Guest Post: Denise Jaden of Never Enough

Today I have very special guest Denise Jaden on the blog. Denise is the author of Losing Faith and Never Enough, which releases this Wednesday. Happy Book Birthday, Denise! She's here today to talk about her life when she's not writing.

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Besides writing, I have a fairly busy and interesting life. My husband is a personal trainer. He’s always traveling to seminars to learn the latest cutting edge techniques about performance, and we spend lots of time talking about and experimenting with everything from eye drills to herbal supplements.

My son is eight and I homeschool him. He’s just finished up the third grade, and so (hopefully) I’m still a little ahead of him scholastically, but I fear he’s catching me pretty quickly. I usually start each day with a quick half-hour of writing time, then get straight into schoolwork with my son. He loves science experiments and crafts, so we usually end up doing some fairly hands-on schooling. I also switch off schooling with my sister-in-law once a week, so my son gets to hit the school books with his cousins.

I try to get to the gym four or five days per week and head straight for the free weights. I used to compete in fitness competitions, and even competed in a couple of strength competitions in Vancouver, where I completed 31 bodyweight dips in a minute and curled a third of my bodyweight 71 times in a minute. Now I work out in the gym or go running just to stay fit. My son is involved in judo classes, and I spend a couple of hours per week with my netbook open, while watching him get thrown around on the mats.

Probably the most unusual thing in my life is Polynesian dancing. I’ve been involved with it since I was really young, and now perform with a professional Polynesian dance troupe. We meet once a week to work on new choreographies with our extremely skilled teacher/choreographer/costume designer. I used to perform more than I do now, but I’m still really involved in coordinating our group and helping to teach classes.

Aside from that, one of the most enjoyable parts of my life is the small group of friends I meet with on Saturday nights. My husband and I used to watch Friends in the early years of our marriage, and used to wish we had a close-knit group like Monica and Chandler and all the rest. We’re so very blessed, because we finally do have that, and they’re the best group of friends I could imagine.

All of this usually makes for a full week. There are always things like homeschool meetings to attend or reports to complete, and I’m sure plenty of other boring details, but in general, I really love my life and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

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Thanks, Denise, for sharing with us a pretty big glimpse into your life! You sound like you're incredibly busy, but somehow manage to find time to write some amazing books.

Be sure to check out the other tour stops and Denise's blog for some incredible prizes she's giving away.

Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Reunited
Hilary Weisman Graham
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Released: June 12, 2012
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 336
Source: The Teen Book Scene

1 Concert
2000 Miles
3 Ex-Best Friends

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends. Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3. But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.

Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show. Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van known as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.

But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?

Being a child of the nineties, I am no stranger to boy band fandom. So the thought of three girls traveling across the country in a beat up camper all for their favorite band's reunion show gets me pretty excited. I also get pretty excited about post-high school YA and multiple points of view - another few things that can be found in this novel.

When Alice's parents gift her with a running Pea Pod after graduation, her mind instantly flies to a summer-long road trip with her best friend. Friend going to China nixes any plan for cross-country travel until Alice hears about Level3 playing a one-time show a few thousand miles away. Alice jumps on the opportunity knowing she can't make the trip without her childhood friends Tiernan and Summer by her side. Only problem is they haven't spoken to one another since the beginning of high school.

What ensues is a mostly believable, often hilarious tale of three girls coming together for a common love. I love the way each character gives her own perspective. It gives the story diversity, and the reader has a better understanding of each girl. None of them are perfect - all have made mistakes, and in hearing each voice there is no enemy. I can't help wanting them all to push aside the past and be besties again.

I wasn't completely in love with this novel, but most of it worked for me. There was definitely a certain spark it lacked, keeping it from becoming a favorite; however, as a debut I thought it was a really good example of a feel-good, girls-rule contemporary. I am looking forward to Hilary's future novels. Will one of them feature these three..?

FTC: I received an ARC of this novel as part of the Teen Book Scene blog tour in exchange for an honest review and a promotional post.

Character Interview: Alice from Reunited

Today I have Alice, the main character from Hilary Weisman Graham's Reunited, for an interview! She is here courtesy of the Teen {Book} Scene blog tour.

