What I’m Reading

A fellow Elevensie, author Beth Revis just got a nice and well-deserved plug from Publisher’s Weekly on her debut novel, Across the Universe. Now that I’ve had a first chance to read the first chapter, I agree with Publisher’s Weekly’s assessment that this is a killer first chapter. I can’t wait to read Beth’s novel. You can read the first chapter here, but I should warn you that the book will not be available until January. After reading this chapter, you’re going to wish you could get your hands on the book right away! What books are on your to-read...

Stephen Parrish, author of The Tavernier Stones is here today to answer a few of my questions,  but before we start the interview, I want to tell you to do  yourself a favor and pick up a copy of The Tavernier Stones. It’s a great novel full of adventure, mystery and puzzles to solve and it is a perfect summer reading book. I really enjoyed this novel, and in one of those weird ways that real life and fiction have of intersecting when I sat down to read it, I was surprised to find that a big chunk of the story was set in Lancaster, PA where I had just been a few days earlier. Also if you need one more reason to read The Tavernier Stones (you shouldn’t!) it is published by Midnight Ink, which like Flux (who is publishing my novel next year) is an...

My pouffy shirt is clean, and I’ve got a sack full of loot (great pictures books, that is) ready to go for my pirate-themed storytime tomorrow. Pirates being popular I wasn’t able to get all of my favorite pirate stories, but here are some treasures I’ll be bringing with me: Dirty Joe the Pirate by Bill Harley, illustrated by Jack E. Davis Pirates Don’t Change Diapers by Melinda Long, illustrated by David Shannon Blackbeard: Pirate for Hire by Matthew McElligot You Can Do Anything, Daddy! by Michael Rex Peg Leg Peke by Brie Spangler The No-Good Do-Good Pirates by Jim Kraft, illustrated by Lynne Avril Don’t Mention Pirates by Sarah McConnell and Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo and Harry Bliss Do you have a...

If you like great gritty and realistic fiction, get your hands on a copy of Split by 2010 debut author Swati Avasthi. This YA novel tells the story Jace Witherspoon, who flees an abusive father to try and start a new life with the older brother who escaped years before. But for Jace escaping from his past will take more than a long road trip and some new friends. Split has some scenes that had my heart racing, including a few where I was so worried about what would happen that I wanted to do what I do while watching a horror movie – close my eyes. Problem is, it’s hard to read with your eyes closed. Thankfully, I was brave and kept my eyes open and was able to enjoy of Swati’s novel. For fans of realistic fiction, I highly recommend...

What is it about the end of the world that makes for such good reading? The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan was recommended to me by a few different people whose book opinions I value, so I was pretty sure I was going to like this book even before I read the first page. I hesitate to describe this YA novel as a “zombie” book even though it is set in a post apocalyptic world filled with zombies, because the style of the book is so different from more traditional zombie books. It’s more of a really good post-apocalyptic novel that happens to have zombies in it. Okay, that description isn’t any good either. What it is is a really good book. Read it. I came a bit late to Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games series, and only just read...

When I finished reading Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Omololu, I had the overwhelming desire to help my mom cut down on some of her clutter. As much as I complain about my mother’s tendency to hang onto things that she doesn’t need, she’s got nothing on Lucy’s mom in Dirty Little Secrets. This YA novel takes a look at the serious issue of hoarding. It was a powerful novel that pulled no punches. A warning to those who like me have a tendency to read while eating, you might want to avoid eating while reading this one as some of details get a bit graphic. This is a great novel that tackles a serious subject that hasn’t had much, if any, literary...