Guest Blogger: Paula Chase

Looking for Mr. (or Ms.) Good Read?

By Paula Chase Hyman


Assuming a book that’s found a traditional publishing home is automatically a “good” book – if to no one else than the acquiring editor, I feel comfortable proclaiming that 90% of a book’s success is exposure. Okay maybe I totally made up that number. But as an author and PR Chick, I feel relatively qualified to say awareness is key, especially considering five thousand children’s books are released annually.

How can you keep up when it’s raining books? How do you know which tome to cuddle up with? Stopping by YA Enchanted Reviews is a good start. Now take another step with me…

The Brown Bookshelf was started to serve as a voice to shout about a few of those good books, specifically children’s books written by African American authors. And starting February 1st, we’ll spotlight a new author or illustrator everyday. Those who comment on the site anytime between Feb 1st and Feb 28th are eligible for the end of the month giveaway - free books by the spotlighted author. Also at the end of the month, we’ll donate books by the authors, illustrators and their publishers to a library in need.

Good reads and a worthy cause to boot!

Eight of the spotlight authors write YA fiction.

Two of them are veteran authors, what we at the Brown Bookshelf call literary jewels. The other six are hidden gems, waiting for more readers to discover them.

Here’s the YA line-up:

February 1st – Sharon Draper, November Blues

Feb. 4th – Tia Williams, Sixteen Candles

Feb. 5th – Julius Lester, Guardian

Feb 11th – Tanita S. Davis, A La Carte

Feb 18th – Marilyn Nelson, Freedom Business: Including a Narrative of the Life & Adventures of Venture

Feb 20th – Deborah Gregory, Catwalk

Feb 25th – Sherri Winston, The Kayla Chronicles

Feb 28th – Monica McKayhan – Jaded

Check the entire roster

Enchanting Review: Who You Wit'?

WHO YOU WIT’?

PAULA CHASE

Contemporary Young Adult

Dafina

ISBN# 978-0758225849

320 Pages

$9.95

Trade--Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

The characters of the Del Rio grow up in a big way in WHO YOU WIT’? When Lizzie decides to have all the girls join a year long virginity pact, it couldn’t be at a worse time. With Brian getting ready to go off to college in a few short months Mina’s already played her V-card, while Jacinta suddenly finds herself dealing with a serious issue--she just might be pregnant. While Lizzie’s hoping the pact will keep her from going too far with Todd, the pact might be just the thing that will tear the girls friendship apart.

Ms. Chase does a wonderful job with the storylines in WHO YOU WIT’? The issues of teen sex and pregnancy are handled really well, but don’t overpower the story with a negative vibe like some books tend to do. I loved how Lizzie had her cell phone timed to go off fifteen minutes into her make out session with Todd and how Jacinta handled her own situation. The scene near the end of the book with the girls waiting for the test results in Jacinta’s bathroom was one of my favorites in the whole series. While the girls friendship is tested more in this book than previously in the series, it’s nice to see a group of friends who stick so close together, no matter what the issues might be between them.

You can learn more about the book at http://www.paulachasehyman.com/wit.php and check out an excerpt here: http://www.paulachasehyman.com/wit1.php Look for the last book in the series to release in 2009.

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

November 2008

Enchanting Review: That's What's Up

THAT'S WHAT'S UP

PAULA CHASE

Contemporary Young Adult

Dafina

ISBN 0-7582-2582-2

320 Pages

$9.95

Trade--Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

The best thing about Ms. Chase's DEL RIO BAY CLIQUE series is that the stories focus on the entire clique, not just solely on Mina and that continues in THAT'S WHAT'S UP, the third book in the series. Its almost spring break and that means everyone is heading to the O.C. to cheer on the varsity cheer squad compete at Extreme. All right, so not everyone is going, while Mina and the guys are headed for fun, Kelly, Jacinta, and Lizzie are stuck at home…well, they're supposed to be stuck at home until one of them comes up with a surefire plan to get them all to the Extreme. But can things actually work out for the three girls? With her new Upper status, Mina can't wait to head to O.C for spring break and the Extreme. Sure, it sucks that some of the clique has to stay behind on vacation, but it gives her a chance to enjoy her time with the Uppers…including her sworn enemy Jessica Johnson. But when Jessica mysteriously calls a truce before the Extreme, is it too good to be true?

