Ask HTMiLy: Special Shipping Edition

If you like going to the post office raise your hand.

....


Anyone?...


I'm right there with you. I work full-time, which means that I have very limited hours to get to the post office.  If I wanted to pay about $3-4 more and not use the media mail system, I could print postage online, but I'm not willing to pay that much extra.

Well, it turns out that you CAN print media mail postage from your home computer, slap it on a book, and stick it in your mailbox.

Here's how:

Stamps.com
If you are doing a huge amount of mailing, a service like stamps.com may work for you. For a monthly fee, you get to print postage at a slightly discounted rate, get free delivery confirmation, and it comes with a scale.

Endicia.com
This is pretty much the same deal as stamps.com, except they do have a no-fee option. However, it doesn't include media mail.

Don't want to pay a service fee? Here is the secret option number three:


Paypal.com
This requires a PayPal account, but those are completely free, so it's no extra monthly charge.  I don't know how to access the shipping section from the main PayPal website, but the link above works just fine, and Media Mail is an option. Delivery confirmation is only 19 cents.

You can print the shipping label on a regular piece of paper and tape that to whatever packaging material you have. It's about as easy as it gets.

What do you need to know about shipping through Media Mail?

Media Mail rates are done by the pound. So, if your book weighs less than a pound, choose the 1 lb. rate.  If you are mailing more than one book, or a rather heavy hardcover book, choose a 2 lb rate or heavier. You don't need to have a postal scale to weigh it, just a regular bathroom scale will work.

You can only mail books and other media items through this method. Also, if you are mailing something that is less than 4 oz, it is cheaper and faster to send it through First Class mail.

Now you are prepared to go forth and mail all your packages from the comfort of your own home. Of course, this will cut down on the time you could be spending reading in the line at the Post Office.

Guest Post and Giveaway: Natalie Standiford on Censorship

About Natalie

Natalie Standiford, author of "How to Say Goodbye in Robot," "Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters," and the popular "Space Dog" and "Dating Game" series, has written picture books, nonfiction, chapter books, teen novels, and even horror novels for young adults. Standiford also plays bass in the rock band Tiger Beat, with fellow YA authors Libba Bray, Daniel Ehrenhaft, and Barnabas Miller.
Find out more at her web site, www.nataliestandiford.com.

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To me the central issue behind censorship is respect. Dictators who don't want their people to read what they please, who are afraid that exposure to new ideas will undermine their power, don't respect the people they rule. They don't respect their intelligence; they don't want them to develop intelligence. They only want obedience.

I studied Russian in high school and college and spent some time in what was then called the Soviet Union. Books, movies, music, news, and all kinds of art were heavily censored in Soviet Russia. The leaders wanted to control how their people thought—but it didn't work. The Soviet people knew they were being lied to. They were hungry for new ideas and forbidden books and found ways to gain access to them in the face of huge obstacles. The leadership could not stop them from thinking, no matter how hard it tried. And at last the Soviet regime collapsed. No amount of censorship could keep it going. In the end, censorship is futile.

Adults need to respect the intelligence and sensitivity of young people and allow them access to whatever books they want to read. Yes, words can be powerful; they can make people think. But they can't change who a person fundamentally is. Books cannot turn a good person into a bad person. But they can turn an ignorant person into a thoughtful person. The role of young people in our society is not to obey us blindly or to be who we want them to be. It's to explore who they want to be. They should be allowed to do that exploration freely, and part of that process is access to all kinds of ideas, all kinds of books and people, so they can sort out this crazy world for themselves. They are perfectly capable of doing this without adults controlling everything in their environment. Guidance is fine, but dictating will backfire, just as it did in the Soviet Union.

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Giveaway

Enter to win a finished copy of HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT and CONFESSIONS OF THE SULLIVAN SISTERS by Natalie Standiford

Rules:

• US Only
• Fill out entry form
• Must leave comment on this post to be eligible to win
• Giveaway ends October 6, 2010 11:59 PM MST

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters
By: Natalie Standiford
Copy received from publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):
The Sullivan sisters have a big problem. On Christmas Day their rich and imperious grandmother gathers the family and announces that she will soon die . . .and has cut the entire family out of her will. Since she is the source of almost all their income, this means they will soon be penniless.

