BOOK BLOGGER HOP

TGIF!!
In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING!!This fantastic weekly event is hosted by:

Jennifer at Crazy For Books
This week's question comes from Aliyah who blogs at Des Absurdités:
"What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?"
I just read a fabulous review for a book that is coming out in February called:

Father of Lies by Ann Turner
Synopsis is taken from Goodreads.com
Truth or Lies?
Lidda knew, with a clarity that was like a candle in a dark room, that all had changed; something was loosed in the village—Devil or not—and they would pay for it, every last man, woman, and child. Fourteen-year-old Lidda has always known she was different. She longs to escape Salem Village and its stifling rules—to be free to dance, to sing, to live as she chooses. But when a plague of accusations descends on the village and witch fever erupts, L idda begins to realize that she feels and sees things that others can't, or won't. But how will she expose the truth without being hung as a witch herself?
Does this one sound like a page turner or what?
I immediately put it on my wish list.
Have a great weekend and don't forget to enter my "Down with Clowns" giveaway. Contest ends February 1st!
Happy Hopping!!!

DOWN WITH CLOWNS GIVEAWAY

A MUG OF MOXIE GIVEAWAY!

DOWN WITH CLOWNS!!
As a tribute to the book that scarred me for life and made me a huge Stephen King fan I am offering a giveaway. The winner of this "just because" giveaway walks away with a brand new pape back book of It and a lifelong fear of clowns.
To enter is simple: Follow Me.

Could it be any easier to gain a new phobia and a friend?

I think not.

Leave your contact information in the comment section.

I will draw a winner on Feb. 1st.

This giveaway is open to everyone near and far.

You must be 13 years old to enter.

Good luck!

MY WORST BEST FRIEND

MY WORST BEST FRIEND

By Dyan Sheldon

298 Pages

2010

From Back Cover:

"The way I saw it when I was in high school, even though there were still millions of different life-forms left on the planet, there were basically only two kinds of girls: Those Girls and everyone else."

In the case of Savanna and Gracie, friendship isn't based on reason but on the notion that opposites attract. Savanna is a head-turning, attention-seeking, accessorized one of "Those Girls," while Gracie's love of old movies and commitment to protecting the environment put her into the "everyone else" category. It seems as if nothing could come between them until Savanna's lies and dependence on Gracie as a false alibi start to take a toll on their relationship. When Savanna gets between Gracie and her crush, the line separating best friend from worst friend has been crossed.

My Thoughts:

A big thank you to Candlewick Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I plan to pass this book along in a giveaway next month.

Now on to the review-

Unfortunately this book was a huge disappointment for me. I absolutely loved the cover. I thought it was cute and clever and I probably would have bought it in a book store solely based on that.

Now I know that opposites attract in love but I've never really seen it work with best friends. Birds of a feather tend to flock together-especially with girls. I guess that's why I had such a tough time buying the friendship between Gracie and Savannah. Gracie is a nice person inside and out. Honesty is important to her, she values the relationships she has and she will do anything for the environment. Savannah on the other hand is SELFISH, conceited and mean to most people. I spent most of the book trying to wrap my mind around why in the world these two girls had anything to do with each other.

I have never read Teenage Confessions of a Drama Queen but author Dyan Sheldon had such raving reviews for that book I'm going to have to give her another shot. This book just didn't hit the spot for me. I wanted to stuff an old gym sock in Savannah's mouth and give Gracie a slap to the forehead.

THE SECRET TO LYING

THE SECRET TO LYING
By Todd Mitchell
328 Pages
2010
From Back Cover:
James was the guy no one noticed-a fifteen year old living in a small town with his repairman father and ex-beauty queen mother. So when he gets into the American Science and Mathematics Academy(or ASMA), a public boarding school, James decides that it's time to leave the past behind. In a student body made up of nerds and geeks, being cool is easy. All it takes is a few harmless lies to invent the new James: rebel, punk, street fighter. Everybodys impressed, except for the beautiful Ellie Frost, whose icy demeanor holds an inexplicable attraction for James and the mysterious Ghost44, an IM presence who sees right through his new identity. But James is riding high-playing pranks and hooking up with the luscious Jessica Keen. Things seem perfect until he begins to having strange and vivid dreams that pull him into a dark city haunted by demons. As the line between dreams and reality blurs, James begins to wonder, what's the price for being the coolest guy around?
My Thoughts:
This is the second book this month that I have read about teenagers reinventing themselves. I think that's a fantasy all dream of doing at one time or another. I know I did. Especially during those teenage years when most are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be.
James gets a second shot to reinvent himself when he is transfered to a new school with a new set of peers. James makes up a brand new past and dives in to his new life determined to be someone different than he has always been. His stories build him a badass reputation and suddenly he's known as the quiet, tough, rebel boy with an ugly past. His plan works-but at what cost? Eventually lies catch up with you and James is running out of time.
The story is reality with a bit of fantasy thrown in as Jame's dreams start to bleed into his real life. There are several mature themes throughout the story that include violence, drinking, anorexia and cutting. Author Todd Mitchell tackles the issues head on. There are moments of humor sprinkled in that add a lighter mood. The pranks that James and his new friends pull on other students are laugh at loud funny.
The story is from main character, James, point of view. A teenage males perspective is refreshing and welcome. It's easy to forget sometimes that boys struggle with the same thing girls do-most times they just aren't as vocal.
The Secret to Lying is a great story that both boys and girls would enjoy reading. If you would like to learn more about author Todd Mitchell go to his web site by following this link-Todd Mitchell's website. The trailer he made for his book is hilarious.
A big thank you to Candlewick Press for sending me an ARC of The Secret to Lying by Todd Mitchell to read and review! I will be offering this ARC as a giveaway prize in February.

