New Twilight Novella

Stephenie Meyer announced yesterdy that there will be a novella published about the newly turned vampire Bree from Eclipse. (But it's actually close to 200 pages, so I don't know if it's really a novella. But I guess when you write hugely long books, 200 pages seems short.)

The book will be released on June 7 and will be available in print as well as a free e-book for a month. Of course, this all works well with the movie release of Eclipse.

I don't even really remember the character of Bree and since I'm not a big Twilight fan, I don't know if I'll even read this one. But I'm sure I'll have teens at the library who are asking for it.

Really, the whole thing seems like another way Twilight is trying very hard to be Harry Potter. First the last movie is split into two, now the author releases a "novella" after the entire series is finished and both books have profits going to benefit charity (although The Tales of Beedle the Bard had net proceeds going to Children's High Level Group and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner has $1 going towards the Red Cross).

I still have Twilight fans at the library, but it seem like the buzz and excitement has faded out. The readers that started with Twilight have moved on to other paranormal series. This book almost feels like a way to bring people back and make Twilight popular again.

So I'm curious-are you interested in reading The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner or are you over Twilight?

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Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Faithful by Janet Fox

Release Date: 5/13/2010

About the Book (from author's website):

In 1904 Margaret Bennet has it all – money, position, and an elegant family home in Newport, Rhode Island. But just as she is to enter society, her mother ruins everything, first with public displays, and finally by disappearing. Maggie’s confusion and loss are compounded when her father drags her to Yellowstone National Park, where he informs her that they will remain. At first Maggie’s only desire is to return to Newport. But the mystical beauty of the Yellowstone landscape, and the presence of young Tom Rowland, a boy unlike the others she has known, conspire to change Maggie from a spoiled girl willing to be constrained by society to a free-thinking and brave young woman living in a romantic landscape at the threshold of a new century.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: This one just sound great all around-and I really like historical romance. The synopsis reminds me somewhat of A Nothern Light and Hattie Big Sky, (I'm not really sure why-I think it's the girl coming into her own storyline) both of which I loved so I'm very eager to pick this book up in May!

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Tween Tuesday

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme that feature's great reads for tweens! Leave your Tween Tuesday links in the comments!

A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home by Henry Cole

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Genre: Historical/Animal Story

Release Date: 2/3/2010

Purchase from Indiebound.org
Add to Goodreads

About the Book: Celeste is a mouse who lives in a small room inside a house who spends her time making baskets. She is often bullied by two large rats who take her food and one day Celeste is sent further into the house than she's gone before. She befriends a young boy named Joseph, who is staying at the house with Mr. Audubon where they are drawing pictures of birds. Celeste meets many new friends along the way and discovers the meaning of home.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: A Nest for Celeste is somewhat reminiscent of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, although Celeste is a likeable character from the start. But I felt the book lacked some of the magic and charm of Edward Tulane.

Each chapter has a little bit of it's own story, which I felt made the book a little disjointed and at times I didn't feel like everything was connected. Mr. Audubon's story is based on the real life artist who drew birds. He hunted and killed the birds and then pinned them in the position he wanted to paint them, and the author doesn't shy away from this in the book. If you have sensitive tweens, there may be some parts that are a little too much for them (there are vivid hunting scenes as well as drawings of the birds pinned to paper).

The drawings are beautiful and detailed and that's really where the book excels. I do think A Nest for Celeste would make a wonderful read aloud for parents and tweens. The book could also lend itself to great discussions on animals, science and what makes a home.

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Author Interview: Jaclyn Dolamore

Please welcome author Jaclyn Dolamore to GreenBeanTeenQueen! I loved Magic Under Glass and I'm thrilled there will be a sequel, Magic Under Stone.

Jaclyn Dolamore Website
Jaclyn Dolamore Blog
Purchase Magic Under Glass, Add Magic Under Glass to Goodreads

- I loved that your book featured an automaton-it made the storyline very unique! How did you get the idea for including an automaton in the book as one of the main characters?

I've always liked stories about inanimate things that look human coming to life and having a soul. For years I've been writing stories set on another world where one of the races are living dolls called "rag people" who can look very real but are usually discriminated against. I also had a race of android with souls, but I stopped writing about them because the society didn't seem to have enough technology otherwise to make such lifelike robots. But, when I was thinking about writing a Victorian novel, I thought about some of the creepy things that fascinate me in museums, and automata and mechanical music are some of my favorites! From there, it was an easy jump.

-I know that you like vintage clothing-do you have a dream vintage outfit you would love to wear?

Ooh. Something by Paul Poiret. His clothes are amazing. Or Schiaparelli, although I'm a bit pickier with her. I'm also pretty in love with some of the dresses from just after the French Revolution. They weren't as fussy as the 18th century look, but not as completely simplistic as the Regency. And I would really like to know, for research purposes, what it's like to wear a corset and all those underclothes!

-I saw that you attend a Teen Book Club at your local library. Do you have any favorite book club reads?

It's not a surprise, but FEED by M.T. Anderson makes for great discussion. I also immensely enjoyed the day we just talked about the Harry Potter books. We pick a lot of depressing dystopian books, it seems, so it was a nice change to talk about the relatively cheerful wizarding world.

