Summary (From Goodreads):

Wilhelmina “Will” Huxstep is a creative soul struggling to come to terms with a family tragedy. She crafts whimsical lamps, in part to deal with her fear of the dark. As she wraps up another summer in her mountain town, she longs for unplugged adventures with her fellow creative friends, Autumn, Noel, and Reese. Little does she know that she will get her wish in the form of an arts carnival and a blackout, courtesy of a hurricane named Whitney, which forces Will to face her fear of darkness.
Laura Lee Gulledge’s signature visual metaphors will be on full display in this all-new graphic novel, a moving look at shedding light on the dark corners of life.

10 Fun Facts About I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler

1. In a hospital scene in I’m Not Her one of the nurses is named Tracey and she takes Kristina’s flowers home to her daughter, Carly.  Tracey is the name of my sister, Carly is her daughter in real life.

2. Every single one of my books has a character named Carly in it. This is a tribute to my niece, Carly. The characters are not based on her per se, but there has to be a Carly in my books. Like a superstition or good luck charm or something.

3. This book is dedicated to my sister Tracey.  I was able to keep it a secret until Final Page Proofs came in.

4. My niece Ciara plays volleyball and her nickname is CEE. She got recruited by a university in the States and is playing there. None of the volleyball players in the book were based on her though. She is a cool like a rock star.

5. I thought Clark Trent was a funny name because of Superman’s secret identity. The Superman cape Clark wears in a scene cracked me up.

6. I named a couple of the teachers in I’m Not Her after dogs I’ve had.  Peppsy (Mr. Pepson) and Meeko (Mr. Meekers)

7. In a scene Tess listens to Hedly on her iPod. I LOVE Jacob, the lead singer for the band. He was on the only season of Canadian Idol I watched.

8. I named the golf course that Nick works at and Tess’s Dad plays at after my husband. Largurt (Larry Gurtler)

9. I’m Not Her was originally called The Weight of Bones, but when I first started writing it I titled it Dance Big Sister.

10. Tess’s love of the Discovery Channel and Myth Busters were inspired by my son

If you didn’t already know, Janet Gurtler’s newest novel, How I Lost You (Goodreads), was just published this month.  She has a fantastic interview with Entertainment Weekly’s Shelf Life blog: http://shelf-life.ew.com/2013/05/05/how-i-lost-you-janet-gurtler/ .   Janet is also hosting a month-long  “YA Authors Talk BFFs” celebration on her blog where she’s posting interviews with other YA authors about their relationships with their best friends from their teen years to today.  It’s actually really fascinating: http://janetgurtler.blogspot.com/

Author: Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Narrator: Natalie Moore

Publisher: Listening Library (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Graphia)

Release Date: April 4th, 2011 (paperback), February 9th, 2010 (audiobook)

Interest: Trilogy continuation

Source: Purchased via Audible

Summary (From Goodreads): After five months of sheer absolute craziness I was going back to being plain old background D.J. In photographs of course I’m always in the background—it’s a family joke, actually, that us Schwenk kids could go to school naked on picture day, we’re all so crazy tall. But I mean I was returning to the background of life. Where no one would really notice me or talk about me or even talk to me much except to say things like “Nice shot,” and I could just hang out without too many worries at all.

But it turns out other folks have big plans for D.J. Like her coach. College scouts. All the town hoops fans. A certain Red Bend High School junior who’s keen for romance and karaoke. Not to mention Brian Nelson, who she should not be thinking about! Who she is done with, thank you very much. But who keeps showing up anyway . . .

What’s going to happen if she lets these people down? What’s going to happen when she does? Because let’s face it: there’s no way, on the court or off, that awkward, tongue-tied D.J. Schwenk can manage all this attention. No way at all. Not without a brain transplant. Not without breaking her heart.

Audiobook Review:

I’ve reviewed and mentioned this trilogy before because Natalie Moore *is* D.J.  Any time I think about the Dairy Queen trilogy I can hear Natalie Moore’s voice and I can see D.J. clearly.  Her Wisconsin accent is perfect and her differentiation between characters is great.  I read Dairy Queen to my sophomores, and many of them liked it, but I wonder if more of them would have enjoyed it if I could have used a Wisconsin accent like Moore uses.  Now that I’ve read Dairy Queen in the traditional way, I definitely recommend reading this series by audio.  I can’t say enough positive things about it.

