The Hate-Mongering Tart

I love a good novel in verse.  And Caroline Starr Rose‘s lyrical debut is no exception.  This artfully woven story of a young girl in the pioneer era is part Laura Ingalls Wilder and part Lisa Schroeder.  It’s also 100% compelling.

MAY B.‘s story starts as the title character takes a job helping a couple at their new home for the fall.  Her father has promised to come and retrieve her just before Christmas, and although May B. is reluctant to leave home — and to give up her school work — she knows that the extra income will help her family.

Her new employer’s wife is none too pleased to be away from the city.  She is fairly mean-spirited in her interactions with May B., so when she runs off to the city, May isn’t exactly disappointed.  When the master of the house takes off after her, May figures she can use the time to catch up on her reading for school.  Even though her teacher, back home, thinks she’s stupid — she doesn’t read like the other kids, even though she understands the words — she wants desperately to be a teacher herself one day.  A teacher like the woman who taught at the school when she was younger.

It isn’t long before May B. realizes that the couple has been gone too long.  And when a blizzard hits, May is trapped inside, with no neighbors to check on her, and no way to tell her family that not only is she stuck, but that she’s all alone.

MAY B. is a story of a spirited young girl, surviving on her own, in truly scary conditions.  It’s what would happen if you took Anne Shirley away from Green Gables and put her in a cabin in the Yukon. And I loved it.  This is a fabulous novel for tween readers that I’m hoping will be available in many classrooms this year.

I sometimes wonder if we’re forgetting the art of the short story.  While I love a good short story collection, I certainly don’t read enough of them.  But I’m beyond glad that I picked up the latest collection from Naomi Shihab Nye, whose lyric prose and sharp wit highlight every very short story in this collection.

THERE IS NO LONG DISTANCE NOW is a collection of 40 pieces of flash fiction — each story is under or around 1,000 words.  Each one captures a moment in time — a sliver of a life that tells a whole story.  The collection is brilliant, and Nye‘s background as a poet is apparent in the way she uses brevity to evoke the  spirit of all of these characters — some of which overlap throughout the book.  This is a must-have for anyone who enjoys reading or writing flash, and is sure to be a staple in many creative writing classrooms.

When I picked this book up, I had no idea that EVERNEATH was entangled in Greek mythology.  The rich world built by Brodi Ashton was a pleasant surprise to me, as it unfolded piece by piece, revealing the secrets of a new imagining of the underworld.  And it was super fun to read about.

The story of EVERNEATH is told both in the present tense and in flashbacks to the past — to before Nikki Becker consented to be a part of the Feed that drained her of every single emotion, feeding her Everliving host Cole for one hundred years.  And while she was away for a century in the Everneath, in Nikki’s world, it was only six months that passed.  And in that time, rumors have piled up.  She left her boyfriend and longtime friend Jack in the lurch.  Everyone thinks she’s some strung-out druggie now, talks about her like she’s destroyed Jack’s life.  Even her father, the mayor, is having her drug tested regularly and has signed her up to volunteer at a soup kitchen to help save face for the upcoming election.

But none of that really matters.  Nikki is going to have to return to the Everneath — to the Tunnels where she’ll be used as a battery to power the Everliving.  It’s her debt to pay.  Even if Cole — guised in this world as the singer and guitarist for a popular local band — says there’s another way, that she is special, that she could be with him, make a bid for the throne, change the Everneath forever.  But Nikki doesn’t want that.  She’d have to feed off of people the way Cole fed off her.  All she wants in these next six months is to be able to say proper goodbyes, to make up for hurting her friends and family when she disappeared without a trace for the Feed.

It’s not so simple, though.  There’s a woman named Mary at the soup kitchen who talks about the daughters of Persephone — and while everyone tells Nikki that she’s just an old lady with dementia, Nikki knows there’s more to her crazy stories than senility.  And there’s the conversations Nikki has overheard at the convenience store, between Cole and members of his band.  Perhaps she can find a way to subvert the system she won’t have to go, and she and Jack can go back to the way they were before the event that sent her running to Cole, to the Feed, in the first place.

Written with a delicate hand, EVERNEATH has the perfect blend of mystery, romance, and suspense. If you want a good love story, pick this one up.