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1. Twitter style: describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

I’m a quick-witted, eco-conscious, independent thinker whose curly hair is extremely susceptible to frizz on rainy days.

2. How worried were you about convincing Tiernan and Summer to go along with the road trip?

In a word: very. But I was way more nervous about talking to Summer than Tiernan. To be honest, I was pretty shocked that Summer came along.

3. Favorite part of the trip? Least favorite?

Favorite part: Meeting Quentin. Duh. Least favorite: the night we spent in West Virginia. For obvious reasons.

4. Other than Level3, of course, what kind of music would you recommend for a road trip playlist?

Brett Dennen, Gotye, Carly Rae Jepsen, Dilly Dilly, Florence and the Machine

5. Any future road trips planned?

Not yet. But there are some super secret plans brewing for next summer that may or may not involve a whole different continent. Fingers crossed.

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Thanks, Alice (and Hilary) for stopping by bookmarked today! Be sure to check out the other tour stops for more interviews, guest posts, and reviews!

The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats

The Wicked and the Just
J. Anderson Coats
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Released: April 17, 2012
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 352
Source: Netgalley

Cecily’s father has ruined her life. He’s moving them to occupied Wales, where the king needs good strong Englishmen to keep down the vicious Welshmen. At least Cecily will finally be the lady of the house.

Gwenhwyfar knows all about that house. Once she dreamed of being the lady there herself, until the English destroyed the lives of everyone she knows. Now she must wait hand and foot on this bratty English girl.

While Cecily struggles to find her place amongst the snobby English landowners, Gwenhwyfar struggles just to survive. And outside the city walls, tensions are rising ever higher—until finally they must reach the breaking point.

This did start out a bit slow for me. I heard about it months ago and sort of forgot the synopsis by the time I actually picked it up. It wasn't really what I expected, but I ended up really enjoying it. Cecily and Gwenhwyfar found themselves forced into one another's worlds when Cecily's father moved them to a home in Wales where Gwenhwyfar was content to keep an empty house. Cecily immediately took issue with Gwenhwyfar, as they had very different ideas about what their roles should be.

I couldn't help but like Cecily more, because despite her often inappropriate behavior, she was mostly just a victim of ignorance. The guilt and remorse she felt throughout the book seemed very honest to me. Gwenhwyfar, on the other hand, was an extremely vengeful person. Even though she was surprised by Cecily's few acts of kindness, she had no empathy toward the hardships Cecily faced. And while I could definitely understand why Gwenhwyfar was so hardened, the emotional distance she kept prevented me from really connecting to her.

British history is something that really fascinates me, and the history of the Welsh being occupied by the English is not a historical event I know much about. However, after reading The Wicked and the Just I am very intrigued by this time, and I plan on doing some research to learn more.

I do fear that although this is a book written for teens it may not be well received by them, and that is a shame. This is not an action-driven story, and I think historical fiction is already under-appreciated in the young adult world. I, for one, will read anything this author pens as I very much appreciated the amount of research and care it takes to write a story like this.

Tens List with Elisa Ludwig

Today I have Elisa Ludwig, author of Pretty Crooked, on the blog for an interview of sorts!

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TOP 10 JOBS YOU'D WANT IF YOU WEREN'T A WRITER

Psychologist: I'm always intrigued by how people think.
Pastry Chef/Ice Cream Maker: I love baking and making ice cream at home.
Painter: I almost went to art school but chose a liberal arts education instead.
Travel Writer: Probably doesn't need an explanation!
Namer of Things: It's an actual job! I just read a great New Yorker article about it.
Interior Decorator: I still lament the passing of the late great Domino magazine.
Florist: How could you ever be in a bad mood?
Bed and Breakfast Owner: I may still do this later on.
Librarian: Seems very peaceful and fulfilling.
Professional Scrabble Player: I'd need a lot of practice to get there, but it sounds like fun, right?

Thanks for having me, Jamie. It's been super fun!

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Thanks, Elisa, for stopping by bookmarked today! Several of those occupations are also tempting to me, especially a Travel Writer. Be sure to check out the other tour stops for more interviews, guest posts, and reviews!