Book Review:

Since Front and Center is the final book in this trilogy, I don’t want to say too much.  D.J. has become one of my favorite characters because she’s so honest and real.  She’s more confident in this final installment, but she’s still unsure of herself as an athlete and a young woman.  Watching her grow into herself was so enjoyable in this book.  This might sound odd, but I’m really proud of her.

I loved D.J.’s and Win’s relationship in Front and Center.  It’s obvious what an impact she made on her brother in The Off Season.  Win and D.J. need support from each other even though neither really wants to admit it.  Win plays a big part at the end of the book and it really warmed my heart.  I’d love to read something from Win’s point of view.

If you enjoy the Stupid Fast trilogy by Geoff Herbach then you’ll enjoy the Dairy Queen trilogy.  After finishing it I’ve decided that Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s trilogy is the female equivalent to Geoff Herbach’s.  D.J. and Felton’s lives parallel each other in terms of family, friends, sports, and relationships.

Author: Maria Semple

Narrator: Kathleen Wilhoite

Publisher: Hachette Audio (Little, Brown and Company)

Release Date: April 2nd, 2013 (paperback), August 14th, 2012 (audio)

Interest: ALA Alex Award

Source: Purchased via Audible

Summary (From Goodreads):

Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she’s a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she’s a disgrace; to design mavens, she’s a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.

To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence—creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter’s role in an absurd world.

Audiobook Review:

The audio for Where’d You Go, Bernadette is thoroughly enjoyable simply because of the narrator, Kathleen Wilhoite.  She is expressive, enthusiastic, and engaging.  I have a hardcover copy of this, but one of my students was reading it when I decided that I wanted to read it as well.  My student still has my copy, and I’m having trouble remembering all of the characters’ names, so I can’t look back to be more specific.  I bring this up because Wilhoite did such a good job reading the characters that Bernadette refers to as “gnats”.  Many of the characters are, in my opinion, extremely dramatic.  I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed those parts as much if I read this traditionally.  The way Wilhoite depicted these dramatic episodes often made me smile and laugh because I could hear just how ridiculous the character was being.

While the audio is entertaining to listen to, it is often hard to follow.  The book is written using a series of emails, documents, letters, etc. which required me to focus more than normal while listening.  I had to pay attention to the speakers, how they were communicating, why this was going on, etc.  That was the most troubling part of the audio.

Book Review:

I loved the audio, but the actual book/story left me with mixed feelings.  It’s been a few weeks since I finished reading Where’d You Go, Bernadette and I honestly don’t know what I think yet.  For over half the book I kept wondering about the point of the story and where it was going.  I finished it and still don’t know.  Did I miss something major?  Am I not smart enough to get it?  Or is it really just a detailed account of a person’s life as a troubled adult?  I’m trying to read more adult fiction to appeal to more of my students, which is part of the reason I read this.  If a student asked me about it, I really wouldn’t know what to say.  I’m looking forward to my student finishing my copy so we can discuss it.

I do understand why the ALA Alex Award panel chose Maria Semple’s novel.  Bee is a great teen character who’s struggling because of her parents.  She’s smart and witty and fun, but she’s also dealing with her parents’ crumbling marriage and her mom’s bizarre episodes.  I know plenty of teens who could relate to Bee.  And ultimately, Bee’s voice becomes one of the most important voices in the entire novel.

The book part of this review is short since I don’t know exactly what to say about it.  I recommend the audio, and if you’ve read this, I would love to chat with you about it.

Summary (From Goodreads):

They needed the perfect assassin.

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends, and doesn’t stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend’s family to die-of “natural causes.” Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target.

But when he’s assigned to the mayor of New York City, things change. The daughter is unlike anyone he has encountered before; the mayor reminds him of his father. And when memories and questions surface, his handlers at The Program are watching. Because somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program’s mission.

In this action-packed series debut, author Allen Zadoff pens a page-turning thriller that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping, introducing an utterly original and unforgettable antihero.

