Welcome to Armchair BEA Day 1: Introductions & Classics

Welcome to the first post in a series for Armchair BEA! If you're not sure what it's all about be sure to visit the Armchair BEA headquarters. They sum up the event with:

Armchair BEA is an online conference that runs in conjunction with Book Expo America in New York City. There are a large number of people around the world that are not able to join in the literary celebrations in the Big Apple, so Armchair BEA brings the celebration to you by allowing networking among other book bloggers, authors, and publishers as well as special coverage of the event, all from the comfort of your own comfy armchair.

Posted from Armchair BEA Registration is Open

I used to get really bummed out this time of year when I realized that once again I had not accomplished my goal of attending BEA. With Armchair BEA rapidly growing in popularity, I think I enjoy this more than I would walking around a giant convention center with thousands of people. This gives me the chance to save up my precious vacation time from work for more family-oriented events throughout the year.

1. Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures. 

I am blogging from a small Illinois town outside of St. Louis, MO. I moved here in the fall of 2011 after my husband found better work here. As a born & bred Tarheel, with founding families on both sides, I am the first person in my family to move out of state! Fun fact: the town that I currently live in is actually the town that my husband grew up in before moving to North Carolina.

2. What are you currently reading, or what is your favorite book you have read so far in 2013?

My favorite book is a three way tie. I adored Stay with Me by Paul Griffin, Just One Day by Gayle Forman, and If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch. I hadn't read any books by the first two, so they were first time authors for me. All of these books took my breath away and were very different from one another. Fans of Simone Elekeles will like Stay with Me, fans of Jennifer E. Smith will like Just One Day, and fans of gritty/heartwrenching/heartwarming realistic fiction will like If You Find Me.

3. Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you. 

I don't own a television. It's true. I sold my television in June of 2010 & haven't owned one since. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those "I refuse to have a television" types, it's just not been practical to own one for a long time. Now that I've adjusted to life without it, I happily enjoying watching my television programs at my leisure. I've been able to discover so many more shows since I got rid of my television thanks to Netflix & the public library that (since I'm all caught up) I can watch them online (more that 90% for free). Some of current favorites are: Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, Doctor Who, Revolution, Covert Affairs, Army Wives, Once Upon a Time, & Bones. All of those (with the exception of Doctor Who) air online within a week of the live airing & are held in a queue for approximately 4 weeks, so even if I miss a week, I can just let it roll into the next week & then I get two episodes!

4. Which is your favorite post that you have written that you want everyone to read? 

I'm going to kind of cheat on this one. If I had to direct you to a series of posts that I want everyone to read, it would be anything with the Genreflecting tag. I decided to do an educational experiment with genres & subgenres. One of my favorite (and most useful) tools when I did teen reader interest surveys was the Teen Genreflecting book. It contained the descriptions of the genres, the subgenres, & so many examples divided out. If my teen said they really wanted a book about survival adventures, I could pull this book out & give them a list. For each month of 2013, there will be a specific genre that will be analyzed. On Fridays there will be a basics post, a details post with author excerpts, and 2 reviews of books in the genre with a giveaway in the final post of the month. I'd love some input on your thoughts about genres, subgenres, & what they really mean for readers.

5. If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why? 

I gotta say, I've had the great fortune to meet some awesome authors: Maggie Stiefvater, Sarah Dessen, & Patricia Briggs just to name a few. Last year I said I'd love to meet Jennifer Echols, but this year it's a tie between Jackson Pearce & Rachel Hawkins. Both of these women are bada$$es for creating such incredible worlds for their books. Jackson Pearce has brought fairy tale retellings into a whole new ballgame. Her twists on the classics tales & the way she interweaves details connecting them all is incredible! Rachel Hawkins has a witty sense of humor that shines through her books so well. I feel instantly connected to her characters and enjoy their adventures. I was sad to hear that Hex Hall was ending, but ecstatic to hear that it got a spinoff in School Spirits.

As for classics, I am a lover of traditional classics & newer agey classics. While I wasn't thrilled with being forced to read & over analyze books in high school, I do appreciate the breadth that we covered over my four years. I loved Shakespeare from childhood, but found myself falling in love with the more contemporary books that I read in class like Nectar in a Sieve & All Quiet on the Western Front. For quite some time I hosted a feature here on Tattooed Books called Nostalgic Fridays where I covered a classic YA or middle grades book or series. While working on that feature I realized just how many classic books I had read that I really liked. From The Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott to The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I even covered authors in general because I couldn't choose just one book to cover (Lois Duncan & Roald Dahl being my biggies).

I think what makes a book a classic to me is it's ability to be timeless. When I say timeless, I don't necessarily mean that it's so generic that it can't be pinpointed as belonging to a certain era; I mean that the premise of the story & the point of the story is timeless. The message that you take away at the end of the book & the way that it makes you feel should be always be able to happen no matter when someone reads the book. With that in mind, I have no qualms about calling some newer books (newer agey is my technical term) as classics. Things like Delirium by Lauren Oliver, Hate List by Jennifer Brown, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, & The Luxe by Anna Godbersen are all classic YA books to me. I cannot fathom a time when these books will cease to stir something within the reader. 