-You hosted an Emily of New Moon February on your blog. Why did you pick the Emily books to read and discuss?

I had to stop because of my repetitive stress injury in a lot of writing to do, but I hope to pick that project back up again! I love the Emily books. Actually, they're my favorite books of all time. The characters and places just seem so real to me. But they aren't perfect... there are some aspects of the books I don't like very much. And there are some things I loved as a kid (I had a crush on Dean Priest?) that I now feel have changed (he's actually a creep). However, that just gives me some discussion fodder... like, did L. M. Montgomery make him a creep because of her own issues with men?

-If you could live inside any book, what book you pick?

Well, if I couldn't pick a book I had written (there are some characters I would so love to hang out with!) I would pick the Betsy-Tacy books. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

Thanks Jackie! If you haven't read Magic Under Glass yet, be sure to pick up a copy. And check out the blog, since there's a contest to win a a signed sketch of Nimira.

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In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren. This week I got an unexpected package from Penguin which included three books:

The Evil Within: A Possessions Novel by Nancy Holder

-(From Goodreads): In this sequel to New York Times bestselling author Nancy Holder’s Possessions, Lindsay finds out that she, too, is possessed, and must return to creepy Marlwood Academy in order to rid herself of the spirit. Lindsay’s afraid of what the spirit is telling her to do—kill Mandy! But the secrets of Marlwood go much deeper than Lindsay thought. Sometimes the girls who seem like enemies are actually on your side. And the voices you trust the most—the voices that come from within—are the ones that want you dead. (This one is a sequel and I haven't read the first one!)

Paisley Hanover Kisses and Tells by Cameron Tuttle

-(From Goodreads): The election results are in—and totally UnExpected. Now the UnPops are picketing, the Pops are preening, and Paisley’s sophomore year is a bust—again. But when best frienemy Jen’s reputation takes a beating by viral text, Paisley’s pity party is over. She rolls out a new undercover plan to save Jen’s rep, and in the process, follows her heart into a crazy complicated love triangle. Then as if things weren’t confusing enough, Paisley’s archrival—super cute, super nice, super popular Candy Esposito—steals Paisley’s UnPop popularity! First Paisley gets mad; then she gets smart. Can she use Candy’s newfound UnPopularity to save Jen’s reputation—and pull off the biggest coup since Miss UnPleasant turned the Pleasant Hill High social hierarchy on its big fat head? Hello double-crossers, good-bye double standards! Paisley Hanover is back—pucker up! (Another sequel that I'll need to catch up on the first book. I love the new covers though!)

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

-(From Goodreads): What if love refused to die? Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was. In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again. (The Kiki Strike series was very popular at my library, so I'm sure this one will be too!)

I also got Runaway for a contest preview-so be on the lookout for a very cool contest starting soon!

Runaway (An Airhead Novel) by Meg Cabot

(From Goodreads): Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.
With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope. . .what's the point of even going on?
But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.
Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved--since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed--this time, permanently?
Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running

(Luckily, I'm caught up on this series!)

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Read Pretty Little Liars Online!

HarperCollins is currently offering a Browse Inside preview of the entire book Pretty Little Liars. With the TV show starting this summer, this is a great time to read the first book in the series! The entire Browse Inside preview is only for a limited time, so make sure you read it soon!:) (And I don't know why it's not showing the cover, but this is the link for Pretty Little Liars!

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YA Movie News

-Last week I mentioned there was a new movie adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time in the works. The film has picked Jeff Stockwell as the screenwriter. Stockwell also adapted Bridge to Terabithia (which I still haven't seen, so you'll have to let me know how close it was to the book). Stockwell also has adaptations of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Kiki's Delivery Service lined up as well. Thanks to Cynopsis for the news.

-LaVar Burton tweeted last week about a possible return of Reading Rainbow
"You heard it here first... Reading Rainbow 2.0 is in th works! Stay tuned for more info. But, you don't have to..." It really makes me sad that my teens have no idea what Reading Rainbow is, so I'd love to see the show return. Last year Mr. Burton tweeted about a Reading Rainbow for adults idea and I really hope he's still heading in that direction. (Did anyone else practice booktalks for that show like I did?) Thanks to Cynopsis for news.

-Cory Doctorow's novel Little Brother has been optioned by Angryfilms. I have read great reviews about this book and with the rise of dystopian and science fiction, I think a movie will do really well. Thanks to Shelf Awareness for the news.

-The official opening date for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be June 18th. I wish I could go opening weekend! Anyone planning on going? Do you think it will be great or not worth it?

-How to Train Your Dragon opens this weekend and so far the reviews have been very positive. Amazingly, the book's hold list at my library is still pretty small, so maybe I'll get a chance to read the book before I see the movie!

-The trailer for Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is out-I'm not sure what I think about it, but I'm still really excited. I hope the movie gets the comics noticed more, because they really are great reads!



-Here's the first look at Pretty Little Liars the TV show, which will premire this summer on ABC Family. I just got the first book in at the library, so I'm hoping to catch up. Thanks to Khy at Frenetic Reader at for sharing this!

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Vote for my Teen Author!

