Me, Just Different by Stephanie Morrill

Getting a fresh start is harder than it looks.....

Skylar Hoyt is a girl who seems to have it all-she's pretty, popular, and has a great-looking boyfriend. Her senior year should be the best one yet. But a horrible experience at a summer party has changed everything. Now she's vowing to make better choices, including going back to church. But as Skylar tries to gain new perspectives on life, the world as she knows it begins to fall apart. Her parents are constantly fighting. Her younger sister has a big secret that Skylar is forced to keep. The guy she dating is annoyingly jealous. And the new guy down the street is just plain annoying. In the midst of the chaos, Skylar starts to wonder who her real friends are and, even more importantly, who she is. - from the book cover

..........

From the locker halls to the dirty, back stabbing plays of the "in" crowd, Morrill captures high school to a T, not to mention where all the problems first start-at home. Though it's a honest story of just how messy life can get, Me, Just Different wouldn't be complete without it's positive message of hope and reminder that there is a light at the end of every dark tunnel.

With topics like being "popular", teenage pregnancy, boyfriends, and finding true friends, I think many teenage girls can relate to Skylar and her journey to find the answers to all her questions.

Despite the heavy topics and situations, I kept turning those pages, dying to see what would happen to Skylar next. I didn't always have a great time reading this book because of all the things happening to Skylar, but the concept of the story was too great not to appreciate. And the characters? Terrific. Skylar's snooty flock of "friends" were the perfect spoiled-you get the picture. Eli was tricky. I thought I had him figured out-which I actually did-but not before he made a few unsuspected twists. Sneaky. Conner was lovable from the start, a little annoying perhaps, but still the "perfect" guy. Skylar's character was by far the best because she kept you guessing till the very end!

Me, Just Different is categorized as a Christian book, but it will most defiantly appeal, if not more, to non-believers for it's non-preachiness and it's look on edgy topics.

Could we have another Melody Carlson on our hands? Hmm, maybe but Morrill defiantly takes a whole different (and younger) approach to her story. I think Morrill did a great job at her debut novel, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Skylar's story!

Stephanie Morrill is twenty-something gal living in Kansas with her high-school sweetheart husband and their daughter. She loves writing for teens because her high school years greatly impacted her adult life. She also loves playing her music extra loud!

Pages: 248 Year Published: July 2009 Publisher: Revell

Genre: Realistic/contemporary, teen romance, family violence, high school drama

Age Group: YA, ages 14+ Content: Mild sexual references, teen drinking, mild kissing

Enjoy It: 4/5 Rating:

Special thanks to Stephanie Morrill for sending me her book.....twice!

Lookee here! I found a review and an author interview in Justine magazine! Stephanie also sent me a matching bookmark! Thanks!

Book Gorge- Breathless Ends

Gorge - Though it may wrong, rude, or a terrible habit, we do it a lot. The lady who works on the 3rd office floor pops chocolates into her mouth about every two minuets. The guy who works at the local ice cream joint looks like he's taken advantage of his job one too many times. And when your best friend throws a swim party, you eat way too much pizza-you know this because you never sunk to the bottom of the pool before. We tend to gorge ourselves with food, yes, but what about the other kind of food?

Is it possible to gore on words?

The girl at the bookstore proves this theory. She's a walking string bean, with her green dress, her black rimmed glasses, and the ribbons in her hair. For breakfast she eats Shakespeare, for lunch she has Mark Twain, for dinner Jane Austen is a favorite, and dessert is always Tennyson. Is it possible to gore words? Yes, I believe so, and did I also mention that words will always be a 100% fat free?

- "Book Gorge" by Morgan copyright ©2009

Book Gorge is a list of "to-be released" books I'm looking forward to reading. This is a great opportunity to grab a pen and jot down these books! Till next week, wish big and happy reading...

