Blogger Profile: The Boy With Books

Here is the profile of the blogger Robbie. Be sure to check out his blog!

Name: Robbie
Alias: "The Boy With Books"
Blog name: Boy With Books.com
Blog URL: www.boywithbooks.com

Can you give us a quick bio about yourself?

I'm a 20-year-old college student working toward going to Library School. Aside from reading and writing about reading, I like to play RPG video games, watch fluffy romantic comedies, and listen to musicals. And yes, I am. Since y'all are gonna ask. ;)

Name & describe your blog features:

My blog is your basic YABB, but I do not focus on any particular genre. I read genres I like, so I have reviews spanning fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, romance, chick lit, contemporary issues, and GLBT. I also have a newish feature called Readers Advisory where I give several examples of what to read in certain genres, similar to if you went to a librarian and asked them to help you find a book.

Describe your review system:
I don't have any concrete review system, really. I start with a summary which I write myself, and I try to get people interested. Then I start my review proper. I go over what worked and what didn't, and I usually have sections for characters, plot, and style. Then I rate it out of five each for quality and popularity.

How is your blog unique from other blogs?

I'm male. How many other YABBs are male? Hurh? :)

How do you market your blog?

I try to network as much as possible, like doing this interview! I do some giveaways when I can afford it, and I get some author interviews. I also use Twitter as a networking tool, both for authors and other YABBs. I'm also part of Bibliocon(http://bibliocon.amynta.org/index.php) and BookRing(http://nightstand.amynta.org/ring/).

Can you give us 3 tips about content?

Frequent posting is a big one. I've seen that my visitors drop off if I don't post for a few days. Even memes are something!
Don't be afraid of speaking your mind. If you didn't like a book, tell us WHY, but do tell us.
Try to appeal to as many different people as possible.

Can you give us 3 tips about blog promotion?

Make friends with blogs. Do cross promotion with them, like guest posts or interviews.
Use social networking like twitter, facebook, and myspace.
Get an author to do an interview or guest post. Most of them are very friendly, and they will blog about their post/review on their blog.

Thanks so much, Robbie! Be sure to visit his blog and enter his contest to win a copy of Eyes Like Stars. Read more...

No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay)

REVIEWED BY MINI MAGOO

Scab has invented a horrible smelling perfume that he likes to use to keep his twin sister Isabelle away. He and Isabelle are very different. Isabelle is a grade ahead of him, because due to her incredible brain size she has moved up. She is also annoyingly neat and perfect. Scab, on the other hand, likes to make snot balls with his friends and... well, you get the picture.

When Scab invents the stinky smell, he begins to sell it at school to get enough money for a dog, which will cost sixty dollars. Then he will ask his parents (yet again), only this time they will say yes because he has the money... right?

But sometimes things don't go according to plan and Scab must fix the damage he has done.

I really liked this book! It was full of humor and the plot was exciting. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day, although it isn't a very difficult read. The best ages to read this book are probably nine to twelve. It is also appropriate for eight year old advanced readers.

Buy No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) from Amazon

Buy No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) from IndieBound Read more...

Mama Magoo's Summer Reading List

Mama Magoo has put together a summer reading list and challenges you to take a look at some of these books!

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
Tortilla Curtain by T. C. Boyle
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Native Son by Richard Wright
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Mr. Pip by Lloyd Jones
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
Brick Lane by Monica Ali

How many of these have you read? Are any in your TBR pile? Read more...

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows

Title: 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows
Author: Ann Brashares
Grade: C
Ideal Audience: Girls, 10-14

Summary: Jo, Ama, and Polly are about to head into their freshman year of high school- but first, of course, comes summer vacation. But this summer the best friends won't all be hanging out together. Ama is reluctantly heading off to a sort of "outdoor ed" camp. Polly is pursuing a career in modeling, although it isn't going so well. Jo is going to the beach to work as a waitress and hopefully make some friends.

