe

New Year... New Look

So... as you all know. The New Year is upon us. And I have been in the mood to get a blog-look-change. I have had my previous layout for about a year, and I thought it was time for a change. So, I found a background that I liked and I want to know what you think of it. So.... What do you think? Do you like it, do you not like it?



xoxo,
Zoe

Review Policy

Zoe's Book Reviews has been running since October of 2008.

I currently have 343 followers on blogger. (This number grows a bit a week)*
I get about 400 views a day.*
People from 75 countries currently visit my blog.*


Review Policy....

I accept mainly Young Adult books and occasionally accept Middle Grade Books.
E-Books aren't preferred, but I sometimes will review them.
If you are interested in having me review your book or would like to do a giveaway for your book, you can contact me at zaser_jam AT yahoo DOT com
I will usually respond to emails within a week.

No book I receive is guaranteed a good review.


I do guest posts, interviews, and contests as well as book reviews.


If you are interested in having me review your book, having a giveaway for your book, or having you do a interview/guest post on the blog please send an email to
zaser_jam AT yahoo DOT com


Best Wishes,
Zoe

All lines marked with a * were updated on November 19, 2010

Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out - doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T - and to everyone's shock, she's a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ's awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest -- and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize - Sweet T's dream could turn into Tere's worst nightmare...



I LOVE this book. I read it in one sitting, within the period of a few hours. It was completely addicting and I have nothing but praise for it. If you have not read this book, you seriously need to. Danielle Joseph wrote this book from a true audiophile’s perspective, which I loved. Gavin is just… wow… *insert gushy fan girl here*. After finishing this book, all I wanted to do was sit in my room and listen to music. It also made me want to have my own radio show.
Tere was one iconic character. I really wanted to be her. She was shy, like I am. But, she got over and eventually conquered the radio and all who listened… while still getting the guy!
I recommend this book to everyone and anyone who loves music, is human, or is in need of a genuine feel good book.

100 + Reading Challenge

So, this years 100+ reading challenge is being hosted by J.Kaye's Book Blog. I did this challenge this past year and it was pretty awesome! I beat it! And, it is always nice to set a goal for yourself. I think I may actually move my set goal to 150+ .... but, who knows?
So, I encourage you to click THIS LINK.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

This book took "it" to the next level. I don't know what "it" is . but The Dark Divine is practically bathing in "it". I am sure of one thing though, and that is that "it" is a good thing.

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held. The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes. The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

I loved The Dark Divine; it was addicting, beautifully written, and something I will always remember. Bree Despain is an author that you must watch out for, she is sure to be a hit!
The characters in this book were incredibly realistic. They had understandable and real-life emotions. Daniel was possibly my favorite character... he seemed real, mysterious, and bad. *swoon*

The Dark Divine is a book everyone should read. it is simply amazing and a novel the nobody should miss. I would go out and buy a copy at the next possible chance!

The "Cool Jew Ornament" Winner!

After tallying the votes... *Sorry, I was watching Survivor last night* the winner of the Cool Jew Christmas Ornament is....


ANDREA CREMER

Congrats! I cannot find your e-mail, so I will annoyingly tweet to you for the next 24-hours! hehe.
Please e-mail me your address at zaser_jam AT yahoo DOT com

The David Levithan Book Signing.

Last Monday, I had the opportunity to drive an hour to go see one of my two favorite authors of all time*. This author was David Levithan. I have mentioned him a few other times on here... long time followers know that I was dared to write him a love letter and that I have had an ongoing obsession/fangirl over the past year. But, I had never actually met Mr. Levithan. And now, since I did. I am going to write a post that may or may not be fangirly. You have been warned.

