Friday Memes: The Inside of Out by Jenn Marie Thorne

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

The Inside of Out by Jenn Marie Thorne. 425 p. Dial Books/ Penguin Random House, May 31, 2016. 9780803740587.

Publisher synopsis: For fans of Stephanie Perkins, Meg Cabot, and Glee comes a hilarious, romantic, whip smart young adult novel about your best friend finding love before you do, and the lines you’ll cross to stay part of her life.
 
When her best friend Hannah comes out the day before junior year, Daisy is all set to let her ally flag fly. Before you can spell LGBTQIA, she’s leading the charge to end their school’s antiquated ban on same-sex dates at dances—starting with homecoming. And if people assume Daisy herself is gay? Meh, so what. It’s all for Hannah, right? It’s all for the cause. What Daisy doesn’t expect is for “the cause” to blow up—thanks to Adam, the cute college journalist whose interview with Daisy for his college newspaper goes viral, catching fire in the national media. With the story spinning out of control, protesters gathering, Hannah left in the dust of Daisy’s good intentions, and Daisy’s attraction to Adam practically written in lights, Daisy finds herself caught between her bold plans, her bad decisions, and her big fat mouth.
 
A Clueless or Emma for the modern age, this is a breezy, charming, incisive tale of growing up, getting wise, and realizing every story needs a hero—sometimes it's just not you.
First line: The day she told me, Hannah showed up with iced lattes and chocolate croissants, as if nothing had changed.

Page 56: 
     "Mom?" I gulped. "There's something I need to tell you."

     Mom swung her head around. Amazing how quickly she could go from theorizing I had a boyfriend back to theorizing I was gay.

     "I think I'm..." I bit my lip for maximum drama. "Hungry. What are we having for dinner?"

     "Salmon," she sighed, the trials of being my mother descending heavily upon her. "We're having quinoa and salmon."

Blog Tour: Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee

Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee. 261 p. A Caitlyn Blouhy Book/ Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, March 8, 2016. 9781442482425. (Review from arc courtesy of Blue Slip Media)

Any school or children's librarian worth his or her salt takes Reader's Advisory very seriously. When you do, you read many, many books for children and young adults. If a book is quite exceptional, you start to make a mental list of the patrons you will share the book with. At least I do. I knew exactly who was getting Maybe a Fox. This is a lovely, lyrical story of loss. 

When you share books with a community of readers, there is, invariably, a portion of your reading community who love sad books; who gleefully share how much they cried and enthusiastically recommend their favorite weepies to you and their friends. Their devotion to the saddest of the sad books may dismay their parents. It might even cause some parents to apologize to you when they introduce themselves to you. 

If you are lucky enough to have such children in your life, give them this book.

Where to begin? Sylvie, Jules and her father were a tight triad of love and support since the girls' mother died suddenly many years earlier. Ever protective Sylvie supplied Jules' memories of their mother. She also was the fastest runner in their Vermont school. Jules was a rock hound who was always on the lookout for the perfect wishing rocks. The girls, and their best friend, Sam, would bestow a wish on such a rock and fling it into the Slip, a rather treacherous spot in a nearby river - a place their father told them to avoid.

One snowy morning, Sylvie ran off. Jules built a snow family that, inexplicably, included a fox while she waited. And waited. And waited. She finally followed Sylvie's tracks in the snow until they end abruptly at a root at the bank of the Slip.

Not only is Sylvie gone, but her body was never recovered. Jules and her father, reeling with the loss, draw closer together. But their's is not the only story of loss in their rural town. Even though Sam's brother, Elk, has returned from Afghanistan, his best friend, Zeke did not. Elk mourns his loss and Sam mourns his brother's change. Sam also longs to spot a catamount, an eastern cougar, in the woods.

Heavy material for middle grade, no? The two authors have a light hand as they weave a dual narrative - Jules' first-person story and a third person story of a vixen and her kits, one of whom is a girl. This little fox is no ordinary fox kit, but chosen to be a kennon, whose life and destiny will be inextricably bound to one human girl. While there is tremendous loss, there is slow, sure healing among this close-knit community. 