However, the miles that separate the three girls begin to emotionally separate them as well. As each girl deals with her own challenges, they begin to rely less and less on their friends, and eventually stop providing support for the other two themselves.

Can Ama get over her contempt for wilderness? Can Polly figure out that she is betraying herself and her body? Can Jo find out the truth lurking behind her new crush? Most importantly, can the three girls grow close again, now that they've drifted so far apart?

My thoughts: As an avid fan of the Sisterhood series, I was extremely disappointed by 3 Willows. The attempt at sticking to the Sisterhood concept eventually became so forced that the novel was choppy and unrealistic. I also never got to connect to any of the characters. Honestly, if one of them had died, I wouldn't have cared it all. The one thing I did like was how it referred back the original Sisterhood characters.

Hopefully Ms. Brashares will go back to writing either sequels to the Sisterhood or will come up with a brand new idea.

Buy 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows from Amazon

Buy 3 Willows from IndieBound Read more...

Movie Monday & Contest: Suite Scarlett

Click here to read the text review of Suite Scarlett
If you're interested in winning a copy of Suite Scarlett, keep reading!



We are now giving away FIVE copies of Suite Scarlett, meaning there will be FIVE winners! All you have to do to enter is watch the video above from beginning to end- it's only a minute and a half- and leave a comment on this post with your email address. For an extra entry, link to this contest. For another, follow me on Twitter.

However, there is a catch: Because there are five copies being given away, this contest will not end until there are at least fifty individual people entered (people, NOT comments). So be sure to spread the word! Read more...

Retrospective (9)

Monday: I posted a review video of Sprout, along with a contest to win a copy. The contest ends tomorrow, so hurry over!

Tuesday: I profiled the blogger Angiegirl.

Wednesday: I posted a new Best First Lines poll and began the monthly contest for two winners to win a copy of Twenty Boy Summer.

Thursday: I reviewed 113 Things to Do by 13 by Brittany MacLeod and Terri MacLeod.

Friday: I reviewed Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson.

Saturday: I interviewed Justina Chen Headley, author of North of Beautiful.
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In Other News: If you scroll down to the bottom of my right sidebar, you'll notice that for some reason, Blogger deleted most of my blogroll. If at some earlier time I have promised to link to you, let me know and I'll add you. Read more...

Saturday's Scribe: Justina Chen Headley

Today's scribe: Justina Chen Headley
Author of: Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies) & North of Beautiful
Check out the interview!
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If Patty and Terra were to meet, how do you think they would react to each other?

You know how you meet someone for the first time and feel as if you've known each other forever? It's one of those rare kismet experiences, one that comes so infrequently, you know it's a gift. That's how I think the girls would feel... They would totally relate to each other about how it feels to be an outsider, never belonging. And I think Terra could help Patty forgive Stu...because even exceptionally wonderful people do stupid things.

If you could go back and change one thing in Nothing but the Truth, what would it be?

I would have developed Patty's relationship with her mother more. They had such a complex relationship--I really wish I had spent more time on that.

Define true beauty in exactly three words, then in five, then in ten.

Beauty is You. Beauty is You and Me. Be your most authentic self, and stare at true beauty.

How has your writing evolved after each novel you write?

Every novel has its own set of lessons that I'm meant to learn. Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies): look, Justina, you can write! Girl Overboard: look, Justina, you can write about something you don't know about! North of Beautiful: look, Justina, at what happens when you pour your heart on paper.

What advice would you give to any aspiring young writers?

Read as much as you can, and then write every day. It's so basic, isn't it? But let me tell you, reading and writing are the fundamentals... but we tend to short change those when life interferes. But read--and read broadly, widely. And then write. Allow yourself to play with story and structure. Push yourself to write in different voices, different genres. Surprise yourself!
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Thank you so much, Ms. Headley, for the great interview! Read more...

