I’ve got an interesting “problem” over here right now: I’m about three weeks ahead in my posting… which is good and bad. Good, because I don’t really feel any pressure to read fast, or finish lots of books, but bad because reviews will pop up on my blog, and I actually don’t remember what I said about them! (Whoops.) Do you try to get ahead in your blogging? (I didn’t used to be this way; I used to read a book, then blog about it. I really, honestly, have no idea how I got so far ahead.)

This month’s reading:

My favorite:

A Monster Calls

Most gratuitous review:

Highland Fling

Audiobooks:

Kitchen Counter Cooking School

The Spellman Files

The Middle Grade:

Amelia Lost

The Mighty Miss Malone

Legend

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything

Notes from an Accidental Band Geek

The lone graphic novel for the year:

Anya’s Ghost

And the rest:

Factory Girls

Goliath

Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy

Discovery of Witches

What did you like this month?

Happy #ExtraMagicBonusHappyLeapYearDay (as per @neilhimself)! If you could take any author out to dinner, who would it be? (Me? I’d have Maureen Johnson, John Green, Mo Willems, Varian Johnson, Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pearce over for a party.)

My favorite book this past month:

Ready Player One

Hands down. I still smile over it… not the “best” book, but really: the most fun.

The Cybils Middle Grade shortlist:

Nerd Camp

The Friendship Doll

Kirby Larson commented on this post! I still get a little *squee* moment when that happens!

Ghetto Cowboy

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu

Warp Speed

Audiobooks:

Bossypants

Everything else:

Breadcrumbs

Why We Broke Up

Kat Incorrigible

Midnight in Austenland

Outcasts United

I’ve done the Jacket Flap-a-Thon for several years now, and I’ve decided that while I adore jacket flap copy (seriously: my dream job someday), I need to move onto a different way of recapping my month’s reading.

Any suggestions?

Favorite read:

The Fault in Our Stars

  Other books finished this month:

Archer’s Quest

Dragon Castle

The Eyre Affair (audio book)

The Snow Child

Maman’s Homesick Pie

Ivanhoe

Jefferson’s Sons

Water for Elephants (audio book)

Didn’t finish: The Heroines

This is just a teaser… my best of post is coming tomorrow!

Divergent (Katherine Tegen Books): “In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her. Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

A bit long, but it houses all the pertinent information in one place. It came in handy, when I wanted to figure out which faction was what. 
 

Dead End in Norvelt (Macmillian Young Readers): “Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is “grounded for life” by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack’s way once his mom loans him out to help a feisty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder. Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative is the author at his very best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air. Dead End in Norvelt is a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Fiction title for 2011. One of Horn Book’s Best Fiction Books of 2011.”

So, this is the reason I read the book: the flap copy, and though it sounded fantastic. Too bad it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped.

Liar’s Moon (Arthur A. Levine Books): “Prisons, poisons, and passions combine in a gorgeously written fantasy noir by the author of the Morris Award-winning A CURSE DARK AS GOLD. As a pickpocket, Digger expects to spend a night in jail every now and then. But she doesn’t expect to find Lord Durrel Decath there as well–or to hear he’s soon to be executed for killing his wife. Durrel once saved Digger’s life, and when she goes free, she decides to use her skills as a thief, forger, and spy to investigate his case and return the favor. But each new clue only opens up more mysteries. While Durrel’s marriage was one of convenience, his behavior has been more impulsive than innocent. His late wife had an illegal business on the wrong side of the civil war raging just outside the city gates. Digger keeps finding forbidden magic in places it has no reason to be. And it doesn’t help that she may be falling in love with a murderer . . .”

I love that 1) it doesn’t give anything away from the first book in the series, and 2) it doesn’t give away much of anything this book, and yet it sounds incredibly intriguing.

Other books read this month:
Heat Rises
Guys Read: Thriller (DNF)
The City of Orphans (DNF)
The Power of One (DNF)
The Lions of Little Rock
At Home (audiobook)
Seriously… I’m Kidding
Words in the Dust
Liesl and Po
Crossing to Safety
Pie
Tuesdays at the Castle
Rebel Island

Drink, Slay, Love (Margaret K. McElderry): “Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire . . . fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil . . . until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops. Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don’t exist), and they’re shocked she survived. They’re even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl’s family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King’s feast—as the entrees. The only problem? Pearl’s starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she’s definitely dead if she lets down her family. What’s a sunlight-loving vamp to do?”

I love how this one not only reflects the tone and the style of the book, but makes you 
want to read it. And can I say that cover is just gorgeous?