Now that I've give you my humble opinion, what are your thoughts? Do you stick with the traditional classics or have you expanded your definition to suit the changing climate of reading?

Nostalgic Friday: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone.

That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits.

From Goodreads 

First published in June of 1977, this book is without a doubt, one of the greatest books of my childhood. A coming-of-age story set in the rural South, Bridge to Terabithia tracks the unlikely friendship & bond between artistic Jess & his new neighbor Leslie. Together these two build a secret fortress in the woods that they call Terabithia. Terabithia is a fantasy land that they rule & defend together, but it's also a place for them to learn more about themselves & how to deal with the realities of their lives. The duo spends as much time together as possible, causing a bit of scandal because of their mixed-gender relationship. As the story progresses & we really see the characters starting to come into their own, tragedy strikes and sends their fantasy land into ruins.

Many important lessons can be learned from this book for any reader. It can help kids learn to cope with their personalities & place in the world, while still challenging them to reach beyond what is "expected" of them. Even better though, this story is about the importance of love and friendship. As social creatures we must interact with others, but it's who we interact with that I think has the greatest influence on us. 

Growing up, my best friend was a boy. We were born 22 days apart & grew up next door to one another. We were absolutely inseparable. When I read this book as a kid, I gave it to my best friend to read as well. He thought it sounded just like us, except he would never let anything like that happen to me. While we may have grown up & apart (mostly due to my moving away after my parents' divorce) I will never forget just how much impact we had on each others' lives for years.

So here's the basic point you need to get...you should read this book. It's a timeless tale that will have you laughing & crying & reaffirming your faith in friendship. Please, take a moment & thank a friend, every small interaction counts.

Armchair BEA Day 4: Beyond the Blog: Author Events!

Welcome back to Armchair BEA! If you're not sure what it's all about be sure to visit the Armchair BEA headquarters.

I don't have much desire to write outside of my blog & I don't currently monetize, so today's post is going to focus on a fun aspect of my blog.

While I could talk about Nostalgic Fridays (which is something I'm trying to bring back) or how my blog got its name (I love tattoos [I have 3] & books, so kind of not much to talk about there) I'm going to discuss the shenanigans of author events/signings.

I thoroughly enjoy collecting books that have been personalized at an author signing. Over the last 2.5 years I have attending at least a dozen events (some larger than others) & collected several autographed books. Although I am proud of these books & love them to death (they have their very own shelf on one of my bookcases), the most fun are the authors themselves. These people are what make it all worthwhile. Without their hard work & dedication to their craft & their fans' experiences, the book community just wouldn't be as wonderful as it is. On top of responding to comments on their Facebook, Twitter & blogs, these authors hit the road (sometimes in style & sometimes with very little fanfare) to visit with their fans.

For me, it's all about the stories they tell & the relationships that build. Yes it's nice to hear them read from their book or discuss their writing process, but for me the stories behind all that are the most important. Ally Condie remarked that she had a writing epiphany while trying to match up her sons' tiny socks. Any excuse not to do laundry is a good one, right? I have seen Maggie Stiefvater twice (once in Charlottesville, VA & once at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh). As stated in those articles, Maggie is hands down the best live author event ever. Her quirky sense of humor & hilarious tales (TSA woes & real-life wolves licking her face) leave you in awe of her writing talents. Even better was that on Maggie's last trip to Raleigh she was kind enough to take a picture with me and Loki (her gorgeous car) while telling me about all the things that had happened on the tour prior to that stop.

I find that I tend to forget that authors are just people. Incredibly talented & unbelievably kind people, but people none the less. They have this kind of celebrity aura surrounding them & a lot of people feel like they might be unreachable. I go to the author events to meet the real people, not just the feeling you get from blog posts, books, & interviews. In person is where the magic happens & I am drawn to the magic. The authors I have met are some of the most amusing & humble people I've had the pleasure to encounter. If you've never been to an event I highly recommend them!

Nostalgic Friday: Charlotte's Web

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

And we're back! It's becoming harder & harder to find books for me to talk about on this feature because they are becoming harder to locate. I don't remember everything I have ever read, so I'm starting to run out. If you would like to contribute a "Nostalgic Friday" post, just email me at tattooedbooks AT gmail DOT com. I would be more than happy to feature a guest post. On to this week's book.

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White has got to be one of the most iconic chapter books from my childhood. This 1952 story is rich with humor, positive character traits, & a unique story. I remember reading this book out loud to my grandmother when it was her nap time. You read that right, my grandmother would take afternoon naps & I'd read her a nap time story like she read me a bed time story. I never made it more than a few pages before I fell asleep too, so I'm not sure how much she ever really heard of the story. :)

Fern is a born & raised farm girl. She holds no false pretenses about where her meat or eggs come from, but when she finds out that her father intends to kill the runt of the new pig litter, she feels compelled to act. After promising to take care of the little piglet, she names him Wilbur & places him in the barn with some of the other farm animals.

