Tuesday, December 28, 2010

HATTIE BIG SKY


HATTIE BIG SKY
By Kirby Larson
2006
283 Pages
From Inside Cover:
Vida, Montana 1918
For most of her life, sixteen year old Hattie Brooks has been shuttled from one distant relative to another. Tired of being Hattie Here and There, she summons the courage to leave Iowa and move all by herself to Vida, Montana, to prove up on her late uncle's homestead claim. "At least now my letters will be more interesting," she writes to her good friend, Charlie who is fighting the Kaiser in France.
Under the big sky, Hattie braves hard weather, hard times, a cantankerous cow, and her own hopeless hand at the cook stove. Her quest to make a home is championed by new neighbors Perilee Mueller, her German husband, and their children. For the first time in her life life, Hattie feels part of a family, finding the strength to stand up against Traft Martin's schemes to buy her out and against increasing pressure to be a "loyal" American at a time when anything-or anyone-German is suspect. Despite daily trials, Hattie continues to work her uncle's claim until an unforeseen tragedy causes her to search her soul for the real meaning of home.
My thoughts:
Hattie Big Sky is a little book with a HUGE heart. Hattie is a character that will stay with you long after you've finished the story.
It's starts with her receiving a letter from an uncle she doesn't remember-
Being of sound mind, I do hereby leave to Hattie Inez Brooks my claim and the house and it's contents, as well as one steadfast horse named Plug and a contemptible cow known as Violet.
Chester Hubert Wright
Uncle to Hattie Inez Brooks
P.S.
H-Bring warm clothes and a cat.
What first grabbed my attention was the location of the story-Montana is just over the hill from where I live in Idaho and I know how cold those Montana winters get-well below 0. Also the knowledge that this story is based on the author's great-grandmother who actually did prove up her claim in Montana as a young woman. I just knew I had to read her story.
Hattie leaves Iowa and the closest thing she has ever had to family to claim a piece of property that an unknown uncle has left her. With very little money, the orphan is mostly hanging on to hopes and dreams as she heads into the unknown-Vida, Montana.
What she finds when she arrives is a shack, not a house and 320 acres of unfarmed land.
To fulfill the requirements of proving up her claim she will need to cultivate 40 acres and build a fence around her property-and she only has ten months to do it. If she fails to meet these requirements to land goes back to the bank and she gets nothing.
Hattie is such an easy character to love and cheer for as she faces the many hardships of a first time homesteader.
I was so wrapped up in her story I was disappointed to reach the last page. I was left wanting to know more about the life and times of this amazing young woman.
This book is available at the Salmon Public Library. I would recommend it for readers 12 and up. I will be purchasing my own copy to give to my own daughter and I look forward to her getting to know Hattie Brooks.

Monday, December 27, 2010

LOOKING BACK OVER 2010


IT'S ALMOST TIME TO SAY GOOD-BYE
My goal for 2010 was to read and review at least 100 books. Sadly, I only reached 67. That's 33 books short of my goal. Still I'm proud of what I did get accomplished even though life, job, children, husband and housework did throw multiple wrenches into plan.
I look back over 2010 and realize that in those 67 books I discovered amazing characters, incredible authors and made many friends among fellow bloggers. Not a bad year at all!
TOP 10 Books Read in 2010
1. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
2. The Chosen by Carol Lynch Williams
3. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
4. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
5. Every Little Thing in the World by Nina De Gramont
6. Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
7. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
8. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
9. Annexed by Sharon Dogar
10. After by Amy Efaw

Friday, December 24, 2010

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Happy Holidays to everyone out in blog world!
If only I could curl up with all of you and enjoy this Christmas Eve- reading a book and eating those Christmas treats! But alas, there are presents to be wrapped, last minute stocking stuffers to track down and cookies to bake for family party tonite. I'm sorry good friends but we must wait to cuddle. But know that I- Mug of Moxie wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year to come.

WINNER!