While the characters in Maybe a Fox are vividly real, there is so much to savor. The cover is absolutely gorgeous. The evocative rural Vermont setting may make readers long for a walk in the woods, possibly searching for Sam's mysterious totem, the catamount. The power of wishes, the hope for the return of a possibly extinct animal, the lore of magical foxes act as counterweights to the tragedy and help in the healing. 

There will be tears, many tears.

Maybe a Fox, has garnered multiple starred reviews. Kirkus called it "Intriguing as a story of connections with the animal world and, for perceptive readers, filled with solace." It is certainly on my list of 2017 Newbery contenders.

Click on this link to view a gorgeous trailer for that book created by Kathi Appelt's talented son and daughter-in-law.

Here are the stops on the blog tour:

Fri, Mar 4	I Read Banned Books
Mon, Mar 7	Watch.Connect.Read
Tues, Mar 8	https://www.crackingthecover.com/
Wed, Mar 9	Sharpread
Thurs, Mar 10	Proseandkahn
Fri, Mar 11	YABC
Mon, Mar 14	OWL for YA
Tues, Mar 15	Kid Lit Frenzy
Wed, Mar 16	Teach Mentor Texts
Thurs, Mar 17	Unleashing Readers
Fri, Mar 18	Mother Daughter Book Club

About the authors:

Kathi Applelt is the New York Times best-selling author of more than forty books for children. Her novels for older readers include two National Book Award Finalists: The True Blue Scouts of Sugarman Swamp and The Underneath, which also was named a Newbery Honor book. Visit her at kathiappelt.com.

Alison McGhee is the New York Times best-selling author of Someday, as well as Firefly Hollow and the Bink and Gollie books. Visit her at alisonmcghee.com.

Thanks to Barb from Blue Slip for allowing me to share this memorable book.

Waiting on Wednesday: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

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

Scythe by Neal Shusterman.

There was no other publication information as of Feb. 22, when I first read about this on the author's FB page and followed a link to EW to read a very nice interview. No matter, Shusterman is pretty much an automatic purchase for me. And, isn't that cover phenomenal?

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:
I recently attended the Penguin Random House spring/summer preview and brought these home with me. Laura Marx Fitzgerald was the special guest and spoke about the inspiration for the book and her love of research. 

The Gallery by Laura Marx Fitzgerald. 336 p. Dial Books for Young Readers/ Penguin Young Readers Group, June 14, 2016. 9780525428657.

Publisher synopsis: A riveting historical art mystery for fans of Chasing Vermeer and The Westing Game, set in the Roaring Twenties!

It's 1929, and twelve-year-old Martha has no choice but to work as a maid in the New York City mansion of the wealthy Sewell family. But, despite the Gatsby-like parties and trimmings of success, she suspects something might be deeply wrong in the household—specifically with Rose Sewell, the formerly vivacious lady of the house who now refuses to leave her room. The other servants say Rose is crazy, but scrappy, strong-willed Martha thinks there’s more to the story—and that the paintings in the Sewell’s gallery contain a hidden message detailing the truth. But in a house filled with secrets, nothing is quite what it seems, and no one is who they say. Can Martha follow the clues, decipher the code, and solve the mystery of what’s really going on with Rose Sewell?

Inspired by true events described in a fascinating author’s note, The Gallery is a 1920s caper told with humor and spunk that readers today will love.

The Inside of Out by Jenn Marie Thorne. 400 p. Dial Books/ Penguin Random House LLC, May 31, 2016. 9780803740587.

Publisher synopsis: For fans of Stephanie Perkins, Meg Cabot, and Glee comes a hilarious, romantic, whip smart young adult novel about your best friend finding love before you do, and the lines you’ll cross to stay part of her life.
 