I’m hard pressed to say that a novel I’ve read is one-of-a-kind.  There’s a lot of books out there, everything’s been done, and most authors are striving to put a unique twist on something that, if you look hard enough, is a trope we’ve seen before.  TRIPLE RIPPLE, though, surprised me.  If there are other books like this out there, I haven’t seen them.

Brigid Lowry‘s latest follows three oddly intertwined narratives.  First there is the writer, who is penning a new fairytale novel, struggling with various creative blocks, and thinking about a reader who might eventually read her story.  Then there’s the Glory, the main character of the fairytale, a girl who has recently become a servant at her kingdom’s castle, and who finds herself  thrown into the recently vacated position of chambermaid to a very grumpy princess.  Thirdly, there’s the reader, a girl named Nova, who is reading Glory’s tale while dealing with her own “grumpy princess” — a bully at school who, like it or not, she’s about to have to deal with in a very real way: in the school counselor’s office.

This fun, fast read is rich with clever humor, lyric prose, and characters that you kind of want to hug.  Definitely a great gift to avid readers as well as young aspiring writers who will identify with all three voices in TRIPLE RIPPLE.  Heck, I think even pro writers will enjoy this sweet new novel.  Personally, I’m really looking forward to future novels from this delightful author.

You always have that one book you’ve written. The book of your heart. Maybe it’s a little autobiographical. Maybe it just reminds you of a simpler time. Whatever the reason, when you flip open this particular book, it just makes you smile.

Mari Mancusi

SKATER BOY, is like that for me. My first ever young adult novel, originally published in mass market paperback in 2005. Even though I didn’t love the cover (which was made to resemble the popular iPod advertisements of the time) I felt there was something special inside. Maybe it’s because it has a little bit of my own story, wrapped up in fiction.

Yes, one of my very first loves was a skateboarder. One my parents didn’t approve of. And though our relationship didn’t have a happily ever after and I now admit my parents were probably right, I always managed to retain a soft spot for those rag tag boys and their boards. So maybe it isn’t surprising that the book still holds a special space in my heart.

Unfortunately now it’s long out of print and hard to find. And when librarians or readers ask about it, I’ve had to shrug my shoulders. Heck, even the wife of my former boyfriend found me online to ask about obtaining a copy. (Which was, um, a bit awkward to say the least!)

But good news! Thanks to digital publishing, Mrs. Skateboarder and all the rest can finally read the book again. With a hot new cover that I adore and updated pop culture references to align with the times. (My husband calls me George Lucas for always updating my old books. (There are actually 3 different versions of Boys that Bite and Stake That if you read closely!) He thinks the books should be a moment in time. I, however, prefer to keep things fresh!)

In any case, now the book of my heart, the one I thought had turned to paperback pulp forever, is now breathing new life on Amazon and Barnes and Noble (with other platforms to follow soon.) And I’m able to share my favorite story with brand new tween and teen readers who weren’t old enough to check it out the first time around. And bonus–with self-publishing, I can do it for a bargain price, avoiding the traditional publisher overhead.

We’re living in a thrilling time for publishing. It’s a little scary, with things changing so fast. But it’s a little awesome, too. Five years ago, an author was powerless, her books disposable at the whims of bookstores and publishers. And so many stories died forever, after only a few months on the shelves.

Digital publishing changes all that. Now old stories can come back to life. Authors can take charge of their careers. And readers can only benefit, with a wider selection of material to choose from. And that, to me, seems like a true happily ever after.

MARI

PS No, I’m never letting my daughter date a skateboarder.

SKATER BOY is available for $3.99 on the Kindle and Nook.

Contact the Author:

Website: www.marimancusi.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bloodcovenvampires

Twitter: marimancusi

FRACTURE is a book that grabs the reader and doesn’t let go.  You’re hooked from the first line, sunk by the end of the first chapter.  Megan Miranda‘s prose is tight, exciting, and elegant.  But most of all, it’s the characters that made FRACTURE come to life for me.

FRACTURE is the story of one girl’s death — and her waking  from the coma that should have been the end.  Delaney Maxwell is that girl — the town miracle, the girl who came home from the hospital not only emotionally different, but physically different.  Her brain healed when it shouldn’t have, and even though she can’t put her finger on it, there’s something wrong with her.  The doctors and her parents think she’s sufferimng from hallucinations.  She doesn’t dare talk to her best friend Decker about what’s really going — Decker who pulled her out of the freezing lake — let alone her neurologist.  Then she meets Troy — a weird, older guy who knows a little too much about her, but who is also the only one who knows how she feels.  He’s been in a coma, too.

