Taking Stock - October 2015

Total posts this month: 13
Total books read this month: 13
Total books read this year: 244

Challenges:
Audio: 6/ 63
Debut: 0/8

The Good: I read a fair amount with my ears 6 out of the 12 books were audiobooks. Still woefully slow reading with my eyes.

The Bad: I continue my abysmal reading rate and I didn't do too much reviewing! Ugh! 

The books: * indicates a favorite book
232. Bug in a Vacuum by Melanie Watt (10/1)
233. Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola (10/4)
234. Redeployment by Phil Klay (10/8)
235. Nanobots by Chris Gall (10/8)*
236. Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat (10/10)*
237. Jump into the Sky by Shelley Pearsall (10/11)
238. Happy! Pharrell Williams (10/18)
239. The Nest by Kenneth Oppel (10/22)
240. Revolution by Deborah Wiles (10/24)
241. Knit Together by Angela Dominguez (10/25)
242. The Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin (10/25)*
243. Leo: a ghost story by Mac Barnett (10/25)
244. The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson (10/31)

What's New? Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Hop on over there to ogle what other bloggers got this week.

Just Like Me by Nancy J. Cavanaugh. 246 p. Sourcebooks/ Jabberwocky, April 1, 2016. 9781492604273.

From the back jacket: Told through a mix of traditional narrative and journal entries, Just Like Me is a funny, uplifting summer camp story about unlikely friendships and finding your place in the world.

I really enjoyed This Journal Belongs to Ratchet so I'm definitely looking forward to reading this one.

Thoughts on Bookfest@Bankstreet

First off, I must state for the record that this event is one of the highlights of my year - a definite save-the-date event. I would miss my child's wedding for this event. Well, not really. But almost. I did miss it the year of Superstorm Sandy but not because of Superstorm Sandy but because I was presenting at a workshop where I got to watch Jerry Pinkney paint and he listened to how the ELL teacher and I use his book, Lion and Mouse as a model for a writing unit for ELL students. Yeah, worth missing Bookfest for that.

When Bookfest made the venue switch from NY Public Library to Bank Street College, I wasn't a fan. Even though its uptown location was geographically closer to me, its location made use of public transportation unfeasible. I had to drive. I had to park. 

That first year, I did luck out and found a space on Riverside Drive but not since. After that first year, I almost didn't go back. We were packed into the auditorium like sardines and the lunch time was a mess. Kudos to the folks who ran it because they owned it and promised to do better the next year, so I returned. And it was better, though, I must say for all the money that auditorium must have cost, the seats are dang uncomfortable! But at least we weren't packed in like sardines and the lunchtime went much more smoothly.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Bookfest is a day to celebrate children's literature. This year is the 44th year. Apparently, it started at Bank Street, or was it Columbia? I started attending shortly after starting my first school library job in the early to mid-2000s. It was held in this beautiful auditorium which I believe became unavailable to Bookfest due to its popularity as a wedding venue. Hence the move to Bank Street.

The day starts with coffee and danish and book browsing in the lobby. The Bank Street Book Store sets up tables with books by the authors who are appearing and I do try to avoid the table at all cost - one because I generally already own the books, and two, I just spend too much money on books! 

Then there are two, this year, three panel discussions followed by an hour book discussion. When you register, you get to choose from a range of themed discussions ranging from picture books, easy readers and middle grade through YA. You need to give two choices. (Tip: register early) I usually have a hard time choosing the group I want to join. There are so many great groups! I generally stick with middle grade and YA. I chose to join Kiera Parrot's group, Square Pegs: fitting in, moving on and finding one's way in middle grade fiction. The books she chose to discuss were, George by Alex Gino; Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt; The Nest by Kenneth Oppel, Blackbird Fly by Erin Estrada Kelly and The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin. 

Lunch is a delicious boxed lunch catered by 'WichCraft. This year, my sandwich was turkey, bacon, aioli, and avocado on a ciabatta roll, chips and a delectable cookie. 

The afternoon features an additional panel discussion and keynote address. Authors are available at lunch at the end to autograph books. Oh, and there's a goodie bag filled with arcs, books, study guides, bookmarks and the like courtesy of the participating publishers.

