Month End Author Spotlight: David Levithan

February ended and it was the end of my month filled with David Levithan books. I really enjoyed them and I am sooo glad that I picked them all up. I cannot wait to read the ones I missed and all his future books.

Just a little bio...
David Benjamin Levithan was born in 1972 and graduated from Brown University in 1994. Music plays big parts in his writing. So, his favorite songs include Death Cab for Cutie's "Transatlanticism", Dar Williams' "February", and Crowded House's "Four Seasons in One Day." He has a short factual bio on his website, but he does add that he is addicted to Dr. Pepper and My So-Called Life.
***Want more info??? Check out his website***

D.L.'s books...
You Are Here, This Is Now (Anthology) (2002)
Boy Meets Boy (2003)
The Realm of Possibility (2004)
Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday: "The Alumni Interview"
Are We There Yet? (2005)
Where We Are, What We See (Anthology) (2005)
Friends (Anthology, edited with Ann M. Martin) (2005)
Marly's Ghost (2005)
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (co-written with Rachel Cohn)(2006)
Wide Awake (2006)
The Full Spectrum (Anthology, edited by Billy Merrell) (2006)
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List (co-written with Rachel Cohn) (2007)
This is PUSH (Anthology) (2007)
21 Proms (Anthology, edited with Daniel Ehrenhaft) (2007)
How They Met, and Other Stories (2008)
Likely Story (co-written with David Ozanich and Chris Van Etten) (2008)
All That Glitters (co-written with David Ozanich and Chris Van Etten) (2008)
Red Carpet Riot (co-written with David Ozanich and Chris Van Etten) (2009)
Love is the Higher Law (2009)
Will, Grayson, Will Grayson (co-written with John Green) (due to come out in 2010)
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares (co-written with Rachel Cohn) (due to come out on October 12, 2010)

Books adapted into movies...
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

His favorite authors (but the list can go on and on...according to his site)...
M.T. Anderson
Margaret Atwood
Rachel Cohn
John Green
Alice Hoffman
James Howe
David Leavitt
Milly Merrell
Anne Tyler
Virginia Euwer Wolff
Markus Zusak

Where to find David Levithan...
Website
MySpace

Overall Rating...

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and a David Levithan book and HAPPY readings***

Friday Finds (02/26/10)

Friday Finds at the Store is a meme hosted by Jennay at My Tea Time is Book Time. It is totally easy and everyone can join. Basically just post the books you found at the bookstore or library. Now others can see the great finds you had and maybe they will pick it up on their next bookstore/library run. HAPPY readings!!!

Hmmm...I kind of decided to go on a little book shopping spree this week because I somehow managed to get a 100% on my final research paper for one of my sociology papers. And it also helped that my mom & I were stuck in some major traffic in the city. So we made a few stops at Starbucks and it just so happened that the Starbucks were next to a bookstore : )

From the back cover of Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee

Rosemary Goode has never been the prettiest or the most popular girl in school. How could she be, when she tips the scale at almost 200 pounds and lists Sara lee and Oprah as her only real friends? And it sure doesn't help that her mother runs the most successful (and gossipiest!) beauty shop in town, where everyone scrutinizes her from her highlights down to her pedicure.

But when the scale reaches an all-time high, and she takes special notice of a certain cute boy in school, Rosemary realizes that not only do things NEED to change, but she WANTS them to change. And so begins a powerful year of transformation and a journey towards self-discovery that surprisingly has little to do with the physical, and more to do with an honest look at how Rosemary feels about herself.

From the back cover of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts...he's at Hogwarts."

Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.

From the back cover of Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small Art Deco hotel in the heart of New York City.

When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite and a permanent guest named Mrs. Amberson. Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet and world traveler. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.

Before the summer is over, Scarlett will have to survive a whirlwind of thievery and romantic missteps. But in the city where anything can happen, she just might be able to pull it off.

From the back cover of The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

Lifelong best friends Nina, Avery, and Mel face their first separation the summer before their senior year, when Nina attends a ten-week program at Stanford. But how much can happen in ten weeks?

Plenty, it seems. Nina finds herself blindsided by Steve, the adorable ecowarrior down the hall. Too bad he lives in Oregon and she's from upstate New York. When the Stanford program ends, she has to wait 8,736 hours before she can see him again.

At least she'll soon be reunited with Mel and Avery. But Nina isn't the only one whose life has turned upside down in ten weeks. While Nina was gone, Mel had her first real kiss. With Avery.

From the back cover of Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their shadowy power struggles. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.