One of the perks of being a teen librarian is that I get to meet lots of awesome teens! One of my teens is an aspiring author and has posted one of her works in progress on Inkpop.com. Inkpop is a young adult site that allows writers to post their writing and the community can vote on their favorites. Each month the top five stories go before an editorial reivew board at HarperCollins!

Sam is one of the teens at my library and her story, Altered, is currently number five! I'm so proud of her and I'd love for you to go to Inkpop check out her story and vote for it if you like it. You can also read all about Sam and the books she's reading and what she's writing at her blog, One Sparkling Star.

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Gone by Lisa McMann

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

Genre: Mystery/Paranormal/Contemporary

Release Date: 1/19/2010

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Purchase from Indiebound, Add to Goodreads

About the Book: Janie's future as a dream catcher isn't bright. Her chances of going crippled and blind are high and she always runs the risk of falling into people's dreams. She knows Cabel will stick with her, no matter what, even though she doesn't want to bring him down with her.

When a stranger enters Janie's life, she discovers another possible future-but one that mean she would be alone. Both choices have risks-which will Janie choose?

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I wasn't the biggest fan of Wake and Fade, but I found them interesting enough that I wanted to read the finale to the series. Unfortunately, Gone fell flat for me and is my least favorite of the series.

I didn't feel the choppy writing style from the first two was present as much in this one, which I liked. But what I didn't like was that the fast pace and engaging storyline wasn't there. There was no mystery to solve. Gone instead is much more of a personal story for Janie and I found myself getting mad and annoyed with her more than I wanted to see her succeed.

I felt like the plot was lacking. I liked the overall storyline of dream catchers, but I never really felt a connection with Janie or Cabel in this one. They both were whiny and I just never found myself caring. The whole book had an "after school special" feel, which I found somewhat trite. (Although I am glad the book didn't reach the goofyness that was Fade!)

It was a good ending to the series and was a quick fast read. But I thought the first book was the most inventive and creative, even if they did get somewhat silly-(the books have a realistic feel, yet I could never buy into the teens working undercover for the cops storyline).

I would only pick this one up if you were a fan of the first two and wanted to see how they end. Ms. McMann is working on a new series, and I'm interested in seeing how it turns out. I think she's very talented, this series just wasn't my favorite. Wake is on our state award list for next year, so I'm interested to see how the teens at my library respond to the series.

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The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary

Release Date: 2/4/2010

Publisher: Razorbill

Purchase from Indiebound.org, Add to Goodreads

Suzanne Young's Blog

About the Book: Think you know cheerleaders? Think again! The Smitten Kittens aren't just the school spirit squad, they're a secret society that will spy on guys to see if they're cheating. Think your guy is on The Naughty List? Text the Society of Smitten Kittens (SOS) and they'll find out for you. Everything seems to be going great until head cheerleader Tessa's own boyfriend Aiden shows up as a suspect on The Naughty List. Now things aren't so strawberry smoothie...

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I love the idea for this book-spying cheerleaders and cheating boyfriends. And while the book is unique and fun, I was left a little disappointed. It was a fun book, but I just wanted more substance and character development. The Naughty List reminds me of something that could easily be adapted as a CW TV show.

Tessa and Aiden were the only characters I really got to know-the rest of the squad all blended together and I had a hard time keeping each girl straight. You also don't learn much about anyone else and I would have liked to know more about the Smitten Kittens as well as Tessa and Aiden. That being said, I did enjoy what was there. I loved the background for the forming of SOS and I loved the idea of these girls going out and finding cheaters. And the reports they wrote up for clients cracked me up! And Tessa's pretend curse words were always fun and creative-I don't know how Ms. Young came up with so many.

While I liked Tessa and Aiden, I got frustrated with them. They never tried to talk about things and instead sex was their way of communicating. I wanted them to just talk to each other and work things out instead of assuming things. But then again, that's the formula that makes chick lit work-not talking and misunderstandings-so I shouldn't complain too much. I really hated Chloe and Christian-they were icky and swarmy and I really couldn't stand them! Again, I would have liked to know more about them, but they were great characters to dislike.

Even though I had the story figured out, I still had fun reading it. The ending wasn't my favorite, but it leaves the book open for the next in the series, which I'll be looking forward to reading. The Naughty List is a fun frothy read that chick lit readers will be sure to enjoy.

Full Disclosure: Checked out from my library

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Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Grace by Elizabeth Scott

Release Date: 9/16/2010

Add to Goodreads

About the Book: A fable of a terrifying near future by critically acclaimed author Elizabeth Scott.

Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

Told in spare, powerful prose, this tale of a dystopian near future will haunt readers long after they've reached the final page.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Elizabeth Scott is one of those authors who can write no wrong in my eyes. She's one of my author heroes and I think she's amazing. I'm always raving about her books to my teens and they are go-to books for booktalking. I can't wait to see Ms. Scott take on a dystopian novel and Grace one of my must reads for 2010!

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Veronica Mars Rewatch and Discuss

Shana Silver and Sonia Gensler are hosting a Veronia Mars re-watch and discussion. So if you're a Veronica newbie or a long time Veronica fan, join in. The plan right now is to watch one episode a week and discuss it. And the episodes are online, so really, you have no excuse not to join!