Winner of the Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop.......
# 46 Ricki
who will be recieving 3 ARCS
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Girl Parts by John Cusick
Another Pan by Daniel and Dina Nayeri
Compliments of Candlewick Press
Thanks to everyone who entered and is now following
Mug of Moxie.
I plan to do another contest in February so stay tuned.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop

The Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop
will be a quick 2 day hop. Midwinter's Eve is the longest night of the year so why not spend it entering some great giveaways. The hop will run from 12:01 AM on December 21st to 11:59 PM on December 22nd. There are 120+ Blogs each signed up to host a book giveaway on their site. For more information and to see the list of blogs that are participating visit
So now for the exciting prize Mug Of Moxie is giving away! I have 3 awesome ARCs that I would love to pass on to you-fellow readers!
1. Girl Parts by John Cusick
2.The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
3. Another Pan by Dina and Daniel Nayeri
All three books are in beautiful shape. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
To enter my giveaway- Become a follower of Mug Of Moxie and leave your name and email address in comment section so I have way to get a hold up you when you win.Thanks for stopping by!
Don't forget to hop on over to these other blogs and check out what they have up for grabs. Just follow the links below!
1.I Am A Reader, Not A Writer (US/Int)
2.Acting Balanced (US/Can)
3.Reader Recommended (US/Int)
4.Forever Young (Adult) (US/Int)
5.Belinda Kroll, Quirky Historical Fiction (US)
6.Where You Go From Here (US)
7.DeRaps Reads (US/Int)
8.Bookworm Lisa (US/Can)
9.Bookhounds (US/Int)
10.Read for your Future (US/Int)
11.Lazy Girl Reads (US)
12.Bitsy Bling Books (US/Int)
13.i heart reading (US)
14.The Book Bug (US)
15.A Life Bound By Books (US/Int)
16.Confessions of a Bookaholic (US/Int)
17.Ex Libris (US/Int)
18. Michelle's Book Blog (US)
19. Kid Lit Frenzy (US/Int)
20. http://www.read-all-over.net/
21. Reader Girls (US/Int)
22.At the Water Cooler - #1 Book Info Spot! (US)
23.Cuzinlogic (US/Int)
24.Sharons Garden of Book Reviews (US)
25.Chandra Garbanzo (US/Can)
26.Reading Between the Wines Book Club (US/Int)
27.Minding Spot (US)
28.Manga Maniac Cafe (US/Int)
29.Colloquium (US)
30.Books and Things (US/Int)
31.PrincessReviews (US)
32.ROOTS IN MYTH (US/Int)
33.The Creative Well (US/Int)
34.Books R Us (US)
35.http://mugofmoxie.blogspot.com/
36. JDP NEWS (US/Int)
37. The Bookish Snob (US)
38. Attack of the Book! (US/Can)
38.Three Boys and an Old Lady (US/Can)
39.Writer in the Cranberry Tower (US)
40.Lost For Words (US/Int)
41.writers write, right? (US/Int)
42.Genre Reviews (US/Can)
43.Hillbilly Hunter (US/Int)
44.A Little Hope. . . Amidst the Chaos (US/Int)
45.N2Fan (US/Int)
46.Kate Blackham, Editor (US/Int)
47.A Moment With Mystee (US)
48.The Stephanie Loves (US)
49.http://thethoughtsofabookjunky.blogspot.com/
50.One Book Shy of a Full Shelf (US/Int)
51.Book Nerds Across America (US)
52.Reviews by Marthas Bookshelf (US/Int)
53.Ashleys Bookshelf (US/Int)
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55.The Mystery Bookshelf (US/Int)
56.Clover Hill Book Reviews (US/Int)
57.LadySilks Regency Romance Revival (US/Int)
58.Teresas Regency Romance World (US/Int)
59.Rebecca Irvine (US)
60.The Delusional Diaries (US/Int)
61.Melissa Mc (Gerbera Daisy Diaries) (US/Can)
62.In The Next Room (US/Can)
63.YA Bookie Monster (US/Int)
64.Lauracea (US/Int)
65.Simply Ali (US/Int)
66.All the Days of (US/Int)
67.Literatis Literary Library (US/Can)
68.Little Squeed (US/Can)
69.The Happy Booker (US/Int)
70.Books Are Like Candy Corn (Us/Can)
71.Bibliophile Brouhaha (US/Int)
72.Tifferz Book Review (US)
73.Book Journey (US/Can)
74.There's A Book (US/Int)
75.A Sea of Books (US/Can)
76.From the TBR Pile (US)
77.About Happy Books (US/Int)
78.Upstate Ramblings (US)
79Holes In My brain (US/Int)
80.Book-Savvy (US/Int)
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82.Reading is Dreamy (US/Int)
83.Good Family Reads (US)
84.Murphys Library (US/Int)
85.Lisa Schroeder, Author (US)
86.WRITE WILD (US/Can)
87.Layers of Thought (US/Int)
88.Tune Into L (US)
89.BookGirl of Mur-y-Castell(Intl)
90.Ella Bella Reviews (US/Can)
91.Best Friends Book Affair (US)
92.A Good Addiction (US/Int)
93.IceyBooks (US/Int)
94.Simply Stacie (US/Int)
95.Urban Girl Reader (US/Int)
96.Books 4 Learning (US)
97.I Read Banned Books (US)
98.Flippin Fabulous - A Readers Record (US)
99.Truth Be Told (US)
100.Acting Balanced (US/Can)
101.Actin' Up with books (US)
102.http://themodpodgebookshelf.blogspot.com/
103.http://bookswarm.blogspot.com/
104.Amusing Reviews (US)
105.No Hope for Gomez (US/Int)
106.Mom of 2 Dancers (US)
107.Karissas Reading Review (US)
108.Intense Whisper (US)
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110.Penny Laine (US)
111.Opening Lines (US/Int)
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115.Snarky Mamma (US)
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120.The Overweight Bookshelf (US/Can)
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122.Its All About the Kissing - MLM Fansite (US)
123.The Book Bandit (US)
124.Peace, Love, Converses (US/Int)This