This is where to story diverges from the normal human path & the animals take over. Wilbur isn't the brightest piglet in the world, getting into some trouble with some of the other barnyard animals, but he does find a friend in a verbose spider. Charlotte manages to capture everyone's attention with her message of "Some Pig" adding a mysterious quality to Wilbur. The little pig grows up & is eventually featured at the local state fair, but he learns a hard lesson as Charlotte informs him that she will one day leave him.

As a child I read this story & just thought that it was a really cute talking animal story. I didn't really put it together that I was learning things about friendships, humanity, & the ability of everyone to overcome obstacles. No matter what was put in this little pig's way, he managed to overcome it all & come out on top. It may not have been easy & he may have needed some help, but he never gave up & that's all that mattered.

I love watching children discover this story for the first time because they really get into it. The language, the action & the relationships draw the kids in & they seem to get lost in this magical world. I especially love hearing parents explain Charlotte's language. Not many people use some of her words anymore & I think it makes it all the more special to see them in a children's book.

Nostalgic Friday: Roald Dahl books

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

Does anyone else remember Roald Dahl books? I think his books were turned into some of the best kids movies! Between Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The Witches this man was on a rampage of popularity! Roald Dahl was born on September 13, 1916 in Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales, The United Kingdom. He lived a full life, from working for Shell to fighting in a war, and finally to writing his beloved books & short stories. A wonderfully imaginative author who strived to give the best experience to children as he could manage, Dahl is an inspiration to future children's novelists.

Below I am featuring just three of my favorite novels by this prolific author.

The Witches
This scary, but witty story about real witches starts off with an orphaned boy going on a vacation to a nice hotel with his grandmother. While playing around the boy happens to overhear the witches secret new plan during one of their meetings. As punishment for being nosy & hearing their plans, the witches turn him into a mouse. Now, with the help of his grandmother & his friend Bruno the boy has to put a stop to the witches' dastardly plan & find a way to become a boy again. If that's all possible.

This book was so different from other books about witches! While these women really were hag-like & cruel, they were beyond the normal means of evil. The description of their gnarled hands & bald heads stuck with me for years! I was sure that one day I was going to come across one of these witches & be so fortunate as to be able to identify her. What a fun read with compelling main characters.

The BFG
Sophie isn't sure what to think of the BFG when he snatches her from her cozy bed in London & carries her off to giant land. Fortunately for her, the BFG isn't like the other giants, preferring to eat snozzcumbers rather than little boys & girls. He actually blows sweet dreams in through children's windows while they sleep. Determined to calm the other giants' insatiable appetites, the unlikely duo set off to enlist the help of the Queen.

Such an enchanting story about unique friendships, overcoming adversities, & perseverance, The BFG is a wonderful tale. Not to mention Dahl really stretches his imagination with his vocabulary. Truly magnificent!

Matilda
Matilda was such a precocious little girl. unluckily born into a family of swindlers & lay-abouts, this cunning & charming little girl discovers that she has amazing abilities. Her mental capabilities range from intelligence & wittiness to telekinesis. Finally allowed to attend school, Matilda uses her powers to protect the meek & fight off the evil Mrs. Trunchbull.

I loved Matilda so much! This little girl never failed to inspire me. She is such a resilient child despite being put down every way imaginable. This book was my first introduction to paranormal abilities in everyday people. And look at my reading tastes now! :)

I truly hope that you've enjoyed this little foray into Roald Dahl's world. Which one of his books was your favorite?

Nostalgic Friday: Aimee by Mary Beth Miller

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

I must admit that I was a reader of darker stories when I was a teen. If it was tragic, brutal & gut-wrenching, then I was all over it. Aimee by Mary Beth Miller falls into that category with both hands & feet. There is no escaping the hard truth that this book discuses.

Zoe is an exile. After moving to a new town, since there was no way she could stay in her old town after being acquitted of the murder of her best friend Aimee, Zoe is withdrawn, angry, & confused. Forced to see a therapist that she believes to be a moron, Zoe documents her existence in her new life while interjecting information about her former life. Her entries sometimes take on the form of rants against any and all adults & other times they are happy memories with her old friends.

The culmination of her work is when Zoe comes face to face with the reality of what she could have done for Aimee. Is Zoe really responsible for what happened to Aimee? If not, then how does she handle the continuance of her youth?

This was a hard book to really wrap my head around, at the time I read it. Mary Beth Miller does an eloquent & rawly fresh job of conveying one girl's turmoil over the loss of her friend & her struggle with her involvement. Zoe was a strong character who hid in her depths of anger. She had so many levels of anger that were all pointed at different targets & managed with varying levels of fervor.

The world that Miller creates is one that was just really emerging & taking shape at the time it was written. The situations that the teens participated in throughout the novel weren't the commonplace situations for teens of the time. Nowadays it's a different story, but I think it still has merit. This book reminds me of some of Sarah Dessen's earlier novels or even Elizabeth Scott's darker novels.

