Thursday, October 29, 2009

Halloween Post 2: Spooky Books


This is BLT's second Halloween Edition post, if you've not heard about it, click on the pumpkin to the left! Or scroll down to see yesterday's Contest & Events post. Today we're exploring a list of bo
oks that are great for Halloween or anytime of the year; be sure to check out my reviews by clicking on the book title.....
The Parliament of Blood by Justin Richards

George Archer, Liz Oldfield and Eddie Hopkins have made a rather unfortunate discovery: vampires actually exist, and they really do feed on human blood. Using an underground labyrinth of tunnels beneath Victorian London, these sinister creatures intend on destroying the human race, and they’ll start by taking over the most powerful place in London: the House of Parliament.Through their research on ancient mysteries and a secret London Gentlemen’s Club, George, Liz and Eddie come up with a plan to beat the vampires at their own game. And they better do it soon, before they become the vampires’ next meal . . .


"I loved reading this book; it was scary because it had a realistic twist on vampires.....and politics."


Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris

Rebecca couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to spend the year while her dad is traveling. She's staying in a creepy old house with her aunt. And at the snooty prep school, the filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda. Then one night, in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to talk to Rebecca, and to show her the nooks and crannies of the city. There's just one catch: Lisette is a ghost. A ghost with a deep, dark secret, and a serious score to settle. As Rebecca learns more from her ghost friend - and as she slowly learns to trust Anton Grey-she also uncovers startling truths about her own history. Will Rebecca be able to right the wrongs of the past, or has everything been ruined beyond repair?


"One of my favorite ghost stories to-date!"


The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki

Eddie Fennicks has always been a loner, content to lose himself in a mystery novel by his favorite author, Nathaniel Olmstead. That’s why moving to the small town of Gatesweed becomes a dream come true when Eddie discovers that Olmstead lived there before mysteriously disappearing thirteen years ago. Even better, Eddie finds a handwritten, never-before-seen Nathaniel Olmstead book printed in code and befriends Harris, who’s as much an Olmsteady as he is. But then the frightening creatures of Olmstead’s books begin to show up in real life, and Eddie’s dream turns into a nightmare. Eddie, Harris, and their new friend, Maggie, must break Olmstead’s code, banish all gremlins and monster lake-dogs from the town of Gatesweed, and solve the mystery of the missing author, all before Eddie’s mom finishes writing her own tale of terror and brings to life the scariest creature of all.


"Another favorite scary story."


Skeleton Creek (Book 1) by Patrick Carman

Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek . . . and Ryan and Sarah are trying to get to the heart of it. But after an eerie accident leaves Ryan housebound and forbidden to see Sarah, their investigation takes two tracks: Ryan records everything in his journal, while Sarah uses her videocam to search things out. . .and then email the clips for Ryan to see. In a new, groundbreaking format, the story is broken into two parts -- Ryan's text in the book, and Sarah's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the book.


"Want to get scared this weekend? Pick up a copy of Skeleton Creek and it's sequel, Ghost in the Machine. You won't be disappointed."


Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Nothing ever happened in Ondine, Louisiana, not even the summer Elijah Landry disappeared.His mother knew he ascended to heaven, the police believed he ran away, and his girlfriend thought he was murdered. Decades later, certain she saw his ghost in the town cemetery, fourteen-year-old Iris Rhame is determined to find out the truth behind "The Incident With the Landry Boy."

Enlisting the help of her best friend Collette, and forced to endure the company of

Collette's latest crush, Ben, Iris spends a sum

mer digging into the past and stirring old ghosts, in search of a boy she never knew.
What she doesn't realize is that in a town as small as Ondine, every secret is a family secret.


"A spine-chilling story you won't soon forget."


Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Blood and Chocolate chronicles the longings and passions of one Vivian Gandillon, teenage werewolf. Her pack family, recently burned out of their West Virginia home by suspicious neighbors, has resettled in a sleepy Maryland suburb. At her new school, Viv quickly falls for sensitive heartthrob Aiden, a human--or "meat-boy," as her pack calls him. Soon she is trying to tame her undomesticated desires to match his more civilized sensibilities. "He was gentle. She hadn't expected that. Kisses to her were a tight clutch, teeth, and tongue... His eyes were shy beneath his dark lashes, and his lips curved with delight and desire--desire he wouldn't force on her... he was different." But Vivian's animal ardor cannot be stilled, and she must decide if she should keep Aiden in the dark about her true nature or invite him to take a walk on her wild side.