How It Ends by Laura Wiess (MTV; August 4)

Hate List by Jennifer Brown (Little Brown; September 1)

Poster Boy by Dede Crane (Groundwood; September 1)

What Matters Most: Maya Book 2 (DTG) by Melody Carlson

(Multonamah; September 15)

Hold Still by Nina LaCour (Dutton; October 20)

The Sweet Life of Stella Madison by Lara M. Zeises

Stella Madison is the daughter of a famous chef and the owner of Open Kitchen, a restaurant that features local chefs. Though her parents have been separated for six years, they remain exceedingly close, which makes Stella's life all the more sweeter. When the local newspaper offers here a job as an summer intern (with the help of her parents reputation of course), Stella finds it hard to resist the pay. There's just one little problem: Stella must write about food and she is not a foodie. Her idea of a savory meal would be McDonald's-not Normandy style onion soup. Thankfully, Jeremy, the cute new intern at the Open Kitchen, is more than happy to help Stella with her assignments. When Stella's feelings for Jeremy grow, what will Stella do about her boyfriend, Max, who just dropped the " I love you" bomb? And if things aren't disastrous enough, Stella has sensed some odd behavior with both her parents. Could they possibly be cooking up a romance of their own? Will life ever be sweet again? The Sweet Life of Stella Madison is a savory novel about what love truly means.

.........

The Sweet Life of Stella Madison was quite an entertaining story. Though I wouldn't say I enjoyed it 100% or that I liked Stella's boy-crazy character very much, the book still brought a great message for teen girls: it's okay to be friends with guys. Or in other words, you don't have to make every guy your boyfriend because technically, crushes don't last. With the help of Jeremy, Stella learns what love really means and that with maturity, comes love. Not only did these lessons about love weave around Stella, but her parents as well, giving the story an even greater depth. Characters from Zeises's Anyone But You, are also mentioned in this book, which I thought was neat little detail. Overall, I think many teenagers would enjoy and relate to The Sweet Life of Stella Madison.

Lara M. Zeises is the author of four books for young adults including Anything But You, Bringing up the Bones, and Contents Under Pressure. She has also published two novels under the name "Lola Douglas": Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet-which has been made into a motion picture by Lifetime-and it's sequel, More Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet. Lara resides in Delaware and admits to being a bona fide foodie.

(The Sweet Life of Stella Madison was released July 14th.)

Pages: 230 Year Published: July 2009 Genre: Teen romance, realistic/contemporary

Age Group: YA, ages 14+ Content: Sexual references, repeated deep kissing

Enjoyed It: 3/5 Rating: (based on content)

Monday Muse: I Spy a Look-a-Like! (2)

This look-a-like was pretty easy to spot. I've seen these two book floating around from some time and I think I've even seen more that look similar. Have you spotted anything similar? Have a look-a-like you'd like to share? I haven't read either of these (though The Fold is at my library)..... so has anybody else read them? If you've reviewed either one or both of these books, I'd love to get a link to your review. Just email me the link or post in your comment!

Fix by Leslie Margolis

Pretty, blond, popular Cameron Beekman has it all -- lots of girlfriends, a hot boyfriend, and a successful family. She's perfection. Gone are her days as the outcast, huge-nosed "Beakface." Which, as it turns out, was nothing a good nose job couldn't fix. While her little sister, Allie, struggles with doubts about her own approaching "procedure," Cameron wants more. She's headed to UC "Santa Barbie" and needs to look the part. After all, why settle for smart and pretty when smart and drop-dead gorgeous is just a surgery away?

The Fold by An Na

Joyce never used to care that much about how she looked, but that was before she met JFK—John Ford Kang, the most gorgeous guy in school. And it doesn’t help that she’s constantly being compared to her beautiful older sister, Helen. Then her rich plastic-surgery-addict aunt offers Joyce a gift to “fix” a part of herself she’d never realized needed fixing—her eyes. Joyce has heard of the fold surgery—a common procedure meant to make Asian women’s eyes seem “prettier” and more “American”—but she’s not sure she wants to go through with it. Her friend Gina can’t believe she isn’t thrilled. After all, the plastic surgeon has shown Joyce that her new eyes will make her look just like Helen—but is that necessarily a good thing?

Printz Award–winning author An Na has created a surprisingly funny and thought-provoking look at notions of beauty, who sets the standards and how they affect us all. Joyce’s decision is sure to spark heated discussions about the beauty myths readers confront in their own lives.

Premiere Saturday: Fran Cannon Slayton

When did you know you wanted to write? Was it always your plan to write about your family's history?