Character Interview: Bria from Wanderlove

Today I have Bria, the main character from Kirsten Hubbard's Wanderlove, for an interview! She is here courtesy of the Teen {Book} Scene blog tour. I LOVED Wanderlove and was super excited about getting to know Bria better.

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1. Twitter style: describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

Girl. Eighteen. Fond of drawing sea serpents and butterflies in unlikely places. Totally over her ex-boyfriend. A traveler, maybe.

2. What was your first thought when upon meeting your fellow vagabonds?

WHAT WAS I THINKING??
Not to be mean or anything, but... let's just say they were the exact opposite of the travelers in the Global Vagabonds pamphlet. Yikes. I didn't spend all my money on a trip to Central America to travel with my parents.

3. You and Rowan are very different. How did you make traveling with him work?

We were both interested in each other. Not in that way, necessarily. At least not at first. But I just found him so fascinating -- his insight, all the wild places he's been. And for some reason, he seemed just as fascinated by me. Also, unexpectedly, we have pretty much the exact same sense of humor. He's a little more into pranking tourists, though. The jerk.

4. What was your favorite experience from Central America?

My number one favorite experience... well, I'm not going to recap that here! But there were so many memorable moments. Like when we mud wrestled in Livingston. Super embarrassing but just so great. And those times we sat in a hammock together, late at night, just talking and talking.

5. Do you have any other trips planned?

I want to go EVERYWHERE.

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Thanks, Bria (and Kirsten) for stopping by bookmarked today! Be sure to check out the other tour stops for more interviews, guest posts, and reviews!

Author Word Association with Margie Gelbwasser

Today I have Margie Gelbwasser, author of Pieces of Us, on the blog for an interview of sorts!

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Vacation: Now please.
Dessert: Fruit
Cocktail: Super sweet wine
Windy: Blech
Black: goes with everything
DVR: can't live without it
Mall: samples and carousels
Cosmetics: black eyeliner
Watering hole: no good ones around here
Route: 4-the go-to highway here

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Thanks, Margie, for stopping by bookmarked today! Be sure to check out the other tour stops for more interviews, guest posts, and reviews!

Pieces of Us by Margie Gelbwasser

Pieces of Us
Margie Gelbwasser
Publisher: Flux
Released: March 8, 2012
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 336
Source: The Teen Book Scene

Two families. Four teens.
A summer full of secrets.

Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives.

Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it.

Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.

This book is freaking harsh. Like, it's hard for me to write about. Abuse, neglect, date rape, and depression, among other tough subjects, are all covered here. Alex and Kyle and Katie and Julie certainly have their share of family and social drama throughout the year. But when they meet up at the lake every summer with their grandparents, they can forget all that and pretend everything's normal for a while. Only as they get older, it becomes harder and harder for them to morph into different versions of themselves.

Told from each of the four main characters' points of view, Pieces of Us is very much a character driven story. Love them or hate them, Alex, Kyle, Katie and Julie certainly leave the reader wide-eyed throughout the novel. Margie Gelbwasser does a fantastic job of making each of these characters believable. They're not always likable, but that's kind of the point of the story. This isn't fluff - Pieces of Us leaves a reader wrecked. I thought Katie and Kyle were the most deserving of my empathy. I was honestly appalled by some of Alex's and Julie's actions. And don't even get me started on their mothers. It's bad.

I'm still unsure how to describe my overall feelings about this book. I can't really say I enjoyed it; I think the subject matter makes it difficult for anyone to enjoy it, but I did very much appreciate it. It was painfully honest and shined a light on what is unfortunately a reality for many teens.

Author Interview: Ann Redisch Stampler of Where It Began

Today I have Ann Redisch Stampler, author of Where It Began, on the blog for an interview!

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1. Twitter style: describe WHERE IT BEGAN in 140 characters or less.

Gabby wakes up by Billy's wrecked car & can’t remember the 3 most important hours of her life. Who is she & who will she become?

2. What are three things you must have for a productive writing day?

A pilot pen. A spiral notebook. A laptop. Really, that’s it. If you’ve got the basic tools, you can’t afford to need anything else. Even inspiration, because if there’s nothing on the page, there’s nothing to play with when inspiration strikes.

