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: Blue Bloods

BLUE BLOODS

MELISSA DE LA CRUZ

YA Vampire paranormal

Hyperion

ISBN# 978-1423101260

336 pages

$8.99

Paperback- Available now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Bliss Llewellyn is the new girl at New York’s Duchesne prep school. It doesn’t take long for her to realize where the cliques are. Mimi Force is definitely the big girl on campus, rich, powerful, and has a hot twin brother, Jack, that seems to be matching her social status. Schuyler Van Alen is the complete opposite of Mimi, she runs with only two friends Dylan and Oliver, she dresses quite frumpy, and her family is from less money than is the standard. Duchesne has an elite group of students that are the committee. Only the “blue bloods” can get in. Those seem to be the high class uppity kids. Imagine Bliss’s shock when she is invited to the club as well as Schuyler. What neither girl realized that the term blue bloods was quite literal as they are all vampires.

BLUE BLOODS is the story of three girls coming into their vampire puberty. Each vampire lives a life cycle over and over, and when the teenagers hit the age of 15 their bodies start to recognize their past lives. They also start to crave blood. This cycle happens to each of the blue bloods, named after their blue blood, except for Schuyler Van Alen. She is the last of her line but she is not a true blue blood. She is a half blood. Her mother is a blue blood but her father is known as a red blood, or a human. Schuyler has no past lives to recognize as she is a new spirit. But Schuyler is on a much deeper quest. She is trying to find out who keeps killing young blue bloods. Each death is surrounded by mysterious circumstances and all seem to point to the mythical Croatan as the killer. But The Croatan is just a myth right?

This was the first book in Melissa De La Cruz’s Blue Blood’s series. I was hooked from the first page. I could not believe this book was sitting in my TBR for so long. Blue Bloods is not the typical YA vampire paranormal. So many of these stories are the same old cookie cutter scenario but Blue Bloods had me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what was going on. There were so many twists and turns there was no way I could have predicted what was going to happen. I highly recommend BLUE BLOODS to anyone who wants a fun, fast, and action packed story!

Melissa De La Cruz is the author of the Ashleys series, the Au Pairs series and now the new Blue Bloods series. To find out more about her and her books please visit her website at http://melissa-delacruz.com/index.php

Jennifer

ENCHANTING REVIEWS

January 2009

Enchanting Interview: Lisa Schroeder

1. Why did you choose to write in verse?

When I wrote my first book, I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME, I didn't really choose the verse, the verse chose me. It just came out that way. I think it creates an atmosphere that I can't get with prose. For this book, FAR FROM YOU, again, I wanted to create a certain atmosphere, and I like how I can make the story very emotional by writing in more of a minimalist way.

2. What inspired you to write about difficulty of moving on from death?

This does seem to be a common theme in my books so far. And I think I write about it for a couple of reasons. First of all, every one of us, at some point in our lives, will experience loss of a loved one. We might not be 16 when it happens, but it will happen. And I think I want to show that it's hard and it hurts, but it is possible to move on, and to find happiness again. And I really believe that those who leave us want that for us. They want us to be happy, not sad. And of course we are, because we miss them. But ultimately, we have to move on and let that person go and make the most out of the life we've been given. So, I suppose I like writing about coming through that pain, to the other side, to a place of hope.

The other reason I write about loss is I have this deep belief that every day, we should give thanks for the family and friends in our life. Life is precious. Love is precious. And I hope at the end of my books, a reader will close the book and give thanks for the people who matter in his/her life.

3. What is the significance of incorporating angels into FAR FROM YOU instead of just the death of Alice's mother?

I'm a very organic writer, so I didn't start out knowing angels would be an important element to the book. It first came up when I was imagining a picture that Alice's mother painted for her, as a final gift before she passed away. And I thought of me, and my kids, and how I might want them to think of me if something were to happen to me.

There is something very comforting about an angel. Of thinking that you have an angel watching over you. So that's how it started. And then there were more opportunities to bring angels into the story, and so I went with it. It seemed to work. I hope it works!

4. What was the most difficult part for you to write in FAR FROM YOU?

There's that point where Victoria and Ali need to have it out. When all of the tension that's been building has to come out, so they can move on and hopefully find a way to get along. My editor said the scene needed more, so I had to dig deeper and figure out how to get all of this dialogue out while trying to be somewhat poetic at the same time. It's hard! And I don't really think I was as poetic as I would have liked to be. But it was an important scene and one that needed to happen and for the reader to experience.

5. How do you transfer so much emotion into your writing?

I'm not sure I can really answer that. It's not anything I can easily define. I know my books do elicit emotion, as people tell me that again and again. And I think that's a huge compliment, really. I suppose it's just letting myself write from a very vulnerable place and really trying to be that character in that moment and trying to capture the feelings as best I can.