To be certain, this is a book that should be at least considered. I hope you like it!

Nostalgic Friday: Holes

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

This week I am happy to be featuring Holes by Louis Sachar. I remember being 17 and hearing about this movie plot about a boy sent to a work camp to build character, immediately I thought of this book & it turned out I was right! This was a great book to begin with & Louis Sachar is a phenomenal writer. He just really gets teens & knows how to write for them. In my opinion, this book has been his greatest hit... so far.

Stanley Yelnats isn't really a trouble-maker. Sure he gets caught doing something he shouldn't be doing every once in a while, but the court was just wrong to sentence him to either jail or Camp Green Lake. No really, mistaken identity is to blame for the theft Stanley is convicted of. Unfortunately no one else sees it that way so, mal-contentedly, Stanley chooses Camp Green Lake & begins the daily grind of rising before dawn to dig holes in the hot sun to build character.

Unfortunately that's not all they're digging. The venomous warden is as evil as they come and she has something else in mind for those holes. The truth is rarely as nice as the reality.

This is a funny, action-packed book that many kids will love. It's great for both boys & girls because of the story's accessibility. We've all been the victim of mistaken identity, but hopefully nothing to this extreme! Stanley is a likable character with just enough gumption & tenacity to get to the bottom of a mystery, but the quirkiness to appeal to the non-mainstream kids.

Holes is a story of layers. There are layers to each character, each situation, and each resolution. Some of them overlap & intertwine creating complex conflicts that anyone can comprehend. The resulting story is one of profoundness with a snarky side. If you like good books then this is one that you definitely can't miss!

Nostalgic Friday: Holocaust Books

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

I know that everybody has to read at least one book about the Holocaust during their middle grade or high school years, but I apparently got a few more assignments than most. Between 5th & 8th grade I read at least 4 books for school and at least two dozen more on my own. My Holocaust education didn't stop there & probably never will, but I thought I'd share with you some of my preferred books. There's a smattering of fiction & non-fiction in here, but hopefully you'll find something that piques your interest.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry Fiction
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated". Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life.


The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen Fiction
Hannah thinks tonight's Passover Seder will be the same as always. Little does she know that this year she will be mysteriously transported into the past where only she knows the horrors that await.

Night by Elie Wiesel Non-fiction, Memoir
In Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel's memoir Night, a scholarly, Orthodox teenager is wracked with guilt at having survived the horror of the Holocaust & the genocidal campaign that consumed his family. His memories of the nightmare worlds of Auschwitz-Birkenau & Buchenwald present him with an intolerable question: how can the god he once so fervently believed in have allowed these monstrous events to occur? There are no easy answers in this harrowing book, which probes life's essential riddles with the lucid anguish only great literature achieves. It marks the crucial first step in Wiesel's lifelong project to bear witness for those who died.

Alicia by Alicia Appleman-Jurman Non-fiction, Memoir (a bit graphic at times)
After losing her entire family to the Nazis at age 13, Alicia Appleman-Jurman went on to save the lives of thousands of Jews, offering them her own courage and hope in a time of upheaval and tragedy. Not since The Diary of Anne Frank has a young voice so vividly expressed the capacity for humanity and heroism in the face of Nazi brutality.

There are also numerous websites & organizations that can be viewed in order to flesh out your knowledge.

Unites States Holocaust Memorial Museum http://www.ushmm.org/
The Holocaust History Project http://www.holocaust-history.org/
Holocaust Survivors http://www.holocaustsurvivors.org/
Holocaust section of the Jewish Virtual Library http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/holo.html

There are thousands more, but these are my preferred sources of information. I chose this subject because it is something I don't think it taught well enough in our schools. This dark period is a lot more complicated that "the Germans killed 6 million Jews during WWII" & I think some of these books really shed some light on that. A quote I strive to live by every day is:

Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it. - Winston Churchill

Nostalgic Friday: The Story of Babar: the little elephant

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

As I'm sure many other children did, I remember watching early morning cartoons on the weekends. One of my favorites was Babar which came on very early on HBO. Words do not properly convey how much the stories resonated with me. There was always a moral lesson to be learned and despite the preposterous basis (a walking, talking, gentleman elephant) I was enraptured! Imagine my delight when one morning my mother happened to catch the tale end of the program & informed me that it was actually a book. Several in fact. I demanded that we find these books so I could devour them! Along the same line as Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans, the Babar book series by Jean de Brunhoff consisted of several shorter books all with a moral attached. Below are some of my personal favorites.

The Story of Babar the little elephant
This book was the first book written and it tells the story about how Babar came to be in Paris among the educated & elite. After the tragic murder of his mother by a hunter, a kind elderly woman became his patron by dressing him, educating him, & ensuring his place in the world. But dissatisfied, Babar returns to his rightful place in the forest & is promptly crowned king.

The Travels of Babar
In this story, Babar met a lady elephant & they fell in love. He is in need a queen & Celeste fills that role quite nicely so the two are married. The Travels of Babar follow the two lovebirds as they embark on their honeymoon. Naturally it can't go without a hitch & the young couple soon finds themselves in a terrible storm, leaving them to fend of hunters.