Suite Scarlett

Title: Suite Scarlett
Author: Maureen Johnson
Grade: A
Ideal Audience: Girls & Some Boys, 13-17

Summary: You might think that since Scarlett lives in a huge hotel, called the Hopewell, in New York City, her family must be loaded. Wrong. Although they may own and run a hotel, they are suffering from financial difficulties and now have no staff. Now that Scarlett has turned fifteen, it is her job to look after the Empire Suite, even though it doesn't get many visitors.

However, a surprise comes in the form of Mrs. Amberson. Mrs. Amberson, a peculiar woman with a highly distinct personality, rents the Empire Suite for the entire summer, and is quick to seek a kind of friendship/work partnership with Scarlett. Scarlett, for her part, is bewildered by many of Mrs. Amberson's actions, but goes along with her crazy schemes nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Scarlett's brother Spencer is currently involved in a production of Hamlet. Scarlett becomes interested in one of his fellow actors, Eric. As the summer progresses, problems arise with all three: the play, Spencer, and Eric. Mrs. Amberson is only too happy to step in and lend a hand to help out... but for better or for worse?

My thoughts: I was instantly hooked on Suite Scarlett. I especially loved Mrs. Amberson: her peculiarities and ridiculous projects made her one of the most entertaining characters I've come across. The character of Scarlett was also very well done, along with the personalities of her three siblings.

I was extremely excited the moment I found out there's going to be a sequel to this novel, and I can't wait to read it! I highly recommend Suite Scarlett!

Buy Suite Scarlett from Amazon

Buy Suite Scarlett from IndieBound Read more...

113 Things to Do by 13

Written by young teenager Brittany MacLeod, along with her mother Terri MacLeod, 113 Things to Do by 13 does just what its title boasts: lists 113 things a tween should do by the time he or she turns thirteen. The items range from girly: tips on giving awesome self- mani/pedis, to practical: tips on saving money and starting a business.

The book is also packed full of interviews, tips, quotes, and stories from guest authors. For example, the makeup artist of Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl actress), Chris Colbeck, gives advice on makeup, Taylor Swift (singer) writes about following dreams, and the teenage cast of a Broadway show talk about the theater business.

Although the title indicates that this book is for everybody under thirteen, and the writing seems to be directed at thirteen year olds, I think girls aged ten to fifteen will benefit from 113 Things to Do by 13. Some of the things to do are slightly silly, and are really only boredom busters, but others were genuinely good ideas.

My only real criticism is that some of the book consisted of "chat speak". When reading a book, I don't want to come across "cuz" instead of "because", etc. However, other than that, this is a great gift for your daughter/niece/granddaughter- and, if you're a tween, consider buying it for yourself!

Buy 113 Things to Do by 13 from Amazon

Buy 113 Things to Do by 13 from IndieBound Read more...

Contest! Win a Copy of Twenty Boy Summer (2 Winners)!

First, the winner of Campus Chronicles is Llehn!

This month's contest is to win Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, and there will be two winners! To get an entry, leave a comment on this post with your name and email address. For additional entries:

+1 Follow this blog
+1 Follow me on twitter
+1 Link to this contest
+1 Vote here
+3 Buy something from this store
+3 Buy something from one of these stores

Be sure to list everything you have done in your comment! Also remember that simply commenting- even if you do none of the above- still gets you an entry. I will announce the winner on August 1st. Good luck!

Note: it's extremely helpful to me if you format your comment like this:

Email: whatever@something.com
+1 Comment here
+1 Following the blog
+1 I voted
+3 I bought Twilight from your store
(Or whatever it is you did.) Read more...

June: Best First Lines

The winner of May's First Line contest is "There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.", from The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

Here are the first lines of all the books I read in June 2009. Please vote on which you think is the best!



Thanks for voting! The winning first line will be announced on August 1. Read more...

Blogger Profile: Angiegirl (& Contest)

Interested in winning a copy of Clockwork Heart? Keep on reading!

Here is the profile of the blogger Angiegirl. Be sure to check out her blog!

