In My Mailbox (42)

 In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by Kristi at The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox or doorstep or directly into our hot little hands.


Books Received:

Purchased:

Talking to Girls about Duran Duran by Rob Sheffield

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

Beautiful by Amy Reed

Gifted:

Gone by Lisa McMann

Random Act of Kindness from Jen D. at Not Now . . .I'm Reading
THANK YOU!!

Books Mentioned:

Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield

Clean by Amy Reed

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Waiting on Wednesday - Graffiti Moon

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Graffiti Moon
by Cath Crowley
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published on February 14, 2012









Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes. (from Goodreads)


This book has been on my wish list ever since I finished Cath Crowley's A Little Wanting Song - a book that loved. See my review HERE. I'd hoped to get a copy before now but it was only available in Australia. I guess I'll have to wait just a little bit longer.

Book Tour and Giveaway: Galstanberry #2

Galstanberry #2
by Garen S. Wolff
Published June 11, 2011
WolffHouse Books and Publishing



 The second installment in the Galstanberry series, Book #2, follows the 5 characters--Lillian, Brandi, Fei, Tabitha, and Nisha-- as they navigate Galstanberry Girls Academy. Who rooms with whom? What traditions are followed? Readers and the 5 characters will discover the TRUE meaning of "Galstanberry Girl". (from Goodreads)





Galstanberry #2 picks up as the girls are spending their first night at Galstanberry Girls Academy in the chapter titled Rude Awakening. The girls are suddenly woken up from sleep in what seems to be a hazing ritual by the eight-graders, they begin to wonder "Is this the Galstanberry they signed up for?" 


I like how Galstanberry #2 moves right into the story line and doesn't go back and reintroduce all of the characters again. Each girl's personality becomes apparent as they interact with each other and it is clear that they are not all going to best friends. From the beginning, competition begins as the girls size each other up based on their education, money, their clothes and even their hobbies. While Galstanberry is a place of educational privilege, it definitely is not immune to cliques. 

A lot of new characters are introduced and if you don't pay enough attention it is easy to get confused. But I suppose it makes a lot of sense because the characters themselves are meeting a lot of people in a very short period of time, it would be difficult to remember too.
While this book is shorter than the first in the series, it is filled with a lot of drama.  So much happens in Galstanberry #2 - friendships are formed and rivalries are too. Roommates are already fed up with each other and classes haven't even started yet! 

What will the school year be like for Lillian, Brandi, Fei, Tabitha, and Nisha? Who will stay friends? Who will become enemies? What will they learn about Galstanberry and themselves? I can't wait for book three to find out.


Now for the  Twitter Giveaway (hosted by publisher and open to US only):

Readers can enter an win: The Girlz of Galstanberry (book 1), Galstanberry #2, stickers and bookmarks tweeting:

Follow @GalstanberryFan, and RT this for a chance to win the Galstanberry Grand Gift!http://t.co/vdVLz4v #giveaway #contest

Easy as that!

Next Tour Stop: readergirls.blogspot.com

Book Tour and Giveaway: The Girlz from Galstanberry (#1)

 
The Girlz of Galstanberry 
by Garen S. Wolff
Published October 10, 2010
WolffHouse Books and Publishing




From the boroughs of New York, to the beaches of San Francisco, girls hail from all walks of life, to sport the violet blazer, pink beret, and coveted ‘Galstanberry Girl’ title.





The Girlz of Galstanberry begins as the prominent Charles Galstanberry awaits the birth of this son, Andrew A son that he a has always wanted and intends to pass along the family legacy. Mr. Galstanberry is quite surprised that his newborn child is not a son, but a daughter, Aundrea. A daughter who will be educated and have every opportunity that a male child would have (which was not so common in 1926) as this is the dying wish of Mrs. Galstanberry who has come down with pneumonia shortly after childbirth.

Overcome with grief, it takes several years for Charles to begin to make his wife's wishes as a reality and finally constructs and organizes the Galstanberry Girls Academy.

The story moves along to the present and introduces five girls from all over the U.S. who will be attending Galstanberry Girls Academy. We meet Lillian, Brandi, Fei, Tabitha and Nisha - different in so many ways, but similar too. Each girl is excited to experience this new and exciting world of academia, but each is afraid in their own ways - fear of breaking family bonds, leaving friends and new relationships behind. And even a little bit of fear that they might not quite measure up.  

