Banned Books Week

Today I'd like to spotlight books that have been outright banned or challenged. I'm going to jump on my soapbox here for minute:

I don't understand why some people have a hard time with books. Why must a book like Harry Potter be challenged by a parent? Are the parents really that straightlaced that a fantasy is to be banned? Or better yet, do parents really think that their kids don't say bad words or talk like: OMFG, I <3 him. LOL. Does Lauren Myracle really make kids want to go out and spew bad words and spit on the sidewalk? Because a book discusses issues like cutting or lesbianism or being gay, does that mean that they're children are going to become gay because they read about it in a book? If character gets pregnant, will the reader then go out and get pregnant because of the book she read? Yeah, ridiculous. There have never been any taboo subjects in my house and I've pretty much let Rebecca read what she wants. Now that she's 18, I really can't stop her, but I never once gave any book any thought that it would corrupt my child. I lent out a couple of books to my 13 year old neighbor, and a stack of them were given back to me because of content. I guess I just don't think that any issue is to old for any age. Maybe I'm more openminded and understand that this is the world we live in. It's funny that he can play Call of Duty, but he can't read a book that talks about drugs. Yet he can kill every commie there is on his tv? I have so many wonderful books here for him to read and I have to censor what I give him? Okay off of soapbox. Anyway, the books mentioned that should be read and enjoyed are: All the Harry Potter books. TTYL by Lauren Myracle. Cut, by Patricia McCormick. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson, The Giver, Lois Lowry, The Outsiders, S E Hinton, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury, What my Mother Doesn't Know, Sonya Sones. A new book has been challenged by a school system and should also be considered as well. Lessons From a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles. So read a Banned Book this week and prove to the world that all is right with it!

A Plea from Danielle Joseph

SAVE SHRINKING VIOLET!

Help Tere keep her voice!

The book is about to go on back order and in order for more copies to be printed, more people have to place orders.

So here's how you can help:
Please tell anyone that you think might be interested to place an order now before it's too late. Guys, girls, grandmas. grandpas, you're never too old to read humorous teen fiction!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/141659 6968

http://www.indiebound.org/book/97814165 96967

I'm also running a contest for those that want to have some fun! There will be four winners, each receiving a $25 gift certificate to iTunes or the bookstore of their choice.

So how can you win?
1. Post a review of Shrinking Violet on Amazon.com or B & N.com 2 points

2 Blog, Tweet or Facebook about the Save Shrinking Violet Campaign 1 point for each mention

3. Take a picture of yourself wearing a sweater and mimicking the book's cover (you must have the book in the photo too). 2 points

Contest begins at 11pm on Thursday, September 24, 2009 and ends at 11pm on Thurday, October 15, 2009.

After you enter, you can either email me at danielle@daniellejoseph.com or leave me a comment here or on my blog at http://daniellejoseph.livejournal.com/.

Much love and thanks for your support,
Danielle

What I'm Reading and Books I've received this week... (3)

I'm still reading Sprout.  Haven't really done much reading at all this week because we've all been sick.  I hate being sick.  I was supposed to meet up with friends in NYC tomorrow and I can't make it because we're all sick here:(

Well I received two books in the mail this week.

From Yan:

As you Wish, Jackson Pearce

From Scholastic:


Lips Touch, Laini Taylor

Picture Book Thursday (5)

Stellaluna, Janell Cannon (Ages 4-8)

From Goodreads:

Baby bat Stellaluna's life is flitting along right on schedule--until an owl attacks her mother one night, knocking the bewildered batlet out of her mother's loving grasp. The tiny bat is lucky enough to land in a nest of baby birds, but her whole world has just turned upside down. Literally. Stellaluna's adoptive bird mom accepts her into her nest, but only on the condition that Stellaluna will act like a bird, not a bat. Soon Stellaluna has learned to behave like a good bird should--she quits hanging by her feet and starts eating bugs. But when she finally has an opportunity to show her bird siblings what life as a bat is like, all of them are confounded. "How can we be so different and feel so much alike?" one asks. "And how can we feel so different and be so much alike?" asks another. "I agree," Stellaluna responds. "But we're friends. And that's a fact." Anyone who has ever been asked to be someone they're not will understand the conflicts--and possibilities--Stellaluna faces. This gorgeously illustrated book is sure to be an all-time favorite with readers, whether they've left the nest or not. 