Someone in the family has offended her deeply. If that person comes forward with a confession of her (or his) crime, submitted in writing to her lawyer by New Year's Day, she will reinstate the family in her will. Or at least consider it.

And so the confessions begin....

My Review:   This is one of the best examples I know of a character driven novel. Everything lives and dies by the characters. This is also a good example of why you shouldn't always judge a book by its title, cover, or even synopsis.

When I received this book in the mail from Scholastic, I kind of pushed it aside. I don't like the Gossip Girl type books that portray women as catty, mean-spirited, and back-biting sleazes.  This book had much less of that type of material than I was expecting, and I think a lot of people that may be turned off from the vibe that this book gives out should at least give it a shot.

Each sister had a completely different personality that shown through the pages. Norrie's story I had a hard time getting into at first. I found her plot extremely dull and found myself forcing my way through the first 20 pages.  I think once I got past my prejudices, Norrie shoved her way through, and I really enjoyed it.

Sassy was easily my favorite character in the book, and the one I related to the most. She had a heart of gold, and was a nice medium between the two sisters.  Her tutoring sessions were awesome, and she really just rocked.

Jane's story was the funniest, but man, stay far away from her, or whatever you say might end up on the internet. Don't we all know someone like that?

I read in another review that Almighty, the rich and powerful grandmother was like Lady Catherine from Pride and Prejudice. And I must agree that their personalities are quite the same. Althought, you know if they met in real life they'd probably hate each other.

I would recommend this book for someone who'd like to try a book in the vein of Gossip Girl, but without all the you know, Gossip Girl stuff in it. It's quite clean, fun, lively, and has a very quirky ending.  I haven't read HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT yet, but it is definitely going on my list. 

My Rating:

Blogger Confidential: Contacting Publishers and Authors

Have you ever been faced with an issue while reading or blogging and thought: I wonder what other bloggers think about this?  No matter what genre or audience you blog for, we all face the same problems.  Are you a publisher or author wondering what goes on in a blogger's (and by extension a reader's) head?

Blogger confidential is a series of 12 questions asked to 11 bloggers about the nitty gritty details of blogging. Everything from what prompts a blogger to pick up a book, to what happens when a book doesn't live up to its hype.  This series was inspired by Wastepaper Prose's Author Insight series.

If you feel inspired by any of these questions, leave your answer in the comments, or create your own post!

This week's question:

Professionalism is key in blogging. What is your best tip for making contacts and/or sending that first intimidating email to an author or publisher?

"Remember that publishing is a business and authors hold their books very dear to their hearts.   Just like we like people to read our review policies, I'm sure publishers and authors like book bloggers to have done their homework as well.  Find out as much as you can about that author and publisher first.  Simply be considerate, professional, undemanding, but don't forget to be yourself." Natasha from Maw Books

"I was, and, to a certain extent still am, one of those bloggers who feels uneasy about emailing authors and publishers. With publishers, I’m afraid that I’m clogging up someone’s inbox, and, with authors, I’m afraid they’re already bombarded with requests. When first contacting an author or publisher, it’s important that your emails are polite, well-written, and succinct. And please be sure you don’t demand. The saying “it’s a privilege, not a right” definitely applies to review copies." Sara from The Hiding Spot

"Be honest. Show your enthusiasm for the book or author (though preferably not in all caps) and then politely inquire after a possible copy for review or offer to help publicize the book in whatever way is helpful. Be sure to include your contact information and then leave it up to them to make the next move." Angie from Angieville

"WAIT. Don't send an email a month into blogging. Do your own thing for a while, build up some readership and traffic, and THEN approach an author or publisher." Trish from Hey Lady! Watcha Reading

"Review a lot. Pick books off your shelf or from the library and review daily until you have at least a few months worth of posts. Beyond that, use Twitter, visit and comment on other blogs, participate in online book events (not only are they fun, but often you can win more books to review) and don't be afraid to talk with the "big" names in the book blogging world (they're all actually quite nice and very helpful). Then, send away! Mention two or three of your favorite reviews and ask only for books you truly want to read. You never know, they may just send them to you!" Danielle from There's a Book