Babar and His Children
As in many love stories, there comes a time when the happy couple wants to multiply their love by having children. In Babar & Celeste's case they are fortunate enough to have three at once. Flora, Pom, and Alexander are just like their parents & seem to have a knack of getting in to trouble only to be rescued by their parents or other animals in the forest.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when reading these classic French tales is that they were told/written in the early 1930's. Context & societal norms are something that must be taken into consideration when enjoying them. There are depictions & events that aren't "politically correct" or that may seem "strange," but as with any historical piece, the context clues are a vital part of what makes the story. Just keep that in mind; not just for these books, but for any older book. J'espère que vous les aimez! (I hope you like them!)

Nostalgic Friday: Where the Sidewalk Ends

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

Today I am featuring a children's classic. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein was originally published in 1974. Thousands of children the world over have read the poems and short stories included in this book and laughed at the cute drawings created by the author himself. Silverstein has written several volumes of poetry and other stand-alone children's books but this one has always remained my favorite. Below are a few of my favorites.

One sister for sale! One sister for sale!
One crying and yelling young sister for sale!
I'm really not kidding, So who will start the bidding?
Do I hear a dollar? A nickle? A penny?
Oh, isn't there, isn't there, isn't there any
One kid who will buy this fifteen year old sister for sale,
This crying and yelling young sister for sale?

If you are a dreamer, come in.
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer . . .
If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire,
For we have some flax golden tales to spin.
Come in! Come in!

I hope you all enjoy his books as much as I do and if you've never read them, pick one up at your local library!

Nostalgic Friday: The Whipping Boy

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

I have uncovered a book that I had completely forgotten about! The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman was originally published in 1986. This is a fabulous book for both guys and gals that involves adventure, fairness, and even a prince.

Jemmy is the Whipping Boy for Prince Horace. Whenever the Prince does something naughty, Jemmy is the one who must take the punishment for the Prince's actions. Tired of being beaten repeatedly for things he didn't do, Jemmy has decided to run away. With the basic education he has obtained while living in the castle, he's determined to set off for a new life with the freedoms he once enjoyed.

Unfortunately,the Prince has the same idea. Dragging Jemmy along as his servant, the Prince and Jemmy set off. It is not long before they are intercepted by dangerous highway criminals Hold-Your-Nose Billy & Cutwater. The highwaymen want to ransom the Prince back to the castle. Seeing an opportunity for escape, Jemmy claims that he is the Prince. After a clever trick, the boys are free again and continue on their journey.

Of course their freedom only lasts until the highwaymen catch up with them again. Still believing Jemmy to be the Prince, and knowing it to be a crime to harm him, they determine Horace to be the Whipping Boy and beat him instead. Beginning to understand the reality of Jemmy's existence, Horace's character shifts. Soon he is working with Jemmy to get them back to the castle to have the whole situation sorted out. But there are people out there who want the reward that has been posted and the boys must find a way to make it back without being captured again.

This is a fun, educational story. You don't really know that you're learning a moral lesson until you get to the end and put all the pieces together. Jemmy is a wonderful character with such values and standards that one has a tough time reconciling him with the awful child that is Horace. Obviously in this story, money and breeding do not necessary make the most conscientious minded people. The dichotomy between these two boys was staggering and it really helped put the moral in perspective.

The setting really allowed the story to flow easily and the plot moved quickly. This short novel packs a lot of action, intrigue, and fun into just 112 pages. A must-read for all ages, The Whipping Boy is simply fabulous!

Nostalgic Friday: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by British comedienne Louise Rennison is by far one of the most hilarious books ever! Originally published in 1999, this became (IMHO) one of the best written and most amusing teen series of the early 2000s.

In the first installment of this ten part series (that's still being written) we meet the lovely and flamboyant Georgia Nicolson. This 14-year-old has taken to recording her life's moments in the old tradition of a journal. With a little sister with bladder control issues, a gigantic cat capable of disastrous things, and those crazy lovable people she's forced to live with (her parents), Georgia's life is certainly never dull.

And then he shows up in her life. The Sex God. He's smooth and sweet and just the right amount of shady. Totally gorgeous, Georgia naturally finds herself lusting after him. Although her friends are not making her infatuation easy to hide. Between friends quarreling and her best friend Jas being sick, Georgia has got her work cut out for her.

This book is made of win if for no other reason than it has a glossary of British terminology in the back since the series is set in Britain. Louise gives Georgia such a personality that I think it would be difficult for any reader to resist her charms. Georgia goes through all sorts of awkward stages during the course of the book series and I'm pretty sure that everyone can relate to at least one situation. I kind of prefer the daydream scene with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. :D

Witty, amusing, and never dull, this series is sure to blow your socks off!

Nostalgic Friday: The Princess Bride

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

The Princess Bride is a timeless tale of love and adventure by William Goldman that was originally published in 1973 and turned into a cult classic film in 1987. Who wouldn't love a story about everything from pirates to miracles? I think this tidbit from Goodreads captures it all.