While my mom and I were driving to go see David Levithan, we were listening to the Glee Soundtrack and I was getting extraordinarily nervous. When I got there, I paid for my copy of Love is the Higher Law, which is David's newest book **. After I paid, I walked around the corner looking for the event and as I turned. I saw him. At this point, I was trying incredibly hard not to scream and be a creeper. My very mediocre self control worked, and I didn't scare David, which is always a good thing. Then, the event started. The bookshop gave away some books ***. And then, David Levithan started to read. Not only is his book awesome when you are reading it, but it is even more awesome when the AUTHOR reads it. Seriously, I could listen to David Levithan read his book all day and not once would I get bored.
There was a Q&A session afterwords, in which Mr. Levithan told us some really funny stories. And the super awesome tenner Daisey Whitney asked some super awesome questions. He told us which books he recommended (I bought one, and it was AWESOME)****.
When it was time to get out books signed, I got SIX of the books by him I owned signed. As you can imagine, that took awhile so while he was signing; I wished him a Happy Hannukah and he talked about eating way too much donuts on tour and I told him what I though of Will Grayson, WIll Grayson. And basically, I almost died of the awesome *****.
After that, I talked for awhile with Daisey Whitney and then headed home. This was possibly one of the happiest nights of my year... or... my life?
I also got to meet Chelsea of The Page Flipper and got to see Alicia of Shooting Stars Mag.
They are also very very awesome, and I am hoping to see Chelsea again! And I hope to see Alicia again at another event!




*My other favorite author of all time being John Green, who is awesome.
** Which you should totally check out because it was wonderful.
*** And my mom won one. Yay! I have yet to read it, but the book was Magic Under Glass.
**** The book is How to Say Goodbye in Robot. David edited it, and it is amazing.
***** One of the reasons I almost died was because he knew who I was. He looked at my name on the post it note... and knew who I was. It took all I had not to jump up and down right then. I jumped up and down and screamed when we went down to the front of the bookshop and got coffee.

My Awesome Find...

So, yesterday I was working at the local used bookshop here. I was putting away books from our little library cart and something caught my eye. This thing was...

A UK EDITION OF THE HOLLOW.

So here is a list of reasons why I freaked...

1. I love UK editions of books, they are just marvelous.
2. It was in paperback, and I prefer paperback over hardback because it is easier to carry around.
3. This used bookstore's books are very inexpensive. And since, I am two young to have an actual paying job, the deal that I have with my boss is that I get paid in store credit.
4. Have you seen the UK cover?!

So, yeah. I was a very happy little bibliophile. I ended up getting the book. I haven't read The Hollow yet, cuz I never really had money to buy the hardback.
That was my happy book news of the week!

Happy real life news of the week....
I got a B on my report! Yes, it isn't an A. But it is still passing! And it was 60 pages! And non-fiction!

Boy Toy by Barry Lyga

Josh Mendel has a secret. Unfortunately, everyone knows what it is. Five years ago, Josh’s life changed. Drastically. And everyone in his school, his town—seems like the world—thinks they understand. But they don’t—they can’t. And now, about to graduate from high school, Josh is still trying to sort through the pieces. First there’s Rachel, the girl he thought he’d lost years ago. She’s back, and she’s determined to be part of his life, whether he wants her there or not.Then there are college decisions to make, and the toughest baseball game of his life coming up, and a coach who won’t stop pushing Josh all the way to the brink. And then there’s Eve. Her return brings with it all the memories of Josh’s past. It’s time for Josh to face the truth about what happened. If only he knew what the truth was . . .


Boy Toy is really addicting. It tells a heartbreaking and serious story in a very graceful way. Though I couldn't bare to read it, I couldn't stop reading. Barry Lyga did a wonderful job writing this book. Boy Toy is the first book by him that I have read and I'm looking forward to reading more books by him.
I recommend this book very highly to people who can handle some deep stuff. It was lovely.

Winner of DupliKate by Cherry Cheva...

So, the contest to win Cherry Cheva's new book, DupliKate ended yesterday. And I just calculated the winner....
and that person is...


ERICA

Congrats Erica! I am e-mailing you after I post this, please send me your address!

Trailers and Links

Trailers-









Links-

DupliKate Contest... here.
Josh Berk Contest... here.

Both of those contests end very soon, so I would enter them now if you want to have a chance to win!

A Guest Post by Josh Berk *And a contest*

Hey Everyone, Zoe asked me to do a guest post on her blog a little while ago and I had the fancy idea that it could be a holiday post! This way Zoe and I can wish you dear readers a Happy Hannukah (or whatever that other holiday is some of you celebrate). And also this way we can give away this weird "Josh Berk Cool Jew" holiday ornament I have lying around the house. Read on for my ramblings and for the low-down on the contest. Happy Holidays
Being a Jew is pretty great. We have lots of good writers, comedians, and, yes, let's face it: we control the media and international finance. (Kidding! Sort of.) But alas, being a Jewish kid on Christmas is about much fun as, well, being a Jewish kid on Christmas. Our parents do their best, what with trips to the movies and take-out Chinese food. And yeah, yeah Hanukkah is pretty cool -- who wouldn't enjoy the eight nights of presents? Also cool is the fact that dreidel and menorah pretty much are parent-sanctioned gambling and playing with fire.