I sadly discovered Veronica Mars after it was off the air, but I got addicted and watched all of season one in one weekend. It's smart, witty, funny and addictive and one of the best teen shows ever made. I hope you join in on the fun-I can't wait to re-watch this show!

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Tween Tuesday

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme where I highlight great tween reads. Leave your Tween Tuesday link in the Mr. Linky below!

The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Fairy Tale

Release Date: 3/17/2010

Lois Lowry's Website

About the Book: It's almost the day of Princess Patricia Priscilla's sixteenth birthday ball-the day the Princess will be asked to choose a suitor. But the princess is bored. So she decides to disguise herself as a peasant and go to school for the week. Princess Patricia Priscilla loves school and she's not looking forward to her birthday ball-especially when she finds out who the suitors will be! Will Princess Patricia Priscilla find a way to end her boredom and marry a man she loves?

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I grew up reading the Anastasia books and The Giver. The Birthday Ball reminded my why Lois Lowry is one of my favorite authors.

Ms. Lowry takes on the fairy tale genre and there's such a wonderful blend of humor, heart, and romance. Princess Patricia Priscilla could have been a snobby rich princess, but instead she's a girl who is trapped and you can't help but feel sorry for her and understand her need to escape and try something new. She really is a endearing character and I was cheering her on the whole time.

The book starts out with chapters introducing multiple characters, but the characters come together and it's a very fun romp told with Ms. Lowry's wit and tongue in cheek humor. The three suitors for the princess are hilarious-there's a prince who is horribly ugly, but mirrors have been banned in his kingdom, so he doesn't know his fate, there's a prince who thinks he is the most handsome prince and must look in a mirror at all times, and there's the conjoined twins who fight all the time but share a love of bathroom humor. At first I wasn't a fan of the chapters introducing the various princes, but I think the prince's stories save this from being a very princessy book that will appeal to only fairy tale readers. With the princes stories woven in, I think there's a wider appeal (although it might be hard to sell a book with a princess on the cover to boys). All the characters come together in the end for one of the most delightful balls I've read about.

I think The Birthday Ball would make a great read-aloud for parents and children as well as classrooms. The book may be marketed for tweens, but I would recommend this one for any age reader who loves a good fairy tale. Ms. Lowry shows us why she is one of the best children's authors around.

Full Disclosure: Reviewed from e-book recieved from publisher via NetGalley

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Author Interview: Introducing Beth Revis

Please welcome Beth Revis to GreenBeanTeenQueen! Beth is a YA author who's debut book, Across the Universe, will be released in Spring 2011.

I started following Beth's blog a few months ago and her blog is one of my favorite author blogs to read. When I got her newsletter announcing her book deal and I had to know more. The day before she announced her book, I was telling my husband someone should write a great YA science-fiction set in space with murder. (My mind is weird and it sounded like a great plot.) Luckily, Beth read my mind! So I had to share her awesomeness with everyone!

Beth's Website
Beth's Blog

GreenBeanTeenQueen: Congrats on your new book deal! Your book, Across the Universe will be releasing in 2011-can you tell us a little bit about the book and how long it took you to write it?

-I started the book during Christmas break 2008, with a goal of finishing the rough draft by summer break. (Can you tell I'm also a teacher? I so schedule my writing times in terms of semesters and breaks.) My goal was to have a finished draft by the end of summer break and start submitting by the start of the school year. I started querying agents in September 2009.

As for a description of the book: Amy is part of a cryogenically frozen cargo on a space ship heading to a new planet. When she wakes up 50 years before the ship's due to land, however, she must adapt to life on board a space ship and figure out who's unplugging--and thereby killing--the other frozens.

Essentially, it's Agatha Christie's MOUSETRAP....in space!

Ok, I'm hooked and I can't wait to read it! Since you write science fiction and fantasy are there any science fiction or fantasy movies or TV shows or book series that you're addicted to?

OMGDOCTORWHO! I am *such* a nerd for DOCTOR WHO!! Especially with David Tennant. That show is just so cleverly written, with such strong emotions behind the characters. I adore it. I really just can't get behind much TV--I forget to watch and get behind on series--but Doctor Who is a show that I *never* miss.

The other very best I can think of is Joss Whedon's SERENITY (movie) and FIREFLY (television series). That's another one that is just brilliantly written. I am sometimes still sad that the show was canceled.

With books--there are just way to many to narrow it down. But if I *had* to pick, I'd say my favorite fantasy series are CS Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and JK Rowling's Harry Potter series. Such a cliche answer, I know. I also adore HUNGER GAMES (Team Peeta, btw), Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Robin McKinley's THE HERO AND THE CROWN, Jeanne du Prau's THE CITY OF EMBER, and Mary Pearson's THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX, and...OK, I'll stop now :)

Ok, ok another nudge to watch Doctor Who! I'll watch it, I promise!! And so glad you're Team Peeta-love him!

What is your favorite part about writing? Is there a part of writing that you do you not enjoy?

-I *love* writing. First draft, last draft, adding in new plot twists, playing with words--all of that is what I live for. On the other hand, though, I *hate* revising. Hatehatehate it. In order to offset that hate, I rely heavily on critique partners who inspire me to push through and keep at it.