6. FAR FROM YOU deals with relationships between friends, family, and significant others in an ultimately positive way. What was the experience of developing these relationships like?

Ultimately, when all is said and done, life is about relationships. At the end, that's what we'll look back on with fondness – the relationships we treasured in our lives. But you know, like anything in life, it's not always sunshine and roses. Relationships take work.

There has to be a give and a take because we're different from each other, and it's not always easy to get along. I once read that when writing a book, every relationship has the potential to be a sub-plot.

And it's so true! The fight Ali had with Claire played an important role in the rest of the story, for example. And I think Ali learned some things from that fight. And isn't that what it's like for all of us? When we have problems in life, or make mistakes, we learn from them and become better for them.

7. Music is definitely a huge part of this novel. What songs or music genre would you say fit the mood of your writing?

When I'm writing, I listen to singer/songwriters who write amazing lyrics and whose songs literally speak to my soul. For this particular book, I listened to a lot of Lifehouse and Sara McLachlan. Each book is different. The one I'm writing now, it's been a lot of A Fine Frenzy.

8. Which character in FAR FROM YOU can you relate to the most and why?

Definitely Alice. Not because my mother passed away, but because I was a child with divorced parents who had to deal with step-parents and step-siblings and all of that. It's hard! And some people have said Alice is so bitter at the beginning of the book, but I can tell you, at times, dealing with the new loves in my parents' lives, I was bitter. So to me it seems realistic. Others who have had different experiences may feel differently, and that's fine. But I did write from a place that I remember being at when new people came into my life.

9. What is the best part about being a YA author?

Oh good. An easy question! :) Most definitely hearing from readers.

Every week I get letters from teens who have read one of my books and want to tell me how it's touched them. As a writer, that's the ultimate goal really. To tell a story and to touch someone. And I love hearing that I accomplished what I set out to do.

10. What's next for you?

I'm working on a third novel for Pulse, called CHASING BROOKLYN, about a girl and a boy who are brought together by the ghosts in their lives. It will have some of the same themes as the other two, but I'm working hard to make it new and fresh, and one of the ways I'm doing that is by having alternating POVs. So part of the book will be told from a boy's POV as well as girl's. That book will be out sometime in early 2010.

Thanks so much for having me, and for reviewing FAR FROM YOU!!! I'm

always really impressed by your reviews!

Interview by Rachael

January 2009

Enchanting Interview: Leslie Margolis

1. What sparked the idea for BOYS ARE DOGS?

My husband and I adopted our dog, Aunt Blanche, from an animal shelter back in 2005. She was four months old and not housebroken and really sick and afraid of everything ¨C including us. I got pretty obsessive when it came to her training and read at least ten books on the subject. So many of them said the same things. And so many of their training methods worked on people, too¡ It seemed like a natural transition.

2. What made you decide to write Middle Grade?

I didn't necessarily set out to write middle grade fiction. When I'm in the early stages of developing ideas I'm not thinking in terms of age group or genre. I just came up with this character and this story and it seemed to fit. Annabelle appeared as a sixth grader, and her story was set in junior high school. The transition was organic and I'm so glad it happened because the junior high school years are such an exciting and dynamic time. There's so much material there.

3. What do you like best about Annabelle?

Annabelle is straightforward, honest, and strong and she's not afraid to speak her mind.

4. Did you have a favorite scene to write?

Yes, the first time Annabelle makes the connection between puppy training and boy training -- when she finds her voice and things start to turn around for her ¨C that moment of recognition was very exciting to write.

5. Did you ever have to deal with any of the same situations Annabelle does?

Sure, junior high school was torture! Like Annabelle, I once got stuck in a lab group with two boys. I wish I'd been able to take control the way Annabelle learns to. I suppose that scene is mostly fantasy with a pinch of revisionist history tossed in.

6. What's next for you?

I just finished Girls Acting Catty, the sequel to Boys Are Dogs. In it, Annabelle has some problems with a group of girls and she finds they're too complex to handle with puppy/boy training techniques. It'll be out in the fall of 2009.

I'm also working on a middle grade novel set in Brooklyn. It's about friendship and aliens.

Interview by Lisa

January 2009

Enchanting Review: Mason

MASON

THOMAS PENDLETON

YA horror

Harper Collins

ISBN# 978-0-06-117736-1

247 pages

$8.99

Paperback—Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Mason Avrett is shunned at school as being the local ‘pudding head.’ Not too bright, others ridicule him. No one knows that he has a power so terrifying that even he’s not sure how to use it. He lives with his aunt and sadistic older brother, Gene, who likes to beat Mason when things don’t go his way.

Rene Denton, used to be a childhood friend of Mason. Even though she doesn’t talk to him, that doesn’t mean she likes to see others take advantage of him. One night of standing up for Mason sets off a string of horrific events. For Mason, the lifetime of pain come out in ways more terrifying than even his brother Gene.