"Some of my friends have read this book and recommended it to me; I've been waiting for it to find it's way back to library.....maybesomeday."

Peeled by Joan Bauer
Hildy Biddle dreams of being a journalist. A reporter for her high school newspaper, The Core, she's just waiting for a chance to prove herself. Not content to just cover school issues, Hildy's drawn to the town's big story— the haunted old Ludlow house. On the surface, Banesville, USA, seems like such a happy place, but lately, eerie happenings and ghostly sightings are making Hildy take a deeper look. And she suspects the editor of The Bee, the town newspaper, is more interested in selling papers than he is in reporting the facts to a frightened public.

Hildy's efforts to find out who is really haunting Banesville isn't making her popular, and she starts wondering if she's cut out to be a journalist, after all. But she refuses to give up, because, hopefully, the truth will set a few ghosts free.

Peeled is a classic Joan Bauer novel, featuring a strong heroine, and filled with her trademark witty dialogue, and problems and people worth standing up to.


"I like stuff about haunted houses so I'm exciting to read this one."


The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope

Newly orphaned Peggy Grahame is caught off-guard when she first arrives at her family's ancestral estate. Her eccentric uncle Enos drives away her only new acquaintance, Pat, a handsome British scholar, then leaves Peggy to fend for herself. But she is not alone. The house is full of mysteries -- and ghosts. Soon Peggy becomes involved with the spirits of her own Colonial ancestors and witnesses the unfolding of a centuries-old romance against a backdrop of spies and intrigue and of battles plotted and foiled. History has never been so exciting, especially because the ghosts are leading Peggy to a romance of her own!


"This one doesn't sound too too scary, but I like the historical backdrop.....can't wait to read this one!"



The House on Hackaman's Hill by Joan Lowery Nixon

A $10,000 reward for a missing mummy lures cousins Jeff and Debbie into an old mansion. But a raging snow storm forces them to spend the night and an evil ancient spirit might not let them see the dawn.


"Ooo, sounds creepy. I don't really like mummies, but the reviews I've read said this was a really good book."




Curse of a Winter Moon by Mary Casanova

In sixteenth-century France, ruled by a Church that overtaxes peasants and burns heretics, Marius must postpone his apprenticeship to care for his six-year-old brother, whose birth took their mother's life, and who the villagers, backed by the Church, believe will become a "loup garou" -- a werewolf.


"Been meaning to read this for awhile."


Don't Forget the Classics!



Dracula by Bram Stoker
Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Frankenstien by Mary Shelley



A Practical Guide to Monsters & A Practical Guide to Vampires are some fun books for anytime of the year.



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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Halloween Post 1: Contests & Events


This is BLT's first post for The Halloween Edition. I'll be posting everyday about something new so be sure to keep checking back all this week! Today is "Contests & Events" day which will exploring Halloween theme contests or events that are going around the blogosphere. If your contest is not here on this page, please let me know! I will keep this page updated if I find anymore new contests to add-click on the pumpkin is see this page and other post for The Halloween Edition. Enjoy!


Katie's Book Blog: Halloween Contest Extraordinar!
Katie is giving away five books: Shiver, Snap, Never Cry Werewolf, The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, and The Devil's Kiss and some Halloween goodies. Skip on over

Dan Poblocki: Fact or Fiction?
Head on over to author Dan Poblocki's blog to win a copy of his debut book, The Stone Child. In order to win you must decide if his scary stories (which are post everyday up until Halloween) are true or made up. Start here

The Sunshine Edition: Halloween Blog Tour
The Sunshine Edition blog is having a Halloween blog tour everyday of October that includes tons of book reviews, interviews, stories behind Halloween, and contests. What are you waiting for?