3. I love WHERE IT BEGAN’s cover. Did you have any input and were you pleased with the final outcome?

I love the cover, too. I was shown the cover before it was cast in, well, I guess not stone, but whatever gorgeous covers are cast in, and what could I say? It was completely different from what I was expecting, but I loved it. It’s so beautiful and that girl is so clearly Gabby.

4. Who are some of your writing inspirations?

My favorite books are Pride and Prejudice and Romeo and Juliet. This is not what you could call original, but there you have it.

I feel kind of pretentious and over-reaching listing other writers who’ve inspired me because they’re just so good at what I aspire to do. And these are so not contemporary books! But at various points early in my life, all I did was read and sit there being inspired by books, so I’m going with the early ones, sitting in the lateish 20th century reading J.D. Salinger, Cynthia Ozicks’s short stories, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Margaret Drabble’s early novels, Slouching Toward Bethlehem, Lucky Jim, Grace Paley’s short stories, Mr. Sammler’s Planet, Ellen Gilchrist, Anita Brookner, Edna O’Brien. This makes me want to go back and re-read them all.

5. You are an accomplished picture book author. How did you make the switch to writing for teens?

Thank you! I love picture books and it’s nice to think of myself as “accomplished” at some form of writing while I sit here trying to pummel my next novel into shape. (And I haven’t really switched! A box of copies of my new picture book, “The Wooden Sword,” just arrived and it’s gorgeous!)

Most of what I wrote before I had kids were short stories with late teenage and early twenties protagonists.

When I had children, I read them lots of picture books, and my childhood love for those books, and for the retelling of folk tales, was rekindled.

From a practical perspective, because I didn’t have long stretches of time to write, picture books were perfect for me. (As it turns out, while other people write magnificent novels while employed full time and raising four children, I require months of sitting on a couch because I’m so slow and I have to revise so much.) I could hold an entire picture book in my head and read it out loud over and over in the course of a very broken up day, and do meaningful work on a manuscript in an afternoon.

But I did have pieces of novels that I’d worked at for years but never got further than maybe 50 or 75 pages into. And when my youngest kid left for college, I was out of excuses not to try to finish one of them. Because I believed both that I could do it and that I was deluding myself.

I honestly don’t know why the novel that happened was YA. Gabby’s voice just arrived in my head along with her story, and I went with it.

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Thanks, Ann, for stopping by bookmarked today! Be sure to check out the other tour stops for more interviews, guest posts, and reviews!

Today I have Kaylee, the love interest from Megan Bostic's Never Eighteen, for an interview of sorts! She is here courtesy of the Teen {Book} Scene blog tour. Today she's talking about my favorite topic - books - and which ones she calls favorites!

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I’m mostly into realistic stuff, with only a couple fantasy or sci-fi type books on my shelf.

Of course I love the classics, especially the Bronte sisters, and Jane Austen. I also loved, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Handmaid’s Tale, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Princess Bride. I love a book with a strong female character. Maybe that’s because I’m such a wimp. My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice.

I have a bazillion books on my shelf. I never get rid of any. I have just about every book Judy Blume has ever written. Of course, the Harry Potter series. I also love Ellen Hopkins books, Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.

And I’m a sucker for Nicholas Sparks. I love a good weepie.

I’d keep going, but I don’t want to bore you to death. :)

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Thanks, Kaylee (and Megan) for stopping by bookmarked today! My love for Nick and Norah is no secret. That Kaylee is a girl after my own heart.

Today I have Harper, the main character from Hannah Harrington's Saving June, for an interview of sorts! She is here courtesy of the Teen {Book} Scene blog tour. I really enjoyed Harper's story and was super excited about getting to know her better.

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Summer/Winter – Because there’s no school!

Sweet/Salty – Harper has a weakness for potato chips.

Chocolate/Vanilla – Preferably vanilla with sprinkes. It’s okay if there aren’t, though; she’s a low-maintenance girl!

Noise/Silence – Harper’s not exactly a people person.