Here are some photos from the day. I've some grading yet to do so I have to end here without describing the panels and keynote. It was a great day. It's usually a Saturday late in October. It's a good idea to subscribe to the blog to receive notification about the event. Register early as it usually fills quickly.

Teachers as Writers: Moderator: Leonard Marcus, Adam Gidwitz, Elizabeth Bluemie, Cynthia Weill

Artists and Mentors: Book...Making...101: Moderator Joe Rogers, Jr., Raul Colon, Sara Varon, Shadra Strickland, and Christopher Myers.

Young Women in the (Plot) Driver's Seat: Moderator: Monica Edinger, Liz Kessler, Jeanne Birdsall, Kat Yeh, and Laura Amy Shlitz

Three of the afternoon authors mingling before the afternoon panel convened. Daniel Jose Older, Tim Wynne-Jones and Rita Williams-Garcia

Pushing Narrative Boundaries in Teen Literature: Moderator Vicky Smith, Daniel Jose Older, Beth Kephart, and Tim Wynne-Jones

The sparkly, engaging keynote speaker - Rita Williams-Garcia

The books I purchased and got autographed.

The books I won in the raffle! Yay! They will be sent to Never Counted Out as soon as I read and review them.

I am resisting the temptation to continue writing. As I posted the pictures, I started remembering all that was said; but it's 11:20. Those assignments are not grading themselves and the dogs need walking. And there's sleep to be had. Perhaps another post tomorrow?

Friday Memes: Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.

Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly. 296 p. Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins Publishers, March, 2015. 9780062238610.

Publisher synopsis: Future rock star or friendless misfit? That’s no choice at all. In this acclaimed novel, twelve-year-old Apple grapples with being different; with friends and backstabbers; and with following her dreams. Publishers Weekly called Blackbird Fly “a true triumph,” and the Los Angeles Times Book Review said, “Apple soars like the eponymous blackbird of her favorite Beatles song.”

First line: On the day we moved to America, it snowed in Chapel Spring, Louisiana, for the first time in twenty years.

Page 56: A lot of really good songwriters lie in California, like Matt Costa nad Eleisha Eagle, so I thought about asking what music he liked, but instead I asked what book he was reading.
     "The Silmarillion,"  he said. He held it up so I could see the cover. It was by J. R.R. Tolkien. "It's the same guy wh wrote The Lord of the rings."
     "I love that movie," I said.
     "You should read the book.

Waiting on Wednesday: Apollo: the brilliant one by George O'Connor

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine in which we share the titles we can't wait to release.

Apollo: the brilliant one by George O'Connor. Olympians series #8. 80 p. First Second Books, January 26, 2016. 978

Publisher synopsis: Mighty Apollo is known by all as the god of the sun, but there's more to this Olympian than a bright smile and a shining chariot. In the latest volume of Olympians, New York Times bestselling author George O'Connor continues to turn his extensive knowledge of the original Greek myths into rip-roaring graphic novel storytelling.

These books are so crazy-popular at my school, I have multiple copies. They have been stolen and, most weirdly of all, hidden in other sections of my library.

Top Ten Tuesday - Book Genie Wishes

This week's TTT theme over at Broke and Bookish is: 10 Wishes I'd Ask The Book Genie To Grant Me.

Huh, I always thought that genies granted just three wishes.

1. Sherman Alexie writes a sequel/ companion to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Oh, how I adore that book. I've read it with both my ears and eyes three or four times each - and I still cry.

I buttonholed Mr. Alexie at ALA Annual in Chicago in 2009 asking if a sequel was planned. He answered in the affirmative yet here it is six years later and there is no sequel! I'm sure he is a very busy man with more than YA on his mind. Perhaps there's even a little anxiety revisiting such an acclaimed novel. If it ain't broke...He will be making his picture book debut in 2016, however, with Yuyi Morales illustrating, no less!

Thunder Boy Jr.! Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, May, 2016. 

2. I want to visit Thisby, Maggie Stiefvater's fictional island which was the setting for another one of my favorite books, The Scorpio Races. The island was as much a character as Puck and Sean.