Name: Angie

Alias: Angiegirl (I know...real sneaky)

Blog name: Angieville (Seriously, you'd think I have no imagination whatsoever. It's actually an homage to Readerville--the reading forum that first started me discussing books online.)

Blog URL: http://angieville.blogspot.com

Can you give us a quick bio about yourself? I'm an editor for an educational publisher and spend most of my time researching and writing about people and cultures from around the world. I got my masters in English literature and am particularly partial to the Victorian period. I spent a few years teaching freshman composition at my local university and, even though I love my current job, I still miss teaching every day. I am also Mom to two little squirts--5-year-old Will and 10-month-old Piper. They keep me busy and happy. I don't get much sleep because I spend whatever spare time I have reading feverishly and blogging in to the late hours of the night!

Name & describe your blog features:

--I post regular book reviews--generally between 4 and 10 reviews per month.

--I run a book cover feature called Pretties, in which I spotlight eye-catching covers for upcoming books I'm excited about.

--I host favorite and debut authors for blog tours, guest blogs, and interviews.

--I also have a Giggles feature in which I highlight a giggle-worthy book or pop culture related item I've run across in my web crawling and think others will get a kick out of.

--I do periodic book giveaway contests. Some for books I adore and absolutely must pass on and some for books I managed to snag an extra copy of.

--I participate in the occasional book meme that catches my eye or manages to spark my creativity.

Describe your review system: I write honest, spoiler-free reviews broken up into three sections. In the first section I describe how I heard about or stumbled across this particular book. I generally mention my feelings and/or expectations going into the book and what (if any) previous experience I've had reading this author or series. In the second section I write up my own summary of the novel, hitting the high points, major characters, and conflicts. In the third and final section I give my thoughts on the book. I focus on evaluating the characterization, the world building, and the pace and quality of the writing. I always try to include a favorite quote or passage to help my readers get a feel for the ambiance of the novel and illustrate why I responded the way I did to it. I end the review with my recommendation and note any future books to look forward to by that author or any similar books for those looking for something else in the same vein. Finally, I close with a list of links to other reviews of the book or interviews with the author.

How is your blog unique from other blogs? I love YA, urban fantasy, fantasy, and mystery books. Most of my reviews and news are related to one or more of those genres. There are many, many blogs dedicated to each of those genres individually, but not quite as many dedicated to that particular combination. I read widely within each of them and try to keep my finger on the pulse of what's going on in each world, so to speak. Basically, by reading my blog you can access clear, concise reviews and information on a fairly wide range of reading topics and genres.

How do you market your blog? First and foremost I read countless other book blogs and comment on all of the ones I read and love. I love being part of a discussion and forming friendships with other book lovers. I enjoy participating in book carnivals and other organized blogging events. I belong to the Book Blogs ning and the YA Book Blog Directory. You can also find me on Twitter as Angiebookgirl. I tweet regularly there and link to my blog posts.

Can you give us 3 tips about content?

1. Be polite and conscientious. If you run across some interesting content or information on another blog and decide to post it on your own, make sure you give credit where credit's due and link back to where you found it and the original source if possible.

2. Be yourself. Write the content you want to read. Have fun with it and let your personality show through your reviews and posts so your readers have a chance to get to know you. In turn, make sure you respond to their comments and questions.

3. Be consistent. My favorite blogs are the ones I can count on. The ones that post regularly. They include a nice mix of reviews and reading-related content. I feel like I can trust their opinions and recommendations and I always want to come back to let them know what I thought of a certain book.

Can you give us 3 tips about blog promotion?

Honestly, promotion's not a huge focus for me. I love it when someone comes across something on my blog that prompts thought or writing/blogging about it on their part. I love it when someone picks up a book based on one of my reviews and comes back to tell me they loved it. If you want to network, my main recommendation is to post thoughtful comments on others' blogs and link to their reviews and posts on yours. Otherwise, I just want to spread the word about all the awesome books out there!

Thanks so much, Angie! Be sure to visit her blog.