When her best friend Hannah comes out the day before junior year, Daisy is all set to let her ally flag fly. Before you can spell LGBTQIA, she’s leading the charge to end their school’s antiquated ban on same-sex dates at dances—starting with homecoming. And if people assume Daisy herself is gay? Meh, so what. It’s all for Hannah, right? It’s all for the cause. What Daisy doesn’t expect is for “the cause” to blow up—thanks to Adam, the cute college journalist whose interview with Daisy for his college newspaper goes viral, catching fire in the national media. With the story spinning out of control, protesters gathering, Hannah left in the dust of Daisy’s good intentions, and Daisy’s attraction to Adam practically written in lights, Daisy finds herself caught between her bold plans, her bad decisions, and her big fat mouth.
 
A Clueless or Emma for the modern age, this is a breezy, charming, incisive tale of growing up, getting wise, and realizing every story needs a hero—sometimes it's just not you.
Purchased:
My overseas purchase was delivered. Once I discovered that Morris Gleitzman's Felix and Zelda series had additional titles, I had to have them. Unfortunately, they were only available as ebook purchases or audio here. (I purchased the audios and have already read them - reviews to come.)The books are paperbacks, but that's better than nothing for the author's young fans at my school.

After by Morris Gleitzman. 208 p. Puffin/ Penguin Books Ltd, August, 2012. 9780141343136.

Publisher synopsis: "After" is the fourth shocking, funny and heartbreaking book in Morris Gleitzman's "Second World War" series. After - The Nazis took my parents I was scared. After - They killed my best friend I was angry. After - They ruined my thirteenth birthday I was determined to get to the forest, to join forces with Gabriek and Yuli, to be a family, to defeat the Nazis after all. 

Soon by Morris Gleitzman. 196 p. Puffin/ Penguin Random House UK, August, 2015. 9780141362793.

Publisher synopsis: The Second World War has officially ended, but the streets are still a battleground - for food, for shelter, for protection...Felix is in hiding to stay safe, but finds he has been left holding the baby - literally. An orphaned infant has been left in his care and he will do everything he can to protect the child, in the way a few incredible people did for him during the Holocaust. This powerfully moving addition to Morris Gleitzman's bestselling series about Felix and Zelda takes place in 1945, following the story told in After. This intensely affecting story will move readers of all ages. It will be welcomed by the many Holocaust educators who use Once, Now, Then and After to teach upper primary and lower secondary children and embraced by any reader who loves passionate, moving and brilliant stories.

Friday Memes: The Thing about Leftovers by C.C. Payne

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

The Thing about Leftovers by C.C. Payne. 281 p. Nancy Paulsen Books/ Penguin Young Readers Group, July 19, 2016. 9780399172045.

Publisher synopsis: C. C. Payne intertwines heartache with humor and hope in a novel about navigating divorce and blended families, following your passion, and celebrating who you are. 

Fizzy is a good Southern girl who just wants to be perfect. And win the Southern Living cook-off.The being perfect part is hard though, since her parents’ divorced and everything in her life has changed. Wary of her too-perfect stepmom and her mom’s neat-freak, dismissive boyfriend, she’s often angry or upset and feels like a guest in both homes. She tells herself to face facts: She’s a “leftover” kid from a marriage that her parents want to forget. But she has to keep all of that to herself, because a good Southern girl never yells, or throws fits, or says anything that might hurt other people’s feelings—instead she throws her shoulders back, says yes ma’am, and tries to do better. So Fizzy tries her best, but it’s hard to stay quiet when her family keeps getting more complicated. Fortunately, the Southern Living cook-off gives her a welcome distraction, as do her new friends Miyoko and Zach, who have parent issues of their own. 

With the poignancy and humor of Joan Bauer and Lynda Mullaly Hunt, this poignant story reminds readers that they have a right to a voice, that it is okay to say how you feel, and that some leftovers are absolutely delicious!

First line: There is nothing worse than leftovers, except school leftovers, which are so bad they should be called something else - leftunders maybe?

Page 56: 
     "It's Parent's Night at school," I reminded her.
     "Oh, right. Keene and I will pick you up from your aunt Liz's right after work," Mom said.
     "Why?" was the word that tumbled out of my mouth, as in Why would Keene come? He wasn't my parent. He wasn't anybody's parent.
     "For Parent's Night - isnt' that what we're talking about?" Mom gave me a quick hug and headed for the stairs before I could think of anything to say. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

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

No Cover Image :-(

Crooked Kingdom: a sequel to Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. 480 p. Henry Holt & Co./ Macmillan, September 27, 2016. 9781627792134.