3. I'd like to do a literary tour; but first I'd have to read enough of the area's literature to make it well, literary.

4. I'd like my book budget at school to double (at least). I have a fairly generous budget, which I subsidize with my own money. I could very easy spend twice what I am allotted and still want more and stock the shelves with books kids will read!

5. I wish I could read faster. I'm pretty fast but if I push to read faster, I barely remember what I read.

6. I'd like a magic spell to cast on every kid who comes to me saying, "I hate to read."

7. I'd like to have an automatic allotment for at least one author visit per year, along with the time, administrative and teacher support to do so. Everyone loves author visits in theory. It's carving out the time in everyone's schedule and wrangling the money that is the hard part.

8. I would like lost and stolen library books to have a homing device that follows a beacon home to the library.

9. Book shelves that don't need dusting.

10. Enough book shelves for all my books at home.

What's New? Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Hop on over there to ogle what other bloggers got this week.

Wowzers! Am I behind. I STILL have to report out on two publisher previews. But this is what I purchased this week:

The Shadow Cabinet by Maureen Johnson. Shades of London #3. G.P. Putnam's Sons/ Penguin Young Readers Group, October, 2015. 9780399256622.

Publisher synopsis: The thrilling third installment to the Edgar-nominated, bestselling series 

Rory and her friends are reeling from a series of sudden and tragic events. While racked with grief, Rory tries to determine if she acted in time to save a member of the squad. If she did, how do you find a ghost? Also, Rory’s classmate Charlotte has been kidnapped by Jane and her nefarious organization. Evidence is uncovered of a forty-year-old cult, ten missing teenagers, and a likely mass murder. Everything indicates that Charlotte’s in danger, and it seems that something much bigger and much more terrible is coming.

Time is running out as Rory fights to find her friends and the ghost squad struggles to stop Jane from unleashing her spectral nightmare on the entire city. In the process, they’ll discover the existence of an organization that underpins London itself—and Rory will learn that someone she trusts has been keeping a tremendous secret.

I have some catching up to do. I loved the first installment and never got around to the second. My kids love these.

Happy! by Pharrell Williams. 32 p. Penguin Young Readers Group, October, 2016. 9780399176432.

Publisher synopsis: Grammy Award winner Pharrell Williams's super-hit song “Happy” is now a picture book

Nominated for an Academy Award in 2014, “Happy” hit number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 list, and has topped the charts in more than seventy-five countries worldwide. Now Pharrell Williams brings his beloved song to the youngest of readers in photographs of children across cultures celebrating what it means to be happy. All the exuberance of the song pulses from these vibrant photographs of excited, happy kids. This is a picture book full of memorable, precious childhood moments that will move readers in the same way they were moved by the song.
 
“Happy” has had the world dancing ever since it first hit the airwaves, and now the irresistibly cheerful tune will come to life on the page with Pharrell Williams’s very first picture book! A keepsake and true classic in the making.

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel. Unabridged recording on three compact discs, 3 hours, 12 minutes. Read by Gibson Frazier. Simon & Schuster Audio, October, 2015. 9781442391260.

Publisher synopsis: Steve just wants to save his baby brother—but what will he lose in the bargain? This is a haunting gothic tale for fans of Coraline, from acclaimed author Kenneth Oppel (Silverwing, The Boundless).

For some kids summer is a sun-soaked season of fun. But for Steve, it’s just another season of worries. Worries about his sick newborn baby brother who is fighting to survive, worries about his parents who are struggling to cope, even worries about the wasp’s nest looming ominously from the eaves. So when a mysterious wasp queen invades his dreams, offering to “fix” the baby, Steve thinks his prayers have been answered.

All he has to do is say “Yes.” But “yes” is a powerful word. It is also a dangerous one. And once it is uttered, can it be taken back?

Celebrated author Kenneth Oppel creates an eerie masterpiece in this compelling story that explores disability and diversity, fears and dreams, and what ultimately makes a family.

Peanuts: a tribute to Charles M. Schulz. 96 p. Boom! Studios, October 20, 2015. 9781608867141.

