Friday, April 15, 2011

Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop Winner



Congrats to Michelle A of Book Briefs! She won a copy of Marcelo in the Real World!



Thanks to everyone who participated in the giveaway. Check back for more giveaways soon!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop


April is Autism Awareness month. And I couldn’t pass up being a part of this giveaway hop. For those who don’t know I work with adults with disabilities. The agency I work at serves people with all development disabilities, but we mostly have autistic clients. There are disabilities, such as Angelman Syndrome, which has recently been tacked onto the Autism Spectrum. One of the most interested things about Autism, is that you can have 50 people with it, and none of them are the same. Hence, the puzzle piece ribbon.

Did you know that 1 in 110 kids are affected by autism?
Did you know only 1 out of 4 are girls?
To learn more about Autism visit Autism Speaks.

Since I’m a YA book blog, I’ll be giving away a book, winners choice of three, in which the main character has Aspergers. I'll also be giving away cards made by clients at the agency where I work. 

Wild Orchid by Beverley Brenna
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork
Mockingbird by Katherine Erskine

You must follow this blog to enter. US only. Please fill out this form. And don’t forget to read the book synopses so you know which book you want. ;) Good luck



Wednesday, April 6, 2011

April Fools Books!

Less than a week ago, a few authors got in on the antics! See the book covers below

Green Money by Holly Black



Litter by Maggie Stiefvater



Holly and Maggie are two of my favorite authors, so I’d read them. What about you?

Did you see any other April Fools covers? Share the links below.

In the Storm Giveaway Winners

Congrats to the three winners of In the Storm

Yel (The Itzel Library) won with entry 1!

Marissa won with entry 15!

And Catie of Book Bound won with entry 26!

Check your emails. ;)

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Book Review: Ash

I read Ash by Malinda Lo a few months ago for a book club. It was one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. It’s a retelling of the classic Fairy Tale, Cinderella, but with many differences. It starts out very similar, with the mother passing away and the father remarrying a woman with two daughters of her own, followed shortly by his own death. Due to her father’s money not being able to keep a household running, it then becomes her job to cook and clean and do anything the wicked stepmother wishes.

One day, out in the forest, she meets Sidhean, a dark faery who can grant her wishes. Malinda Lo’s version of the fairy godmother.

US Cover

Kaisa is the King’s huntress. She leads the hunt for food for the king and his court. She meets Ash, and the two become friends. While Ash’s stepsisters fight for the Prince’s hand in marriage, Ash is only interested in one person… Kaisa.

I’ve read numerous fairy tale retellings, and this one was by far my favorite. If you haven’t read it, you’re missing out. And don’t forget to visit GayYA.org for your chance to win Ash.

UK Cover

Synopsis:

CINDERELLA RETOLD

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, re-reading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she begins to believe that her wish may be granted. 

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's royal Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing and romantic, Ash is an empowering retelling of Cinderella about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.



If you enjoyed Ash, be sure to check out the prequel, Huntress.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Winner: Pretty Souls

There were a lot of great entries, and it’s too bad there can only be one winner. Thanks to everyone who participated. The winner of Pretty Souls is Tammy who entered with the following cover! What I liked about it best… it was very different from the other entries, and it was the only cover that let me know a vampire was in the book. Congrats! Check your email, and I'll get the book out soon. 



An honorable mention goes to Sandy of Scribing Shadows



Great job, everyone. You all did a lot better than I could have. Haha!