Perfect Scoundrels: A Review

Ally Carter is quickly moving from my favorite YA author to my favorite author in general. This book moves her to that spot for good. Perfect Scoundrels has all readers expect from Carter: action, a tightly written plot, and a hint of romance. 

In the first two books, I enjoyed the fast-paced action, but this third book in the Heist Society kicks it up a notch with the character development. When Hale's grandmother dies, he is named the heir despite his young age. When his grandmother's longtime friend questions the will privately to Kat, she and the team are on a mission to save the family company. Through Hale's loss and Kat's attempts to console him while not quite being accepted by his family and his world, their motives and characters are flushed out, and I love them even more. 

Fans of Carter will enjoy this latest spy adventure, and people who aren't fans should be.

Now What?

Back in November, I began writing a novel for NaNoWriMo. I finished the book in January (70,000 words), and sent it to Betsy St. Amant for advice and editing. She just sent me back her corrections, and I'm tackling them.

Here's the tough part: what to do next. I spent several hours yesterday researching agents and their guidelines, query letters, proposals, cover letters, and synopsises. There is so much, and each agent wants something different.

I am preparing myself for rejection as I know most authors write several books before gaining an agent or having their book published.

However, there are a few things I can do while I wait. First, I joined ACFW, which I've heard nothing but wonderful things about. I'm hoping to go to their conference in September. Until then, I can join writing circles and loops to learn more tips. 
Second, I'm reading writing books and focusing on their tips while I finish editing this first story and starting my next.

While I edit the remaining chapters, I plan on sending in my proposal to a few agents by Spring Break. I'm so excited....and nervous.

What about you? Have you ever sent in a query letter or proposal?

Origami Yoda Series

This series is really popular in the library, so I decided to use the newest one as a book club. Since I had never read them, I had to read them in order before our meeting. We had a great time discussing the book and making origami Yodas and Wookiees.

In book one, readers are introduced to the cast: Tommy, the guy behind the files, and Dwight, the creator of the Origami Yoda. Things are weird at school, and Origami Yoda seems to have the answers. The book is told from the different perspectives of students, creating a case file compiling answers to question that everyone has---Is Origami Yoda real?

Funny and full of Star Wars puns, this book starts what could be the next big series. The characters are funny, and the pace is fast.

Origami Yoda's one disbeliever, Harvey, has created his own origami--Darth Paper, who is determined to prove that Origami Yoda is nothing more than a piece of folder paper.

After a series of mishaps, will the student body be able to save Dwight before Darth Paper and the school board expel him from school?

I enjoyed this book more than the first one--probably because Darth Paper was a funny addition and because by the second book, I knew the characters a little better. (It's hard to get to know characters when each chapter is from a different person's perspective.)

Dwight has been expelled and sent to a private school, leaving his Origami Yoda in a photo frame displayed in his room. At his new school, Dwight now fits in and becomes boring. Everyone at Tommy's school is floundering, not sure what to do without Origami Yoda's wise advice. But, never fear, Sara has brought Fortune Wookiee to school to save the day. Dwight gave her the wookiee to help out his old classmates. Fortune Wookiee holds a secret, and readers may be surprised by who figures it out first.

I loved this book. I missed weird Dwight, but I enjoyed the Wookiee and Sara's increased role in this book as she steps into Dwight's shoes as resident advice giver. Readers will be surprised by the end and look forward to book four with the hints of what's to come.

The Chance: A Review

The Chance is classic Kingsbury: full of dramatic, traumatizing events and the chance that faith and love give.

Despite being only 15, Ellie is sure of one thing: she loves Nolan. When her family falls apart, and her dad takes her away to another state, she and Nolan bury letters to each other under their favorite tree. They know they'll stay in touch, but promise to come back in 11 years and read the letters for the first time. Eleven years have passed, and the two haven't spoken since the night at the tree, but both are drawn back to their first love, their true love, their only love.

I enjoyed this story. Ellie is a sympathetic character. My heart broke for her when her parents separated and for the years that followed. Her feelings were authentic and open. I also loved the parts of the book from her parents...showing relationships and marriages for what they often are--tough and sometimes messy.

While I liked Nolan, I felt his character was a little unrealistically written. There are great guys out there, he was so "good" to the point of being boring. If he had had a little more spark to him, I would have loved this book instead of just enjoyed it.

I recommend it to fans of Kingsbury and to Christian fiction fans who like a lot of turmoil that ends in happiness.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.


