What's New? Stacking the Shelves ALAAC18

Oh! The riches! I returned home from ALAAC18 Tuesday evening with a checked suitcase that was three pounds over the 50 lb. limit for checked bags. I removed three books and avoided a hundred dollar fee. My carry on wasn't weighed but was stuffed with books, so these three got stuffed in my backpack, which already had three airport reads, my computer and a gift for my husband. I also received this message from the friendly TSA:

It was nearly 50 pounds of books and dirty laundry folks. Nothing to see here!

Here's a photo of most of the books I received from many very generous publishers. There are a couple of doubles which I am shipping to my friend e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, who runs the non-profit, Never Counted Out, which gets books into the hands of at-risk kids. The website doesn't appear to be functional, but you can connect with them on Facebook.

I am so excited to read every one of these book. I've already read Winger and Killer of Enemies but had to pick them up as they both have been stolen permanently borrowed without being checked out. Both authors chuckled over that.

I checked in at my school on Wednesday to tie up some end-of-year paperwork since I missed the last to days of school to attend ALA. I discovered a package from Candlewick! Squee!

Lost Soul, Be at Peace by Maggie Thrash. 190 p. Candlewick Press, October 9, 2018. 9780763694197.

Publisher synopsis: A year and a half after the summer that changed her life, Maggie Thrash wishes she could change it all back. She’s trapped in a dark depression and flunking eleventh grade, befuddling her patrician mother while going unnoticed by her father, a workaholic federal judge. The only thing Maggie cares about is her cat, Tommi . . . who then disappears somewhere in the walls of her cavernous house. So her search begins — but Maggie’s not even really sure what she’s lost, and she has no idea what she’ll find. Lost Soul, Be at Peace is the continuation of Maggie’s story from her critically acclaimed memoir Honor Girl, one that brings her devastating honesty and humor to the before and after of depression.

Born Scared by Kevin Brooks. 244 p. Candlewick Press, September 11, 2018. 9780763695651.

Publisher synopsis: Elliot has lived his first thirteen years confined to his home, incapacitated by fear. Now he’s out of pills, snow is falling, and his only safe person is missing. A terrifying thriller from Carnegie Medalist Kevin Brooks.

From the moment of his birth, Elliot’s life has been governed by fear of almost everything, even of his own fear — a beast that holds him prisoner in his room. The beast is kept at bay, though not eliminated, with a daily regimen of pills. But on Christmas Eve, a mix-up at the pharmacy threatens to unleash the beast full force, and his mother must venture out in a raging snowstorm to a store that should be only minutes away. Hours later, when she still hasn’t returned, Elliot sees no choice but to push through his terror, leave the house, and hunt for her. What happens if the last of his medication wears off and the beast starts scratching at the doors of his mind? Everyone has a breaking point — will Elliot come to his? With plot twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats, multi-award-winning author Kevin Brooks offers a high-suspense exploration of fear and what it means to truly be afraid.

I have been a fan of Kevin Brooks since I read Martyn Pig. Can't wait to read this.

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith. 298 p. Candlewick Press, October 9, 2018. 9780763681142.

Publisher synopsis: When Louise Wolfe’s first real boyfriend mocks and disrespects Native people in front of her, she breaks things off and dumps him over e-mail. It’s her senior year, anyway, and she’d rather spend her time with her family and friends and working on the school newspaper. The editors pair her up with Joey Kairouz, the ambitious new photojournalist, and in no time the paper’s staff find themselves with a major story to cover: the school musical director’s inclusive approach to casting The Wizard of Oz has been provoking backlash in their mostly white, middle-class Kansas town. From the newly formed Parents Against Revisionist Theater to anonymous threats, long-held prejudices are being laid bare and hostilities are spreading against teachers, parents, and students — especially the cast members at the center of the controversy, including Lou’s little brother, who’s playing the Tin Man. As tensions mount at school, so does a romance between Lou and Joey — but as she’s learned, “dating while Native” can be difficult. In trying to protect her own heart, will Lou break Joey’s?

When I realized that I missed the opportunity to meet the author at a signing of this, I was bummed. I am so happy that my Candlewick arc-fairy sent this! Thank you!

That's what's new with me. What's new with you? Post a link with your comments and I will visit!