"Be courteous.  Earn the interview with a classy request that introduces yourself and your connection to the author.  If you don't have a need to interview them on a personal level then don't contact them.  Don't contact an author of who's work you haven't read.  You are not entitled to an author interview because you are a blogger - so don't act like it.  Be polite, people." Adele from Persnickety Snark

"Personalize, and proofread. Nothing makes me click NEXT as fast as a generic, sloppily written, and vague review pitch email. (Or worse, Facebook or Twitter message.) As any level of writer, your writing skills also encompasses your communication skills off the printed page. If your voice, courtesy, and enthusiasm, and specific reasons for why you want to read that author's book cannot be clearly expressed in your email, why should the author or publisher be moved to send you their books for review?" Steph from Steph Su Reads

"My first suggestion is to write your blog from your heart.  Do this because you love it.  It will be something you can come back to when things feel overwhelming.  When you go to email an author or publisher, they will see this and it will work in your favor.  Also just be polite." Amy from My Friend Amy

"I feel like talking to an author and talking to a publishing company are two different things.  I've noticed, lately, that authors are very willing to talk about giving away ARCs and doing interviews and guest posts via Twitter.  Most don't seem to mind you asking.

As far as publishing companies go, I am much more professional until I make a contact that I'm comfortable with.  You need to make sure that you have examples of books they have published that you have read, liked,  and reviewed before you contact them.  Emailing them is ok for most publishing companies now, but some still want a letter or fax with a "company logo" at the top.  It's best if you have a specific book that you're interested in, so that they know that you're not just emailing randomly, that you're really interested in their books." Andye from Reading Teen

"My best tip would probably be... before you EVER send that first email and/or contact make sure that you have something to offer to the author or publisher. This does not mean that you have to have X many followers or been blogging for X many months. Also when you email, I think it is very important to give yourself an introduction. For many authors / publishers, it is possible that this is the first they are hearing of you and your blog, so it is important to make a great impression. It is also important to remember to follow up. If you are selected to review a novel, do not forget to send the author / publisher a link to your review." Kate from Neverending Shelf

 

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier: Review

Daughter of the Forest
By: Juliet Marillier
Copy received from library

Summary (from Author Website):
First published in 1999, Daughter of the Forest is loosely based on the traditional story of The Six Swans, which appears in Grimm's Fairy Tales and has been re-told in many versions, including one by Hans Christian Andersen.

In Daughter of the Forest, the fairy tale story - a youngest sister must maintain complete silence while weaving shirts from nettles in order to return her swan brothers to human form - is combined with a family drama set on both sides of the Irish Sea. More than anything, this is a story about the bond of love between siblings.

My Review: This was the August selection for Tell Me What to Read. I have to confess that I didn't read this book until September. For some reason I was really daunted by it.

I think it is the rule with fantasies (epic and non) that at least 50 pages must be devoted to setting up the world. I am not sure how else to get around this, but I tend to skim the first parts of fantasies for this reason.

I could not for the life of me keep all the brothers straight. Thankfully, the ones that were most useful to the story stood out in a way that I was able to keep pace with what was going on.  So, if a lot of characters in a book scare you, be not afraid. Marillier has written over and over again what the key points of each character are.


I was told by Angie that there is a very graphic rape scene in this book. I kind of wish I hadn't known that before I started reading. Through the first half of the book I kept waiting for it to happen and wondering how it was going to fit into the story.  When I finally got to it, I just skipped over it and moved on. I didn't need the gory details. Just knowing it happened and why it was important to the story was enough for me.


I LOVED Sorcha's romance. I saw it coming from a mile away, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was sweet, endearing and totally worth waiting the whole book for (almost).

Equally as heartwarming was Sorcha's relationship with her brothers. I bawled nearly cried when they showed up the first summer and helped her chop wood and such. It was a heartwrenchingly beautiful display of family kindness that is so rarely found in literature. 