The tattoo DOES bring changes---not the kind that Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that bind Leslie to Irial, a dark and dangerous faery king fighting for the soul of his court. Slowly, Leslie is drawn deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils....

What did you find???

(these books were bought from a store called FullyBooked)

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Review: Wide Awake

Title: Wide Awake
Author: David Levithan
ISBN/Publisher: 0-375-83466-4/Knopf (part of Random House)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

Wide Awake is set in the future (to the point where the teens don't know what 'getting jiggy with it' or 'who let the dogs out' mean. BTW that made me feel old...LOL). Anyways, a gay Jewish man is finally elected president of the United States of America. This makes the main character, Duncan, extremely excited not only because he worked on the campaign, but also because he is gay and Jewish.

But not all can stay in the happy, celebrating mode because the governor of Kansas (the decisive state) demands a recount (it reminded me of Florida). Now, Duncan and his campaigning buddies, including his boyfriend, rally out to Topeka, Kansas to support the maybe President Stein. On the way out to Kansas, his friends and him encounter relationship problems, despite the uniting of such a wonderful event.

If you read Levithan's, Boy Meets Boy you will want to read this one because this one is set in a such a different world than we have now. For one thing, Duncan and his friends shop at a "non-shopping mall." This means that instead of paying the store for the item, you make a donation to a charity of your choice. Aids is something that is in the past, but democracy is still going strong, but with a few changes.

I really enjoyed this novel because the writing was so wonderfully done and even inspirational. The speeches that are written are amazing...Mr. Levithan could totally have been a speech writer for a politician. There also some historical notes in this novel including the Boston Tea Party (which you need to read on pages 151-153. A little hint is that Duncan thought it started with...Betsy Ross's birthday party gone wrong) and Bleeding Kansas.

I'll recommend this book to mature young adults and adults because I'm sure there are some people that won't agree with Duncan's perspective. There are some radical ideas and some sexual scenes, but they totally fit into the characters relationships. However,a lot of other readers will find it thought provoking because there is lots to think about...where our society is headed and how individuals affect our society. And lots and lots on equality rights. The themes of prejudice, freedom, tolerance, and love are in this book and beautifully written.

A few favorite lines...

"There is no such thing as equality for some. Equality must be for all. That is what freedom is. That is what liberty is. No human being is born more or less important than any other. How can we allow ourselves to forget that? What simpler truth is there? page 14

There's a great speech about community on pages 26-27.

There's a great explanation about the electoral college and popular voting on page 54. (sorry it's a couple paragraphs).
Don't let them get to you. All they have is hate and in the end hate is worthless. They want for us to become hateful, too, and to forfeit His love in our anger. page 139

Only when you are challenged---and only when you challenge yourself---do you discover what truly matters. page 208

Another great speech on pages 217-218.

My Rating

(This book was bought at a store called FullyBooked)

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Friday Finds (02/19/10)

Friday Finds at the Store is a meme hosted by Jennay at My Tea Time is Book Time. It is totally easy and everyone can join. Basically just post the books you found at the bookstore or library. Now others can see the great finds you had and maybe they will pick it up on their next bookstore/library run. HAPPY readings!!!

From the back cover of I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That's when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?

From the back cover of Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

In a moment, Deanna Lambert's teenage life is changed forever. Struggling to overcome the lasting repercussions and the stifling role of "school slut," Deanna longs to escape a life defined by her past. With subtle grace, complicated wisdom, and striking emotion, Story of a Girl reminds us of our human capacity for resilience, epiphany, and redemption.

What did you find???

(these books were bought from a store called FullyBooked)

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Review: How They Met and Other Stories

Title: How They Met, and Other Stories
Author: David Levithan
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-375-84886-5/Knopf (part of Random House)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

How They Met, and Other Stories provides 18 short stories. They range from a teen eyeing the hot Starbucks barista to a Chinese-American teen girl getting sent out on a blind date with her dad's business partner's son. And then there is a gay boy trying to figure out love...or is it lust??? And my favorite...the story of David's grandparents...awwww (it reminded me of my grandparents...I even had my mom read this story).

David Levithan does it again with providing a great book about love and perfect to read during February. This one is eighteen short stories about all types of love...the longing for it, love between family & friends, and that love that you can't quite get. There is a love story here that any young adult or adult can relate to.

I definitely, definitely recommend this book (which reminds me, I'm going to let my Starbucks barista borrow it)...especially if you're in the mood for love (I mean come on...this started out as a Valentine's day present), but don't worry it's not all "awwww" moments, there are some "LOL" moments, too.

I even re-read certain parts of the book for this review and I just couldn't help but smile. These are love stories, but the great part of this book is that it remind you that it doesn't matter what a person's gender or race is...love is universal and always a great theme to read about.