But alas, it all comes up a bit short, especially when you're a kid. You feel awkward every time someone says "Merry Christmas." You feel like you must somehow be naughty because Santa skips your house. And perhaps worst of all: You are forced to go to Christmas parties and take part in nativity plays at school. Sure, it beats going to class, and yes, there's one Hannukah song everyone sings off-key, but that only makes it worse somehow.

I have a particular fantastic memory of being in fourth grade or so and dressing up as an elf in a public school Christmas production. This involved wearing tights and a stupid hat. I love stupid hats as anyone can attest, but tights?! It was pretty embarrassing. No, I don't have a picture. Worse was that I had to sing "Silent Night." Some of the other songs, like "Jingle Bells" or "Frosty" could be passed off as "seasonal," but I was pretty sure "Silent Night" was all about Jesus (possibly it was that part where you say "Christ the Savior, is born" over and over again)... Also the line "round yon virgin" is pretty weird. I always imagined it was about a round virgin named Yon. Why are we singing about him? He can't help being a virgin. He didn't want to be named "Yon." Leave Yon alone.

Anyway, this is my favorite awkward Jew-on-Christmas memory, being dressed as an elf and belting out a song about Jesus. But to enter this contest you don't have to be a Jew! That's right: this is a contest! And I mean, a Jew will probably win, because we are the chosen people (and also that whole international conspiracy thing), but anyone can take a crack at it. Just share an embarrassing or horrid holiday experience from your childhood! We all have those, right? Right.

I'm sure no matter who you are you have a fun story about "accidentally" telling your aunt her gift sucked, or maybe your parents forgot to buy you a gift one year so your stocking was filled with stuff from the garage like a bunch of hammers and maybe a roll of half-used duct tape.

Winner will receive a "cool jew" Josh Berk holiday ornament for your tree. And everyone has an equal chance to win. Honest. We're going to use a random number generator to pick the prize, and really, even the Jews need a Berk-face "non-denominational holiday ornament," don't they? Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas!

(To win you must be 13 years or older. Open world-wide! Berk will mail the prize and he hates the post office so be patient. You've been warned.)

Contest will end Sunday December 20, 2009.
Open to US residents.

An Interview with Cherry Cheva

1. What is it like writing YA novels and writing for Family Guy? Is it hard to balance your time?

YES! Sooooo hard. Or arguably not hard, because unless I’m on a deadline I kind of just don’t do it-- I’ll just go to work at Family Guy, come home, mean to work on book stuff, end up watching a bunch of TV instead, go to sleep, wake up the next day, repeat cycle. :) So weekends are when I tend to actually get book stuff done. If there is a deadline involved though, then I definitely will come home after work and do more work. It gets very tiring, as I’m sure everyone else who has a full-time day job and also writes books knows. It sucks! (And also is awesome, but you know what I mean.)

2. How did you come up for the idea of DupliKate?

Mad props go to my very smart editors; we were tossing around a couple different ideas, and someone mentioned something about computer avatars and clones and I sort of took that and ran with it.

3. How does writing for a popular TV show effect your life? Do people recognize you (on the streets) by your YA books or by Family Guy?

HA! HAHAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHA—nobody recognizes me anywhere, ever, are you kidding me? I have been not recognized by people I KNOW if I happen to be dressed differently than usual or something. But if it comes up in conversation that I’m a writer, Family Guy tends to get the bigger reaction from people; it’s a big huge hit show that sells zillions of DVDs, whereas my books have sold, um, less than a zillion. :) Also, several people who work at Family Guy are famous so then people want to know if I know them, whereas in books it’s not like anyone’s ever going, “Oh my god, I love your editor! Are they hot in person? Are they nice?” The answer, by the way, is yes. :)

4. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Sure! Read a whole lot (if you’re an aspiring author you’re probably doing this anyway). Also, be prepared! Do your research. As in, when the time comes around that you’ve written something that you actually want to show somebody, it will impress them more if you’ve already figured out exactly how a manuscript should be formatted, what a good query letter looks like, etc. This may sound like a total no-brainer, but I used to be an assistant at an agency and you’d be surprised at how many people send in something that’s formatted all crazy or whatever.