Sorcha was so real and wonderful. I ached for her. I triumphed in her small successes and mourned with her when she found herself in awful situations. By the end of her journey, I really felt like she was my best friend.

If you love fantasy, definitely check this one out. Thank you so much to Angie for recommending it.


My Rating:

Profanity: None
Sexuality: Graphic rape scene
Drugs/Alcohol: None
Violence: Moderate

Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Interview with Book Addiction

Heather from Book Addiction and I swapped interviews for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Heather's reviews are wonderful, and I always love finding a new eclectic book blog. Here's a little more about Heather from her About Me section:

Hi everyone!  I’m Heather, I am 26 years old and reside in Orlando, Florida.  When I am not at work I spend most of my time reading (obviously), hanging out with my husband and our three cats, going out to eat (I love restaurants in a dangerously expensive way), spending time outdoors, and doing fun things with family and friends.  I’m especially inclined to do just about whatever I can to spend time with my two year old niece, Adrianna.

Have you ever thought about not blogging? What keeps you going through the harder times? 
I don't ever think about quitting altogether, but I have taken breaks.  Every time I go out of town (usually 2-3 times a year) I allow myself a break from the blog.  And sometimes during my regularly scheduled life I just find myself abandoning the blog for a week or two.  Sometimes I just need to clear my head, and short breaks usually do the trick.  When I'm feeling overwhelmed, I think about what I love about blogging and allow myself to relax and take a week or two off if I need to.  I always find that I'm more motivated and excited to blog after I've had a bit of vacation from it!

You have mentioned in the past that contemporary fiction is your favorite. What speaks to you about this genre?
I enjoy realistic fiction with well-written characters, and contemporary fiction usually delivers that.  I like characters I can relate to, and stories that seem like they could happen to myself or people I know.  And I find that contemporary fiction (at least the books I pick up) can be counted on to have solid writing and a plot that moves along at a good clip.

If you were going to write a book, what would it be about?
Gosh, I've never really contemplated writing a book.  I don't consider myself much of a writer, yes I write this blog, but this is much more casual than writing an actual book.  I think that I would probably write a young adult novel, because in many ways I can relate to teens.  I feel like I understand teenagers for some reason, and I think if I did write something I'd be most compelled to write about and for them.

You indicated in your survey that your favorite book was The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Give me an elevator pitch (short description, plug that could be given if we were on the elevator together) on why I should pick up this book and read it.
Okay, where do I start?  Well, I suppose I'll just tell you that this is a book that asks The Big Questions but allows the reader to formulate his/her own answers.  It is a book full to bursting with love, in every sense of the word.  It is one of those books that, regardless of what you think of it, you will be dying to discuss when you finish it.  And it has some of the most authentic, interesting, well-written characters I've ever come across.

As bloggers, sometimes we get really weird pitches for books. What is the strangest book pitch you have received?
I have a very clear review policy, and I get pitches all the time that don't fit my review guidelines even a little.  But I think the most odd request I've ever received was one that started off with "Based upon your review of xyz, I think you'll love my book" when I hadn't reviewed (and didn't have a desire to even read) book xyz that he was speaking of.  I figured he'd sent a mass email to a ton of bloggers hoping that most of them had read the book he was talking about.  I've gotta be honest - that email didn't even get a reply, it was thrown out immediately.

I saw that you recently reviewed Mockingjay. How well do you think the trilogy will translate into films, and do you have any thoughts in general on books to movies?
I think it will translate well into movies, if done with the right director and actors.  I do think they'll have to tone down the violence quite a bit in order for the movies to be suitable for younger audiences, but I'm sure Hollywood will manage to accomplish that.  I typically don't love movies based on books, but sometimes they work out really well, and I figure they get people talking about the book, and some of those people might actually pick up that book, so the whole concept of turning books into movies is a good one overall.

Are there any genres or subjects of books that you flat out refuse to read? If so, why?  Not really.  The genres I don't love (romance, horror, science fiction to name a few) I'd be open to reading if someone gave me the right pitch for a particular book.