Light/Dark – She has a penchant for dark colors—wearing a lot of black hoodies and black nail polish.

Pancake/Waffle – Her dad used to make them every Sunday morning when she was a kid.

Early bird/Night owl – Harper is the kind of person who hits the snooze button ten times in the morning.

Truth/Lies – The truth can hurt, but she’ll always take it over what is easy.

Neat/Messy – Much to her mother’s ire! She missed out on the organizational gene.

Past/Future – Harper’s learned that it’s better to look to the future instead of holding on to the past.

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Thanks, Harper (and Hannah) for stopping by bookmarked today!

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

Never Eighteen
Megan Bostic
Publisher: Graphia
Released: January 17, 2012
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 204
Source: The Teen {Book} Scene

Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.

But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

So I may be a bit biased when it comes to this story. Back in March, a friend of mine died from leukemia at the age of twenty-five. Now there were numerous people much closer to him who I'm sure felt his death as more of a blow than I did; however, Marshall's death really had a profound impact on me. As cliched as it is, we truly never know which day will be our last. But in honor of those already gone, we should live each day as if it were.

Austin may not know exactly how long he has left, but he knows it isn't long. And before he's gone, he feels like he has to make a difference - even if it's just a small one. He sets out to mend broken hearts and broken families, and he tries to experience a few more "firsts." He does all this over the course of one weekend with his best friend Kaylee by his side.

This book may have been a little predictable at times, and there were a few scenes with choppy dialogue that sort of took my out of the moment. But, this book is all about emotion, and let me just tell you: this book made me ugly cry. I'm talking get-up-and-blow-your-nose-mid-page-because-snot-is-dripping-down-your-face cry. The kind of wake-up-your-partner-in-the-middle-of-the-night-to-an-apparent-crisis cry. So regardless of a few technical issues, Megan Bostic evoked more emotion from me than an author has done in a very long time. And although I could do without the snot and the cranky fiancé, sometimes a girl needs to ugly cry.

Author Interview: Heather Davis of Wherever You Go

Today I have Heather Davis, author of Wherever You Go, on the blog for an interview!

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1. Twitter style: describe WHEREVER YOU GO in 140 characters or less.

Wherever You Go is a YA novel about the seen and unseen people in our lives. It’s about letting go of past hurt and embracing the future.

2. What are three things you must have for a productive writing day?

A cup of stovetop espresso with a touch of milk. My kitty cat Harper to distract me from time to time. Music -- I listen to everything from classic alternative to Dolly Parton’s country music if it helps the book.

3. I love WHEREVER YOU GO’s cover. Did you have any input and were you pleased with the final outcome?

My agent and I had liked the image of the girl when first shown it. There was another cover idea with flowers - but we felt that the girl had the same burdened look in her eyes that Holly should have. I love the colors, too. But the best part? The cover quote from Laini Taylor, an author I really admire.

4. Who are some of your writing inspirations?

My English teacher dad used to write stories. I used to find the beginnings of his stories in his study and dream up my own endings.

5. I understand WHEREVER YOU GO is told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob. Was there one character you enjoyed writing more?

I can’t say that there was a favorite -- but I came to love Rob so much by the end of the book. All of the characters are heading toward change, but his is the biggest of all. Seeing yourself and others clearly and loving you/them anyway is the biggest change you can make in your life.

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Thanks, Heather, for stopping by bookmarked today! Be sure to check out the other tour stops for more interviews, guest posts, and reviews!

Author Interview: Janet Gurtler of If I Tell

Today I have Janet Gurtler, author of I'm Not Her and If I Tell, on the blog for an interview! I really enjoyed IF I TELL and jumped at the chance to ask her a few questions.

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1. Twitter style: describe IF I TELL in 140 characters or less.

How can I tell her this now? How can I trust anyone? Why do people let me down? How do I make it out of this hole? Can I believe in Jackson?

2. What are three things you must have for a productive writing day?

Coffee, Sleep, Protein Bars

3. I love IF I TELL’s cover and the way it compliments that of I’M NOT HER. Did you have any input on either and were you pleased with the final outcome?

Thanks for the cover love! I didn’t have anything to do with the amazing covers and the way they do complement each other, but I was really pleased with them!!