5. When you were a teen, where you like Kate?

Good lord, no. I mean, I was taking a lot of AP classes and stuff, and I did want to get into a good school and whatnot, so I felt her academic pain, but the similarity ends there. She’s more of the “do EVERYTHING!” type chick whereas I was more straight nerdy. I mean, my main extracurricular was the newspaper, and I certainly wasn’t setting foot anywhere near any sports practices of any type.

6. Is there anything you would like to add?

Thank you so much for this interview! And if you live in/near Ann Arbor, MI or are very motivated to drive, come see me at the downtown library on Dec. 29^th! Details here: http://www.aadl.org/events/list?id=5810 and I’m sure I will be tweeting it to the skies as we get closer (twitter.com/cherrycheva). There will be PRIZES given away, and who doesn’t like FREE STUFF?! :D

Tenner Interview- CJ Omololu: Author of Diry Little Secrets

1. What made you write about hoarders?

I was reading a magazine article about a woman who had grown up in a hoarded home and it gave me an idea for a story. I've always been curious about people who grow up in unusual situations and how they use that experience in their lives.

2. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Listen and practice. And make yourself sit down and write something every day. I had a lot of hints early on in high school and college that writing fiction would make a good career, but it wasn't until I had my own children that it even occured to me to write stories. I really feel that I wasted a lot of time. Listen to the voices inside - they will give you big hints about the direction you should take in your life. The hardest part of writing is actually sitting down, opening up the notebook or laptop and writing something down - the whole "wait for the muse" thing will have you sitting with a bunch of half-finished manuscripts in no time. .

3. Have you ever known a hoarder?

Yes, which made it a bit easier to write the book. I've known several hoarders of varying degrees throughout my life - once you start talking about it, almost everyone has known someone or had a family member that suffered from compulsive hoarding.

4. Did you have to do a lot of research while writing this book?

Tons. Luckily, I sent an email to the website Children of Hoarders and three wonderful women answered my request for help. They were invaluable to the process - sending me ideas and photos, telling stories and reading parts of the book as I finished. I've had a few people who have hoarders in their families read the book and tell me that the details were very accurate, and that's all thanks to my "experts". Now there is a show called Hoarders on A&E, but there were just a few documentaries available back in late 2007 when I wrote the book.

5. What is it like being a tenner?

I love, love, love the Tenners! It's been so great to be part of a group of people who are going through what you are going through and "get" all your angst. I have two new critique partners who are Tenners and we've been reading each other's new books and I hope these partnerships last a long time. The entire kidlit community is so amazingly supportive that even if I have an idea for an adult book, I'll have to write it as YA because I'd miss it so much.

6. Is there anything that you would like to add?

There has been a lot of talk about the ending of Dirty Little Secrets - I'm not going to give away any spoilers here, except to say that this isn't a "how-to" manual. It is the story of one girl in one situation and really, it is the only way for her particular story to end. I didn't set out to become a hoarding expert, but because of my research I've put together a pretty extensive list of websites for hoarders, their friends and their families on the Resources page of my website.



Dirty Little Secrets on Goodreads.

Contest- DupliKate by Cherry Cheva

The author of DupliKate and She's So Money, Cherry Cheva has given me the opportunity to give away her new book; DupliKate.



Getting into Yale has been Kate Larson’s dream for years—and being overworked and under-rested is the price of admission. But when she opens her eyes after falling asleep on her keyboard one night, she comes face-to-face with, well, herself. Meet Kate’s computer-generated twin. Kate doesn’t know why she’s here or how to put her back where she belongs, but she’s real. And she’s the last thing Kate has time to deal with right now. Unless. . .could having a double be the answer to Kate’s prayers? In this hilarious second novel, Cherry Cheva introduces a character who has been granted the wish of every overscheduled teen everywhere—for there to be two of her. But as everyone knows, you should be careful what you wish for...it just might come true and wear all your clothes and steal your boyfriend.



This contest will be ending in two weeks. So.... Saturday December 19, 2009.