Ten Miles Past Normal (Atheneum): “Janie Gorman wants to be normal. The problem with that: she’s not. She’s smart and creative and a little bit funky. She’s also an unwilling player in her parents’ modern-hippy, let’s-live-on-a-goat-farm experiment (regretfully, instigated by a younger, much more enthusiastic Janie). This, to put it simply, is not helping Janie reach that “normal target.” She has to milk goats every day…and endure her mother’s pseudo celebrity in the homemade-life, crunchy mom blogosphere. Goodbye the days of frozen lasagna and suburban living, hello crazy long bus ride to high school and total isolation–and hovering embarrassments of all kinds. The fresh baked bread is good…the threat of homemade jeans, not so much. It would be nice to go back to that old suburban life…or some grown up, high school version of it, complete with nice, normal boyfriends who wear crew neck sweaters and like social studies. So, what’s wrong with normal? Well, kind of everything. She knows that, of course, why else would she learn bass and join Jam Band, how else would she know to idolize infamous wild-child and high school senior Emma (her best friend Sarah’s older sister), why else would she get arrested while doing a school project on a local freedom school (jail was not part of the assignment). And, why else would she kind of be falling in “like” with a boy named Monster—yes, that is his real name. Janie was going for normal, but she missed her mark by about ten miles…and we mean that as a compliment. Frances O’Roark Dowell’s fierce humor and keen eye make her YA debut literary and wise. In the spirit of John Green and E. Lockhart, Dowell’s relatable, quirky characters and clever, fluid writing prove that growing up gets complicated…and normal is WAY overrated.”

It’s a little long, but it hits all the high points without giving away everything. And I really like the final line.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Square Fish): “Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.  With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.”


I like that they managed to sum up a very un-sum-up-able book. And make it sound as whimsical and charming as it really is. That said, I think if I have to read about another “unforgettable” book, I may scream. Please, publishers, find a different adjective.

Other books I read this month:
Caleb’s Crossing
The Help (audiobook)
Addie on the Inside
The Chronicles of Harris Burdick 
Chime
The Scorpio Races
The Son of Neptune
Jeremy Bender vs. the Cupcake Cadets
The Buddha’s Diamonds
War and Watermelon
Precious Bane
Floors

Happy Halloween! I was hoping to have a Halloween picture for you of the awesome costume I thought up for myself, but, in actuality because I’ve started working again, I didn’t get around to putting together a Halloween costume for myself.

I know it’s a lousy consolation prize, but here are this month’s best jacket flaps instead…

Darth Paper Strikes Back (Amulet Books): “It is a dark time at Ralph McQuarrie Middle School. After suffering several Origami Yoda–related humiliations, Harvey manages to get Dwight suspended from school for being a “troublemaker.” Origami Yoda pleads with Tommy and Kellen to save Dwight by making a new case file—one that will show how Dwight’s presence benefits McQuarrie. With the help of their friends, Tommy and Kellen record cases such as “Origami Yoda and the Pre-eaten Wiener,” “Origami Yoda and the Exploding Pizza Bagels,” and “Origami Yoda and Wonderland: The Musical.” But Harvey and his Darth Paper puppet have a secret plan that could make Dwight’s suspension permanent . . . With his proven knack for humorously exploring the intrigues, fads, and dramas of middle school, Tom Angleberger has crafted a worthy sequel to his breakout bestseller.”

Hands down, the best thing about this one is the Star Wars references. Plus, it tells you the whole plot without giving too much of the detail away.

I’ll Be There (Little, Brown Books): “Sam Border wishes he could escape. Raised by an unstable father, he’s spent his life moving from place to place. But he could never abandon his little brother, Riddle. Riddle Border doesn’t talk much. Instead, he draws pictures of the insides of things and waits for the day when the outsides of things will make sense. He worships his older brother. But how can they leave when there’s nowhere to go? Then everything changes. Because Sam meets Emily. Emily Bell believes in destiny. She sings for her church choir, though she doesn’t have a particularly good voice. Nothing, she feels, is mere coincidence. And she’s singing at the moment she first sees Sam. Everyone whose path you cross in life has the power to change you–sometimes in small ways, and sometimes in ways greater than you could have ever known. Beautifully written and emotionally profound, Holly Goldberg Sloan’s debut novel deftly explores the idea of human connection.”

This one sounds pretentious, but in all actuality is dead on. And they did a great job of summing up a very difficult book to sum up.

The Name of the Star (Putnam Juvenile):”The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn’t notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.”