Saturday, December 18, 2010

THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO


THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO
Patrick Ness
2008
479 Pages

From Back Cover:
Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee-whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not-stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden-a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives. But do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?
My Thoughts:
This story starts with a bang when we are dropped into Todd Hewitt's world. It's a dark, bleak place where Todd is just weeks away from his thirteenth birthday when he will officially become a man according to Prentisstown Law. He has grown up his entire life infected with a germ called Noise that not only killed all females but allows all males to hear one another's thoughts. There are no secrets in Prentisstown-or so Todd thinks. Until one day while exploring he stumbles upon a spot of silence in a swamp and a huge discovery that has him running for his life. With an army hot in pursuit we are taken on an adventure both thrilling and exhausting.
The ending brings the reader to a dead stop that had me yelling-"What the French Toast!" I will without a doubt be getting my hands on the second book of the Chaos Walking Trilogy-The Ask and the Answer. I really need to know what happens next!
A big Thank You to Candlewick Press for sending me this awesome ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will be passing this ARC on to the winner of a contest!

Monday, December 13, 2010

GIRL PARTS


Girl Parts
by John M. Cusick
2010
218 Pages
From Back Cover:
David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David's parents present him with a hot Companion bot designed to encourage healthy bonds and treat "dissociative disorder," he can't get enough of luscious, redheaded Rose-and he can't get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. Parted from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up to her, knowing that she isn't real. With Charlie's help, the ideal"companion" is about to become her own best friend.
My Thoughts:
This book was so much more than I thought it would be. It goes back to the old saying-never judge a book by it's cover! I really thought it was going to be a light and fluffy good time read. It was definitely way deeper than that!
The story starts with a suicide witnessed by several people over the Internet, including David, who watches a girl die on his computer screen and does nothing to intervene or help. When David's parents find out they become concerned that he may have Dissociative Disorder and immediately order him a robot companion named Rose. She is the newest thing in technology built to provide unconditional love, a real relationship and constant companionship.
The story then becomes Roses as she grows closer to David and starts to develop human tendencies. She lives to please David and their relationship starts to bloom. Until David discovers that his relationship with Rose can only go so far. Then he abruptly ends things and kicks her to the curb. Enter the quiet, loner Charlie who comes to Rose's rescue in more ways than one.
Charlie might also have Dissociative Disorder but for reasons very different than David. The story then becomes Charlie and Roses.
This story has so many elements and is really about three very different people who lives end up intertwining. The end is bittersweet but felt right. I think John Cusick hit the mark.
Certain parts of the story reminded me of Feed by M.T. Anderson. Dissociative Disorder felt a little to real in our technology hungry world.
A big thank you to Candlewick Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll be passing this book on to the winner of a contest.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