ZAN-GAH

ZAN-GAH
By Allan Richard Shickman
150 Pages
2007
From Back Cover:
"She began to move warily in a circle as the men tightened the trap, and as they got closer the lioness began to stride and prowl in a circle so small that she almost seemed to be chasing her tail. But she was watching, watching while she turned and snarled, for a weakness in the ever-tightening ring of her pursuers. Then at the moment the attack finally was sounded-when the men, putting down their drums and torches, charged on the run with their spears-the lioness saw what she was looking for. One of her enemies was smaller, weaker than the rest. There was a point of the strengthening line that could be broken! Thought merged with furious action and the beast, with a mighty bound of astonishing swiftness, darted towards Zan. Five hundred pounds of snarling fury sprang directly at him with claws bared and fanged mouth open!"
My Thoughts:
This prehistoric adventure opens with a boy named Zan preparing to fight a lion that has been terrorizing their tribe. After a victorious fight Zan earns and new name Zan-Gah and the respect of the elders in not only his tribe but others as well. Soon after Zan decides that he must try to find his twin brother who disappeared years earlier. His travels take him to far away lands where he gets into some very interesting situations. I easily read the book in one night. The story was extremely engaging, the language and descriptions were rich and the characters were very easy to care about. I was very excited to see that there is a sequel to Zan-Gah. I can't wait to see where this story goes next.
I think this is the perfect adventure for junior high boys-This story would really hook a reluctant reader because of size(150 pages) and the non-stop action. But I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to kids of all ages and adults of course!
A big thank you to EarthShaker books for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. I will be donating this book to my local Middle School Library.

"Down with Clowns" Giveaway!

Mug of Moxie "Down with Clowns" Giveaway

As a tribute to the book that scarred me for life and made me a huge Stephen King fan I am offering a giveaway. The winner of this "just because" giveaway walks away with a brand new paper back book of It and a lifelong fear of clowns.

To enter is simple: Follow Me. Could it be any easier to gain a new phobia and a friend? I think not. Leave your contact information in the comment section. I will draw a winner on Feb. 1st. This giveaway is open to everyone near and far. You must be 13 years old to enter. Good luck!

Thank You John Marsden!

My son just finished this book-Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden. I bought for him to do a book report on in English. Book report is completed and he just asked me to buy the next one in the series-The Dead of Night. What's the big deal you ask. He's so not a reader, much to my dismay. This may be the series that actually hooks him! I was really excited to see that they have made a movie based on the book. Now I just need to find out where I can get my hands on a copy in the United States. The film was made and released in Australia.

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge

Challenge Yourself!

It's a new year and time to set some new reading goals. I'm joining the 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge hosted by Book Chick City. Rules and sign up information can be found here. Last year I read and reviewed 67 Young Adult books. This year I plan to do the same but also read a few classics in between. I'm currently reading To Kill a Mockingbird. I won't be reviewing the classics-too much pressure! I look forward to this year all all the fabulous new books I'll discover and share with you! Happy New Year!

BOOK BLOGGER HOP & GIVEAWAY!

IT'S FRIDAY!

Lets have a little fun!

Welcome to this week's Book Blogger Hop hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. This week's question is:

"What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?"

It's so hard to pick just one! There are so many great books out there! So after going back in my memory bank I will have to choose IT by Stephen King. I read it in high school and I was immediately scarred for life and will forever be terrified of clowns!

Has anyone else had this experience reading his books??

Leave a comment, become a follower and you will be entered in a Mug of Moxie Giveaway "Down With Clowns" for a copy of this terrifying book. If your not scared of clowns you soon will be!