This is a story that I have not read to Lily yet, but it was a big favorite when Becky was younger.  As I think of this book, I remember how perfect it was for someone who was growing up without a daddy and wanted to be like everyone else in her school.  I think, no, I know that Lily will love Baby Bat, Stellaluna and will be enthralled when she goes through her myriad of questions? 

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

Gone, Lisa McMann

From Goodreads:

OPEN YOUR EYES.

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out... 

I adore this series and can't wait to see what happens next!  Janie is a great protaganist and Caleb plays off her very well.  You should also read the short story that Lisa wrote from Caleb's POV.  Which I think you can find here.

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

Focusing on Books (1)

A few weeks ago I said that I would spotlight a book that I read or want to read and I have yet to do that.  I'm still reading SPROUT and hope to have that finished before long.  Tonight, I'm going to see U2 at Gillette Stadium and I'm totally excited about that.  I'm meeting a friend of mine at 2ish and have a thousand things to do. But honestly, I'm dealing with a cold and don't feel like doing anything.  I'm completely unmotivated!

So I thought that maybe I would focus on a book that I haven't read, but I have heard wonderful things about.

The Looking Glass Wars, Frank Beddor

From Goodreads:

You know the myth...


A little girl named Alice tumbled down a rabbit hole and proceeded to have a charming adventure in the delightful, made-up world of Wonderland... 


Now discover the truth... Wonderland Exists! 


Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, was forced to flee through the Pool of Tears after a bloody palace coup staged by the murderous Redd. Lost and alone in Victorian London, Alyss is befriended by an aspiring author to whom she tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life only to see it published as the nonsensical Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alyss had trusted Lewis Carroll to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere would find her and bring her home. But Carroll had gotten it all wrong. He even misspelled her name! If not for royal bodyguard Hatter Madigan's nonstop search to locate the lost princess, Alyss may have become just another society woman sipping tea in a too-tight corset instead of returning to Wonderland to fight Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts. 


Meet the heroic, passionate, monstrous, vengeful denizens of this parallel world as they battle each other with AD-52's and orb generators, navigate the Crystal Continuum, bet on jabberwock fights and travel across the Chessboard Desert. 


The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions of mad tea parties, sleepy dormice, and a curious little blonde girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for Imagination. 

Oh, yeah, I'm stoked for this series.  I've been a huge fan or Lewis Carroll's ALICE IN WONDERLAND.  Not so much the Disneyfied version of it.  It's a crazy story and lots of beautiful, twisted writing.   I think this will be a great holiday read!

What I'm Reading and Books I've received this week... (2)

I'm currently reading and really enjoying Sprout, Dale Peck. I am absolutely loving this book and loving Sprout's voice. He's funny, sarcastic, self deprecating, and maybe just a bit brilliant.

Dale Peck's writing is brilliant so far and I'm really interested to see where Sprout takes me.

I've also received some books in the mail this week, not many but thought I'd list them.  If I can remember what I have received!

The Everafter, Amy Huntley

From Goodreads:

Madison Stanton doesn't know where she is or how she got there. But she does know this--she is dead. And alone, in a vast, dark space. The only company she has in this place are luminescent objects that turn out to be all the things Maddy lost while she was alive. And soon she discovers that with these artifacts, she can re-experience--and sometimes even change--moments from her life: Her first kiss. A trip to Disney World. Her sister's wedding. A disastrous sleepover.

In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and sometimes frightening truths about her life--and death.

Girl in the Arena, Lise Haines

From Goodreads:

Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through.  Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family.  Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator.  Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine.