What happens when the most beautiful girl in the world marries the handsomest prince of all time and he turns out to be...well...a lot less than the man of her dreams?

As a boy, William Goldman claims, he loved to hear his father read the "S. Morgenstern classic, The Princess Bride. But as a grown-up he discovered that the boring parts were left out of good old Dad's recitation, and only the "good parts" reached his ears.

Now Goldman does Dad one better. He's reconstructed the "Good Parts Version" to delight wise kids and wide-eyed grownups everywhere.

What's it about? Fencing. Fighting. True Love. Strong Hate. Harsh Revenge. A Few Giants. Lots of Bad Men. Lots of Good Men. Five or Six Beautiful Women. Beasties Monstrous and Gentle. Some Swell Escapes and Captures. Death, Lies, Truth, Miracles, and a Little Sex.

In short, it's about everything.

Honestly this is one of the best action/adventure love stories I have ever read. Of course I grew up on the movie with Cary Elwes and his endlessly popular line of, "As you wish." After seeing the movie, I decided to read the book and I was surprised by how much more I loved the book. While the movie gave the characters life and depth that I sometimes felt was lacking in the movie, I got a different tone/vibe from the book. It was quite clear that the movie was geared towards children, where I could see the book geared more towards an adult audience.

There is so much to be gleaned from this book that one misses out when only viewing the movie. The back-story that surrounds the book's creation was quite delightful and added some extra connection for the readers. It's a hilarious story that I couldn't put down and I hope that if any of you have seen to movie, then you'll consider reading the book. If you haven't seen the movie, so that first. I promise, you'll love the book even more once you've seen the movie. Good luck!

Nostalgic Friday: Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

I thought I'd pay homage to the fact that school is now back in session for most students (with college students on their way back as well) with a non-fiction, assigned college reading book that was originally published in 2001. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich was published long before the tv show 30 Days was created and I think it is one of the best books that showcases the reality faced by so many called the "working poor."

Millions of Americans work for poverty-level wages, and one day Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surr ...more

Millions of Americans work for poverty-level wages, and one day Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which promised that any job equals a better life. But how can anyone survive, let alone prosper, on $6 to $7 an hour? To find out, Ehrenreich moved from Florida to Maine to Minnesota, taking the cheapest lodgings available and accepting work as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing-home aide, and Wal-Mart salesperson. She soon discovered that even the lowliest occupations require exhausting mental and physical efforts. And one job is not enough; you need at least two if you intend to live indoors. Nickel and Dimed reveals low-wage America in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generosity -- a land of Big Boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate strategies for survival. Instantly acclaimed for its insight, humor, and passion, this book is changing the way America perceives its working poor.

From Goodreads

To put that into perspective, for those of you who were not aware, the Federal Minimum Wage for this time period was $5.15/hour. That is the absolute minimum that you were supposed to pay people and there were/are so many employers who will only pay that amount. At $5.15/hour, if you work 40 hours a week, you might bring home $150/week after taxes. That's barely $600/month!

This book is considered one of the pioneers of the movement to raise the minimum wage & to really take a look at how our local and federal government work to protect their citizens. There were so many people who Barbara met during her journey who gave her as much as they had themselves. It gave a new face to the working poor by showing that not everyone is content to sit on their duff accepting government help. Most of these people are hard-working, upstanding citizens who just can't seem to make ends meet well.

I suggest this book to anyone taking an economics or social studies class. It was written in a very accessible and funny manor so that everyone can enjoy it and take away the necessary lessons. I picked this book up in my high school library, but it wasn't until it was assigned reading as a freshman in college, that I took the time to really read it in detail. It might help put the current economic climate into a little more perspective if you can look at where we came from and what has changed between then and now. I leave you with the words of famous author Mark Twain, "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." Neither should you. :)

Nostalgic Friday: Behind Rebel Lines

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

This book is actually a true story about a girl, Emma Edmonds, who managed to conceal her female identity and served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Seymour Reit published this book in 1988 using Emma's own memoirs & his own research.

In 1861, when war erupted between the States, President Lincoln made an impassioned plea for volunteers. Determined not to remain on the sidelines, Em ...more As a passionate 16 year old, Emma Edmonds ran away from her Canadian home and to the land of freedom and opportunity. In 1861, at the tender age of 21, Emma enlisted in the Union Army to serve her chosen nation. She cut her hair and studied the men around her to make sure that she gave a convincing performance. After working as a field nurse for some time, she decided her disguise was working so well that she could convince anyone of anything. She became a Union spy in Confederate territory, pretending to be anything from a slave to a washerwoman.

This book was so much fun to read! While much of the dialogue is made-up, the battles that Emma participated in actually happened. They were real and she really did everything she says she did. I was such a tomboy as a kid that this book really appealed to me. It also appealed to the amateur historian in me. It was quite fascinating to read about the time period, the social mores and expectations, and how Emma smashed every bit of them into the ground. I was quite amazed by her daring. If you know any history fans or want to encourage out-of-the-box thinking, this non-fiction book reads just like fiction and is sure to entertain!