What's New? Stacking the Shelves: Night of Novels edition

I had the privilege of attending Simon & Schuster's Night of Novels dinner at the historic Napoleon House. There was a buffet of sandwiches, cheese and crackers and pasta as well as waiters carrying trays of goodies around. I tried alligator!!! Yikes! I thought it was sausage and it kind of tasted like sausage.

I am genuinely excited to read each of these books. The authors changed tables every few minutes in a sort of speed-dating. It's always fascinating to hear the story behind the story.

Not a bad start to my summer reading! The titles are (from top to bottom):
Dry by Neal Shusterman and his son, Jarrod (who is Neal's mini-me!)
I'm OK by Patti Kim (OK is pronounced like pork without the p and r, according to the author.)
Everything I Know about You by Barbara Dee
The Boy the Boat and the Beast by Samantha Clark
Rabbit and Robot by Andrew Smith
What I Leave Behind by Allison McGhee (told in 100 100-word chapters - intriguing!)
A Heart in the Body of the World by Deb Caletti
To the left is a three-chapter teaser of Sharon Draper's next mg, Blended. 

I learned from Andrew Smith that the restaurant was truly Napoleon's residence! Here are some pics.

Friday at ALAAC18

Woo-boy! What a day!

I started the day with Beignets and cafe au lait by the Mississippi River.

Then, I waited for the Let's Ride Tour Shuttle to pick me up for a group tour of The Whitney Plantation. I found out about the plantation in the backmatter of the book Forgotten Bones: uncovering a slave cemetery by Lois Miner Huey. I don't know about you, but I read every page of a book from the front flap through the end pages, including the dedications, acknowledgements and backmatter. When I saw the Whitney Plantation listed, I wondered if I could squeeze this side trip into my packed conference schedule. The only way to do it was by doing it the morning before the opening ceremonies. Luckily, a friend was proactive and found this tour shuttle and put out a query on FB that I happened to see. Thanks Monica!

If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend making time to see this plantation. There are plantation tours available all throughout the south, but this is the only museum dedicated solely to the lives of the enslaved and man, it is powerful. I am still processing all that I learned yesterday. Here are some of the many pictures I took:

I received a phone call on the shuttle back to the convention center from my vice principal! Yikes! Turns out I omitted posted grades for two students! Thanks to him for picking that up! I remedied that as soon as I got back and headed over to join the long, long line walking in to hear Michelle Obama!

The energy in the meeting room for the opening session was very high. It got even higher when Trombone Shorty's students took the stage and reached a crescendo when Carla Hayden sat down with Michelle Obama! I adore and admire both of these women and could've sat and listened well into the evening. 

Energizing start to my ALAAC18!

#ALAAnnual: New Orleans!

I arrived in the Crescent City late yesterday afternoon for the conference proper, which starts this afternoon. My flight actually landed in NOLA early but is was a long haul before I got to my hotel. This was partly due to traffic and mostly due to the fact that I opted for a shuttle instead of a cab. Anytime I've ever taken a shuttle, I'm invariably the last to be dropped off and the first to be picked up on the return trip. Then the line to check in was long. My very cheery hotel clerk tried to get me to upgrade my check-in explaining that I would be getting over a hundred dollars worth of perks for just sixty extra dollars per night. My travel-addled mind could not compute. I almost said yes until I realized that I rarely eat hotel breakfasts and I never use the health facilities. This tickled me though:

I adored Interrupting Chicken and enjoyed reading it to my classes back when I was a K - 8 librarian. I am looking forward to revisiting her. (It's my room key, btw)

After settling in to my room, I set out into the steamy, mostly cloudy evening to walk the neighborhood. I did a lazy loop that included part of the French Quarter and headed back via the riverwalk, which offered no breezes. I would've walked longer but realized that I was starving and hadn't eaten much. The very entertaining shuttle bus driver and my seat-mate spoke about barbecued oysters so that was on my mind. 

They were delicious. I also ordered fish and chips, which were tasty but I got full quickly and they went to waste. I did not ask for a doggy bag because I couldn't be sure that there was a fridge in my room. There was. Oh well. Fish is best eaten hot, I think.

I had a great night's sleep and am ready to set out to pick up my registration materials, grab a beignet and wait for a shuttle to pick me up. I'm joining some friends for a tour of the Whitney Plantation. It was suggested in the backmatter of a book I read a few months ago. A conference friend organized the shuttle and I was in! I will post about the experience later.