Some really interesting books that I can't wait to delve into!

Picture Book Thursday (4)

Ladybug Girl, David Soman and Jacky Davis

From Goodreads:

Lulu's older brother says she is too little to play with him. Her mama and papa are busy too, so Lulu has to make her own fun. This is a situation for Ladybug Girl!

Ladybug Girl saves ants in distress, jumps through shark-infested puddles, and even skips along the great dark twisty tree trunk—all by herself. It doesn't matter what her brother says, Ladybug Girl is definitely not too little!

In this sweet and cheerful story by husband and wife team Jacky Davis and David Soman, one not-so-little girl discovers how to make some fun that is just her size, right in her own backyard.

Lily absolutely adores this series (there is a second book out too!), Lulu is just like Lily in that she's bored and can't figure out what to do with her day when her brother won't play with her and her parents tell her that she's on her own to make her fun. With her trusty bassett hound, Lulu can do just about anything!

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

The Mark, Jen Nadol

From Jen's Website

The Mark - Young Adult, Early 2010, Bloomsbury Children's Books

Sixteen-year old Cassie Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back.

The one time she pointed it out taught her not to do it again, so Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until the day she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, always careful to hide her secret. How does the mark work? Why her?

Most importantly, if you know today is someone's last, should you tell?

This definitely looks right up my alley and I'm very excited to read this one when it becomes available.

Jill at Breaking the Spine hosts Waiting on Wednesday

After, Amy Efaw

Hardcover: 350 pages
Publisher: Viking Juvenile; 1 edition (August 11, 2009)
Bookmarks: 4 Bookmarks


Devon Davenport is a straight A student, a potential Olympic soccer player and fighting for her life when it's discovered that she's hidden a pregnancy and literally thrown away the baby in the trash.

With an explosive beginning, After pulls at the heartstrings with the question, HOW? Throughout the story you get to know Devon and the type of life that she lived. Growing up in a single parent household, she was driven to succeed where her mother did not. She rigidly decided that she would not become the type of woman that her mom was, one who was in an out of relationships with various loser men. So when Taylor lets her guard down and allows herself to become intimate with a guy, she loses her sense of reality.

A tough and disturbing look at what happens to the teen who has abandoned her newborn in a trash can, the psychological and emotional response of the person who shuts down and doesn't allow herself to feel the pain that she should be feeling.

Amy Efaw obviously did her homework on this topic and pulls it together without any judgment of how she feels about the topic. Devon Davenport is every high school girl with goals and how these goals breakdown when a moment of weakness affects her. The story then goes on to whether Devon should be tried as a juvenile or adult when it comes to attempted murder of the infant. Trying to break through the shutdown of her client, Dom, Devon's lawyer does everything she can to wake her up. But will Devon wake up in time to save her own life?

I really loved this story up until the very end. I'm not sure how one could've ended this type of story, but I felt like I was cheated of something and can't quite put a finger on it. It's what really keeps me from giving it a glorious five bookmarks. I absolutely recommend this book, but be warned that it really is a tough subject matter, but it is beautifully written.

Jellicoe Road, Melina Marchetta

Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (August 26, 2008)
Bookmarks: 5 Bookmarks

2009 Printz winner for excellence in Young Adult writing

Jellicoe Road opens with a tragic car accident on the eponymous road. The first chapter introduces us to Taylor Markham, a seventeen-year old orphan who was abandoned at a 7-ll convenience store by her mom at the age of 11. Taylor has lived with Hannah who has since disappeared with no notice and Taylor must piece together various information of her life, Hannah's life and the way that life is being played out at the school that is known as Jellicoe.

I adored this story and found Taylor to be a vibrant, refreshing, protagonist. At first I stumbled over the Aussie-style of writing, but it really did begin to flow and you can't help but kept swept up in this grand style of storytelling. The threads of the story go back and forth from a story that Hannah is writing to what Taylor is living right now.