Nostalgic Friday: The Secret Garden

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

This week I am featuring a classic of children's literature. The Secret Garden by Fraces Hodgson Burnett was originally released in 1909 and has remained important since that time. It is more popular among girls than boys most likely because the story is told from a young girl's perspective and goes something like this:

Mary is a sad little child due to her lack of parental attention. When her parents suddenly die in a cholera epidemic, she is sent to live with distant relatives back home in England. Her uncle is a morose man, grieving the loss of his wife, and he leaves Mary to entertain herself. She spends most of her days wandering the halls of the manor & exploring the grounds. Along with the help of young staff members Martha & Dickon, Mary begins to tend to a secret/forbidden garden. It belonged to her late aunt & her uncle has locked everyone out.

After solving the mystery of the garden, and beginning to warm up to her surroundings, Mary decides that she will root out the strange noises she hears in the night. It turns out that she has a sickly cousin named Colin. A very ill-tempered boy, Mary begins to visit with him for entertainment. As their friendship grows, Mary, Martha & Dickon share the garden with Colin. The children work together to help Colin get well enough to be able to run and play like other children.

This is such a feel good book. While Mary & Colin have their moments of annoyance and frustration, one can muddle through those parts in order to enjoy the sheer excitement & beauty that is found in the garden & the children's relationships. There is love & loss & so much more in this wonderful book. I really liked Martha & Dickon because while in books of this time period often include servants, rarely are they so animated & lively. These two children are charming & witty in a way that I don't think I've ever seen matched.

There was a fabulous movie adaptation in 1993 (has it really been that long?) that I think does the book justice; which we all know doesn't happen very often. If you're ever in the mood for something childish and memorable, this book will hit the spot. Enjoy!

Nostalgic Friday: Dear America

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

Scholastic won my heart back in 1998 when I stumbled upon the wonderful series of Dear America. Told in the form of a young girl's journal, these fictionalized accounts based on true history were a goldmine to me. I devoured ever book in the series up until they canceled its publication in 2006. Good news for other long-time fans like myself, they are re-launching the series with new books & redesigned covers for the older books. This wonderful series will begin again in September of this year and you better believe that I am going to pick up where I left off and continue reading this wonderful series. Below are four of my favorites with their jacket descriptions.
A Coal Miner's Bride: the Diary of Anetka Kaminska
A diary account of thirteen-year-old Anetka's life in Poland in 1896, immigration to America, marriage to a coal miner, widowhood, and happiness in finally finding her true love.
My Heart is on the Ground: the Diary of Nannie Little Rose, a Sioux Girl
As a potential translator and bridge between two cultures, Nannie Little Rose is assigned by her teacher at the Carlisle Indian School to keep a diary in order to practice and improve her English skills. Beginning in broken English, Nannie tells of her incredibly difficult first year at the school, including entries detailing her previous life as her ability to communicate in English grows. From December, 1879, to October, 1880, readers follow a remarkably resilient girl, uprooted from her home and culture, trying to find a place for herself in a rapidly changing world. Loyal, caring, and creative, she is able to see a spirit helper in a kitchen mouse and willing to defy regulations in mourning the death of her dearest friend.


Look to the Hills: The Diary of Lozette Moreau, a French Slave Girl
Lozette, or Zettie, is an orphaned slave girl, who arrives with her French masters in New York Colony at the end of the French-Indian War. There, she ...more Lozette, or Zettie, is an orphaned slave girl, who arrives with her French masters in New York Colony at the end of the French-Indian War. There, she must reconsider her loyalties when she is confronted with new landscapes, new conditions, and new conflicts.
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?: the Diary of Molly MacKenzie Flaherty
An agonizing dilemma plagues these brother-sister diarists. He is a Marine stationed in Vietnam. She is at home in America, far away from her brother's war zone, fighting for peace. As the marine writes in his journal about his experiences as a soldier, fighting an enemy he can't see, his sister seeks peace.

These are such wonderful novels about real events that allow girls access to history. It opens up the fact that most kids tend to forget that what they learn in school really happened to other people and these books allow the students to really feel that emotion. It's no longer a passage in a textbook, these people had names and families and feelings just like everyone else. A terrific series that I'm glad to see make a comeback, Dear America will always hold a special place in my heart.

Nostalgic Friday: The Incredible Journey

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

I was reminded of this little treasure when a patron asked me to help identify a movie that she had seen a child. Since she was a little younger than me, I was the most likely candidate to solve the mystery. The movie turned out to be "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey." It turns out that this cute movie was actually based on the book The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnsford which was originally written in 1960. The book was based on a true story.