 

Talk of the Town: A Review

I think I've figured out what I love most about Lisa Wingate's writing: her ability to capture a small town and its eclectic members. City girl Mandalay has no clue what's waiting for when she goes to Daily, Texas, to get ready for the homecoming episode of a TV singing contest. The quirky old ladies, small-town rumor mills, and the handsome stranger sharing her "suite" in a bed and breakfast are a bit much for her to control.

Seeing the town through Mandalay's eyes shows the quirks that make small towns unique. Seeing Mandalay through Imagene's eyes helps develop her as a character. The chapters go back and forth between their points of view, and it creates a nice flow for a fast read.

Fans of Christian fiction will enjoy a visit to Daily, Texas. 

Babymouse

I'm not a huge graphic novel fan. I LOVE it for the  kids and promote it to them, but I don't read it for my own enjoyment.

Two weeks ago, I read this book with my second graders for our genre study.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Who doesn't love a fun girl who daydreams and wears a cute dress with a heart. Some of the boys weren't too happy when I passed out the pink books, but once they realized Babymouse wasn't too girly, most of them said they would read another book about her.

Even though I enjoyed the book, I was even more surprised I picked up another book to read.

I think if I had read this one to my second graders, the boys would have liked it even more. Unfortunately, I only had a class set of Queen of the World.

Although the Babymosue books were popular before, I really can't keep them on the shelf now that we've read them as a group.

As our activity, we made our own comic strips. It was fun to read the kids' stories, and many kids told me how much they liked writing a story when they could draw mostly pictures and just add a few words when necessary.

 

Miraclulous Journey of Edward Tulane: A Review

How could I serve as an elementary librarian for three years before finally reading this book? It's amazing. Rabbit Edward Tulane is proud: proud of his beautiful real porcelain skin, his expensive clothing, and his real rabbit fur ears. When he falls overboard a ship, he begins a beautiful journey from owner to owner, finding out what it means to love.

The slow, easy pace matches the slow discovery Edward makes. Children will like the short chapters, each one about the next owner. Some are sweet, some are funny, and some are quite sad, but each one touches Edward and the reader alike. The pictures are beautiful and add to the story.

Kids and adults alike will enjoy this tale.

Giveaway!

This week I'm giving away a copy of Short-Straw Bride. To enter to win, leave a comment about something...trying to think of a topic to go with the title and coming up with nada! I've been in a book funk the last week or so, not finding much to grab my attention. So, you could leave me a book recommendation.

To get a second entry, follow the blog and leave a second comment letting me know you follow.

I'll pick a winner next week. I can only ship to the US. Be sure to leave an email address so that I can contact you.

Have a great week!

How to Know a Book is Amazing!

Here are a few signs that a book is amazing.

1. You stay up all night to read the book. By itself, this isn't the lone indicator of a terrific book. I've often stayed up way too late just to get through a book to see what happened, not necessarily because it was great.

2. You think about the characters for days or even weeks later.

3. You read all 142 reviews on Amazon just to see what strangers thought of the book.

4. You comment on random people's reviews just to talk about the book since your friends and family quit listening to you ramble about the characters, the plot, and the setting. 

What else is a sign of a great book? What books do you recommend as "Can't Put It Down" novels? I'm in need of some recommendations. I've started a ton of books the last week and only finished a couple. They just aren't catching my attention. 

Echoes: A Review

When Lauren's fiance chooses New York over her, her brother Brad comes to visit, bringing her a computer. He sets her up with an email and shows her a chat room for God lovers where they start talking to KC. Over the next year, Lauren and KC exchange emails and build a friendship. When their meeting doesn't happen, will it take a God-ordained encounter to bring these two together?

I love Robin Jones Gunn, and the Glenbrooke series is my favorite by her. Although this book is old as far as technology (keeping the publication date in mind will help explain why Lauren is clueless about the Internet), the book is still a sweet read and I love the idea of Lauren and KC getting to know each other through letters over a long period of time. The connection with Robert and Elizabeth Browning is nice too and prompted me to re-read some of my favorite poems by the two.

It's also nice to catch up with the other characters from the previous two Glenbrooke books. You don't have to read the books in order, but that probably would help.

Fans of Robin Jones Gunn will enjoy this book, and Christian fiction lovers should check out the entire Glenbrooke series.

I received the book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

Please take a minute to rank my review.