What I love about Ms. Chase's books is the realism she brings to her characters and high school life in general. Everyone can identify with the cliques, especially the exclusive Uppers. Jessica is the perfect mean girl, willing to do whatever it takes to make sure Mina ends up back on the outside of the Uppers. And what she has in mind for poor Mina is truly disastrous. I'm anxious to see what happens in the next book, because there's definitely going to be fall-out from this one. My favorite part of THAT'S WHAT'S UP is when the book shifts to the O.C. and the Extreme itself. That's when things truly got interesting. All in all, THAT'S WHAT'S UP is a great third book in the series.

Learn more about THAT'S WHAT'S UP at http://www.paulachasehyman.com/whatsup.php and read an excerpt at http://www.paulachasehyman.com/whatsup1.php

Look for the fourth book in the series, WHO YOU WIT'? out in November 2008.

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

August 2008

Enchanting Review: Don't Get It Twisted

DON’T GET IT TWISTED
PAULA CHASE
Dafina
Paperback
$9.95
ISBN-10: 0758218613

Rating: 4 Enchantments

DON’T GET IT TWISTED is the sequel to the first book in the Del Rio Bay Clique series, SO NOT THE DRAMA.

Mina Mooney’s been asked to one of the hottest parties of the year, the Frenzy, by one of the hottest guys at school. Craig Simpson. Only one little problem -- she’s not allowed to date until she’s fifteen. And her parents aren’t exactly willing to let her go to the party, date or no date.

That’s where the Clique comes in, they’re going to have her back. Her girls are going to be her perfect cover to get to her to Frenzy and more importantly, to her big date with Craig.

But things are never that simple. Aside from the boy drama, Mina now has to tryout for the school newspaper, competing with another student to write a column that was her own idea. Not to be outdone, her clique has their own drama going on. Jacinta has boyfriend problems; JZ’s got issues with his schoolwork that could cost him his spot on the basketball team; Kelly’s interested in Angel, the hottie hustler from The Cove and the hot new basketball player Brian keeps flirting with Mina, even when she keeps telling him she has a boyfriend.

DON’T GET IT TWISTED shows what high school is like for a lot of teens, the struggle to fit in and make it through the year as unscathed as possible which in Mina’s case is pretty impossible.

Readers would probably benefit from reading the first in the series before reading DON’T GET IT TWISTED as I did feel a little lost with the characters at times.

I look forward to reading the continuing stories in the Del Rio Bay Clique series.

Reviewed by Lisa
YA Director
Enchanting Reviews

Enchanting Review: Don't Get It Twisted

DON'T GET IT TWISTED
PAULA CHASE
Dafina
Paperback
$9.95
ISBN-10: 0758218613

Rating: 4 Enchantments

DON'T GET IT TWISTED is the sequel to the first book in the Del Rio Bay Clique series, SO NOT THE DRAMA.

Mina Mooney's been asked to one of the hottest parties of the year, the Frenzy, by one of the hottest guys at school. Craig Simpson. Only one little problem -- she's not allowed to date until she's fifteen. And her parents aren't exactly willing to let her go to the party, date or no date.

That's where the Clique comes in, they're going to have her back. Her girls are going to be her perfect cover to get to her to Frenzy and more importantly, to her big date with Craig.

But things are never that simple. Aside from the boy drama, Mina now has to tryout for the school newspaper, competing with another student to write a column that was her own idea. Not to be outdone, her clique has their own drama going on. Jacinta has boyfriend problems; JZ's got issues with his schoolwork that could cost him his spot on the basketball team; Kelly's interested in Angel, the hottie hustler from The Cove and the hot new basketball player Brian keeps flirting with Mina, even when she keeps telling him she has a boyfriend.

DON'T GET IT TWISTED shows what high school is like for a lot of teens, the struggle to fit in and make it through the year as unscathed as possible which in Mina's case is pretty impossible.

Readers would probably benefit from reading the first in the series before reading DON'T GET IT TWISTED as I did feel a little lost with the characters at times.

I look forward to reading the continuing stories in the Del Rio Bay Clique series.

Reviewed by Lisa
Enchanting Reviews