I knew I enjoyed writing as early as fourth grade, when I started writing poetry. But it wasn't until just before I entered law school at the University of Virginia in 1991 that I began writing a novel. Actually, I didn't know it was a novel when I started - it was just a story idea that gripped me by the collar and wouldn't let me go until I put pen to paper. I worked on that story on and off for thirteen years before beginning to write When the Whistle Blows, so no, I didn't always plan to write about my family history.

Did you plan for When the Whistle Blows to be children's book? If so, do you plan to write more novels for kids/teens? Will it be more historical fiction?

I always thought that When the Whistle Blows would be a young adult novel, although I didn't write it geared to a specific age group. I just wrote it the way it came out.I do plan to write more middle grade and young adult novels. I'm currently working on a fantasy/dystopian novel about a girl who wants to be a pirate.

What's your favorite book(s) and why? Did any of these inspire you to write?

I have a handful of favorites: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor, and Sounder by William Armstrong are my top three, and they all influenced me greatly both as a writer and as a person. For me, that's what good books do - they are not just well written, they also change the reader at a fundamental level. These three books presented ideas about time, love, and injustice that fundamentally changed the way I viewed the world. The inspired me not only in my writing, but also in my being.

Do you have a favorite author(s) or literature character(s)?

In addition to those I mentioned in the last question, I do love Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

If you could meet one person-either in figure history, a character in a book, or someone alive today-what are some questions you would ask them?

I'd like to have the opportunity to sit down and have a long talk with Thomas Merton, who was a very interesting and smart Trappist Monk who died all too early in a freak accident. I'd ask him questions about his contemplative life and his writings.

What are some things you use to do for fun as a child/teen growing up in Virginia?

I used to catch salamanders and then use them as bait for fishing, and for awhile I would do handstands all the time (which I'm sure drove my mother crazy!). I loved hanging upside down on the monkey bars and flipping off, landing on my feet. I played the trumpet, acted in school plays and went to school dances. I ate pizza with friends, played field hockey, softball, soccer and grass lot football. I had a lot of fun!

Now that some of the rutine questions are out of the way, can you answer some of these quirky questions? Would you rather be on tropical beach overlooking aqua blue waters; getting lost in a maze of endless artifacts in a museum; or exploring the seven wonders of the world?

You mean I have to pick just one? I think I'd rather explore the seven wonders of the world in the morning, walk through the museum after lunch, and hang out on the beach just before dinner.

Favorite kind food?

It varies. Mexican is a staple - I have it at least once a week. But I also love lobster, crab and a good filet mignon (medium rare). I also love chocolate cake batter ice cream, peanut butter and banana sandwiches and almost anything with chick peas in it. Oh, and I really like gazpacho, lentil stew and black bean soup.

Favorite season?

Fall. It's when I met my husband. I always think of it as when things begin.

Name one thing you always keep on your nightstand:

What else - books!

Thanks so for much for sharing with us here at BLT! Before we say goodbye, do you have anything to say to encourage young future writers?

Follow your heart; write what you love.

Fran Cannon Slayton's debut book, When the Whistle Blows, was released June 11th, 2009 and was published by Philomel. Don't forget to visit Fran's website www.francannonslayton.com

Read BLT's review here.

Inspiring Today: Flight of Minds & Jon McLaughlin

I found this nice blog, A Flight of Minds, the other day. Thought I'd just share a bit. Nice layout, kinda gives you an airy feel when you're reading. Great opinions, I like how there's two reviewers. And oh yes, cute birdy. :)

While you're blogging, reading, writing, or just browsing the ol' YA blogging community, here's a song from my music collection: (Sorry about the advertisements)

Inspiring today with....

Beating My Heart by Jon McLaughlin (OK Now)

A Sweet Disorder by Jacqueline Kolosov

Sixteen-year old Miranda has no idea how much her life is going to change upon hearing the news of her father's death. Left with little dowry to offer, Miranda faces a broken engagement, and is sent to live with her father's cousin, the Count John Hardwood, and his wife whose primary goal is to take her to Court and marry her off to the insufferable Lord Seagrave for their own profit.

At Queen Elizabeth's court, Miranda soon learns that a large part of her survival will depend on her knowing who to trust. All the maidens at Court dream of being one of the Queen's ladies in waiting. When Miranda distinguishes herself from the rest with her exquisite sewing and embroidery skills, she gets the attention of the Queen, much to the anger and jealousy of the courtiers, ladies in waiting, and even a trusted "friend."