Do you ever think we'll be able to travel between planets and colonize them?

Absolutely. Technology is growing at an exponential rate, outer space is vast, and little inspires humans more than exploration. This is not something we as a species will grow disinterested in--and as long as we're striving towards space inhabitation, I do believe we will eventually succeed. I think it's possible it could happen in my lifetime. I hope so, anyway.

I'd love it to happen in my lifetime too! If you could pick a fictional future to live in (books or movies/TV) what future would you pick?

-That's a tough question with all the dystopian lit out there! I guess if I *have* to pick, then I pick the world of FIREFLY...because then at least I have a chance to see Captain Tightpants in real life.

Sigh...Captain Tightpants....:)

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take five books with you to read, what would you pick?

ACK!! That would be horrible!! OK--well, Shakespeare's KING LEAR (which I have deep love for), CS Lewis's TILL WE HAVE FACES (which I wrote my Master's thesis on and adore), JK Rowling's THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (because let's face it, that one's the best of the series), Robin McKinley's THE HERO AND THE CROWN (because that has some of the most perfect writing ever), and....um....a HUGE blank book full of lined paper so I could write down my own stuff.

Thanks Beth! And just to show you how awesome Beth is, she's agreed to stop by the blog and answer any questions you post for her in the commments. (I told you she rocked, didn't I?)

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In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

This week I had some books for review and some surprises!

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

About the Book: Paradise wasn’t supposed to suck.

Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.

It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life, and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting. It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn’t have to be a jerk just because people think he’s one. It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences. And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise….

From confused to confident and back again, one thing’s certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same.











Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda

About the Book: A loner in his all-white high school, Chinese-born Xing (pronounced “Shing”) is a wallflower longing for acceptance. His isolation is intensified by his increasingly awkward and undeniable crush on his only friend, the beautiful and brilliant Naomi Lee. Xing’s quiet adolescent existence is rattled when a series of disappearances rock his high school and fear ripples through the blue collar community in which he lives. Amidst the chaos surrounding him, only Xing, alone on the sidelines of life, takes notice of some peculiar sightings around town. He begins to investigate with the hope that if he can help put an end to the disappearances, he will finally win the acceptance for which he has longed. However, as Xing draws closer to unveiling the identity of the abductor, he senses a noose of suspicion tightening around his own neck. While Xing races to solve the mystery and clear his name, Crossing hurtles readers towards a chilling climax.

I also got a surprise package that included Monster Slayers by Lukas Ritter (it's a novel based on the Practical Guide to Monsters book), Ortega by Maureen Fergus, and Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro Esteban (I actually reviewed this one awhile back and I loved it. It's getting a great new cover that is beautiful!)

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Romana and Beezus Trailer

Ok, am I the only one who remembers the Sarah Polley TV show of Ramona? I checked them out on VHS (so oldschool, I know) from my library and watched them as a kid. And I loved it. Sarah Polley was Ramona for me. So I'm still not sure I can bet behind this movie, but we'll see, maybe they'll surprise me. What do you think?

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YA Movie News

-The Poster for Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World was released and I LOVE it! The movie is based on the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley and if you haven't read them, you need to-they're great! The movie stars Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim and I think the poster captures the books perfectly. This gives me hope for a great movie.

-Diary of a Wimpy Kid opens in theaters this weekend-anyone planning on seeing it? I think it'll be a library check-out movie for me, but I am interested to see how well it translates to the big screen.

-A new family-centric production company has started. Bedrock Studios seems similar to Walden Media in that they want to produce family centered material for TV, film, and publishers. One of the founders actually ran Walden Media and I'm glad to see a production company taking a interest in making movie adaptations of children's books. Currently they have screen rights to A Wrinkle in Time, Rats of Nimh, and Dinosaur Bob. Thanks to Hollywood Reporter for the news.

-The movie cast for The Invention of Hugo Cabret is growing. The film will be directed by Martin Scorsese and currently has Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chloe Moretz, and Asa Butterfield in the cast. I love the book and am not sure how well it work as a movie. I really hope they keep the artwork to help tell the story somehow-that's such an important part of the book for me! Thanks to IMDB and Hollywood Reporter for the news.

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Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary

Release Date: 1/12/2010

Add to GoodReads, Purchase from Indiebound

About the Book: Charlie is starting high school at a new school in hopes to escape the drama from middle school. When she discovers her old best friend Will is back in town, and at the same high school, Charlie isn't sure what to think. Will isn't the same he was three years ago, but he's still a good guy right? Even if he's participating in hazing with the lacrosse team? Charlie will learn that sometimes drama is something you can't escape and that boys can be just as mean as girls.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: It seems like I always come across books about older teens in high or teens in middle school. Sometimes a good book about freshman year can be hard to find. But Rosalind Wiseman writes book that echoes high school perfectly. I really did feel like I was transported back to my own awkward but fun freshman year.

I love Charlie's-she's a great main character. Actually, I like all the girls. This isn't a book about mean girls, although Ms. Wiseman's non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabees was the basis for the movie Mean Girls. These are girls you'd want to be friends with and hang out with. Sure, they still have fights and get mad at each, but they define true friendship.

