In My Mailbox: Take Six

This feature was created by The Story Siren and shows all books gained in a week through the library, bookstores, or the mail!

This week I didn't receive any books in the mail (last week was a busy week) but I got these through the library:

Bass Ackwards and Belly Up by Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain

   Harper, an overconfident high school grad who has only applied to one college, is (surprise, surprise) rejected. To make matters worse, she lies to her three best friends, convincing them that she has chosen to postpone college to live in her parents' basement in Boulder, CO, and follow her dreams by drafting the Great American Novel. Adding to her guilt, she inspires two of the other three to also ditch their college plans to follow their dreams. The story bounces back and forth among the four girls and their adventures as an actual college freshman, an aspiring author, an aspiring Hollywood actress, and a backpacking European tourist.

I've heard good things about this book, and it looked cute (sort of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants-ish), so I decided to give it a try!

Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson

   When 16-year-old Scarlett Wakefield transfers from St. Tabby's to Wakefield Hall Collegiate, she is relieved that no one knows her dark, haunting secret. A few months ago, Scarlett was invited to an elite party with a guest list full of the hottest names in British society, including Dan McAndrew. Before the party, Scarlett had only imagined what it would be like to have her first kiss with Dan, but on the penthouse terrace, Dan leaned in close and she no longer had to wonder. The kiss was beautiful and perfect and magical and then...Dan took his last breath. No one knows how or why Dan died, and everyone at St. Tabby's believes Scarlett had something to do with it. But now that she's safely hidden away at Wakefield Hall, Scarlett would rather forget that it ever happened. Only she can't. Especially when she receives an anonymous note that will set her on the path to clearing her name and finding out what really happened to Dan...

Ooh. I got the sequel in the mail last week so I figured I should just read the first, too. It sounds so interesting and exciting, can't wait to start!

And from Borders...

Talent: Almost Famous by Zoey Dean

   Mackenzie Little-Armstrong's life is almost perfect. She has discovered an almost-movie star, she's on the brink of winning Eighth Grade Social Chair, and the fabulous back-to-school gala is just around the corner, sure to showcase Mac and her BFFs as the Next Big Things. But in the cutthroat world of Hollywood, a girl can go from "almost there" to "nowheresville" faster than you can say "soy is so last year"...

Yay! I just finished Talent and loved it so I'm so excited to begin the second book in the awesome series! Plus I just love the covers, don't you? (:

Talent

Title: Talent

Author: Zoey Dean

Pages: 288

Razorbill, 2008

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Recommended to: Middle-grade girls, 11 and up

Grade: A- (Shh...don't let Steph know)

   Meet Mackenzie "Mac" Little-Armstrong: the daughter of the famed Hollywood talent agent Adrienne Little-Armstrong, Mac rules her Bel-Air middle school with her two best friends: surfer girl and tomboy Evangelina Becks and Coco Kingsley, the daughter of an international pop star. 

   But Mac's ready to be famous for something other than her leadership in school. So when she meets tourist Emily Mungler, who acted her way into a hot premiere party, she knows that this girl has the It that her mother works to find--true talent. But can Mac transform this tourist girl from Iowa into the star she believes Emily is, even if it means losing all her BFFs? Between parties, boy issues, and rivalries, will Emily be able to get her chance at become the Next Big Thing?

   Fun, fun, fun! I absolutely loved Zoey Dean's colorful, fast-paced, and super-chic new novel. It had just as much style and good writing as Lisi Harrison's The Clique books (some of my favorites!) do, but without the excessive cattiness and the consistent naming of labels. In fact, I enjoyed Talent much more--sure, there still were a plentiful amount of labels dropped, and there was some brisk words between Mac and her enemy Ruby, but Ms. Dean kept it down to the perfect amount. 

   I loved all the unique and lovable characters (Becks and Emily would have to be my favorite), and the way Ms. Dean described settings, outfits, and more was simply astonishing and made me feel like I was right there experiencing everything that went on.

   I just found the plotline a little (make that a lot) unrealistic. I mean, a 12 year old being another 12 year old's agent and people taking it seriously? That just seems a little far-out to me.

   Basically, GO OUT AND BUY THE BOOK! It's amazing, and I can't wait to read the second book in the series, Almost Famous!

   I just love a good book, don't you? (:

Waiting on Wednesday (7): The Season

The Season

By Sarah MacLean

Coming out March 1, 2009

  Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued -- in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had learned to hold her own. Not the best making for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.

   When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will her heart be stolen in the process?