Author: Shawn Goodman

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Release Date: May 14th, 2013

Interest: Author / Contemporary / Guy Appeal

Source: ARC received from the author

Summary (From the publisher):

“In the spirit of [Walter Dean Myers’s] Monster meeting  The Catcher in the Rye, Goodman’s masterful story will remain with the reader long after the last page, echoing the raw truth that perhaps a real man is one who is both brave and scared.” —Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray

In an environment where kindness equals weakness, how do those who care survive?

Shawn Goodman will capture your heart with this gritty, honest, and moving story about a boy struggling to learn about friendship, brotherhood, and manhood in a society where violence is the answer to every problem.

Shawn Goodman’s sophomore release, Kindness for Weakness, made me feel an array of emotions: hope, grief, dismay, and more.  I absolutely loved Something Like Hope, so when I featured Kindness for Weakness on Waiting on Wednesday, Shawn offered to send me an ARC of it.  I had requested a copy via NetGalley, and hadn’t received a response yet, so I accepted his kind offer.  Regardless of how I received a copy of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to offer it to my students.

What I like most about Shawn Goodman’s writing is how honest and real it is.  He works with troubled kids as a school psychologist and it’s evident in his writing.  He really understands what teens are going through and how much they suffer.  He understands what a bad home life can do to a teen.  He knows how difficult it is for troubled teens to trust themselves and others.  The characters in Something Like Hope and Kindness for Weakness display this deep understanding.

James is a character I cheered for while reading.  He’s really trying to find his way and learn what it means to be a man, to stand up himself, and how to trust himself and those around him.  His mom is basically absent, her boyfriend Ron is abusive, and his brother isn’t the best role model.  Thankfully James has an encouraging English teacher, but he’s really the only supportive person James has at the beginning of the story.  He has so much potential if only he believed himself and had support outside of school.  James’s character made me think of students I have at school.  He’s a good kid that’s stuck in a bad situation and ultimately makes poor choices because of this.  The reader, fortunately, can see his potential and goodness even if James can’t.

I had a difficult time reading this because of the guards at Morton (the juvenile detention facility).  They are brutal and horrible.  There are some shining characters there like Samson and Mr. Eboue who really make a difference for James and some of the other characters.  I hope the brutality at Morton is an exception and not the rule, but part of me thinks that’s not the case.  I have had students like James and like the other characters in Kindness for Weakness.  They may make bad decisions, but I know they need guidance and someone to believe in them.  I don’t work in a detention facility so I can’t understand what that’s like, but the teacher in me hopes they can and are better than Morton.  The setting Shawn Goodman created in Kindness for Weakness really plays a pivotal role in the book.

I will admit that I had a difficult time keeping all of the characters straight and probably could have done without a couple of them.  Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  The last few chapters had me racing to finish, but also cringing at the brutality.  The ending, however, shocked me.  I’m not sure what to think, and even though I was upset, the ending works.  I’m even tempted to read The Sea Wolf by Jack London which plays a strong part in James’s development and the development of the story.

Kindness for Weakness definitely has a place in classrooms and libraries.  I highly recommend reading it and handing it to a teen reader.

Summary of Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do (from the publisher):

What a child sees as everyday routine is anything but for a mom! Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do is a celebration of the unpredictable adventure that is motherhood with its sometimes silly, always heartfelt, and wonderfully important moments–all rooted in love. This sweet and amusing book will have book moms and kids smiling with recognition while spotlighting all the different ways a mom shows her devotion.

About Marianne Richmond:

Beloved author and illustrator MARIANNE RICHMOND has touched the lives of millions for nearly two decades through her award-winning books, greeting cards, and other gift products that offer people the most heartfelt way to connect with each other.  She lives in the Minneapolis area.  Visit www.mariannerichmond.com.

Check 0ut Marianne Richmond’s great Mother’s Day craft ideas here.

Giveaway Details

**Open to the US and Canada only**
**To enter, simply leave a comment (your email will be filled in w/the comment form)**
**Must be at least 13 to enter**
**Giveaway ends Saturday, May 18th, 2013**
**Winner will be contacted via email**
**Only one entry per person**

Summary (From Goodreads):

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol’s family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn’t know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside — safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can’t avoid.