A few favorite lines...

"Do you have a boyfriend?"
I was about to bitch and moan---the usual response---but then I realized who I was talking to. Only in New York (and maybe San Francisco) could a six-year-old have a gaydar. "Starbucks Boy" page 11

"H&M. I know it stands for something Swedish, but really it should be Homosexual & Metrosexual." "Starbucks Boy" page 14

He held up his finger and showed me his wedding ring, then pulled at a thin chain around his neck to reveal another ring---hers---that he kept under his clothes.
"One for my hand, one for my heart," he explained. "The Number of People Who Meet on Airplanes" page 93

(Definitely read "How They Met"...it's my fave & I can't type out the whole thing)

It doesn't have to be on Valentine's Day. It doesn't have to be by the time you turn eighteen or thirty-three or fifty-nine. It doesn't have to conform to whatever is usual. It doesn't have to be kismet at once, or rhapsody by the third date.
It just has to be. In time. In place. In spirit.
It just has to be. "Intersection" page 244

My Rating

(This book was bought at a store called FullyBooked)

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Author Update...Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

So...I'm checking out some of my favorite author's websites and I came across some new news to me. Well, I already knew that this book was coming out, but there's a picture and a release date.
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is set to come out on October 12, 2010. But go check out Rachel Cohn's site for her post about it!

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Shout Out...to those that also shop at FullyBooked

Dear Book Friends,

If you live in the Philippines or are visiting the Philippines...you should know that Neil Gaiman will be coming in March!!! So if you want to attend the book signing...you need to check out the FullyBooked website.

I'm so glad I didn't buy one of Mr. Gaiman's books today because I'll be doing a little shopping spree in the next couple weeks (just on his books). So...hopefully I'll see a few of you there at the signing!!!

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Friday Finds (02/12/10)

Friday Finds at the Store is a meme hosted by Jennay at My Tea Time is Book Time. It is totally easy and everyone can join. Basically just post the books you found at the bookstore or library. Now others can see the great finds you had and maybe they will pick it up on their next bookstore/library run. HAPPY readings!!!

From the back cover of The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with sly smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups. This is Manhattan, 1899...

Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. But when the girls discover their family's status is far from secure, suddenly everyone is a threat to their golden future. Set in a world of luxury and deception, this thrilling trip to the age of innocence is ANYTHING but innocent.

What did you find???

(this book was bought from a store called National Book Store)

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Shout out...International Book Tours

Hey Book Friends...

So, I was checking out The Bookologist and she has this amazing post that totally made my day.

Reggie from The Undercover Book Lover (Not Really) and MTC from The Bookologist have launched an International Book Tours site. It's so cool that they are giving the international readers a chance to participate in blog tours. The thing is, it can get pretty expensive because of the shipping...so you'll have to be willing to spend money.

Check out the site and if you want to...sign up for the one book tour that is already up. It is for Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White!

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) check out the site and HAPPY readings***

Review: The Realm of Possibility

Title: The Realm of Possibility
Author: David Levithan
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-375-83657-2/Knopf (part of Random House)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

This is a book that tells stories in poetry/song type form from twenty different students at a high school. These students tell us about their failed romances, the special looks that they get from another kid on campus, their identity issues, and so many more high school problems. And as the story wraps up, we learn that their stories are somehow weaved together.

Oh my gosh, I am so glad I read this book in February...it totally has the whole love theme for Valentine's Day. But Levithan doesn't just write about the warm feeling type of love. We see people struggle with their relationships. One of my favorite stories is about a boy who has a girlfriend that is obsessed with Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye. And the girlfriend has issues with her boyfriend because he just doesn't understand the whole Holden thing.

This book is all about the characters and if you read it, you might want to map out the characters so you can see how their relationships connect. This book made me happy and sad, but still it gives you the hope of love and how it's in the Realm of Possibility. And it doesn't matter what kind of love you have or who it's with...love is love!

I definitely recommend this to high school kids and older!

A few favorite lines...

Being a bitch is easy. It's finding the alternative that's hard. page 163

You think you know your possibilities. Then other people come into your life and suddenly there are so many more. page 207

Moments into minutes. Minutes into hours. Hours into days. Days into years. years into possibility. page 210

My Rating:

(This book was bought at a store called National Bookstore)

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

2nd in a Series Challenge Update

Here's my update for this challenge. Remember I'm going for the fascinated level. One down, five to go : )

1. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
2. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
3. The Struggle by L.J. Smith
4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
5. You Know You Love Me by Cecily von Ziegesar
6. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

Friday Finds (02/05/10)

Friday Finds at the Store is a meme hosted by Jennay at My Tea Time is Book Time. It is totally easy and everyone can join. Basically just post the books you found at the bookstore or library. Now others can see the great finds you had and maybe they will pick it up on their next bookstore/library run. HAPPY readings!!!