Publisher synopsis: The Peanuts gang seen through the eyes of today's greatest cartoonists in loving tribute to Charles Schulz.

In celebration of Peanuts' 65th anniversary, BOOM! has teamed up with some of the greatest cartoonists of the last 50 years to put a personal spin on Charlie Brown, Snoopy and their beloved gang.

This collectible hardcover features never-before seen art styles from Matt Groening (The Simpsons), Jeffrey Brown (Darth Vader and Son), Raina Telgemeier (Smile, Drama), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise) and other legendary cartoonists and authors whose love of Charles Schulz's syndicated comic strip influenced a life long love of art and storytelling that shaped their careers.

Contributions include art from Paige Braddock, Patrick McDonnell (Mutts), Mo Willems (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!), Jen Wang (In Real Life), Roger Langridge (Snarked, Jim Henson's The Musical Monsters of Turkey Hollow), Art Baltazar (Tiny Titans), Lincoln Peirce (Big Nate), Liz Prince (Tomboy), Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), Paul Pope (Battling Boy, Batman: Year 100) Evan Dorkin (Sock Monkey, Maakies), and more.

Peanuts was a must-read throughout my childhood, so this was a must-purchase.

What's new with you?

What's New? Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Hop on over there to ogle what other bloggers got this week.

Oh Lordy, what a week! First off, it just flew! Zip! Over! Secondly, I attended two publisher previews, which I will give their own posts over the next few days. Thirdly, I am oh so woefully behind in my reading!

For review:

Wild Swans by Jackie Morris. 176 p. Frances Lincoln Children's Books, October, 2015. 9781847805362.

Publisher synopsis: This very beautiful and lyrical extended version of the fairy tale 'The Wild Swans' by Hans Christian Andersen is the much anticipated companion to East of the Sun, West of the Moon. With strong characterization of the heroine and also with more rounded characterization of the wicked stepmother than in the original version, and with delicate watercolor paintings throughout, this is both a wonderful story and delightful gift. Beautifully presented in a jacketed edition with foiled title.

Purchased:

Future Perfect by Jen Larsen. 309 p. HarperTeen/ HarperCollins Publisher, October, 2015. 9780062321237.

Publisher synopsis: Jen Larsen, author of the critically acclaimed memoir Stranger Here and a subject of the Oprah Winfrey Network TV show In Deep Shift with Jonas Elrod, tells a liberating story of hard-won self-acceptance—a tale of one girl, who knows that weight is just a number, and that no one is completely perfect.

This is a distinct, complex debut from a new voice in YA with an unforgettable main character whose doubts and insecurities will resonate with readers, and shed light on the dangers of taking on others' expectations instead of your own.

Underscored by a fierce intelligence and a dry, disarming wit, Future Perfect will satisfy fans of such authors as Maureen Johnson.

Taking Aim: power and pain, teens and guns. Edited by Michael Cart. HarperTeen/ HarperCollins Publishers, September, 2015. 9780062327352.

Publisher synopsis: Powerful, riveting, and real. Sixteen celebrated authors bring us raw, insightful stories that explore guns and teens in a fiction collection that is thought provoking and emotionally gripping. For fans of Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock and Give a Boy a Gun, and with an array of YA talent like the late great Walter Dean Myers, the poetic Joyce Carol Oates, the prophetic Elizabeth Wein, and the gritty Chris Crutcher, these are evocative voices that each has a different perspective to give. Capturing the hurt and the healing, victims and perpetrators, these stories get to the heart of the matter.

From a boy whose low self-esteem is impacted when a gun comes into his possession to a student recalling a senseless tragedy that befell a favorite teacher, from a realistic look at hunting to a provocative look at a family that defies stereotypes, each emotional story stirs the debate to new levels. The juxtaposition of guns and their consequences offers moving tales, each a reminder of how crucial the question of guns in our society is, and the impact they have on all of us.

Other acclaimed contributors are Marc Aronson, Edward Averett, Francesca Lia Block, Alex Flinn, Gregory Galloway, Jenny Hubbard, Peter Johnson, Ron Koertge, Chris Lynch, Eric Shanower, Will Weaver, and Tim Wynne-Jones.