She’s different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador’s privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn’t a coincidence. It’s a conspiracy.

Within the Icon’s reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions — which they’ve always thought to be their greatest weaknesses — may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts — in order to save the future.

I love a good YA contemporary novel, and I love Lauren Myracle, so The Infinite Moment of Us sounds like a definite win.  Bonus–The cover is gorgeous!

Title & Author: The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

Release Date: August 20th, 2013

Publisher: Amulet Books

Summary (From Goodreads):

For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now . . . not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are?
Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.
And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them . . .
Sexy, romantic, and oh-so-true to life, this is an unforgettable look at first love from one of young adult fiction’s greatest writers.

Title: October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard

Author: Lesléa Newman

Student Reviewer: Sara

Summary (From Goodreads):

WINNER OF A 2013 STONEWALL HONOR!

On the night of October 6, 1998, a gay twenty-one-year-old college student named Matthew Shepard was lured from a Wyoming bar by two young men, savagely beaten, tied to a remote fence, and left to die. Gay Awareness Week was beginning at the University of Wyoming, and the keynote speaker was Lesléa Newman, discussing her book Heather Has Two Mommies. Shaken, the author addressed the large audience that gathered, but she remained haunted by Matthew’s murder. October Mourning, a novel in verse, is her deeply felt response to the events of that tragic day. Using her poetic imagination, the author creates fictitious monologues from various points of view, including the fence Matthew was tied to, the stars that watched over him, the deer that kept him company, and Matthew himself. More than a decade later, this stunning cycle of sixty-eight poems serves as an illumination for readers too young to remember, and as a powerful, enduring tribute to Matthew Shepard’s life.

October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman is the best verse novel I have ever read.

This novel is based off of the, unfortunately, true story of a 21 year old, homosexual college student named Matthew Shepard. Matthew is out at the bar one night in October of 1998, in Wyoming. He is tricked by two men, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. They convince him that they are gay as well and take him out to their truck. After he is in their truck, they drive in to a desolate place and beat the tar out of him. They beat him within an inch of his life and then left him to die, hung on a fence by a clothes line.

When I picked up this novel I thought, “This is going to be a boring documentary about a murdered man.” Boy, oh boy, was I wrong! It was indeed, about a man who was murdered but it’s not even close to being boring. This novel was the most attention grabbing, emotion jerking, amazing verse novel I have ever read, by far my favorite. It is beautifully written and it will make you feel something deep in your heart for Matthew Shepard, and all of the other people who have been brutally murdered for being gay.

This book is written in many different points of view and at first it confused me and I didn’t quite like it, but after I read the first 5 or 6 pages, I began to understand and then went back and read it again, this time understanding fully and I fell in love with the way that it’s written. I absolutely love how well all of the words just flow together and how she manages to capture every single emotion and thought of every object, person, and animal that she uses.

October Mourning: A song for Matthew Shepard is a very quick read; I finished it within an hour. But even though it’s a quick read, this chilling story will stick with you forever. I don’t think I will ever forget the descriptive, amazing poems in this novel. I will never forget the emotions I felt while reading this book, and I will never forget Matthew Shepard. His story will stick with me through out all of my life. I could read this book over and over and over again.

My favorite excerpt from this novel is as follows:

“THE FENCE
(that night)

I held him all night long
He was heavy as a broken heart
Tears fell from his unblinking eyes
He was dead weight yet he kept breathing

He was heavy as a broken heart
His own heart wont stop beating
He was dead weight yet he kept breathing
His face streaked with moonlight and blood

His own heart wouldn’t stop beating
The cold wind wouldn’t stop blowing
His face streaked with moonlight and blood
I tightened my grip and held on

The cold wind wouldn’t stop blowing
We were out on the prairie alone
I tightened my grip and held on
I saw what was done to this child

We were out on the prairie alone
Their truck was the last thing he saw
I saw what was done to this child
I cradled him just like a mother

Their truck was the last thing he saw
Tears fell from his unblinking eyes
I cradled him just like a mother
I held him all night long.”