To Enter-

+1 Comment with your email
+2 If you answer the question "If you had the opportunity to have a twin, would you?"
+3 If you link this contest somewhere. (twitter, blog, etc.) *if so, comment me the link*
+5 If you follow/are currently following this blog


Remember... this ends...

DECEMBER 19

Open to US residents....

Cover of Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

So.. I am back from my trip. And, I found out that the cover of Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins was released. Here it is:
Here is the summary (off of Goodreads):

When Sophie Mercer turned thirteen, she discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-Gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fae, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard. Three powerful enemies who look like supermodels; a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock; a creepy, tag-along ghost; and a new roommate, who happens to be the most-hated person and only vampire on campus. Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her friend Jenna is the number one suspect. Meanwhile, Sophie has a more personal shock to grapple with. Not only is her father the head of the prodigium council, he's the most powerful warlock in the world, and Sophie is his heir. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all prodigium, especially her.

An Interview with Jennifer Jabaley

1. How did you get the idea for Lipstick Apology?
So many people ask me this! Here's the true story how I dreamed up the idea for LIPSTICK APOLOGY: My sister and I are very close. Several years ago she had two children and I had none. She was about to go on her very first vacation without the kids and she was freaking out a little bit. The night before her flight she called me about ten times, each time telling me random information "in case the flight goes down". Yes, she is a bit dramatic like I tend to be. Information about our wills is here...The key to the safety box is here...If you have to sell the house call this person...When the phone rang for the six or seventh time I turned to my husband and said, Can you imagine, the flight would be going down and she would whip out her lipstick and start outlining the kid's schedule and bedtimes on a tray table. My husband laughed and said that would be a great idea for a book. So I grabbed a post it note and scribbled "note on a tray table". I stashed that post-it note in my drawer and didn't see it again until almost a year later when I was packing to move. And that post it note became the inspiration for my story. Important note: although the idea came from real life, there is absolutely no truth to any part of LIPSTICK APOLOGY.
2. Lipstick Apology has some really sad scenes in it. Was it hard to write them?
Yes. My nature tends to be light and happy-go-lucky so the grief scenes were particularly hard. What made it easier was that I didn't want this story to be about sadness - I wanted it to be about moving on. Therefore I tried to keep the grief in the backdrop - the readers know she's sad because of the circumstances but experience more of the after effects of grief: Emily's rollercoaster of emotions.
3. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Yes - simply never give up!! Many of life's failures happen when people do not realize how close they came to success when they chose to give up.
4. What made you decide to have Emily's mom write her apology in lipstick?
I guess I figured that would work best. A plane tray table is a hard plastic that I don't think ball point pen would work on. Unless her mother had a marker in her purse, what else could she use? Of course I loved the idea of her using make up since Emily then has to go live with a make up artist - it's like an everyday reminder of her mother's chosen instrument to scrawl her final words.
5. Is there anything you would like to add?
Thank you so much to everyone who has read and enjoyed my book! I so appreciate all the letters and emails I've received. It warms my heart to think someone read my story and enjoyed the ride.

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning…

When Emily Carson’s parents die in a plane crash, she’s left with nothing but her mother’s last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: “Emily, please forgive me.”

Now it’s fall and Emily moves to New York City— where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.

This was an incredibly cute and fast read! Jennifer Jabaley did a wonderful job writing this book. The characters emotions were written and portrayed very well. I dont really know how to explain in words what I though of this book.

Trent was possibly one of my favorite characters. He was hilarious! The characters in this book had a lot of depth, while still being a bit light and fluffy. Jennifer Jabaley wrote a cutesy and adorably deep book that many people will love.

1 Week Hiatus...

I just though I would let you all know that over the next week, I won't be online at all. I am leaving tomorrow (Sunday) morning to go with my class on a trip to Yosemite. This trip will be lasting until late Friday night. During this time I will have absolutely no internet service. And, though I don't like it- no cell phones. I will try and schedule things to post throughout the week.
So, today is my last day on twitter/email/blogger for a week. I am sad.
But I hope you all have a marvelous week.

Best Wishes,
Zoe

Betrayals by Lili St. Crow

A thrilling second book to a wonderful series!

She’s no angel . . .

Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)

Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?

Lili St. Crow wrote an amazing sequel. Dru was a kick-butt character who was fun to read about. While reading this, the suspense was killing me. I wanted so many things to happen, but they just weren't happening!