How do you feel about cliffhanger endings in books? Is it important to you that all books (even in a series) have some kind of conclusion? Or do you like the suspense that a cliffhanger ending provides?
 If the book is part of a series, I don't mind a cliffhanger because it gets me excited to read the next book.  In a standalone novel, I want some kind of resolution.  If the ending is somewhat ambiguous, that's okay, but if it leaves a HUGE question in my mind I get pretty frustrated.

Which is more important to you in a book, a well-crafted plot, or dynamic, well-rounded characters? Why? 
Characters, absolutely.  I find that my absolute favorite reads have all become favorites in large part because of the characters.  I need to connect with a character in some way in order to love a book.  If I am repulsed by a character, or annoyed with them, or creeped out by them, that's fine but I just need to connect emotionally in some way.  If I can't connect with a character, there's no way I can love the book.  It just doesn't happen for me.

Why do you think that book blogging is important?
When I started blogging, I didn't think of it as important, I thought of it as a fun hobby.  But now that I've been doing it for 3 years and have met so many amazing, inspiring bloggers, I realize that blogging is important because books are important.  Bloggers are not (for the most part) paid to represent the books we talk about.  When a blogger is passionate about a book, it's a pretty safe bet that the passion is authentic.  We have the unique opportunity to showcase books we love, authors we love, publishing houses we love, and bookstores/booksellers we love.  Reading matters, and consequently bloggers matter.  I personally feel incredibly lucky that I'm able to talk about books, connect with other bloggers, and spread the bookish love. :)

Thanks to Heather for stopping by! Visit her at Book Addiction to see an interview with me.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan: Review and Giveaway

Firelight
By: Sophie Jordan
Copy received from publisher for review

Summary (from Goodreads):  With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret.

My Review: I love dragons. I read and reread the part in Harry Potter where Harry has his miniature Hungarian Horntail by his bedside table. Never before had I so much jealousy for a fictional character.

Sophie Jordan puts a new spin on Draki that I can definitely appreciate for what it is. The story idea is imaginative and fresh. Besides a few things that didn't quite click with me, this book was well worth reading.

I was incredibly disappointed with the relationship that Jacinda had with her twin sister Tamra. I was able to understand the sister jealousy that Tamra had because Jacinda not only manifested, but into a coveted fire breather. However, I could not relate to the lengths and depths that Tamra took that jealousy. When Jacinda gets jumped in the bathroom, Tamra's reaction is that of anger. At Jacinda. I just didn't find it realistic.

Conversely, I found Jacinda's relationship with her mother very well done. Although, I think I had a different reaction that some teenage readers will. I'm going to side with Jacinda's mother on a lot of what she did.  Basically, it goes like this. I'm a mother. If I were in Jacinda's mother's place, I would probably do the same thing that she did in taking Jacinda far away from the pride. She saw the pride as a threat to her daughter, and as an adult it was very clear to Jacinda's mother what was going on. And it's something that Jacinda probably has a hard time comprehending.

I am lukewarm on the Will/Jacinda relationship. I've mentioned before that I love the best friend love interest. I will invoke my many years of wisdom here (ha!) and tell you that love to me is more than a smoldering look across the room. I can see the need that Will fills for Jacinda, but at the same time, I can't help but feel like she is using him very badly. But, I found myself not caring so much what happened to him. Again, he just filled a need in the story, and I longed for him to do something to make me care about him.

Oh, and Xander. Call the cops on him for heavens sakes. What a total creeper. I hate harassers.

This was an enjoyable book that held my interest until the very end. I read it quickly and felt like the plot moved along very well, and I never felt like it dragged. However, it did have a cliffhanger ending that I didn't appreciate. But, some people love the suspense that comes with a cliffhanger. So, don't let that deter you.

I know there will be a lot of readers that will eat this book up. I will be interested to see where the rest of this series goes.


My Rating:

Profanity: Mild/Moderate
Sexuality: Mild/Moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: Mild
Violence: Moderate

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Extras:

Author website


Book Trailer:

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Giveaway!

Want to win a signed hard cover copy of Firelight? Fill out the form below!