I really felt that Ms. Wiseman knew how to write for teens. The book felt fresh and funny without being filled without outdated slang. The teen voice felt authentic. It was also a quick read-the chapters were short and there was lots of snappy dialogue. I could see this one being turned into a movie easily.

The thing I didn't enjoy was that it felt like the plot meandered a bit-I wasn't really sure where the author was going with the story until I was about halfway through. Until then, the story was more like little vignettes of Charlie's freshman year. The main meat of the story didn't come until later. I wasn't bored by this, but I would have liked more development in the plot. I also thought the romance was hinted at a lot and then added in at the end without really fleshing it out. It was still cute, but again, more development would have been better.

Overall, Boys, Girls and other Hazardous Materials is a fun quick read. I would give this one to teens who want a lighter look at realistic fiction as well as younger teens wanting to read about life in high school.

Full Disclosure: Reviewed from ARC recieved from publisher

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Happy Blogoversary to Me!! PLUS CONTEST!!

This week is my two year blogoversary! (Really, it should be a year and a half, since I really started writing on my blog six months after I started it, but I gotta go with the date of my first post I guess!)

I've had a great experience so far in the blogging world and can't believe everything that's happened in the last year! I won Best Reviewer from the People's Choice blog awards, my blog was shortlisted for Best YA blog during Book Blogger Appreciation Week, and I reached 500 followers. I've made great connections with librarians, YA authors, readers and teens and I still get super excited when I read a comment from someone on my blog-I can't believe people read this thing!!

I thought I'd take my blogoversary to reflect on the things I've learned in the past two years of blogging:

Lesson Number 1-Enjoy blogging! Don't feel bad if it gets to be too much and take a break. This is a hobby and it needs to stay fun. It can be hard to balance everything in life and as much as I love blogging, the world will not end if I don't post something every day.

Lesson Number 2-Don't compare yourself to other bloggers. This can be really hard to do when you start out and see great blogs out there. But your blog is your voice and it needs to stay that way. Don't worry about getting to a large amount of followers or getting a copy of the latest popular read. Blog for yourself first and don't make it into a popularity contest-blog because it makes you happy.

Lesson Number 3-It's OK to say "no" to review requests. When I first started out, I thought I needed to say "yes" to every request I received. And I would get requests for books that really weren't anything I'd be interested in. I was also ending up with a large amount of books in my TBR pile I felt like I was never getting anywhere! I've learned to say no (nicely!) and not feel as overwhelmed.

Lesson Number 4-Rotate through your TBR piles-and don't feel bad about it!! I have three TBR piles-sent for review, library books, and books I own. I will read about three or four books sent for review, and then I'll rotate in a library book and book I own. This helps me feel less like my reading is a chore. Plus, it helps me make time to read books I bought last year and still haven't read!

Lesson Number 5-Be honest in your reviews. I tell my teens to write more than "I liked it" or "I hated it" when they write reviews. And I keep myself to that same standard. Some bloggers don't want to post negative reviews, but I will. But I won't write a negative (or even a positive) review without being honest. I'll explain what I liked about a book and what didn't work for me. I love doing this because it helps me examine myself as a reader and see what exactly I like and dislike when reading.

I'm not perfect and even though I may have learned these lessons, that doesn't mean I don't need a reminder now and then! I'd love to hear what lessons you've learned throughout your blogging experience!

It's not a blogoversary party without a contest!! Here's what's up for grabs:

Winner #1 receives a $25 gift card to the online book retailer of their choice PLUS an ARC of Being Nikki by Meg Cabot that includes a signed bookplate on the inside tile page, Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban, and Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

Winner #2 receives a signed ARC of Ash by Malinda Lo and Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton

Winner #3 receives a signed ARC of A Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

To enter, fill out form below. This contest will end on April 30 at 9:00pm (central time). This contest is open to US and Canada only ages 13+.

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Tween Tuesday

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme that highlights great reads for tweens! Add your own Tween Tuesday post in the comments below.

I made a list of Diary of a Wimpy Kid read-alikes when I first started Tween Tuesday, but with the movie coming out, I thought I'd give some other great Wimpy Kid style books a shout out.

Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. Holm

-This is a book told all through "stuff"-from notes left on the fridge, to IM chats and e-mails. It's a quick read very creative. I wasn't sure if I would like the format, but it worked and you do get a feel for the characters, even though there is no narration or dialogue. Give this one to picky readers who claim not to like reading!

Big Nate In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce

-Big Nate is the latest entry into the Wimpy Kid-style world-and it's the book most likely to win over the Wimpy Kid readers. Nate is slightly younger than Greg Heffley, but the same tone, style, humor and voice are all ere. With a cover blurb by Jeff Kinney himself, I wouldn't be surprised if Nate became the book readers are clamoring for while waiting for more in the Wimpy Kid series. For a limited time, HarperCollins has the full Big Nate book available to read online, so get a sneak peek!

Geek Chick: The Zoey Zone by Margie Palatini

-Zoey has 198 days until sixth grade and she has to discover how to be cool before then. Zoey is a fun likable narrator and the book has a great "you don't need to conform to be popular" message for younger tweens, without getting to sappy.