4. Who are some of your writing inspirations?

JUDY BLUME, SE HINTON, JODY PICCOULT

5. Can you tell us anything about your next project?

YES! I am part of an anthology called THE FIRST TIME. And! I have a new book coming out with Sourcebooks Fire. Here’s the blurb, but the title will be changing!

Janet Gurtler's JUST BREATHE, in which a girl struggles with boy problems and serious regret after accidentally killing a boy she barely knows when she kisses him after consuming a peanut butter sandwich, not aware he has a deathly allergy to peanuts.

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Thanks, Janet, for stopping by bookmarked today! I love anthologies, so I'm really looking forward to The First Time. Be sure to check out the other tour stops for more interviews, guest posts, and reviews!

Character This or That: Eve from Eve (+ Giveaway!)

Today I have Eve, the main character from Anna Carey's Eve, for an interview of sorts! She is here courtesy of the Teen {Book} Scene blog tour. I LOVED Eve and was super excited about getting to know her better.

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Summer/Winter The summers at School were my favorite. We had shortened days, and in the evenings the Teachers would let us eat our dinners on the grass by the lake.

Sweet/Salty Sweet

Chocolate/Vanilla Vanilla

Noise/Silence It depends where I am. At School, it was nearly impossible to find quiet—that’s why I loved the library so much. In the wild, especially when I’m alone, I crave noise. Those first few days after I escaped I was so desperate to hear another person’s voice.

Light/Dark Light. The dark can be terrifying.

Pancake/Waffle I’ve never had a waffle! What am I missing? I guess I have to say pancake…

Early bird/Night owl Early bird. Without power, I usually go to sleep shortly after the sun goes down.

Truth/Lies Truth, truth, truth. I believe people can sense it always, just below the surface of things. You may not be able to put it into words, or understand it, but you will feel that something is off.

Neat/Messy Neat. I only have a few things that I love, and I’d hate to ever lose them.

Past/Future Can I say neither? I spent so much time planning my future, only to find out I was imagining something that could never be. Looking back at the past can be too painful. I try to take each day one by one.

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Thanks, Eve (and Anna) for stopping by bookmarked today!

Thanks to HarperTeen, I have a finished copy of Eve to give to a lucky reader! Fill out the form below for your chance to win. Entrants must be 13 years of age or older and a resident of the United States. Deadline to enter is Saturday, October 15, 11:59PM CST.

If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

If I Tell
Janet Gurtler
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Released: October 1, 2011
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 256
Source: Netgalley

Jasmine Evans knows one thing for sure... people make mistakes. After all, she is one. Jaz is the result of a onenight stand between a black football player and a blonde princess. Having a young mother who didn't raise her, a father who wants nothing to do with her and living in a small-minded town where she's never fit in hasn't been easy. But she's been surviving. Until she sees her mom's new boyfriend making out with her own best friend. When do you forgive people for being human or give up on them forever?

Janet Gurtler first made it onto my radar earlier this year around the time of her debut release, I'm Not Her. The cover caught my eye, but the synopsis had me hooked. And while I still haven't gotten the chance to read it, I jumped on the opportunity to read her second novel, If I Tell. Jaz has a rough time fitting in at school - being the only biracial teen in town sort of does that to a person. Jaz's closest friends are Lacey, an older wild-child, and Simon, her mother's boyfriend. Lacey is in no place to judge her, and Simon, being black, understands what it's like to be surrounded by racial prejudices. But Jaz's world comes crumbling down when she finds the two people she's always turned to making out at a party.

Jaz finds herself alienated from the only two people who really "get" her. While Jaz's secret is certainly a large part of this story, it is more importantly a journey of self-discovery - which the synopsis unfortunately doesn't imply. If I Tell is more about Jaz's struggle with being different, being alone, and feeling betrayed by those closest to her, and not just Lacey and Simon.

This is the first book I've read that deals with a biracial teen and the struggles she faces. I think it's a very important point of view for today's teens, and I hope to see more of them. I would recommend this for anyone with a similar ethnic background, although one doesn't need to be mixed or even a minority to relate to Jasmine. She is a very empathetic character who would appeal to most. Her personal journey is pretty incredible - the growth she shows is great yet realistic. I was impressed by this story's authenticity - something that is über important in contemporary lit.