Weekly Digest: September 12

I can hardly believe that it is almost mid-way through September already.  I love this time of year. The time of year when you can bring out the pumpkin spice candles and cardigans and yet there is still a lingering hint of summer in the air.

I got a few things in my mailbox over the past couple weeks, but frankly, I can't remember what they are. And now they are in "the stack" and I didn't feel like racking my brain trying to figure it out.

But, I was able to go to Kiersten White's signing at The King's English yesterday afternoon. It was phenomenal! I had arranged with Kiersten to meet with her beforehand and do an interview. However, due to traffic (stupid Ute football game, go Cougs!) she didn't get there in time. But, I was able to ask a few questions during the Q&A session after her reading. Jenny won the contest, and you can see her question featured in this video. It was, "Which paranormal creatures is your favorite and why?"



Julie and I brought some of our Literati group to the signing, and they had a blast. It was really neat to see how thrilled these girls were at seeing an author, and they were totally blown away by The King's English and its selection of young adult literature.

After the signing, we went to Wendy's and decided to do a photo shoot with our newly acquired copies of Paranormalcy.

Julie and the girls with their copies of Paranormalcy

The whole group!

Just the girls having a good time

Reenacting the cover of Paranormalcy

I've been in a little bit of a reading funk lately. I've had a lot going on, and reading has kind of taken a backseat. But, I'm ready to get back into the groove this week. Here's what I've got planned this week:

To read:
Pegasus by Robin McKinley
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Plain Kate by Erin Bow

Read to review:
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

On the blog next week:
Firelight by Sophie Jordan review and GIVEAWAY!
Book Blogger Appreciation Week Interview
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier review
Blogger Confidential

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White: Review

Paranormalcy
By: Kiersten White

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

Emily and Julie's Review: 

Julie: First off, let me just ask. How much did you LOVE Evie? Isn’t she just a fabulous character?
 
Emily: Very fabulous. It’s not every day you see a kick-butt heroine that likes pink.
 
Julie: I loved what a blended character she was. She’s definitely a teenage girl with all the desires and habits: Easton Heights, pink boots, zebra print dresses, online shopping? Not to mention rhinestoned and pink Tasey. She just wants to be a normal girl but is even less ‘normal’ than she thinks.
 
Emily: But (and I thought this about Cammie in Gallagher Girls) she has kind of a rose-colored view of what “normal” is. Her sense of normal is having a locker, going to football games, and doing wild crazy things like her show. Not that some of that isn’t true. I just thought it was cute that she took such pleasure in all the small things that most teenagers overlook. The grass is always greener on the other side I suppose.

Julie: Isn’t that kind of how a lot of us are as teenagers? We think we should be going to the Homecoming game, we think that this is the way our ‘teenage years’ should be, and yet do most of us have those movie-moment teenage experiences? Not really. Poor Evie. All she knows of normal is her soap opera.

Emily: I just think that many teenagers reading this series would think, “I want to be part of an international agency that bags and tags paranormals. Evie, you can totally have MY locker!”
 
Julie: Hah! I’d trade any day! ;) Let’s talk about some of the other characters for a moment. Is there one you particularly liked or thought was well-written? Or maybe one you disliked.

Emily: The Reth relationship was weird for me. The summary said he was an “ex,” but I don’t know that that was an accurate description. There seemed to be only a shallow physical or perhaps shallow emotional connection, but nothing that clicked and made me say, “Oh yeah, I can see why she’d want to be with him.”

Julie: Well, I kind of think that was the point. I mean, it really had nothing to do with who he was or a ‘real’ relationship. Evie, despite remaining positive and bubbly, is incredibly lonely. Reth filled a void for her- made her feel loved. And of course, he had ulterior motives, too. I don’t think it could really be called a relationship. It wasn’t romantic, but more emotional. She needed to feel loved. Although I don’t get why he takes his sweet time getting around to his ‘goals’.

Emily: One last thing on Reth. I can see your point about their relationship and how Evie fell into it. However, I guess I just have low tolerance for stupid decisions. Which I should get over, because I read YA fiction.