To win a copy of Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti (read Angie's review here), read the profile, visit her blog, and then leave a comment on this post with your email address. For an extra entry, follow my blog AND Angie's blog. I'll announce the winner on July 22nd.

Read more...

Movie Monday & Contest: Sprout

The winners of Darkwood are Carlene, Heidi V, and Valorie!
The contest to win a copy of Twenty Boy Summer is still open! Hurry on over!

Click here to read the text review of Sprout
If you're interested in winning a copy of Sprout, keep reading!



The fabulous people at Bloomsbury are giving away a copy of Sprout! All you have to do to enter is watch the video above from beginning to end- it's less than two minutes- and leave a comment on this post with your email address. For an extra entry, link to this contest. For another, follow me on Twitter. The winner will be announced next Monday. Read more...

Retrospective (8)

Monday: I posted a review video of Twenty Boy Summer, along with a contest to win a copy. I need more entries before I can announce the winners, so head on over!

Tuesday: I reviewed The Good Girl by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann.

Wednesday: I reviewed Sprout by Dale Peck.

Thursday: Mini Magoo reviewed Wish You Were Here by Catherine Clark.

Friday: I reviewed The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

Saturday: I interviewed Ann Haywood Leal, author of Also Known as Harper.
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In Other News: If you scroll down to the bottom of my right sidebar, you'll notice that for some reason, Blogger deleted most of my blogroll. If at some earlier time I have promised to link to you, let me know and I'll add you. Read more...

Saturday's Scribe: Ann Haywood Leal

Today's scribe: Ann Haywood Leal
Author of: Also Known as Harper
Check out the interview!
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HARPER IS NAMED AFTER THE AUTHOR HARPER LEE. HOW DID LEE'S NOVEL INSPIRE YOURS?

I truly feel that TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is the “Great American Novel”. Like Harper’s mother in my book, I could read Harper Lee’s novel over and over again! My big reader’s wish/hope/dream is that Harper Lee has a whole house full of unpublished manuscripts down in Monroeville, Alabama, just waiting for the world! When I read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, I really got a feeling of hope. You saw an entire town that had yet to be affected by the civil rights movement, but little Scout shines through all of the stereotypes and prejudices to open the eyes of many people. I tried to bring that kind of hope into the character of Harper.

WAS THE CHARACTER OF HARPER INSPIRED BY ANYBODY IN YOUR OWN LIFE?

Yes and no! I have volunteered in my local soup kitchen for the past four years. When the children come in, they are so grateful and shy. But I knew they had to be survivors, to be in a situation where they needed to go to a soup kitchen for a meal. I knew Harper had to be strong, since she was in such a tough situation. When her character was starting to take shape, I pictured her in my mind, tearing that eviction notice from the front door!

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE FIRST STEP AN INDIVIDUAL SHOULD TAKE TOWARDS REDUCING POVERTY/HOMELESSNESS?

Hmmm….that’s an excellent question! I think the first step is awareness—the recognition that this is going on in our own backyards—it’s not just something happening in the far-off corners of the world. A very simple thing that anyone can do is to organize a collection for your local food pantry. Ask friends and family to donate items. The shelves tend to get very depleted in the summer months. Many children get free breakfast and lunch during school, but when they are home for the summer, families can’t afford the extra meal costs, so they must rely on their local food banks.

HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WRITER? WHEN WERE YOU FIRST INTERESTED IN WRITING?

I have always been a writer. I can remember a little pink cardboard kid-sized stove and refrigerator that I had. I wrote all over it when I was about three or four, and I got in a lot of trouble. My mom ended up being really great about it, though, because she very quickly realized how important writing was to me. After that, she made sure I had plenty of paper available! I was always stapling together little books.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANY ASPIRING WRITERS?

Save all of your stories! Write every day; schedule it into your day, so you make time for it, and never give up!
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Thank you so much, Ms. Leal, for the interview! Read more...