Of course, as Delaney suspected from the start, Troy isn’t all that he seems.  And her relationship with Decker is evolving in a way that makes her wonder if they can every go back to where they were before the accident, let alone move forward.

FRACTURE is an intense, thrilling read, packed tight with emotive characters, tough drama, and just a touch of paranormal suspense.  Definitely one to watch out for.

Happy Holidays!

So you know a writer and you aren’t sure what to get him or her for the holidays? Look no more! We here at THE PLACE, being (those that chimed in) P.J. Hoover, Jenny Moss, Cory Putman Oakes, Colleen Conrad, Jessica Lee Anderson, Bethany Hegedus, and ME, have chimed in to help you in your gift search!

We give you…

1) Offer to babysit if they have kids so that they can go to THE PLACE and write.

2) Massage/Spa day, because all that hunching over lap tops makes our backs hurt.

3) SCBWI/RWA/etc conference attendance.

4) Bookshelves. Because you don’t know what books they already have, but you know they have a lot and need more space for them!

5) Fingerless gloves, especially here in Texas–it’s so hot all the time, we don’t know the heater’s broken until that ONE DAY it dips below freezing. And then our fingers are ice, and typing is torture.

6) Coffee. French press, espresso, regular old drip. Also, wine.

7) Fancy file folders, pretty post-its, a 10-pack of Sharpie highlighters, and more colored pens than you think a human could possibly use. Then, at least we’ll have nice stuff to look at when revision is (supposed to be) happening.

A special pen for signing books (although some of us always forget ours).

9) A gift certificate to bookstore to buy research/craft books.

10) A copy of Scrivener.

11) Nice versions of common desk reference books: dictionary, thesaurus, Chicago Manual, etc.

12) Small, snazzy notebooks for jotting down story ideas.

13) Rare editions of books they find inspirational and/or their favorite books

PJ chose A BRAVE NEW WORLD, but I collect copies of my favorite book, LE PETIT PRINCE.

14) A comfy shawl/small blanket for chilly writing days.

15) An intravenous coffee drip.

16) Coupons for “Guilt Free Twitter/Social Media Time” for promotion.

17) A nice, honest review of one of their books on Amazon/Goodreads/etc.

18) Health insurance.

19) A muse.

20) CDs and/or iTunes giftcards (music fuels inspiration!)

21) Mugs and pint glasses.

22) File folders, labels, accordion folders, etc. to assist with organization.

23) Fancy tea samplers.

24) A comfy desk chair.

25) A flash drive.

PJ loves her Star Trek thumb drives, but I'm a big fan of these lego ones, which you can find on Etsy.

26) A writing retreat (doesn’t have to be fancypants)

27) Bottles of Excedrin Migraine.

28) A subscription to a fancy magazine–New Yorker, Hunger Mountain.

29) Slipper socks.

30) PJs that feel good to write in. (I personally can endorse Pajama Jeans!)

31) A tech class.

32) Book bouquets ala Stephanie Pellegrin! (or etsy)

33) Buying their book as a gift for everyone on your holiday list!

Hope your holiday is great

I’ve seen a lot of books that with Spiritualist themes lately.  You know, the old-timey movement that centered on things like mediums and ghosts and psychics and spirit photography.  So when I picked up DARKER STILL by Leanna Renee Hieber, I was sort of expecting more of the same.  Not necessarily a bad story, but I story that I had seen before.  But, I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.  DARKER STILL delivers.

Natalie Stewart isn’t your average protagonist.  For one she’s a mute.  For another, her father runs the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and, perhaps because her father doesn’t quite know what to do with a mute teenager, Natalie is sort of on staff. Steeped in the art world, Natalie soon finds herself in an odd friendship with a wealthy patron of the arts who has just purchased a painting of the notorious Lord Denbury — a young man who died shortly after the piece was painted.  Natalie is enamored with the painting, and, on one visit to see the painting discovers that there’s something odd about it.  Odd ineed, as it’s not long before she actually falls into the painting and meets Denbury himself, in the sort-of-flesh.  Denbury confides in Natalie that he became trapped in this painting under mysterious circumstances, and unless they figure out how to get him out soon, he might be trapped forever.