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the secret history of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin. Unabridged audiobook on 7 compact discs, 8 hours. Read by Ray Porter. Penguin Random House Audio Publishing, September, 2015. 9780553552751.

Publisher synopsis: From Steve Sheinkin, the award-winning author of The Port Chicago 50 and Bomb comes a tense, exciting exploration of what the Times deemed "the greatest story of the century": how Daniel Ellsberg transformed from obscure government analyst into "the most dangerous man in America," and risked everything to expose the government's deceit. On June 13, 1971, the front page of the New York Times announced the existence of a 7,000-page collection of documents containing a secret history of the Vietnam War. Known as The Pentagon Papers, these documents had been comissioned by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. Chronicling every action the government had taken in the Vietnam War, they revealed a pattern of deception spanning over twenty years and four presidencies, and forever changed the relationship between American citizens and the politicans claiming to represent their interests. A provocative audiobook that interrogates the meanings of patriotism, freedom, and integrity,Most Dangerous further establishes Steve Sheinkin as a leader in children's nonfiction.

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs. The Third Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children. Unabridged audiobook on one MP3 CD,15 hours. Read by Kirby Heybourne. Blackstone Audio Inc. October, 2015. 9781504634332.

Publisher synopsis: Time is running out for the Peculiar Children. With a dangerous madman on the loose and their beloved Miss Peregrine still in danger, Jacob Portman and Emma Bloom are forced to stage the most daring of rescue missions. They’ll travel through a war-torn landscape, meet new allies, and face greater dangers than ever. . . . Will Jacob come into his own as the hero his fellow Peculiars know him to be? This action-packed adventure features more than 50 all-new Peculiar photographs.

What's new with you?

Cover Reveal! Spark by Holly Schindler

Spark by Holly Schindler. HarperCollins Publishers, May 17, 2016. 9780062220233.

Press release: When the right hearts come to the Avery Theater—at the right time—the magic will return. The Avery will come back from the dead.

Or so Quin’s great-grandmother predicted many years ago on Verona, Missouri’s most tragic night, when Nick and Emma, two star-crossed teenage lovers, died on the stage. It was the night that the Avery’s marquee lights went out forever. 

It sounds like urban legend, but one that high school senior Quin is now starting to believe, especially when her best friend, Cass, and their classmate Dylan step onto the stage and sparks fly. It seems that magic can still unfold at the old Avery Theater and a happier ending can still be had—one that will align the stars and revive not only the decrepit theater, but also the decaying town. However, it hinges on one thing—that Quin gets the story right this time around.

Holly Schindler brings the magic of the theater to life in this tale of family ties, fate, love, and one girl’s quest to rewrite history.

“In my hometown, the restoration of a former movie theater on the town square provided the genesis for my new YA novel, SPARK. Who among us hasn’t dreamed of seeing their name in blazing neon across a gigantic marquee? Let me invite you to dim the lights and draw back the velvet curtains—let your imagination run wild as you enter my fictional Avery Theater, where literally anything goes…” 

—Holly Schindler

More about Holly Schindler: 

Holly Schindler is the author of three previous YA novels: PLAYING HURT as well as the critically acclaimed FERAL (starred PW review) and A BLUE SO DARK (starred Booklist review, ForeWord Book of the Year silver medal, IPPY gold medal). A writer of books for all ages, Schindler’s MG, THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY, has made the master list for children’s book awards in Illinois, South Carolina, and Alabama. She is also a hybrid author, having independently released comedic women’s fiction (FIFTH AVENUE FIDOS) and the forthcoming PLAY IT AGAIN, her adult follow-up to her YA PLAYING HURT. She can be reached through her author site: hollyschindler.com, and hosts special sneak peeks and giveaways for subscribers of her newsletter: tinyletter.com/hollyschindler.com.

I love the cover, premise and tee shirt! It's on my list for spring. Is it on yours?

Waiting on Wednesday: The After-Room by Maile Meloy

WoW is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine in which we share the titles we can't wait to release.

The After-Room by Maile Meloy. Apothecary series #3. 432 p. Penguin Group, November 3, 2015. 9780698198197.