Taylor also becomes head of her school and has to deal with a war that has been going on between the school, the townies and the cadets that come to this area of Australia for six weeks every year. This war is fought by trying to get control over territories in the area surrounding the school.

Watching this story play out was like trying to figure out a puzzle that you only had certain pieces, but once you kept reading more pieces were being uncovered. Until it comes to a brilliant climax that literally takes your breath away. You know that Taylor will be okay and that is what makes this story so heartfelt. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story full with riches.

Picture Book Thursday (3)

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Kevin Henkes

This one is a HUGE favorite in my household, so much so that I had TWO copies of it! I bought Lily a copy and she received on her birthday, with a purple plastic purse, a little noise maker and some money, just like Lilly!

I really love reading this story to my Lily because it explains to children how important patience is and what happens when one jumps the gun! Lilly is so excited to show off her new present, that she keeps interrupting her teacher whom she adores! When he tells her that she'll have to wait, she gets very upset and writes a very naughty letter decrying her teacher!

But as she thinks about it, she realizes that what she did was oh so wrong. Will Lilly be forgiven?

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

The book I've chosen is PARANORMALCY .  Unfortunately, there is no cover to show.  However, the title seems like it's right up my alley and Kiersten White has a really cool blog when she actually comes up from air from copy edits and stuff.  Here is a description of PARANORMALCY from the Livejournal Tenners page:

Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone--or something--starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal.

Normal is so overrated.

New meme...

I'm going to start a new meme along with my Picture Book Thursday. This one will be a spotlight on a YA book a week. It may be one I read or want to read. I'll mix it up a bit.

I've also wanted to start spotlighting various YA bloggers too, by asking silly questions. However, lately my imagination has run dry. It could be because I now have a daughter in college and one in Kindergarten. That or my imagination is on hiatus... I haven't quite figured it out.

So I APPEAL to you, my devoted readers, e-mail me at lauram68-at-gmail.com with silly questions you'd like me to ask bloggers and/or authors, the sillier the better. Please entitle your e-mail to me Silly Questions.

I will start my Spotlight on YA Reads tomorrow. Once I pick a book! ;p

What I'm Reading and Books I've received this week...

I'm currently reading HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick and honestly, this book is absolutely wonderful! I'm just tearing through this one and can't wait until it's released so all of you can read it. I need to thank Kathy B for sending me HER signed copy of the book to borrow. I'll probably get this book back to her in no time! I've received some books in the mail via publishers: Liar, Justine Larbalestier Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (I received two copies, finished, and I'm sending one to a blogger who is a Librarian and can't get the book for her school due to money issues. So I'm donating it to the school!) I bought three books: Coffeehouse Angel, Suzanne Selfors Into the Wild, Sarah Beth Durst (I met her at the Sarah signing and she's originally from two towns away from me!) Dreamfever, Karen Marie Moning. (I broke down and bought the fourth book in the MacKayla Lane series. This is adult, but it's SOOOOOOOO good.) There are so many good books that are out there right now, please go to your local library, or bookstore and buy whatever you can find. I've seen CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL at BORDERS already. PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS is out, EYES LIKE STARS, SHIVER, LAMENT. All of these books are fantastic and they're all waiting to be purchased!

Picture Book Thursday (2)

Learning the alphabet has never, ever been so much fun! The tone and the rhythm of this picture book makes it fun for children and adults alike. The brightness of the pictures and the easiness of the words have you making a sort of rap-like sound to the words. The alphabet seem to be in a tree and CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM, you can't knock them down! Both Rebecca and Lily adored this book and I'm so glad that I found it when Rebecca was younger. Bill Martin, Jr. is also famous for his BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE. He's always the number one picture book author and illustrator that I go to when at the library.

Waiting on Wednesday 15

No description on this one. But I absolutely adored TAKEN BY STORM so much that I just have a feeling that this one will be an absolute winner. Angela Morrison is such a beautiful writer and her passion shines through her words. I will be giving away a SIGNED copy of TAKEN BY STORM to a very special person as soon as the book arrives! So stay tuned!