Still need more? Check out these other Diary of a Wimpy Kid read-alikes:

-Regarding the Fountain (and sequels) by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise

-Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-so-Fabulous Life (and sequels) by Rachel Russell

-Dear Dumb Diary (series) by Jim Benton

-Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid (and sequels) by Megan Mcdonald

-The Adventures of Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey

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Librarian Romance

I was reading through my google reader over the weekend when I came across Alea's In My Mailbox post. She got a crazy amount of books this week including a ton of romance novels since she's been on a romance kick. (I'm so proud!) I scrolled through her book list and I came across this:

What the Librarian Did by Karina Bliss (the tag line says "she's got a secret that's long overdue")

The plot of the book says: (From Amazon)-Is Rachel Robinson the only one on campus who doesn't know who Devin Freedman is? No big deal except that the bad-boy rock star gets a kick out of Rachel's refusal to worship at his feet. And that seems to have provoked his undivided attention. Devin, the guy who gave new meaning to the phrase "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll." Devin, the guy who somehow becomes wedged between her and the past she's kept hidden for years.

It's up to this librarian to find out firsthand just how "bad" he really is. Because her secret—and her growing feelings for a man who claims he's bent on redemption—depend on his turning out to be as good as he seems. Which is really, really good.

I have to admit I'm amused and annoyed at the same time. I'm amused at the idea of a librarian romance novel, but I'm annoyed because of the stereotype on the cover. This book is being published March 16, 2010, yet the librarian on the cover has a terrible outfit that looks like a business woman meets Little House on the Prairie. And she has a bun in her hair-seriously?? I have to say I'm surprised they didn't top it off with glasses on the tip of her nose.

The book got me thinking about librarian's in fiction. There are good representations of librarians and there are bad. I'm a nerd and I get excited when I'm reading a book and the characters go to the library or talk to a librarian. But what bugs me is when contemporary novels fail to acknowledge changes in library's and librarians-especially in YA novels.

I may be biased, but I think YA librarians are pretty cool librarians. Yes, I know there are still librarians who fit the sterotype-there probably always will be, but there are a lot of us who don't-especially in the YA world. We encourage teens to have fun in the library, attend programs, and talk in the library. I never "shush" my teens! So I get annoyed when I read a YA novel where the librarian is giving evil eyes to teens and telling them to "shush!" Is that really how the YA authors I'm trying to promote to my teens and fight so hard for see my profession?

I found a review for What the Librarian Did on a blog called Dear Author and reviewer Jane writes

"...It opened with the heroine and librarian, Rachel Robinson, tending the university library. If she’s a stereotypical librarian, I wouldn’t know. I’m not even sure what the librarian stereotypes are. But if funny, smart mouthed, kind, with a love for vintage clothes are typical librarians, I need to hang out with them more."

Her comments about the book give me hope and I feel like Ms. Bliss has done a good job of not falling into the librarian sterotype trap-although her cover sadly does. I hope that other authors take note and start to write about fun cool librarians too.

So, do you have a favorite fictional librarian-good or bad?

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In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

I didn't get any books in the mail or from the bookstore this week! I did check out some great library books though-hopefully I can find the time to sequeeze them into my TBR pile!

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schiltz

I also went on manga overload and picked up Captive Hearts, MeruPuri, Monkey High, High School Debut and Kitchen Princess (which for some reason I always want to call Chicken Princess!) I looked at the top circulating items at my library for the last year for teens and 87% of the books checked out were manga, so I'm going to try to read more manga. My problem is I like the shorter series and those can be hard to find. If you any manga suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

What did you get this week?

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Fun Reading Videos

I know this video has circulated, but it makes my librarian heart so happy, I have to share:




Simone Elkeles release the Rules of Attraction trailer and it's fabulous! (Although, I'm a little sad there's no song to get stuck in my head this time!)




And I really think Jessica Brody gets awesome book trailers. This one is for her YA debut novel The Karma Club.

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YA Movie News

-The Wimpy Kid movie hasn't even hit theaters yet, but there's already a sequel in the works. According to Cynopsis Kids, a second movie based on Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, is currently being written. I'm still not sure how well these books will translate to the big screen, but I'm willing to give the film a chance.

-Hilary Duff will be the next celebrity turned YA author. The first book in her fiction series will be called Elixir and according to the publisher the book “combines the overpowering allure of a dangerous love triangle with thrilling international adventure.” Hmm..I'm not sure, but what do you want to bet a movie will be in the works soon?

-The Eclipse trailer was released online yesterday. I'm still annoyed at how boring New Moon was, so I'm not sure if I'll see this one opening weekend or not. And were the Volturi in the book-I can't remember-someone help me out!

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Forget Her Nots by Amy Brecount White

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary

Release Date: 3/2/2010

About the Book: Laurel is starting over at a new school after mom’s death. She’s attending her mom’s alma mater Avondale Prep School and she’s finding the school holds more and more keys to her past.

It all starts with a speech on the language of flowers in her English class. When Laurel gives the bouquet she made to her English teacher and soon after Ms. Spenser finds love, Laurel starts to discover she has a gift with flowers. When rumors start to fly about Laurel’s gift with flowers, all the girls want them, especially before prom.