Gurtler's writing is spot-on. She beautifully captures Jaz's self-loathing. I must admit this was laid on a little thick at times, but I just had to remind myself that teens are often dramatic and prone to pity parties. (I was.) I didn't love this story as much as I'd hoped, but it was an engaging read that brought light to some important issues. I'm still looking forward to reading I'm Not Her along with Janet's upcoming title, Just Breathe.

Author Book Picks: Steve Brezenoff of Brooklyn, Burning

Today I have Steve Brezenoff courtesy of The Teen {Book} Scene sharing a few of his favorite books. It's no secret that I loved both of Steve's novels, so I'm thrilled to have him on the blog today. I took the liberty of adding the covers and links to Goodreads to make it easier to add these titles to your lists!

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Here are a few recent reads that I’ve really enjoyed. I’ll stick to young adult books.

Imaginary Girls, by Nova Ren Suma
I’m opening with a title we can probably call paranormal, which is not my typical read. But Suma does such a good job with character development, striking and stirring prose, real emotional depth, and full and sympathetic relationships between characters that Imaginary Girls really stands apart from we realistic fiction fans might expect from a paranormal title. It’s also creepy as heck.

I’ll Get There. It Better Be Worth the Trip, by John Donovan
Someone one said this title is the hippie-era gay The Catcher in the Rye. Actually, I might have said that. Flux has recently released a 40th anniversary edition, after the book was out of print for a number of years, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to fans of contemporary fiction. Sure, the occasional turn of phrase will feel dated, just like Holden’s often do, but it never makes it difficult to connect with the narrator, Davy Ross. He’s a rich (as in chocolate, not as in money), smart, funny character, and you’ll miss him when you finish the book.

How to Save a Life, by Sara Zarr
The Story of a Girl is still my favorite book by Sara Zarr, but How to Save a Life is now her best. That does make sense, I assure you. Anyway, this dual-narrator story of finding love of all kinds and choosing the right family is a brilliant piece of realistic fiction. One narrator is Mandy Kalinowski, and her voice is so real and so well tuned and so desperate and moving, at times it was difficult to read her, in a very good way.

The House of Tomorrow, by Peter Bognanni
This one’s a bit older, and though not marketed as a young adult novel, it very definitely is one. (In fact, if you need proof that YA is more than a marketing term, look no further, because if you can read this as an adult, non-YA title, I’ll be shocked, even though it’s shelved as adult.) Bognanni’s first-person voice—an odd one, indeed—is spot on, as is the search the narrator goes through as he comes of age a little late, discovering punk rock and girls and something like independence, and even real familial affection, all with one broken-hearted family down the hill from his grandmother’s geodesic dome.

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Thanks, Steve, for stopping by bookmarked today! I've only had a chance to read Imaginary Girls (which was amazing), but I look forward to reading the other titles as well. I appreciate you sharing a few of your recent faves with me :)

Character Interview: Vi from Ten Things We Did + Giveaway

Today I have Vi from Sarah Mlynowski's Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) for an interview! She is here courtesy of The {Teen} Book Scene blog tour.


1. Twitter style: describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

Strong. Sexy. Smart. Modest.

2. What was your first thought when April asked to move in with you? I know you excitedly agreed, but did you initially have any doubts?

Doubts? I don’t doubt. I do.

3. You and April come from very different home lives. What was the hardest adjustment you had to make?

The girl had never done her own laundry. Other than me having to teach her basic life skills, we got along perfectly.

4. What do you REALLY think of Noah?

He's a skinny, lame, pathetic, cheating scumbag. TEAM HUDSON. 

5. You and Dean have been best friends for most of your lives. Tell us something only you know about him.

If you tickle his feet, he screams like a baby.


Thanks, Vi (and Sarah) for stopping by bookmarked today! I have to say, I can't help but agree with your fourth answer. TEAM HUDSON FOR THE WIN!!