Publisher synopsis: It’s 1955, and Benjamin Burrows and Janie Scott are trying to live a safe, normal life in America. It’s not easy, when they have the power to prevent nuclear disaster, and sinister forces are circling. Soon the advice of a mysterious, unscrupulous magician propels Janie and Benjamin into danger, and toward the land of the dead.  
 
Meanwhile, their friend Jin Lo washes up on a remote island where an American spy is stationed, and finds herself on the trail of a deadly threat in China. But she’s on the other side of the world—how can Janie and Benjamin reach her?
 
The triumphant finale in the trilogy that began with Maile Meloy’s bestselling, critically acclaimed The Apothecary, and continued in its captivating sequel, The Apprentices, The After-Room is full of enchantment and heart, with Ian Schoenherr’s stunning illustrations throughout.

I really enjoyed the first book and somehow never got around to reading the second. My students enjoy them and I know a few fans who will be very happy about this release.

What's New? Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Hop on over there to ogle what other bloggers got this week.

For review: 

The Mystery of Life: how nothing became everything by Jan Paul Schutten. 230 p. Aladdin/ Beyond Words, September, 2015. 9781582705255.

Publisher synopsis: How did nonliving atoms evolve into modern people? Find out in this engaging illustrated exploration of how nothing became everything.

The science of evolution is a topic of utmost importance, especially as the focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education continues to increase. Fortunately, important doesn’t have to mean boring. From explaining how scientists discovered how life began on earth to speculating about whether space aliens are carnivores, this engaging investigation of all things evolution is infused with fun as well as facts.

Coupled with gorgeous illustrations, curious minds yound and old will discover how to build a planet, the truth about DNA, whether trees really want to be tall, how to survive without a butt, and much, much more!

Won:

The Edge by Roland Smith. 236 p. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, October 6, 2015. 9780544341227.

Publisher synopsis: The International Peace Ascent is the brainchild of billionaire Sebastian Plank: Recruit a global team of young climbers and film an inspiring, world-uniting documentary. The adventure begins when fifteen-year-old Peak Marcello and his mountaineer mother are helicoptered to a remote base camp in the Hindu Kush Mountains on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. When the camp is attacked and his mother taken, Peak has no choice but to track down the perpetrators to try to save her. Fans of the bestselling Peak will be thrilled with this gripping, high-stakes sequel.

I really enjoyed Peak and so do my students. I have two copies and one or both are usually out. 

What are you waiting on?

Friday Memes: Galgorithm by Aaron Karo

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.

Galgorithm by Aaron Karo. 310 p. Simon Pulse, May, 2015. 9781481440639.

Publisher synopsis: A romantic comedy that’s “a good choice for fans of John Green” (Booklist) about high school, heartbreak, and having all the answers.

What if the secrets of dating and love were revealed in one simple formula? That’s the tantalizing proposition high school senior Shane Chambliss offers the hopeless and hapless guys who come to him for relationship advice.

After the girl of his dreams breaks his heart, Shane devises a mysterious formula called the Galgorithm and establishes himself as the resident dating guru at Kingsview High School. But his attempts to master the art of romance go outrageously awry.

As Shane tries to navigate the ensuing drama, he must follow his heart, abandon all the rules, and ignore his own advice in a quest for true love. What he discovers, no formula could ever predict...

First Line: The key to a girl's heart is through her eyelashes.

Page 56: "It's just something I feel strongly about, " Tristen says. "We've, like, got it so good in Kingsview. I just think we should help other people out. Plus it's an opportunity to really get my hands dirty.

     I'm stunned. I try to imagine Tristen's accent nails digging into dirt and making habitats for humanity. Apparently there is another side to her.

I read and enjoyed Lexapros and Cons. I hadn't realized that he published other books between that and this. Sigh, so hard to keep up!

Cover Coincidence: Fish on a Cover!

Cover Coincidence is the occasional post where I note, well, coincidental images on covers.

I recently saw a couple of cover reveals of authors whose books I admire.

That got me thinking about other books that featured fish on its cover. I've read them all and highly recommend them all.