From the back cover of The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

Since being diagnosed with Panic Disorder, Jade DeLuna is trying her best to stay calm, and visiting the elephants at the nearby zoo seems to help. That's why Jade keeps the live zoo webcam on in her room, which is where she first sees Sebastian.

When she finally meets him, their connection is immediate, and soon Jade is drawn into the cozy life Sebastian has with his son and his grandmother on their Seattle houseboat. Even though the situation is complicated, Jade hasn't felt this safe in a long time.

Until she learns that Sebastian is hiding a terrible secret. A secret that will force Jade to decide between what IS right, and what FEELS right...

What did you find???

(this book was bought from a store called FullyBooked)

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Review: Beastly

Title: Beastly
Author: Alex Flinn
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-06-087418-6/HarperTeen (part of Harper Collins)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult/Fairy Tale re-telling

Alex Flinn re-tells "Beauty and the Beast" in this novel, but from a cute, spoiled sixteen-year-old boy's perspective. Kyle is cursed by a witch because he is mean and incredibly selfish. The witch makes Kyle a furry creature that walks upright with claws and fangs because that's how ugly he is on the inside. And the only way to look human again is if someone will fall in love with him in two years, despite his looks. If he doesn't find that person, then Kyle shall be a beast forever.

The part that really sucks about this whole situation is that Kyle's newscaster father shuts him up in a mansion in Brooklyn. So, Kyle is left to live alone with his housekeeper and a blind tutor. Here, Kyle turns to an online chat room for those who are living with curses and he also develops an appreciation for literature and roses. Oh, and he basically kidnaps a girl to fall in love with him.

Will this girl be his Beauty???

I don't read too many fairytale re-tellings, but now I want to read them. This book definitely turned me into a fan and by the way I absolutely love "Beauty and the Beast." So this was an awesome re-telling for me to start to love.

This was my first Flinn book, but it won't be my last. I love how she was able to put this fairytale into today's society. In the chat room, we meet Froggie, (the prince), SilentMaid (the Little Mermaid), a few others, and it's moderated by Chris Anderson (minus the Hans part of the name). This part added the hilarious aspect of the novel.Then for us readers...we see Kyle appreciate books (with the help of his tutor Will and Linda).

I'll recommend this book and I hope you all read it. BTW...Beastly is being made into a movie and should be released this summer. It will star Neil Patrick Harris (Will), Mary Kate Olsen (Kendra), and Vanessa Hudgens (Linda).

My Rating:

(This book was bought at a store called FullyBooked)

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Author Update: Ann Brashares

Hey everyone!!!

I was checking out Ann's website and she now has a twitter. But not so many followers. Let's follow her and welcome her to the Twitter World : ) And while you're at it, go check out her site and the cover of her new book that is coming out in June!

Review: How to Ruin a Summer Vacation

Title: How to Ruin a Summer Vacation
Author: Simone Elkeles
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-7387-0961-1/Flux (part of Llewellyn Publications)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

Amy Nelson is a somewhat spoiled sixteen year old and lives with her mom in Chicago. She refers to her biological father as "Sperm Donor" since he was never around growing up. But he calls up one day wanting Amy to spend the summer with him in Israel so she can get to know her sick grandmother.

Unenthusiastically Amy heads out to Israel and learns that Sperm Donor's family has no idea she even exists. Here in a foreign country, Amy shares a room with a cousin that seems to hate her and she also finds herself in many embarrassing moments with her new family and her cousin's friends.

How will Amy cope being in such a different country???

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation is such a fun and quick read, but totally worth it. There are times when Amy seems like such a high maintenance brat, but then there are times when you love her (I guess that can describe most teens). The idea of the book was pretty cool and there are even some things to learn from it (I learned a lot about the culture in Israel).

The description and stereotyping of a developing nation really hit the mark in this novel. And I think that was the part that I found really relatable because I go back and forth between California and the Philippines. And there are some people I know would never even give a thought to visit developing nations and stay because all they think about are the dangers and how poor it must be. But they don't know that there are many great parts in these nations to visit and trust me...even great shopping : ) Can you say...Kate Spade, William Rast, and 7 For All Man Kind???

All the characters are fun and I love that each chapter starts with interesting and fun quotes (you'll have to read it to find out what they are). This book is also a laugh out loud type (there are names like Doo-Doo, Moron, Yucky, O'snot)...so get ready to get some looks if you plan on reading it in public.