KNOCKED OUT BY MY NUNGA-NUNGAS


knocked out by my nunga-nungas
(confessions of Georgia Nicolson)
By Louise Rennison
2001
183 Pages
From Back Cover:
"I was in a state of confusiosity."
Georgia Nicolson has finally landed Robbie the Sex God and life is fab. But all of a sudden Georgia's ex, Dave the Laugh, is starting to look quite dreamy. Strangely, so does just about every other guy Georgia meets, even the new French teacher. Is Georgia becoming a shameless vixen?
My Thoughts:
If I truly want a pick me up I drop into Georgia's world. Her every day observations and hilarious antics make me laugh out loud. There is no doubt that this is a girl I would hang with!
Poor Georgia! Being a teenager is tough enough with all the worry of lurking lurkers, ear snogging, nunga nunga protectors!
Her parents are still stark raving mad lunatics bent on making her life miserable.
They are dragging off to Scotland(Och Aye Land) on a family excursion. Who wants to visit a pencil factory?!
Also she is super confused by her feelings for Dave the Laugh her "Red Herring" and ex boyfriend. Although her Boyfriend Robbie, aka Sex God makes her weak in the knees, Dave the Laugh makes her...laugh?!
Angus is now in danger of having his trouser snake addendums removed because of his growing affection for next door neighbor cat, Naomi.
Nauseating P. Green is now following Georgia into the loo and naming hamsters in her honor after saving her from the clutches of the Bummer Twins.
What in the world is a girl to do? Perhaps she should just go forth and use her red bottom wisely.
I can not wait to read the further confessions of Georgia in her next book Dancing in my Nuddy Pants. Lucky for me I just snagged it from my local library.
Seriously, if you have not read this Georgia Nicholson series you are truly missing out!

ANNEXED


ANNEXED
By Sharon Dogar
2010
340 Pages
From Inside Cover:
I look out the window into the street....I'm meant to be at Mr. Frank's workplace in a few hours. We're arriving separately, all of us. We'll walk into the building just like it was any other visit-only this time we'll never walk out again.What was it like hiding in the annex with Anne Frank? To be with Anne every day while she wrote so passionately in her diary? To be in a secret world at war-alive on the inside, everything dying on the outside? Peter Van Pels and his family have lost their country, their home, and their freedom, and now they are fighting desperately to remain alive. Look through Peter's eyes. He has a story to tell, too. Are you listening?
My Thoughts:
I think that I read Diary of a Young Girl in Middle School-my memories of it are hazy. After reading Annexed by Sharon Dogar I plan to pick it up in the new year and reread it.
I've been a little surprised by the mixed reviews on this book. Some people have felt that a story from the perspective of Peter van Pels tarnishes the image of Anne Frank and her diary.
I thought that the author was very clear in the preface that Peter's story is a work of fiction, based on facts of history. Historical Fiction.
Peter van Pels is a 16 year old boy who goes into hiding with his parents in an annex above a building owned by Frank Otto. The year is 1942.
This story is written from Peter's point of view as the author imagines what it must of been like for a teenage boy to suddenly lose his freedom and be confined to a small space with seven other people for almost two years.
We get to know Anne through Peter's eyes. First she is a know it all that irritates him and invades his space. But slowly his emotions grew into affection as he matures. We start to see another Anne who is reaching out, longing to make a connection. She is both insightful and observant.
Peter is a person of few words but deep emotions-A person I grew to know and love.
We all know how the story ends.After two years in hiding they are all betrayed and sent to concentration camps-Auschwitz and Mauthausen.
I found myself sobbing as I read Peter's last words."Are you listening?" So afraid that no one will know his story. His life ends before it had a chance to begin.
The story of the Holocaust should never be forgotten. It is a horrible piece of of history that needs to be told, again and again. We need to listen and never forget.
A huge thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for giving me the opportunity to read and review Annexed.
I will be donating this book to my local Public Library. I encourage young adults and their parents to read it and talk about it.

Annexed: A Novel by Sharon Dogar

Friday, December 10, 2010

I WANNA JINGLE YOUR BELLS!

That's why I'm participating in the...
The Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop !!!!
This hop will be hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer
The Midwinter's Eve Hop will be a quick 2 day hop. Midwinter's Eve is the longest night of the year so why not spend it entering some great giveaways.The hop will run from 12:01 AM on December 21st to 11:59 PM on December 22nd.
Use the link above to find out more information.
Most importantly don't forget to get your fine self back here on December 21 to enter Mug Of Moxie's Giveaway! Hang on to your bells, it's going to be a good one!!!