Thanks to HarperTeen, I have a finished copy of Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) to give to a lucky reader! Fill out the form below for your chance to win. Entrants must be 13 years of age or older and a resident of the United States. Deadline to enter is Friday, August 19, 11:59PM CST.

Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith

Back When You Were Easier to Love
Emily Wing Smith
Publisher: Dutton
Released: April 28, 2011
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 304
Source: Teen {Book} Scene

What's worse than getting dumped? Not even knowing if you've been dumped. Joy got no goodbye, and certainly no explanation when Zan - the love of her life and the only good thing about stifling, backward Haven, Utah - unceremoniously and unexpectedly left for college a year early. Joy needs closure almost as much as she needs Zan, so she heads for California, and Zan, riding shotgun beside Zan's former-best-friend Noah.

Original and insightful, quirky and crushing, Joy's story is told in surprising and artfully shifting flashbacks between her life then and now. Exquisite craft and wry, relatable humor signal the arrival of Emily Wing Smith as a breakout talent.

I am going to be frank: I did not like Joy, but that is exactly why I liked this book.

Joy is still reeling from the unexpected disappearance of her boyfriend. Okay, he didn't exactly disappear - he moved away for college a year early - but to Joy, it feels that way. She always thought their biggest connection was their mutual dislike for the ultra Conservative, Mormon town they lived in and its people. But when Zan leaves for California without so much as a goodbye, Joy is left wondering if Zan saw her that way, too.

The reason I say I disliked Joy is because she really wasn't very likeable... in the beginning. Her goal was to get out of Haven, go to college in California, and do it all with Zan. When he leaves without her, she is devastated. She alienates her friends, who try to tell her she's better off. She blows off Noah, Zan's former best friend, because she believes he is, essentially, the reason Zan left in the first place. When Joy realizes Noah isn't giving up so easily, she convinces him to drive her to California to find Zan - an idea no one thinks is very good besides Joy.

You can probably imagine what happens from there. I must disagree with the synopsis, and say that I didn't find this story to be particularly original. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't still read it. Think about it. How often do we do things despite already knowing the general outcome? Sometimes we have to learn things the hard way just for the sake of learning. This is exactly why I loved this book and why I loved Joy in the end. Despite her bad decisions and her crappy attitude, she is a very real character. Contemporary literature is based on this - if I can't believe it, then I can't read it. And even though I didn't always agree with Joy, I thought her actions and emotions were always believable.

I'm so glad to have been included on Emily's tour. Be sure to visit the other stops for more reviews, interviews, and more.

Character Interview: Joy from Back When You Were Easier to Love

Today I have Joy, the main character from Emily Wing Smith's Back When You Were Easier to Love, for an interview! She is here courtesy of the Teen {Book} Scene blog tour. I haven't had the pleasure of reading Joy's story just yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. I've asked some pretty general questions for those of you who may not have read it either.


1. Hi, Joy! Why don’t you tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

My name is Joy Afterclein and I’m a senior in high school. Last year I moved from a basically normal city in California to Haven, Utah, a town that defies description. Fortunately, I met my soulmate here. Unfortunately he’s not here anymore.

2. Did you really think you could get away with going on a road trip?

Yes! It’s possible to plan a secret roadtrip if you make sure you have every detail taken care of…and, of course, if nothing goes majorly wrong.

3. Why Noah? I know he’s Zan’s friend, but it doesn’t seem like you like him nearly enough to drive to California with him.

I don’t even like Noah enough to drive to Phil’s Market with him, let alone California! It has less to do with friendship and more to do with a) my absence of transportation and b) a dream I had. I know it sounds kooky, but I believe in following dreams, even the literal ones.

4. What did you really expect to find once you got there?

Even deep-down I never admitted to myself what I thought I’d find. I just knew everything would become clearer there. And it did. Sort of.

5. What’s your favorite Barry Manilow song?

Depending on my mood: “Mandy,” “Copacabana,” or “I Made it Through the Rain.”


Thanks Joy (and Emily) for stopping by bookmarked today! I don't know about you guys, but those answers have me even more intrigued. Be sure to visit the rest of the tour stops for reviews, interviews, and other awesome goodies.