Julie: And we, or at least I, don’t know yet whether Reth is a ‘bad guy’ or a ‘good guy’. Maybe he’s just a self-serving guy somewhere in the gray middle? I’m excited to read more about him in the next book.

Emily: Yeah, I don’t know any guys like that...  Speaking of guys (cue segue music) how about Lend? Do we allow our daughters to date him? (You know, once Evie is done).

Julie: Well, my daughter’s name is Evie, so I think it’s destined... Hah! (Loved the name, Kiersten!) To the point, I adored Lend. I would definitely let him date my daughter. When I read this, I thought ‘Finally! A YA male lead who is not whiny, dangerous, or self-absorbed.’ Why do so many heroes have to be ‘dangerous’? Lend is a great guy and I think he fits perfectly into the story. He’s still a teenage boy, which I loved. Kiersten didn’t turn him into some boy-who-acts-like-a-man. I loved that he was nervous about his relationship with Evie.
 
Emily: I don’t think you want me to get into the “dangerous” love interest.
 
Julie: No! I’ve been privy to enough of your rants on that topic. ;)

Emily: You deserve it, Edward lover.

Julie: Oh, hush now.
 
Emily: Anyway, Lend. He was refreshing. That’s all I really have to say. The world needs more Lend’s.

Julie: Let’s delve into the adults for just a moment. I thought, unlike so many YA novels we’ve read lately, that the adults seemed pretty realistic and weren’t just figures stuck in to fill a need and then disposed with. I’m thinking of the parents who conveniently don’t pay any attention to their teenagers in these other books.

Emily: Yeah, I am familiar with the species. The adults in this book were involved in just the perfect amount. Evie was able to be independent and figure things out for herself, but I never thought, “Okay, WHY isn’t she calling the cops/IPCA/parents?”

Julie: Raquel’s role with Evie was complicated enough to be interesting, but was still realistic. She still had a job to do as an IPCA official, despite her motherly feelings toward Evie. And Lend’s dad was great, too. He was actually a father figure. ‘No, son, you may NOT go out and risk your life while I fritter away my time ignoring you...’. I liked that he cared about Lend and was a responsible adult. Lend’s mother, on the other hand, was pretty... slippery for me to grasp.

Emily: I think it’s the unwritten rule in YA that you can only have one involved parent at a time. I take what I can get, I guess.  

Julie: Vivian was another interesting character. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll have to write carefully, but she’s very similar to Evie. Their circumstances are very similar and yet each handles her loneliness and confinement in a different way. Their relationship was definitely left unresolved at the end of the book and I can’t wait to see where Kiersten takes it in Supernaturally.
 
Emily: Amen, sister.  Two final things, dialogue and plot. I’m a sucker for witty dialogue, so I really felt like this book satisfied that for me. It was fun teenage dialogue without being cliche.
 
Julie: Yeah, it felt very natural for me and was really fun to read. The characters really came alive through the dialogue. The plot was also artfully constructed, I felt. The best thing I can say is that I really had nothing to complain about. There was no moment as I read where I thought, ‘Why did that happen? How does this work?’ All of the action was driven by a clear motivation and it just flowed along seamlessly.

Emily: Agreed. I like endings that are wrapped up. Or at least mostly resolved. We all know my feelings about cliff-hangers. I appreciate that Kiersten wrapped it up for us, while also making sure that we were left with something to look forward to.

Julie: My last comment- I loved the chapter titles! ‘Hagtastic’, ‘Oh, Bite Me’, ‘Lend me your ears... Among other things’... These were little gems hidden in the pages. I laughed out loud at some of them. Titles aren’t that big of a deal, but they really reflected the wit of the book and Evie’s kick-butt attitude. Rock on, Evie! You’re one of my favorite new heroines!

Emily: This is one of my favorite debut novels of the year. I think this will be big like the Gallagher Girls is big. And for many of the same reasons. I can’t wait to continue on in this series. This is one book I’ll be recommending over and over again to people.


My Rating:

 

Profanity: None, just hilarious "bleeps" every now and then
Sexuality: Mild
Violence: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: None 

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If you are in the Salt Lake City area, come see Kiersten White Saturday, September 11 at 2 pm at The King's English