The Never Ending Bookshelf: Trick or Treat Online
The Neverending Bookshelf is having a trick or treat contest and you can literally go trick or treating online. Wow, huh? The prize will include candy, books, and anything else she decides to put in there! Enter now


COMING UP NEXT: SPOOKY BOOKS

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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? - from book jacket


*****

First off-to set people straight-this book is not about robots or anything sci-fi; it’s about love but not romance (Bea and Jonah are just good friends). In short, How to Say Goodbye in Robot is the bleak story of one unique friendship, a late night talk show, and too many goodbyes.
Bea and Jonah are different. Bea is the “stone child” who is slightly depressed about her parents and is tired of adjusting to new high schools every time her family moves. She’s different because she doesn’t do the whole “popularity” scene, plus she’s very artistic. Jonah is Canton High’s “ghost” boy. Jonah is a loner because he’s made to be. Bea and Jonah are the same, that’s why they become best friends. The late night talk show called Night Lights is a whimsical addition to the story that makes you smile and feel the stars; and the secret about Jonah’s brother is just as stunning.
I really liked How to Say Goodbye in Robot because of it’s unique characters and just the overall storyline. Most of the time I connected with Bea and shared her eye for the unique, but sometimes I did feel like Bea should have punched Jonah in the face for getting mad or jealous. Then again, Jonah has a right to be angry, he is so mistreated by his school mates and his father. The only thing I did not like about this book is it’s many references to drinking.
Some teens might have a hard time relating or even liking the characters of How to Say Goodbye in Robot simply because it’s not about your average teenagers. Some might even think of the story as being weird. If you don’t like books that go beyond the “normal” YA high school scene, then you probably won’t like this book. If you like things that are different, then you know that you will enjoy How to Say Goodbye In Robot.
Even though How to Say Goodbye In Robot may be a little odd at times (that’s the whole point), I thought it was a good story about a friendship like no other from a different point of view. I recommend to any teen who likes that taste of oddness.


Natalie Strandford does not know how to speak fluent robot, but she does know Maryland like the back of her hand, having grown up there and coming from a long line of Marylanders. Natalie now lives in New York. How to Say Goodbye in Robot is her first novel. www.nataliestandiford.com


|Pages: 276|Year Published: October 2009|Publisher: Scholastics|
|Genre: Contemporary fiction, friendship, high school, family drama|
|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|Content: Teen drinking, some language, and sensuality|

|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content Rating: 3/5|Cover: 4/5|
|Overall|

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Monday, October 26, 2009

GIVEAWAY: Win a Signed Copy of Sliding on the Edge - CLOSED

Win a signed copy of Sliding on the Edge by C. Lee McKenzie!!
See my review here.

HOW TO ENTER:
Leave a comment telling me about your favorite "sad"
story with a happy ending.

WHO CAN ENTER:
Only US and CAN residents.

THE DEADLINE:
This contest ends November 9th, 12pm, EAST

EXTRA ENTRIES:
This contest is open to followers and non-followers, but
if you'd like to join BLT you get an extra two points.
2+ to become a new follower
1+ post about this contest (leave link for proof)





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Sunday, October 25, 2009

In My Mailbox (10)

This is actually last week's IMM because all but one book I got last week. Last Saturday my library had a book sale to raise money for new books by selling the old. I got several books from the YA sections and two from the juvenile section. Boy, was it ever crowded. The people looking at the books were so rude! You would have though they were buying food or designer clothes for cheap! Did you get anything special in your IMM?

For Review


Summer of the Silk Moths by Margaret Willey
The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex & Brett Harris
(from a friend)

Bought from Library

Saint Iggy by K.L. Going
Leap Year by Wendy Mass
Black Storm Comin' by Diane Lee Wilson
Earthquake at Dawn (Great Episodes) by Kristiana Gregory
Fame, Glory, and Other Things On My To Do List by Janette Rallison
Brides of Eden: A True Story Imagined by Linda Crew
The Big Burn by Jeanette Ingold




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Friday, October 23, 2009

Sliding on the Edge by C. Lee McKenzie

Shawna Stone, sixteen, can handle anything from a Las Vegas hustle to skipping out on the rent. Scarred inside and out, she's survived with a tough, hardened attitude. Yet she's thrown when her mother abandons her in Vegas with only a bus ticket and the name and number of a stranger to call. Now this troubled, desperate teen finds herself on a Northern California horse ranch with Kay Stone, her steely, youngish, disillusioned grandmother,who overwhelms Shawna with rules and daily barn chores. Shawna will baffle Kay with her foul mouthed anger and shrugging indifference to everything--except the maltreated horse on the ranch next door. But it's worse than even Kay suspects: Shawna's driven to cut herself by that strange voice inside her head,which at times has been her only steady companion.Kay, brittle from the loss of her marriage and her only son, struggles to keep the ranch going with only Kenny, the broken down drifter she hired, to lean on. Wondering what secrets hide behind Shawna's barricade, Kay fears that unless she somehow helps this troubled girl, she could lose her last living family member. And Kay's own secret is the very one that's kept Shawna and her mother away for all these years. As this unlikely pair struggles to co-exist, will they overcome their inner suffering to build a bridge to each other, and together find the strength to transcend the past? - from book jacket