This is one of those stories that you need to keep the light on when reading. Especially at night. Creepy and chilling, I couldn’t put this book down. I liked Rene’s character, especially when she refuses to stay silent when others mock Mason or when she watches one of her friends make a dangerous choice. Mason’s loyalty to Rene is shown in his way to send scary images to those who hurt her. But Pendleton doesn’t just dwell on this. He shows the qualities of Mason that still believe in hope and redemption.

Once again Pendleton shows the reader a world where horror coexists with everyday life. His tale is suspenseful and a real page turner with a powerful conclusion that will be remembered long afterward.

Thomas Pendleton has coauthored with Stefan Petrucaha another recommended edgy series—THE WICKED DEAD. MASON is Pendleton’s first solo novel for teens. He currently lives in Austin, Texas. Visit him at www.wickeddead.com and www.leethomasauthor.com

Kim

Enchanting Reviews

January 2009

Enchanting Review: You Are So Undead To Me

YOU ARE SO UNDEAD TO ME

STACEY JAY

Paranormal YA

Razorbill

ISBN# 978-1-59514-225-2

256 Pages

Trade--Available January 22, 2009

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Fifteen year old Megan Berry is in for a surprise. Her Zombie Settler powers are returning and it couldn't be at a worse time, right before her first date with Josh, the senior hottie she's been dying to go out with. But suddenly there's a zombie at the door who wants to unload his final burdens in his after-death session and now Megan finds herself remembering things she thought long forgotten: like that horrible zombie attack five years ago.

And then there's the appearance of the mysterious hottie Ethan, another part of her blurred past that right now Megan would give anything to remember. They were friends then but now thanks to the Settlers’ Affairs, he's relegated to the role of bodyguard/tutor and that's the absolute last thing Megan wants. First, she doesn't want one and second, does it have to be Ethan? Especially when she finds out the mega-bitch at school, Monica, is a) also a Zombie Settler, b) was there the night of the horrible zombie attack and c) might just be the one behind the rash of Zombie attacks aimed at Megan.

There were a lot of things I liked about YOU ARE SO UNDEAD TO ME, the zombie settler aspect was really unique and Megan overall has a great persona. I liked the scenes between her and Ethan and the fight scenes were really well done. A lot of the scenes stick in your head after your done the book and the truth of who was really behind the Zombie attacks did come as a bit of a surprise. But as much as I liked it, there were a few parts that seemed a little rough to me. The one scene with Ethan and Megan eating at the car, I had to read a few times to figure out how they moved from parking lot to Megan’s home so suddenly. And some of the Settler aspects weren't really explained and the relationship between Megan and Ethan as well as Megan and some of the other characters was a bit confusing at times.

YOU ARE SO UNDEAD TO ME does lay the groundwork for what should be an entertaining new paranormal series. I look forward to seeing where Ms. Jay takes Megan from here.

Stacey Jay lives in the Midwest. Learn more about her at www.staceyjoy.com

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

December 2008

Enchanting Review: Shelter Me

SHELTER ME

ALEX McAULAY

Historical Fiction YA

MTV Books

ISBN# 978-1-4165-4583-5

274 pages

$9.95

Paperback – Available January 2009

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Maggie Leigh is trying to live a normal life in the midst of World War II. But nothing comes easy now, especially with meager war rations and German bombs frequently falling on her hometown of London. Life has become dreary and boring with no friends, no chocolate, and no fun.

By chance, Maggie and her aunt Joan are caught in a bombing, leaving Joan comatose and Margie largely uninjured, but at the mercy of her overtly religious mother. Maggie’s mom sees the German bombs as divine punishment for Britain’s collective sins, including Maggie’s, and tricks Maggie into attending a secluded boarding school in Wales. Maggie is plunged into a world of lies and deceit in a delusional institution that encourages dementia and class warfare. Then a horrific incident forces Maggie and three other girls to flee the school. Wartime Britain, as they are about to learn, is a harsh and unforgiving world, and absolutely everything is at stake.

SHELTER ME is without a doubt a nonstop thriller with the added excitement of danger of war on the home front. I felt McAulay accurately portrayed most of the terrifying effects of modern warfare in real people’s lives. This novel’s strength was by far the unpredictable plot. The many twists and turns kept the story suspenseful and reader eager to know more. There was a little lacking in the character department however. Maggie shows herself to be a quick and resourceful thinker, but much of the rest of her character was conflicted. She is compassionate and caring to one friend, but quick to forget the others that get left behind in her escape. Maggie’s relationship with her zealously religious mother is never resolved, especially after the betrayal, much to my disappointment. But despite only mediocre character development, SHELTER ME is most definitely a thrilling read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Alex McAulay has written several other thrillers for young adults, including LOST SUMMER and OBLIVION ROAD. You can visit him online at his website: www.alexmcaulay.com

Rachael Stein

Enchanting Reviews

December 2008