I'll definitely recommend this to high school and older young adult fans!!! I can't wait to continue the series and to read more books by Simone Elkeles.

A few favorite parts...

"I'm an all-American girl with red, white, and blue blood running through these veins. I do not stay at places called moshaves. Unless I've signed up for the Girl Scouts, which I didn't. I need amenities. Amenities! Do you know what those are?" page 28

"You're a city girl, eh?"
"Through and through. Give me a Kate Spade purse and a pair of Lucky jeans and I'm a happy girl." page 58 (by the way add in a book and that makes me a HAPPY girl)

"Opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks." page 90

My Rating:

(This book was bought at a store called FullyBooked)

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Author Spotlight: David Levithan

It's February and I'm featuring David Levithan this month!!! Since starting my blog, I've read a few of Levithan's books and I really enjoyed them. So, now here is the month to read a few more of them and hopefully you guys will want to pick them up, too : )

Here's a little about David Levithan...

David Benjamin Levithan was born in 1972 and graduated from Brown University in 1994. Music plays big parts in his writing. So, his favorite songs include Death Cab for Cutie's "Transatlanticism", Dar Williams' "February", and Crowded House's "Four Seasons in One Day." He has a short factual bio on his website, but he does add that he is addicted to Dr. Pepper and My So-Called Life.

However, I am glad that his author spotlight falls on the month that we celebrate Valentine's Day because it turns out most of his stories started out as Valentine's Day presents. And now we are lucky enough to read them.

Here are the books...
You Are Here, This Is Now (Anthology) (2002)
Boy Meets Boy (2003)
The Realm of Possibility (2004)
Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday: "The Alumni Interview"
Are We There Yet? (2005)
Where We Are, What We See (Anthology) (2005)
Friends (Anthology, edited with Ann M. Martin) (2005)
Marly's Ghost (2005)
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (co-written with Rachel Cohn)(2006)
Wide Awake (2006)
The Full Spectrum (Anthology, edited by Billy Merrell) (2006)
Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List (co-written with Rachel Cohn) (2007)
This is PUSH (Anthology) (2007)
21 Proms (Anthology, edited with Daniel Ehrenhaft) (2007)
How They Met, and Other Stories (2008)
Likely Story (co-written with David Ozanich and Chris Van Etten) (2008)
All That Glitters (co-written with David Ozanich and Chris Van Etten) (2008)
Red Carpet Riot (co-written with David Ozanich and Chris Van Etten) (2009)
Love is the Higher Law (2009)
Will, Grayson, Will Grayson (co-written with John Green) (due to come out in 2010)
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares (co-written with Rachel Cohn) (due to come out on October 12, 2010)

Books adapted into movies...
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

Here are some of his favorite authors (but the list can go on and on...according to his site)...
M.T. Anderson, Margaret Atwood, Rachel Cohn, John Green, Alice Hoffman, James Howe, David Leavitt, Milly Merrell, Anne Tyler, Virginia Euwer Wolff, and Markus Zusak

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***

Author Spotlight: Laurie Halse Anderson

January is over and my love for Laurie Halse Anderson's books just grew. I cannot wait to read more books by her. (Now if I can only find them!!!) She is a wonderful author who can write about so many things...historically or contemporary. I really hope you all pick her books up and enjoy them as much as I do.

Just a little bio...

Laurie was born on October 23, 1961 in Potsdam, New York. Her second grade teacher taught her how cool writing was via haiku poems. But she thought she would end up being a doctor while in high school. Laurie became an exchange student after high school and when she returned back home she attended Onondaga Community College before transferring over to Georgetown University in 1981. She graduated college with a B.S.L.L in Languages and Linguistics. She has two kids from her first marriage and now lives with her childhood sweetheart turned husband in central New York. When she's not writing you'll find her training for marathons, hanging out with family & friends, hiking in the mountains, or working on her tomatoes in her backyard.
***information taken from her website***

L.H.A's YA books...
Speak (1999)
Fever, 1793 (2000)
Catalyst (2002)
Prom (2005)
Twisted (2007)
Chains (2008)
Wintergirls (2009)
Forge (Chains #2) (will be published in 2010)

Books adapted into movies...
Speak (2004)

Her favorite books...
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Ulysses by James Joyce
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume
Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott
Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
***Info from her website***

Where to find Laurie Halse Anderson...
Website
Twitter
Blog
Facebook
MySpace

Overall Rating...

.3

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Laurie Halse Anderson's fave: Earl Grey Tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***