*****


Sliding on the Edge is an emotional and edgy story of one girl’s journey to recovery. Shawna is a tough girl, she has to be to survive some of America’s roughest cities. When her mom leaves her alone in Las Vegas with only a hundred bucks to buy a bus ticket and a phone number, Shawna soon finds herself on a Californian horse ranch living with a grandmother she never knew existed. Besides her problematic anger issues and rough exterior, Shawna turns to cutting herself when a she can’t handle the pressure any longer.

With the help of a mistreated horse, the truth, and a some friends, Shawna learns that hurting herself will not make the anger and pain she feels go away.

Sliding on the Edge’s characters are very real and you get to read two different perspectives: Shawna’s and Kay’s. I believe teens can relate and learn from Shawna and her grandmother as they discover how to accept and face their problems.


Overall, Sliding on the Edge is a touching and vivid message of pain, sadness, and hope by debut author C. Lee McKenzie. Wether you’re looking for something edgy or experiencing problems like Shawna, this book is great for teens and would be a great addition to any YA library collection. Hope to see more from McKenzie!


~C. Lee McKenzie is a native of California and has been a university lecturer and administrator. She has written and published various non-fiction articles, edited university newspapers, and short stories. Sliding on the Edge is her first novel for Young Adults.~


|Pages: 266|Year Published: April 2009|Publisher: WestSide|

|Genre: Contemporary fiction, drama, family, teen issues|

|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|Content: Language, sensuality, and cutting|


|Enjoyed It: 3/5|Content Rating: 3/5|Cover: 2/5|

|Overall|



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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Eli the Good by Silas House

Bicentennial fireworks burn the sky. Bob Seger growls from a transistor radio. And down by the river, girls line up on lawn chairs in pursuit of the perfect tan. Yet for ten-year-old Eli Book, the summer of 1976 is the one that threatened to tear his family apart. There is his distant mother; his traumatized Vietnam vet dad; his wild sister; his former warprotester aunt; and his tough yet troubled best friend, Edie, the only person with whom he can be himself. As tempers flare and his father’s nightmares rage, Eli watches from the sidelines, but soon even he cannot escape the current of conflict. From Silas House comes a tender look at the complexities of childhood and the realities of war — a quintessentially Southern novel filled with music, nostalgic detail, a deep respect for nature, and a powerful sense of place. - book jacket


*****


Eli the Good is a beautifully crafted and compelling novel about love, war, and the meaning of family.

To me this book felt timeless, something you could read over and over again and still get something new out of it. It brought you back to your childhood and made you remember what it was like being a kid on the edge of discovering a complicated world. Eli had so much wisdom to tell you have to slow down, savor the words, and listen. It’s doesn’t matter if the setting is in 1976 or that the Vietnam war has long pasted, realistically the world has not changed; we are still fighting wars we cannot end, families are still families, and love is still love.

I loved how the book is set in the 70s because it was like taking a peak into what life might have been for my mom, who was sixteen (the same age as Josie) in 1976. I enjoyed the references to songs and artists like the “Rubber Band Man”, ABBA, David Cassidy, etc. (I’m actually quite familiar with 70s music because my sister listens to Kasey Kasen every Saturday morning.)

Since Eli is a country boy, he lives in small town, rides his bike, and likes trees. (Exactly how I grew up as well.) Because Eli loves trees, House incorporates the meaning of life into this story, something that is all too often forgotten.

House is a gifted writer and I wouldn’t be the least surprised if one day Eli House became a classic, in fact, I hope it does.

Overall, I highly encourage both teens and adults alike to read this earthy and touching American novel. You will never forget it.


~Silas House is the best-selling author of Clay's Quilt, A Parchment of Leaves, and The Coal Tattoo. He lives in eastern Kentucky with his two daughters and two dogs. This is his first book for young adults.~


|Pages: 295|Year Published: Aug. 2009|Publisher: Candlewick|

|Genre: Contemporary, historical fiction, family drama|

|Age Group: YA, ages 14+|Content: Some language and sensuality|


|Enjoyed It: 5/5|Content Rating: 4/5|Cover: 5/5|

|Overall|

Ages 14+ Because:
The older you are, the more likely you will understand this novel and it's themes.



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