To sum it up, though this book sometimes annoyed me, I loved it. I devoured this book! I read it in a matter of hours, and I cannot wait for the third book! Lili St. Crow has done it again and created a masterpiece that many will love!

An Interview with Rhonda Stapleton

So, I recently got to send Rhonda Stapleton, the author of the upcoming book Stupid Cupid, a few questions.



1. How did you get the idea for Stupid Cupid?

I knew I wanted to write a story about a teen who had a super unusual job. And I got the idea that it would be funny to have a teen be a cupid. But not THE cupid...one of many! While brainstorming with my friends, we decided she should use technology to do her matchmaking. And bingo, the books were born!

2. The covers for the Stupid Cupid series books are adorable! Did you have a say in what they looked like and what is your opinion on them?

I love, love, love the covers. They are fun and perfect for my stories! I did describe to them what I felt Felicity looked like. They ran with it and gave me those awesome covers. :D

3. What were your thoughts when you first found out you were going to be published?

First, I cried, right into the manpanion's shirt. LOL. I was hugely shocked when I found out it had passed acquisition. Then, I called, like, every person I knew and cried into the phone with them. haha. It was an AWESOME day. My biggest thought was, "I did it!" I had worked SO hard to get there, and it was a relief and the best feeling of joy to know I made it.

4. Is there anything you would like to add?

I can't think of anything. LOL. Are there any other Qs you want to ask?

Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton

Felicity's no ordinary teen matchmaker...she's a cupid!

Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired?and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

I have mixed emotions about this book. It's like I liked it, but I didn't love it. But I also feel the need to fangirl it. I think that Rhonda wrote a book that was unique and grabbing, but will most likely be hit and miss depending on the person. I think it was really fun to read!

I am looking forward to the next book in this series, it seems like an interesting series to read!

Stupid Cupid is coming out on December 22, 2009

Being Erica

So, Sarah has recently gotten me hooked on the Canadian television show Being Erica. So far I have seen the first season and it is amazing! Here is a brief summary of the show:
"Therapist" Dr. Tom - who is constantly spouting famous and not so famous historical quotes - is Erica Strange's savior and worst enemy. Erica, a young adult woman, is having a bad life because of the bad decisions she's made. Erica provides Dr. Tom with a long list of those pivotal moments in her life that she feels have led to the bad state she is in today. Erica is initially unaware of what Dr. Tom is intending on doing with this list. What he does do is transport her back in time to each of those moments so that she, with all the knowledge of her present day life, can make better decisions to fix her life. Regardless of these new decisions, Dr. Tom hopes that Erica will come to the realization that although the opinions of others about her life do matter, it's what she thinks of her decisions and her life that are more important.


This show, is like, amazing. I wasted many hours watching this, and if you can, I really encourage you to watch it! Erica Strange is a wonderful character! She is really interesting to watch and the way she acts is pretty empowering. This is the type of TV show where you are yelling at the TV waiting for something to happen or someone to finally go out with someone else. Being Erica is incredibly funny, witty, and interesting.

Some Wisdom (Teeth)

So, today I got my wisdom teeth out. Which means I may actually be reading (whoo! Fireworks!). But, I am also in a lot of pain, which means I may not be reading a lot. I don't really know what the point of this post is. But, I guess it is to say; sorry for the lack of reviews and I am hoping I will be posting reviews soon. But, I don't really know. hehe.

Best Wishes!

Waiting on Wednesday (On Thursday)

So Many Boys by Suzanne Young
June 10th 2010


Tessa goes from strawberry smoothie to suddenly single!

After her center-court split with Aiden, Tessa puts the SOS behind her. After all, cheaters never prosper! Now she’s busy working on her faux-relationship with Aiden and negotiating the unfamiliar waters of “technically single and pseudo-dating.”

Life can’t get any more dismal for a one-guy kind of girl until an imposter hijacks the SOS, and it’s up to Tessa to save her squad from slander. But with her best boy hot and cold, what’s a kitten to do?

Even worse, Tessa doesn’t realize how much she’s up against—because this copykitten is far more naughty than nice.

Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia

There were no surprises in Gatlin County. We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere. At least, that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. There was a curse. There was a girl. And in the end, there was a grave. Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

This book was awesome! It grabbed me in straight from the beginning. It is engaging, mysterious, and totally awesome.
Yes, it's big and yes, the size may frighten people. But, don't let it scare you! This books is addicting and meaningful.
I could feel what the characters were going through and every page left me wanting more. Like I said earlier, it was an addicting novel that made me want to keep reading!
I can't wait for Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia's next book!

Happy Birthday!

So today is
MITALI FROM ALLEY OF BOOKS' BIRTHDAY!

WHOOOO!

*sings* HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!...

Jumping off Swings by Jo Knowles

One pregnancy. Four friends. It all adds up to a profound time of change in this poignant, sensitively written YA novel. Ellie remembers how the boys kissed her. Touched her. How they begged for more. And when she gave it to them, she felt loved. For a while anyway. So when Josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from a party to the backseat of his van, Ellie follows. But their "one-time thing" is far from perfect: Ellie gets pregnant. Josh reacts with shame and heartbreak, while their confidantes, Caleb and Corinne, deal with their own complex swirl of emotions. No matter what Ellie chooses, all four teenagers will be forced to grow up a little faster as a result. Told alternately from each character’s point of view, this deeply insightful novel explores the aftershocks of the biggest decision of one fragile girl’s life — and the realities of leaving innocence behind.


This was a brutally honest book. The characters seemed real and the situation was totally believable. Ellie's character was emotional, but in a real-life way. She acted like a normal stressed and emotional teenage girl.
I honestly didn't expect Caleb's emotions to go in the direction they did. It was a pretty big surprise for me when I read it, and I really liked that. It made the book seem unpredictable.
I also liked how Josh kinda went against stereotypes a little at the end. He wanted to care for his child.
I highly recommend this book! It is wonderful.

Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen

Sara Black is tiptoeing across a fraying tightrope. As the new eleventh grader at Anton High – the most elite public school in the country – she sticks out like an old VW bus in a parking lot full of shiny BMWs. But being the new kid also brings a certain advantageous anonymity. In Anton High’s world of privilege, intelligence, and wealth, Sara can escape her family’s tarnished past and become whomever she wants. And what’s the harm in telling a few little black lies when it can lead to popularity? That is, until another it girl at Anton becomes jealous of Sara’s social climbing. With her balance evaporating, one small push could bring Sara crashing down.

He he he... I really enjoyed this book. It took my awhile to read, but not because it wasn't good.* I actually couldn't stop reading it. This book contributed to some sleep deprived nights, because all I did was read it. And after I finished reading it, I wanted to read it again.
Though, I am clearly fangirling. I didn't really like how there was so much suspense with the romance. While I was reading, I would constantly text Sarah from Sarah's Random Musings** and be like "When is there gonna be a love interest?". I did this over and over again.
But over all, I think many teens and even non-teens will enjoy this book. I totally want to buy it when I get some money because I have a feeling it is something I will want to read over and over!


* School has been eating my life, I am sorry. NaNo has also been eating my life, but not as much.
** Sarah lent me the book. THANK YOU SARAHBEAR!

24 Hour Read-a-Thon MeMe

Where are you reading from today?
In my house I'll probably switch between my bedrooms and my comfy couch.

3 facts about me …

I am OBSESSED with Glee.
My favorite musicals of ALL TIME are Spring Awakening and RENT
It is an off week when I don't watch the 10 Things I Hate About You movie at least once.

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

I have a lot of books in mt TBR pile, like 20 or something. But, I don't expect to finish them all.

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

I want to finish at least 2 books.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?

This is my 3rd Read-a-Thon. I find it helpful to get up every few hours and stretch and such.

Read-a-Thon

So, I'm watching TV right now and I just finished checking my twitter. I saw that there is a READ-A-THON TODAY! I didn't know this! And I think I am going to participate. I haven't been reading much books because of school and such so this is a good opportunity for me to.
So, Happy Reading to everybody participating! I wish you all well!

Love, Ghosts, and Facial Hair by Steven Herrick

I'm a normal guy.

An average sixteen-year-old.

I think about sex, sport, & nose hair.

Sex mostly.

Jack's got a lot on his mind: He's trying to figure out the mystery of the opposite sex, he can't stop wondering about facial hair, and he won't let go of his mother's ghost, even though she died seven years ago. Jack knows he can't hang on to the past forever, but what he doesn't know is how to let go.