   Ooh. Murder, espionage, and a bit of romance. It sounds a tiny bit cliché, but still interesting. And the cover is gorgeous, don't you think? I'll definitely need to get my hands on this one. (:

Sarah's Blog: www.macleanspace.com

The Monday Muse: Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Today's Muse: Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Author of: I Was a Teenage Popsicle and Beyond Cool

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Bookworm: What inspired you to write Floe's [pronounced "Flo"] story?

Bev: I really wanted to write about what it feels like to be an outsider. This is a common theme in young adult fiction, of course, but I think teens really need/like to see this theme explored in a variety of ways. It makes them feel like they're not alone! I certainly remember that horrible feeling of not fitting in from my own high school days. I thought, wouldn't it be interesting to take a girl who was one of the cool ones and to have something freaky happen to her to make her a complete outsider? My husband gave me the idea to have her frozen and awakened in the future. At the time, there was a lot of talk about Ted Williams, a famous baseball player, being cryonically preserved.

Bookworm: What would you miss most about modern times if you were frozen into the future like Floe?

Bev: Sweatpants. I'm not big into the unitard thing!

Bookworm: Who's your favorite character to write about?

Bev: I really enjoyed writing Floe--she's a bit sarcastic and prickly (like me!). She's much wittier, though; it was a real challenge coming up with those great one-liners. In my own life, it takes me hours to come up with them--how I wish I could just zing them on the spot like Floe does!

Bookworm: Have you read any good books lately, and what are they?

Bev: I just reread Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. It's a young adult novel that was written about ten years ago and I reread it every year because it's just that good. It's much more serious than my Popsicle books, but also explore that theme of outsider-ness. It's incredibly well written and though it's a serious book, it also has elements of humor.

Bookworm: Are you planning on writing any more YA books in the future?

Bev:  I have two new books in the works, neither of which are set in the future. Keep watching my website for news of new releases! 

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Thanks, Bev! 

For a review of I Was A Teenage Popsicle, click here!

This Week in Books!

"In My Mailbox", which shows all books gained in a week through mail, the library, or a bookstore, was created by The Story Siren! 

This week's haul (10! Too many summaries to post, so I skimped on those...) :

From Random House:

Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez

Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson

The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro

The Devil's Paintbox by Victoria McKernan

From HarperTeen:

Faketastic by Alexa Young (*doing the Snoopy happy dance*)

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Sloane Sisters by Annabelle Vestry

From Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout:

Now Starring Viven Leigh Reid: Diva in Training

Thanks so much, guys! It looks fab! (;

From Local Bookstores:

We Are SO Crashing Your Bar Mitzvah! by Fiona Rosenbloom

Canterwood Crest: Take the Reins by Jessica Burkhart (yayyy!)

Happy Tag!

I was tagged by Yan at Books by Their Cover for this cute, happy meme!

Rules of the tag:

- Link to the person who tagged you

- List 6 things that make you happy

- Post the rules, tag six others and let them know you did so

- Then tell the person who tagged you your entry is finished!

Here goes:

1. Being with my family, friends, horses. Basically, being around people that I love.

2. Getting mail (especially books) (:

3. Watching a good movie and making popcorn

4. Riding, riding, riding!

5. Rain!

6. Making cookies--yum! 

Here's who I'm tagging:

Sophie at Mrs. Magoo Reads

Alexa Young 

Sarah at GreenBeenTeenQueen

Katie of KD's Library

TruBlue93 of Starry Night

Shalonda at Shalonda's Blog

Winners!

Hey, everyone! Sorry it took me forever to post the results of my Big Birthday Contest, but here they (finally) are! Drumroll, please....

The winners of two signed copies of Linda Gerber's Death by Latte are:

Rory W. and Rima!

The winner of Sasha Watson's Vidalia in Paris is:

SarahBear9789!

The winner of Barrie Summy's I SO Don't Do Mysteries is:

Krysten!

The winners of 2 copies of Lynn Messina's Savvy Girl are:

danie88 and Megan!

The winner of Mary Hogan's The Serious Kiss is:

Genevieve!

The winner of Mary Hogan's Perfect Girl is:

Katie (of KD's Library)

The winner of Wendelin Van Draanen's Confessions of a Serial Kisser is:

Vanessa!

The winner of Shallon Lester and Julie Kraut's Hot Mess: Summer in the City is:

The Ravenous Reader!

Congratulations, everyone! I've emailed all the winners, so get back to me ASAP so I can get your copy in the mail!

I'd also like to thank everyone who participated in the contest (all 84 of you) and all the authors who contributed a copy (or two) of their book to the contest--thank you, thank you, thank you!

Keep your eyes peeled for an new contest coming soon...Good job, everyone!