This one is intriguing. What are the secret ghost police of London? What’s the deal with the Ripper killer? It makes me curious enough to want to read it. Too bad the cover is so, well, ugh.

Other books read this month:
Angel in My Pocket
Lola and the Boy Next Door
The Eternal Smile: Three Stories
Cures for Heartbreak
Kendra
13 Gifts
Zazoo
Wonderstruck
Beauty Queens
Second Fiddle
Latasha and the Little Red Tornado
The Latte Rebellion
Terrier
Bloodhound
Mastiff

One last little thought from KidLitCon… (I know it’s been a while but I honestly thought this was the best place to put this.) I went to a panel put on by Holly and Shiraz Cupala about marketing books. No, I don’t have a book to market, nor will I ever, but I did find this one statistic they stuck up to be interesting (especially considering where my interests lie):

People buy books based on:
Next one in a series (61%)
Familiarity with the author (57%)
Flap copy (51%)
Title (32%)
Cover (31%)

See that? Flap copy — good flap copy — is important. I know it is to me.

In other news: if all is going well, M and I should be on our way to the Austin Teen Book Festival. We’re both quite excited! Hope to see (some of) you there!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Little, Brown): “Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”; she speaks many languages–not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out. When one of the strangers–beautiful, haunted Akiva–fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?”
What I love about this one is that they capture the essence of Taylor’s writing and of the story, without giving the plot away. You know there will be mystery and angels and demons, and it all sounds so very enticing.

The Incorrigible Children of Aston Place: The Hidden Gallery (Balzer and Bray): “Of especially naughty children it is sometimes said, “They must have been raised by wolves.” The Incorrigible children actually were. Thanks to the efforts of Miss Penelope Lumley, their plucky governess, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia are much more like children than wolf pups now. They are accustomed to wearing clothes. They hardly ever howl at the moon. And for the most part, they resist the urge to chase squirrels up trees. Despite Penelope’s civilizing influence, the Incorrigibles still managed to ruin Lady Constance’s Christmas ball, nearly destroying the grand house. So while Ashton Place is being restored, Penelope, the Ashtons, and the children take up residence in London. Penelope is thrilled, as London offers so many opportunities to further the education of her unique students. But the city presents challenges, too, in the form of the palace guards’ bearskin hats, which drive the children wild—not to mention the abundance of pigeons the Incorrigibles love to hunt. As they explore London, however, they discover more about themselves as clues about the children’s—and Penelope’s—mysterious past crop up in the most unexpected ways. . .”
This one is good because it gets you up to speed about the Incorrigibles, and lets you in on the plot of the first book, while giving you the briefest of hints about what the second one is all about.

The Night Circus (Doubleday): “The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.”
This one is a little long for my taste, and it gives away a few of the plot points that would have better been left unsaid, but it’s gorgeously written, much like the novel.

Other books read this month:
Year of the Horse
Cold Sassy Tree
The Demon’s Surrender
The Absolute Value of Mike
Friday Night Lights
Mercury
The Slayer Chronicles: First Kill
Uncommon Criminals
Molly Moon’s Incredible Book of Hypnotism
The Son of the Shadows
The Grand Sophy

Since I don’t have anything else to say this month (summer’s not quite over, even if the girls are back in school, since we’re still hitting 100 degree temps. *sigh* On the upside: there’s a good chance we’ll break the all-time record for number of 100 degree days in a year. It’s currently at 50, set in 1936.), I want to spread the word about the call for CYBILs judges. They’re looking for bloggers interested in and passionate about kidlit, from picture books on up. People who are willing to read, talk and think about the books that are nominated, as well as work with a team to come up with short-lists that are both literary and kid-friendly (the kid-friendly being the important part.)

New this year, interestingly enough: all the YA Science Fiction/Fantasy nominations need to be available in electronic form, something which I find both intimidating and intriguing. (Maybe it’s time I get myself an e-reader?) Also, there’s a new category for apps, for all of you with iPods and iPads.

It’s a lot of work being on the panels (talking from experience here, since I’ve been on the Middle Grade Fiction panel for the past three years), but it’s also a TON of fun. I wouldn’t trade being part of the experience for anything. Everything you need to know about applying you can find here. The deadline is September 15th.