Then he meets Annabel. She's beautiful, smart, and she gets him. Suddenly love makes sense, and the future seems hopeful. And for the first time, Jack feels ready to leave the past where it belongs.


This book was kind of awkward to read. By reading the description, you may also think that. In general, it was an ok book.I don't really recommend it because it was slightly ridiculous in my opinion. 1/4 of the book was him talking about sex. Which in my opinion is kinda not a good thing. So, I don't really recommend this book.

Girl in the Arena... VIDEO

Secret Society by Tom Dolby

An eccentric new girl. A brooding socialite. The scion of one of New York’s wealthiest families. A promising filmmaker. As students at the exclusive Chadwick School, Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch already live in a world most teenagers only dream about. They didn’t ask to be Society members. But when three of them receive a mysterious text message promising success and fame beyond belief, they say yes to everything. Even to the harrowing initiation ceremony in a gritty warehouse downtown, and to the ankh-shaped tattoo they’re forced to get on the nape of their necks. Once they’re part of the Society, things begin falling into place for them. Week after week, their ambitions are fulfilled. It’s all perfect—until a body is found in Central Park with no distinguishing marks except for an ankh-shaped tattoo.


Secret Society was a really umm.... interesting? book. I didn't love it. But it was pretty good. This was Tom Dolby's first YA book and I think he did pretty good writing it.
Some high points of Mr.Dolby's writing was that I couldn't stop reading this book. It was really addicting!
Come low points of this book were that it wasn't very well planned. It was pretty predictable too.
But, if you are looking for a book that will keep you reading and is secretive, I recommend this.
I am look forward to Tom Dolby's up and coming YA books.


* I received this book from Harper Teen Publishing

An Interview with Amy Reed

So, I just posted a review of Beautiful by Amy Reed. You can see my review here.
I recently interviewed Amy Reed. I hope you enjoy it...


1. Was it hard to write Beautiful, because of the content in it?

Parts of it were really emotionally draining for me. It was difficult to go through some things with the characters, to experience their pain and loss, to put them in situations where I knew they were going to get hurt. But in some ways, it was also very healing because there's a lot in Beautiful that comes from my own life. By revisiting certain things, I was able to find some understanding and closure that I didn't have before.


2. Did you have any say in the cover of the book? What are your opinions on it?

I gave a little initial input about what I thought Cassie should look like, but I pretty much trusted the folks at Simon Pulse to come up with something great--and indeed they did. I think the cover is absolutely amazing and is a perfect visualization of what you'll find inside.


3. What are some of your favorite books/authors?

That's a difficult question for someone who reads so much. There are a few books that will stay in my heart forever and have definitely influenced my own writing: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold; Push by Sapphire; Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen; the poetry of Anne Sexton; Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Alison. Most recently, Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson blew my mind. I read a little of everything, but the books that really stick with me tend to be about young women in intense, sometimes scary situations where they're forced to confront their fears and find inner strength. I think that because of my own experiences, I deeply identify with these types of stories.


4. If you could to anything, what would you do?

Besides writing, I would love to have a little organic farm somewhere in Northern California with a few chickens and goats, maybe a cow. There is nothing more relaxing to me than digging around in the dirt. And there's nothing more delicious than veggies picked straight out of the garden.

Beautiful by Amy Reed

When thirteen-year-old Cassie moves to a suburb of Seattle, she is determined to leave her boring, good-girl existence behind. She chooses some dangerous new friends and is quickly caught up in their fast-paced world of drugs, sex, secrets, and cruelty.

Cassie's new existence both thrills and terrifies her. She embraces the numbness she feels from the drugs, starts sleeping with an older boy, and gets pulled into a twisted friendship triangle that is tinged with violence and abuse. Cassie is trapped in a swift downward spiral, and there's no turning back.

This was a really emotional and moving book. When I was reading this, it was totally surreal because Cassie is incredibly young. The things she is doing are things nobody should do, especially at a very-young age.

Amy Reed is a wonderful writer. She wrote this beautifully.

This is a heart-wrenching novel that will grab readers. Yes, it was hard to read. Yes, it was totally worth it. And Yes, I recommend it.

* I received this book from Simon and Schuster Publishing