As Miranda begins to win the Queen's favor, she is given the ultimate test-to recreate Elizabeth's mother's (Ann Boleyn) coronation gown. Miranda knows this is her opportunity to escape the shackles of convention and get out of a marriage to Lord Seagrave and instead establish an independent life at Court as the Queen's seamstress. But how will she reunite with Henry Raleigh, the man to whom she was once promised, and has always loved? - from amazon

............

Dripping with historical detail, true love, a court full of ghastly gossip, a demanding queen, and lovable characters, A Sweet Disorder had me captivated from the very first page. I had a wonderful time reading this book and I forgot how much I love historical fiction set in the courts of England. Kolosov made the English palace, with all its splendor and danger, come to life. Not only do you get to relive lively jousting tournaments, dodge sneaky courtiers, but experience the height of tradition-arranged marriages. Since Miranda is a good seamstress, my favorite parts of the book was hearing about the elaborate dresses and wardrobes worn by the courtiers and the Queen. Besides the drama of the courts, A Sweet Disorder mentions many figures in history and is a great example of how we lived back in the Elizabethan Era (1558-1603). With her poetic easy to-read writing style, Kolosov has captured the true light of the sixteenth century and best of all, created a sweet disorder of high society, fashion, scandals, and innocent romance.
A Sweet Disorder is sure to make you fall in love with the past.

Jacqueline Kolosov is the author of two books for young adults, including The Red Queen's Daughter, and several volumes of poetry. She is a professor of creative writing at Texas Tech University.

Pages: 418 Year Published: June 2009 Genre: Historical fiction/1500s

Age Group: 13+ Content: None Enjoyed It: 5/5

Rating: (based on content)

Summer Thrills & Chills Contest

Want to be a part of Summer Thrills & Chills?

Summer Chills & Thrills is a contest drive for suspense, mysery, thriller, and ghost story theme books.

If you're a fellow blogger and would like to participate in this contest, simply post about Summer Chills & Thrills on your blog, then link back here with Mr. Linky.

All book giveaways must be in the suspense, mystery, thriller, and ghost story genre. Contests can start anywhere between July 21-August 11th, but should end on August 11th.

Don't forget to spread the word with the contest button (please make sure it links back to this post):

BLT's Contest for Summer Chills & Thrills

UP FOR GRABS

The books that BLT is giving away are (as seen in the video):

One copy of Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

One signed copy of Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

(click on the links to see BLT's reviews)

There will be two winners, so please state which book you are interested in winning.

HOW TO ENTER

Leave comment telling us about something scary that happened to you. Please, no made up ghost stories.

EXTRA ENTRY POINTS

1+ for following my blog

2+ if you link this contest on your blog using the contest's button (provide link for proof)

2+ if you already follow my blog

3+ if you are hosting a Summer Chills & Thrills contest on your own blog (provide link)

WHO CAN ENTER

US residents only.

THE DEADLINE

This contest ends Tuesday, August 11th, 12:00 AM EASTERN.

Summer Chills & Thrills (Coming Soon!)

I've been brainstorming this idea for at least two months.

I've carefully chosen two ghost story/suspense/mystery/thriller books to giveaway.

Want to join me?

Contact me at thefirstlibrarian@yahoo.com

Chills and thrills are coming very soon......

In My Mailbox (7)

Another week gone by and my scheduled posting is still not working :(, so I'm up early writing this post.

I've been thinking a lot recently on some new stuff for BLT. I've been debating on wether or not to join in on some discussion going around the blog-o-sphere or start my own. But then I thought, it all starts with one question-preferably from my audience.

So now I'm asking my fellow followers, would you like me to join in on some discussion out there?

If so, which ones? Maybe you have a question for me?

Now to what's IMM: This week was rather boring and I'm mainly posting some books I got a few weeks back. As you might have read, I returned from summer camp last week sick, so I've pretty much been recovering from that. I hate getting sick in the summertime-it's just not fair!

Anyway what's your take on these books?

The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading by Cinthia Tahmaseb & Darcy Vance (SimonPluse/May 09)

The Sweet Life of Stella Madison by Lara M. Zeises (Delacorte/June 09)

The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki (Random/August 09)