And now, for this months jacket flaps…

Unwind (Simon & Schuster): “In America after the Second Civil War, the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life armies came to an agreement: The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, a parent may choose to retroactively get rid of a child through a process called “unwinding.” Unwinding ensures that the child’s life doesn’t “technically” end by transplanting all the organs in the child’s body to various recipients. Now a common and accepted practice in society, troublesome or unwanted teens are able to easily be unwound. With breath-taking suspense, this book follows three teens who all become runaway Unwinds: Connor, a rebel whose parents have ordered his unwinding; Risa, a ward of the state who is to be unwound due to cost-cutting; and Lev, his parents’ tenth child whose unwinding has been planned since birth as a religious tithing. As their paths intersect and lives hang in the balance, Shusterman examines serious moral issues in a way that will keep readers turning the pages to see if Connor, Risa, and Lev avoid meeting their untimely ends.”

I like that this copy gives you enough background to get into the story, but actually doesn’t tell you anything about what happens to our characters. Nice balance.

Thomas the Rhymer (Spectra): “Award-winning author and radio personality Ellen Kushner’s inspired retelling of an ancient legend weaves myth and magic into a vivid contemporary novel about the mysteries of the human heart. Brimming with ballads, riddles, and magical transformations, here is the timeless tale of a charismatic bard whose talents earn him a two-edged otherworldly gift. A minstrel lives by his words, his tunes, and sometimes by his lies. But when the bold and gifted young Thomas the Rhymer awakens the desire of the powerful Queen of Elfland, he finds that words are not enough to keep him from his fate. As the Queen sweeps him far from the people he has known and loved into her realm of magic, opulence—and captivity—he learns at last what it is to be truly human. When he returns to his home with the Queen’s parting gift, his great task will be to seek out the girl he loved and wronged, and offer her at last the tongue that cannot lie.”

It gives a nod to the tale, and talks about the themes of the book. I do like a bit more plot hints in my copy, but honestly: this one is hard to sum up. The writer did an admirable job with what they had.

Fly Trap (HarperCollins): “Having barely escaped the revolution they had a huge (if accidental) part in causing, sharp-eyed orphan Mosca Mye; her guard goose, Saracen; and their sometimes-loyal companion, the con man Eponymous Clent, must start anew. All too quickly, they find themselves embroiled in fresh schemes and twisting politics as they are trapped in Toll, an odd town that changes its entire personality as day turns to night. Mosca and her friends attempt to fend off devious new foes, subvert old enemies, prevent the kidnapping of the mayor’s daughter, steal the town’s Luck, and somehow manage to escape with their lives—and hopefully a little money in their pockets. In the eagerly awaited sequel to Fly by Night, acclaimed storyteller Frances Hardinge returns to a vivid world rich with humor, danger, and discovery.”

I love how this one not only makes a reference to the first book in the series, but also manages to make everything that goes on in the book sound exciting (well, it is). Excellent at drawing the reader in.

Other books read this month:

Inside Out and Back Again

One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street

Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials

Fallen Grace

Knucklehead

The Cross Gardener

Beowulf

Poser: My Life in Twenty-three Yoga Poses

My Side of the Mountain

The Summer Before Boys

Guys. It’s hot here. Which is an understatement. On the upside, since it’s too hot to exist outside of an air conditioned bubble, I did get a lot of reading done. On the downside, we’ve also watched way too many movies and TV shows….

The best of the flap copy this month:

The Last Little Blue Envelope (HarperTeen): “Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny’s backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end. Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he’s found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions. “

Tight, references the first book, and just hints at what’s going to happen in this one. Perfect.

How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy (Balzar & Bray): “Thirteen-year-old Lamar Washington is the maddest, baddest, most spectacular bowler at Striker’s Bowling Paradise. But while Lamar’s a whiz at rolling strikes, he always strikes out with girls. And his brother, Xavier the Basketball Savior, is no help. Xavier earns trophy after trophy on the basketball court and soaks up Dad’s attention, leaving no room for Lamar’s problems. Until bad boy Billy Jenks convinces Lamar that hustling at the alley will help him win his dream girl, plus earn him enough money to buy an expensive pro ball and impress celebrity bowler Bubba Sanders. But when Billy’s scheme goes awry, Lamar ends up ruining his brother’s shot at college and every relationship in his life. Can Lamar figure out how to mend his broken ties, no matter what the cost? From debut author Crystal Allen comes an unforgettable story of one boy’s struggle to win his family’s respect and get the girl of his dreams while playing the sport he loves.”