I was looking forward to this middle grade read because I wanted a story filled with characters that I could read with my nieces and something they could relate to. I think The Girlz of Galstanberry is just one such book. It is filled with interesting characters that have a variety of issues that readers can relate to whether that is familial expectations, peer pressure, or self-acceptance. This is a book that girls can share with their friends and sisters. I'm interested to see how the girls of Galstanberry will grow and evolve as the series continues.

Now for the  Twitter Giveaway (hosted by publisher and open to US only):

Readers can enter an win: The Girlz of Galstanberry (book 1), Galstanberry #2, stickers and bookmarks tweeting:

Follow @GalstanberryFan, and RT this for a chance to win the Galstanberry Grand Gift!http://t.co/vdVLz4v #giveaway #contest

Easy as that!

Next Stop: readergirls.blogspot.com

In My Mailbox (41)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by Kristi at The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox or doorstep or directly into our hot little hands.

Purchased:

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Too excited about both of these! They were on my Random Acts of Kindness wish list, but I didn't want to wait to see if I might get them.

I'll be checking out your mailboxes too. Hope you got some goodies!

Love My Indie with Yara from Once Upon a Twilight

Love My Indie is a feature where authors, bloggers, and readers tell me about their favorite independent bookstores. I love the feeling I get when I go into an independent bookstore - like it is filled with hidden treasures just waiting for me to find them. Maybe one day I will have the chance to visit these amazing bookstores.

Showing some Indie Love today is:

Yara from Once Upon a Twilight 

 

 

Yara's favorite independent bookstore is Blue Willow Bookshop located in Houston, TX.

When you walk in to Blue Willow, you feel that you are home. Its such a welcoming place. All the staff are just so nice and attentive. The layout of the store is just so cozy. It's probably not the largest but you never feel cramped inside. When they have author events, you have such a wonderful time. Nothing is rushed and you enjoy every second with the authors while they are there.

Lauren Oliver, author of Before I Fall and Delirium

The seating gets you up close and personal and when it comes time to get your books autographed, everyone has all the time in the world to meet and greet the authors. I can't speak for the authors, but when you notice those authors keep coming back to Blue Willow, they must be doing something right.  

Yara with Lauren Oliver

This year I was excited when I learned that the ladies from Blue Willow would be at BEA and they would be hosting a panel and interviewing some great authors. I was very happy to be able to attend the panel and show my support. 

Cathy Berner of Blue Willow Bookshop with Melissa Marr, Ellen Hopkins and Melissa de la Cruz

At Blue Willow you will find pretty much anything, the store has such a variety of books and knick knacks. You feel like your in candy land when you walk in. I can ever leave without buying something new there. They have a great selection in Young Adult books and even a wonderful section of Children's books. They have book clubs that you can sign up for. They offer programs for Girl Scouts. You can also attend Storytime every Thursday in the morning with your toddler or preschooler. You can usually find signed copies of some wonderful books, you can either call or stop by and pick up a copy in case you missed the author signing. 

So there you have a little bit of info on my favorite indie store. You can visit their website and check out all their great features online. You can also view pictures from past events. 

Visit Blue Willow Bookshop at: http://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/

I want to thank Yara for responding to my call for guest bloggers on Twitter and participating in this week's Love My Indie. I've heard of the name Blue Willow Bookshop on a few IMM vlogs and a few mentions of it on Twitter and am happy to learn more about it. I've checked out their site and love what I see. Oh to be in Houston would be such a treat. Blue Willow Bookshop looks like the happening place!

If you're interested in participating in this feature, please send me an email at actinupwb@gmail.com - I'd love to hear from you and discover your favorite indie bookstore!  

Waiting on Wednesday - Hunting Lila

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:







Hunting Lila
by Sarah Alderson
Published by Simon and Schuster Children's Books
Published on August 4, 2011







17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. Or thereabouts.After a mugging on the streets of South London goes horribly wrong and exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. Trying to uncover the truth of why her mother was killed, and the real remit of The Unit, Lila becomes a pawn in a dangerous game. Struggling to keep her secrets in a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them... (from Goodreads)


While checking out my Google Reader this weekend I found this book at Heaven is a Bookstore and I think this book sounds incredible. A bit of action, adventure, mystery and a love story. I'm sold.