Three household pets - a young Labrador named Luath, a Siamese Cat named Tao, and a senior Bull Terrier named Bodger - misunderstand their family's intentions when they are left behind with a friend during a vacation. So they set out together to find their family, crossing 200 miles of Canadian wilderness.*

While this may sound like a boring story, the interactions that accompany the story, and the journey the animals take, are the key. Who could possibly expect that a Bull Terrier and a Siamese Cat could be the best of friends because they share the same loathing of other cats? I can imagine these three sticking together, through the best and worst of their journey, to make their way home to their family. Even though I doubt it could ever happen again, I think Burnsford would be the best to write about it. Her descriptions of the surroundings and the animals' mannerisms are so vibrant that I could actually imagine watching it play out before me even before I saw the film.

If you like feel-good, happy books, this is your ticket. I truly enjoyed the very relaxed nature of the book and like to re-read it when I need a pick-me-up. I hope you decide to revisit it or give it more than a passing glance.

*Source

Nostalgic Friday: To Kill a Mockingbird

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

As some of you may or may not be aware, this year marks the 50th anniversary of a landmark in literature. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was originally published in 1960, has sold millions of copies worldwide, and is a staple in the American high school curriculum. I personally read this book in 6th grade when it was recommended to me by my public librarian. She knew I loved reading outside the "norm" for my age group and thought it would be a suitable fit. Boy did she know me well.

To Kill a Mockingbird starts out by introducing the reader to the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. Middle-aged, widowed Atticus Finch is a local lawyer and the father of two very rambunctious children, Jem & Scout. The children spend most of their time entertaining themselves by sharing ghost stories & rumors about the elusive "Boo" Radley, a neighbor who is never seen outside of his house, but who has managed to leave gifts for the children in a tree.

The narrative takes a serious turn when Atticus is chosen to defend Tom Robinson, a poor, black man, against the charges of rape from Mayella Ewell, a young, white woman. Tensions rise all around town as the racial charged atmosphere escalates. When the trial is over, things start to settle back down, but the plaintiff's father won't let the issue fade. He does something drastic that changes everyone's perspective.

I absolutely adored this book! I feel that using Scout as the narrator adds a sort of accessibility that would be lacking from any other point of view. The issues handled are very heavy and one could get lost in them, but with Scout's carefree childhood experiences mixed in, the novel is broken up into more manageable parts.

Scout was my hero as a kid. Between stepping up for what she knew was right and befriending the neighborhood recluse, she was absolutely perfect. Never one to whine, Scout was a well-defined heroine in a book whose only other female lead was representing the evil in the book. Atticus was also a great guy. A man struggling with what's best for his family, but also with what's right in the eyes of equality. Depression-era Southern states were notoriously dangerous territory for anyone with a progressive thought process.

The setting, morals, and plot were incredible and it's no wonder that this book is so timeless. While many other books dealing with racism & discrimination are falling out of favor due to their inaccessibility, To Kill a Mockingbird is actually experiencing a resurgence of appreciation. If you've never read it, I would highly recommend it. Not to mention, right now there are probably groups of people getting together to celebrate it's 50th anniversary. In local libraries, bookclubs, and book stores around the country, people are having cover re-design contests, discussing the book, and just generally celebrating the awesome that is To Kill a Mockingbird.

When did you read this FABULOUS novel? If you haven't, are you thinking about it now? :)

Nostalgic Friday: The Terrorist by Caroline B. Cooney

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

One of the things I love about working in the public library is when I'm presented with a challenge. My favorite is when someone claims they have read everything and that there's nothing left for them to read. That's how I rediscover little gems like The Terrorist by Caroline B. Cooney. I read this in early high school on the suggestion of my local librarian. Mind you, this came out before September 11, 2001 & the London Underground bombings of 2005, so this seemed kind of far-fetched to me. It goes a little something like this:

Sixteen-year-old Laura Williams is enjoying the simple life. As a visiting American, studying at the London International Academy, she doesn't really think much about the future or the possibility of being a target. That all changes when her eleven-year-old brother Billy naively accepts a package from a stranger in the metro, which turns out to be an explosive that kills him and others.

Consumed with grief and shock, Laura withdraws from her social circle and becomes extremely paranoid. She is determined to find out who killed her little brother so she can exact revenge. This obsession begins to take a toll as she lashes out at friends, suspecting everyone from a classmate to the IRA. Her downward spiral bottoms out when the killer decides that she's getting too nosy for her own good. Can Laura save herself and bring justice for her gone-too-soon brother?
Again, it may have something to do with the time period when I read this book, but it was so frightening and gripping. I couldn't put it down. Laura's grief consumed me and I found myself desperately searching for Billy's killer as well. I really empathized with Laura and felt like I really understood her. While she could definitely play the clichéd American a bit too much, she was a strong, determined young woman.

At the time I read it, this book seemed a complete work of fiction as nothing like that could really happen. Imagine my utter shock and horror when this book's situation became a reality in my life. While I was not directly affected by these tragic events, we are all affected in some manner. This book became much more important to me upon re-reading it because with older eyes, I saw more depth of character and more sophisticated situations than I had originally observed. Truly worth a read, The Terrorist is a simple Cooney story with real-life implications. I hope you give is a shot!