It sounded a lot better than I thought it was in the end. But the copy does it’s job: it draws you in.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana (Harper): “The life Kamila Sidiqi had known changed overnight when the Taliban seized control of the city of Kabul. After receiving a teaching degree during the civil war—a rare achievement for any Afghan woman—Kamila was subsequently banned from school and confined to her home. When her father and brother were forced to flee the city, Kamila became the sole breadwinner for her five siblings. Armed only with grit and determination, she picked up a needle and thread and created a thriving business of her own. The Dressmaker of Khair Khana tells the incredible true story of this unlikely entrepreneur who mobilized her community under the Taliban. Former ABC News reporter Gayle Tzemach Lemmon spent years on the ground reporting Kamila’s story, and the result is an unusually intimate and unsanitized look at the daily lives of women in Afghanistan. These women are not victims; they are the glue that holds families together; they are the backbone and the heart of their nation. Afghanistan’s future remains uncertain as debates over withdrawal timelines dominate the news. The Dressmaker of Khair Khana moves beyond the headlines to transport you to an Afghanistan you have never seen before. This is a story of war, but it is also a story of sisterhood and resilience in the face of despair. Kamila Sidiqi’s journey will inspire you, but it will also change the way you think about one of the most important political and humanitarian issues of our time.”

I’m doing this as a favor for you. This flap copy basically tells you what’s in the book, and how you’re supposed to react to it. Now you don’t have to spend the time reading it.

Other Books Read:
Penderwicks at Point Mouette
Wildwood Dancing (reread)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (audio)
The Wee Free Men (audio; reread)
Close to Famous
What Momma Left Me
A Stranger to Command (DNF)
The Great Gatsby
Anna and the French Kiss
Mission Road

This is totally me being lazy here. I’m in Boston, and I’m on vacation, so I’m putting up the four jacket flaps that I had already set up before we left. Happy July!

Waiting for Normal (Katherine Tegan Books): “Addie is waiting for normal. But Addie’s mom has an all-or-nothing approach to life: a food fiesta or an empty pantry, jubilation or floom, her way or no way. All or nothing never adds up to normal. All or nothing can’t bring you all to home, which is exactly where Addie longs to be, wiht her half sisters, every day. In spite of life’s twists and turns, Addie remains optimistic. Someday, maybe, she’ll find normal. Leslie Connor has created an inspirting novel about one girl’s giant spirit. Waiting for Normal is a heartwarming gem.”

Dragonfly (Marshall Cavendish): “Sworn enemies… Forced to marry… And unite a divided land. Princess Taoshira of the Blue Crescent Islands is appalled when she is ordered to marry Prince Ramil of Gerfal. And he’s not too pleased, etiher. She is used to a life of discipline, ritual, and splendor. He is used to hunting and carousing. They hate each other on sight. But both of their countries are under threat from a fearsome warlord, and the only chance of peace is to form an alliance. When Tashi adn Ramil are kidhnapped, they fear there’s no escape — from their kinappers or from each other. Can they put aside their differences long enough to survived ambush, unarmed combat, brainwashing, and imprisonment? And will the people they meet on their adventure — including a circus strongman, a daring rebled leader, a sinister master of spies, and the best female fighter they have ever seen — help them or betray them to the enemy? THe latest novel from Nestle Prize-winning author Julia Golding, Dragonfly is a thrilling mix of fantasy and adventure.”

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer (Broadway): “What is it about sports that turns otherwise sane people into raving lunatics? Why does winning compel people to tear down goal posts, and losing, to drown themselves in bad keg beer? In short, why do fans care? In search of answers, Warren St. John seeks out the roving community of RVers who follow the Alabama Crimson Tide from game to game. A movable feast of Weber grills and Igloo coolers, these are hard-core football fans who arrive on Wednesday for Saturday’s game: The Reeses, who skipped their own daughter’s wedding because it coincided with a Bama game; Ray Pradat, the Episcopal minister who watches the games on a television beside his altar while performing weddings; and John Ed, the wheeling and dealing ticket scalper whose access to good seats gives him power on par with the governor. In no time at all, St. John buys an RV (a $5,500 beater named The Hawg) and joins the caravan for a full football season, chronicling the world of the extreme fan and learning that in the shadow of the stadium, it can all begin to seem strangely normal. Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer is not only a hilarious travel story, but a cultural anthropology of fans that goes a long way toward demystifying the universal urge to take sides and to win.”

Other books read:
Mad Love
Alibi Junior High
Cicada Summer
Magic Under Glass
Play, Louis, Play!
Scones and Sensibility
A Thousand Days in Tuscany
Sean Griswold’s Head
Runemarks
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
The Heart of a Samurai
Gods Behaving Badly
The Trouble With May Amelia
Twelfth Night
Southtown (DNF)
A Corner of the Universe
Pastwatch