Publisher synopsis: Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets—a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.

This is a thrilling and satisfying sequel to the #1 New York Times-bestselling Six of Crows.

I recently read Six of Crows with my ears and absolutely cannot wait for the sequel! If you love fantasy with vivid worldbuilding and complex, flawed characters, read Six of Crows. This is due to drop on my birthday! I now have two books pre-ordered as birthday gifts to myself.

ETA (3/2): At the time I set up this post, there were no cover images. This morning, I did another check and discovered that the LA times did an exclusive review on Feb. 22. Here's a link to the article. Hop on over there for a sneak peak! This cover is fantastic! Love it!

Blog Tour: Good Morning Yoga by Mariam Gates

Good Morning Yoga: a pose-by-pose wake up story  by Mariam Gates. Illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder. Unpged. Sounds True, Inc., March 1, 2016. 9781622036028. (Review from finished copy courtesy of Blue Slip Media)

Kids today are under such stress, what with high-stakes testing, the expectation that reading will happen during kindergarten if not before, busy families, packed schedules and very little down time. Any book that introduces yoga to a young audience is a good book in my opinion. This colorful and cheery introduction to using yoga to greet the day is quite special. 

The end-pages feature a multicultural cast of children outdoors and active. Sunshine yellow title pages give way to those children greeting the day with a morning stretch, twisting, bending, standing, and balancing among other poses to salute a brand, new day. There is a dual narrative at work here. In the beginning, the verso pages all start with the mantra, "As I breathe in, as I breath out," then describe how to practice the pose. The recto pages somewhat metaphorically describe how the pose might make the child feel. A bit past the middle, the pattern switches. 

The palette is bright and energetic. Most illustrations feature a funny little animal observing or participating in the poses. All the poses are accessible to beginning practitioners and a double-page spread at the end shows the entire Good Morning Yoga Flow. The book ends with instructions for visualizing a good day. 

The author's playful approach to practicing yoga is infectious. I was unaware that this is the second of her books. Good Morning Yoga is a companion to her previously published, Good Night Yoga, which I will be looking up soon.

Mariam Gates holds a master's in education from Harvard University and has more than twenty years experience working with children. Her renowned Kid Power Yoga program comines her love of yoga iwth teaching to help children access their inner figts. She is the author of Good Night Yoga (Sounds True, April 2015) and lives in Santa Cruz, CA, iwth her husband, yoga teacher Rolf Gates. Follow her on Twitter @gatesmariam or on Instagram: mariam.gates.

Check out the book trailer here.  There's also a video online of the author reading her book here.

Other stops on the tour:

Wed, Feb 24	Teach Mentor Texts	http://www.teachmentortexts.com/#axzz3yHmVeUfE
Fri, Feb 26	Where Imagination Grows	http://whereimaginationgrows.com/
Mon, Feb 29	A Rup Life	http://www.aruplife.com/
Tues, Mar 1	Proseandkahn	http://proseandkahn.blogspot.com/
Wed, Mar 2	Kid Lit Frenzy	http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/
Thurs, Mar 3	5 Minutes for Books	http://books.5minutesformom.com/
Fri, Mar 4	Once Upon a Story	http://mariaburel.com/
Mon, Mar 7	Wrapped in Foil	http://blog.wrappedinfoil.com/
Tues, Mar 8	Sharpread	https://sharpread.wordpress.com/
Wed, Mar 9	A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust	http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/
Thurs, Mar 10	Unleashing Readers	http://www.unleashingreaders.com/
Fri, Mar 11	Children's Book Review	http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/
Tues, Mar 15	The Library Fanatic	http://www.thelibraryfanatic.com/

Thanks to Barb at Blue Slip Media for giving me the opportunity to review this book. Please consider adding it to elementary school and classroom libraries as well as public libraries.