Epic Reads Summer Story Crush Tour

Jun18

If you’re familiar with Epic Reads at all, you’ll know they periodically hold Story Crush tours throughout the year! It’s a wonderful time when amazing YA authors tour the US promoting their latest books!

Seattle was fortunate enough to be a part of this Summer’s Story Crush Tour. As the last destination at our oldest independent bookstore – University Bookstore!

The lineup was to die for!

Tease’s amazing Amanda Maciel, Seattle’s own Kevin Emerson with Exile and…

KIERA CASS OF THE SELECTION SERIES promoting the finale – THE ONE! *Fangirls all over the place*

The bookstore was packed with people, many of them teens and preteens dressed with tiaras for Cass. It was adorable. They seriously knew EVERYTHING about her! I was filled with emotions and excitement for myself at the event, but to hear these young girls squealing with excitement at meeting this author…there are no words at the joy it caused my heart to swell.

This is why YA is important. Maciel, Emerson and Cass stand as fantastic role models for these young readers and the non reading part of society need to understand that this genre is more than just romance.

Anyways, there was a lovely talk from the authors, about their books, what they’re about, why they wrote them and what they are hoping for the future of the industry. *diversity* – well said by Maciel (She also loved my dress! Sisters in pink unite!). There were also some selfies. Emerson even brought his guitar and played us a song that was in his book! This evening had everything!

University Bookstore ran the event exceptionally well. There were prizes being given, and once the signing was under way it was organised and professional.

It was brilliant to hear this diverse range of authors speak. I of course bought all of their books to have signed, Emerson’s isn’t one I would normally pick up and that is why I’m such a big supporter of these events. You should always read books that are outside of your comfort zone! You might find a new favorite author!

Meeting Cass was definitely the highlight of the evening. She is like my role model for life. Her energy, wit and humor made me gush like the preteens behind me. She is down to Earth, kind and smart! I adore her and if I ever got a wish from a genie I’d totally wish to be a real life friend of hers!

I had a bit of photo trouble, but Cass was like a best friend, making funny faces until we got one that worked! SHE IS SO COOL!

Because the evening was successful and fun, I only hope that Epic Reads adds more stops to Seattle for their future Story Crush tour dates!

Have you read any of the authors books? Which one did you love the most?

Longing

Jun16

Multnomah Falls and Lodge, Portland, Oregon. 2014.

Book Review: The Body in the Woods by April Henry

Jun13

(Please note this book was given in exchange for an honest review)

“Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.”

I struggled. I wanted to like this book, but what it comes down to is the writing style. The subject matter, the tone, the mystery, the thrill, it all had potential. It gets lost with the fact that the writing is for middle grade readers. As the story deals with murder, and explains a lot about a dead body and has a killer snatching another girl, I feel the writing doesn’t fit the subject? With some work, I feel the writing can get there.

Good things: I loved Alexis. Her profile, her strength and her determination is fantastic. Out of all the characters, Alexis was the only one that I felt nearly reached passed the middle school reading age writing. Her story arc is troubling, but she tries to push forward no matter what happens. She’s admirable and she gives a lot to the story. All of her chapters were my favorite.

I loved the mystery aspect. The who-dunnit that kept you guessing until the end. Although the reader finds out before the characters, I didn’t see the killer coming (I guess I need to read more mysteries) and I loved how the author used the reveal of the killer to add more thrill with her main characters.

Also a fan of the premise – Search and Rescue in Oregon. Awesome idea. It’s new and interesting. The series has the ability to go places.

In the end I wish there had been a better pairing. The writing is great for eight-year olds (think Goosebumps), but I wouldn’t want eight-year-olds reading about people killing teenage homeless girls. A bit much. I give much praise for Alexis, and I hope the author can improve Ruby and Nick up to her level. All three teens had excellent backgrounds, it’s just that for their ages Ruby and Nick need to be more mature, they act and sound like they’re ten.

Don’t agree with me? Want to decide about this book for yourself? The Body in the Woods is out on Tuesday! June 17th! Pre-order now and tell me how you found it! I love a good book discussion. Even better – April Henry is running a special promotion with the amazing Powell’s bookstore in Portland, OR next week:

“During the first week The Body in the Woods is on sale, for every copy purchased in person at Powells or online at Powells.com, I will donate $1.69 to MSCO SAR”

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry’s publisher, Henry Holt and Co for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

May Book Haul Part II

Jun11

Alas! I didn’t stop buying books in May! Things got a bit out of control….

What I also bought in May:

Ruby by V. C. Andrews – Read/Not Signed

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys – Not Read/Not Signed

Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz -Read/Not Signed

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart – Not Read/Not Signed

The Selection by Kiera Cass – Read/Signed

The Elite by Kiera Cass – Read/Signed

The One by Kiera Cass – Not Read/Signed TWICE!

Tease by Amanda Maciel – Not Read/Signed

Exile by Kevin Emerson – Not Read/Signed

The story with The One being signed twice is because Barnes and Noble had pre-orders available for signed first editions. At the time I made sure to check Cass’s schedule to see if she was coming to Seattle. No such luck, and I HAD to have to this book – and have to signed? Yes please! A few weeks later I noticed updates on Cass’s events page via Tumblr and lo and behold! She WAS coming to Seattle! I had other books ordered with my copy of The One, so I didn’t want to cancel my order. I figured it would be great to have her sign my name at least and now I had the best opportunity to own the entire series (minus the side stories). ALL HARDCOVER, ALL FIRST EDITIONS and now they’re ALL SIGNED WITH MY NAME!

Fangirling all over the place here – stay tuned next week for my writeup of the signing event!

Time for Post

Jun9

Kent Library, Kent, Wa. 2014

Book Review: Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Jun6

Steven’s contemporary and captivating story of Alexi Littrell and Bodee Lennox is a cross between a who-dunnit mystery and coming of age story.

Something terrible has happened to Alexi over the summer. She is unable to even say the word that haunts her dreams and causes her to scratch the back of neck into a bloody mess. I adore that Alexi isn’t seen as the ‘leader’ of her group of friends, she is in fact the opposite; a third to a pair that have been best friends for ages. I feel this is a more realistic side of teenage friendships. Teenage girls aren’t always worried about their boyfriends; their girlfriends matter just as much and can be lost just as easily. The story becomes more genuine and relatable.

Bodee comes with his own heartbreaking story. The wallflower, brought into Alexi’ home because his father murdered his mother. What little he can express is his hair color choice through the use of Kool-Aid. He leans on Alexi for support in ignoring the next step in his future. Together they engage on a routine of comfort and safety, but also of ignoring the resolution for their conflicts.

Alexi and Bodee need to each other to faking being normal. Their relationship is crafted in a subtle yet truthful way of how teens can become close and yet then change their minds about how they feel about someone.

Stevens weaves a web for Alexi and Bodee as the year carries on, each with a deadline, romance and conflict in order to see the light to stop hiding from their secrets. The final chapters will have you on edge, staying up late into the evening wondering who has hurt Alexi. Faking Normal is executed with a spot on message and with grace for her characters. This stand-alone is not to be missed.