This is a fun, sweet mystery with a sexy edge.  I’d definitely recommend DARKER STILL to fans of Dianne Salerni’s WE HEAR THE DEAD or Maureen Johnson’s THE NAME OF THE STAR.

First and foremost, ZOMBIE TAG is a story about brothers.  About the kind of love and friendship that can only exist within a family, and the special grief that comes when that bond is broken.  Twelve-year-old Wil is a younger brother, and he knows about this grief.  Not long ago, he lost his brother Graham.  And he misses him.  A lot.

Right now, his only solace is in Zombie Tag.  Or, really, the friends with whom he plays this made-up game.  Wil and Graham used to make up a lot of games, and Wil just knows that Graham would have loved Zombie Tag.  All his friends love it, and they play it in secret after the parents of whomever is hosting the sleep-over have gone to bed.  It involves spatulas, Post-It notes, and a “key.”  But when it turns out that Anthony — Wil’s best friend — has some new secrets about zombies (learned from his father’s secret government job), Wil might have the opportunity to see his dead brother again after all.  All he needs to do is find this mysterious bell, which Anthony confessed is somewhere in his house.

But, here’s the thing: the bell might bring back the dead, but it doesn’t make them who they were in life.  When Wil finds this out the hard way, no spatula in the world can save him from his fate, and the choices ahead aren’t going to be easy.

ZOMBIE TAG is such a brave, lovely book.  Lyrically written, with well-placed humor, this is sure to capture the hearts of tween audiences and their parents alike.  Doubtlessly, Hannah Moskowitz‘s YA fans will enjoy ZOMBIE TAG as well — what it lacks in swear words it more than makes up for in charm.  The book made this reader just a bit weepy, so here’s looking at you, Newbery Committee.  Do you think we could get some Zombies a shiny sticker in the near future?

I really loved Adam Selzer’s EXTRAORDINARY*: *THE TRUE STORY OF  MY FAIRY GODPARENT, WHO ALMOST KILLED ME, AND CERTAINLY NEVER MADE ME A PRINCESS.  I mean, check that out.  The title enough should already have you sucked in.  But in case you need a little something to sweeten the pot, I’ll have you know this:  EXTRAORDINARY* is the best book I’ve ever read that uses unicorn poop as a major plot point. (Okay, maybe the only book.  But, you know.)

Set in the familiar Selzerverse town of Cornersville Trace, Iowa, EXTRAORDINARY* is the story of one Jennifer Van Der Berg, a girl who is living a pretty average life, doing the whole high school thing in the wake of zombies and vampires “coming out of the coffin.”  She goes to class, has a few friends, and goes to regular Post-human/Human Alliance meetings.  And she really loves purple.  But when one day at McDonald’s some greasy jerk deigns it appropriate to call her Grimace — yes, the giant purple dude occasionally seen in McD’s advertising — she has half a mind to rip his face off.  (Jennifer Van Der Berg has some anger issues to work out.)  Soon, this guy — Gregory Grue — is everywhere, including her Alliance meetings, where he claims to be a new type of post human.  In fact, he’s Jennifer’s fairy god mofo.

Of course, readers should already know this, as Jennifer explains.  Her story has already been told in a bestselling book, and, ever since the movie adaptation came out, people have been camping out on her lawn and harassing her boyfriend.  But the book — written by post-human “expert” Eileen Codlin — got it all wrong.  In the book, “Jenny V.” got to go to the dance, avoid a geek, and kiss a vampire to become a princess.  Real life is way harder than that.

In real life, Jennifer kind of likes the geek, whom she hasn’t seen since a spelling bee scandal in elementary school.  And the only reason she might kiss that vampire is the fact that her fairy god mofo — who also has managed to become her theatre teacher, of all things — is one tricky, er, mofo.

While there are definitely some treats in EXTRAORDINARY* for folks who read Adam Selzer‘s last book, I KISSED A ZOMBIE AND I LIKED IT, you certainly don’t have to read one to enjoy the other.  EXTRAORDINARY* is clever, snarky, and packed with laughs.  And, well, unicorn poop.  But, you know, I think readers should focus on the laughs.  (Poop is funny, after all, isn’t it?