Being a matchmaker isn’t easy and Laurel has a lot to discover about the language of flowers.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Forget Her Nots is a light refreshing read. It incorporates magic without being over the top and I finished the book believing in the language of flowers. I know I won’t be looking at flowers the same way!

The story takes a bit to pick up, but once it does, it’s a fun read. Laurel and her friends are fun to read about-Avondale Prep School sounds like such a fun place, I wish I could visit. Some of the characters weren’t completely fleshed out-I had a hard time keeping track of the numerous girls that were mentioned. But Laurel and her teachers were great to read about-I loved that Laurel got along with her teachers and had great relationships with them.

Forget Her Nots does a great job of giving a nod to classics such as Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden. Forget Her Nots has the same warm fuzzy feel of these books and Laurel is definitely a kindred spirit.

Also reviewed for TeensReadToo.com
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from ARC sent by publisher for review on TeenReadToo.com

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Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I had to post a WOW this week because I wanted to spread the word about this book!

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Release Date: 9/28/2010

About the Book: (From Goodreads) BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I read A Northern Light last semester for my lit class and I loved it. (Read my review!) I squeeled with excitement over the news that another YA novel would be coming from this talented author and I can't wait to read it. September seems so far away now!

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Tween Tuesday

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme to highlight great reads for tweens! Include your Tween Tuesday post in the comments below and join in the tween fun!

Meanwhile by Jason Shiga

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Comic

Release Date: 2/3/2010

About the Book: It all starts with a simple question-what flavor of ice cream, chocolate or vanilla? From there Jimmy is sent on the adventure of the reader's choice. Follow the paths and see where they lead.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I have been excited to read this one since I saw a starred review in Booklist. The premise intrigued me-a choose your own adventure comic? I had to check it out.

Meanwhile is the most inventive and creative book I have come across in a long time. I don't know how Jason Shiga put this book together-I'm amazed at his talent and creativity. The book doesn't read like your typical book. There are paths to follow and tabs to turn, so the reader is always moving around flipping pages and choosing new paths. Even though it's marketed as a children's book, this book is for all ages. This is one parents and children will have a blast reading together and letting each other choose which way to go.

Meanwhile is a twisty choose your own adventure comic fun. Even if you've never picked up comics before, give this book a try. It's too much fun and once you get the hang of how the book works, you won't want to stop reading. The cover says there are 3,856 story possibilities, so I'm sure Meanwhile will be keeping readers busy for a long time!

Full Disclosure: Copy provided by my library

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My Soul to Take & My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Genre: Paranormal

Release Date: My Soul to Take: 8/1/2009, My Soul to Save: 12/29/2009

About the Books: Kaylee has an uncontrollable urge to scream when she can sense that someone hear her is about the die. When girls at school start to randomly die, Kaylee is the only one who knows who will be next.

In My Soul To Save, when pop star Eden suddenly dies, Kaylee doesn't scream. And she can't scream for someone who has no soul. When Kaylee and her boyfriend Nash discover fame hungry teens are selling their souls to the Netherworld, they know they have to stop the evil Netherworld from collecting more innocent souls.

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Just when I think I'm feeling burnt out on paranormal, I come across books that make me want to start reading the genre again!

I really enjoyed the mythology that Rachel Vincent created. I thought the storyline was unique and a refresher from the typical creatures that keep appearing in paranormal lit. I also really loved that the action picked up pretty quickly, and even though it took Kaylee a bit to discover her true identity in the first book, I didn't think the set up dragged even though I already knew her secret.

I thought Rachel Vincent's writing style was very engaging-she kept me interested and she injected lots of humor that helped lighten the mood of the books. (The second book has a very snarky plotline about an evil corporation run by a cartoon mascot that I thought was very clever!) Kaylee read like a teen without being a teen stereotype. I felt like Ms. Vincent really knew who she was writing for and wasn't an author who jumped into YA without any idea of how to write for teens. I couldn't believe this was her first YA series! The books do have your typical teen angst and drama but they weren't overpoweringly angsty. I think the series has cross-over appeal for sure and I would hand these over to readers looking for a different take on the paranormal genre.

The romance will be just what paranormal romance fans want. The romance between Kaylee and Nash is very steamy without being graphic. I'm still not sure if I love Nash-I had to wonder about his motives for liking Kaylee-but he will have girls swooning, I'm sure!

Even though I had copies of these books, I actually listened to them on audio and I loved the narrator. She had great voices for every character and I highly recommend these on audio. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Soul Screamers series and I was impressed enough with these books to look into Rachel Vincent's Shifters series, a paranormal series for adults.

Full Disclosure: I downloaded the audiobooks from audible.com

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In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

This is two weeks worth, since I only got one book last week.

For review for Tween Tuesday I got:

Bro-Jisu: The Martial Art of Sibling Smackdown by Daniel H. Wilson

I subscribe to a lot of e-mail newsletters and attend library webcasts and many times I can request books for my Teen Library Council to review. Their feedback is great to have and they love having the chance to read and review books. I got three books for TLC this week(we'll see if I get a chance to read them before my teens snatch them up!):

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskin

White Cat by Holly Black

Thirteen Days To Midnight by Patrick Carman

What did you get this week?

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