In My Mailbox

I had a REALLY good coupon! And a gift card!

Happy Reading!

-Melly

"Smoke" by Ellen Hopkins

*Do NOT read this if you have not read Burned.  Trust me.  Your life will be better for it*
*And don't read this review either, unless you have read Burned*

We've been waiting for this one for awhile.  I am not one to beg for sequels.  There is little that annoys me more than a sequel that doesn't begin to do justice to the original novel/series.  Because of this, I really didn't expect Ellen Hopkins to write a follow-up to Burned, but oh am I glad that she did.  Burned ended on a pretty major cliffhanger.  I had a pretty good idea what decision Pattyn would make and so in my head, that's where her life would go.  So I wasn't too surprised by the opening of Smoke.  Told from the perspectives of Pattyn and her sister Jackie, Smoke tells the aftermath of their father's death.  Pattyn is on the run, still coping with the death of Ethan and their baby.  She finds work by pretending to be an immigrant and starts working as a nanny.  Jackie is still at home, her life in shambles now that Pattyn is gone and their father is dead.  Though things get better for their family (new house, no threat of abuse) things spiral downward as her mother forms a friendly relationship with the father of a boy Jackie knows (yes, very vague, this would be a MAJOR spoiler, but trust me, this is a huge issue for Jackie).  She is completely alone.

I tackled this book in one sitting.  I didn't like it as much a Burned but I think that is partly because I wasn't as interested in Pattyn's story this time around.  While her story this time around was interesting, it just wasn't as engaging as Jackie's.  As I was reading, I really missed Aunt J's character.  She is briefly in this book but I think that she brought so much to the first novel.  Overall, this is a great book.  While I don't think it is quite to Hopkins' usual standard, it is a definite read.  And again, read Burned before reading Smoke.




Happy Reading!
-Melly

"Collateral" by Ellen Hopkins

Is it even fair to review anything by Ellen Hopkins at this point?  Yes, I am going to love it!  And yes, I loved Collateral!  Ashley never intended to fall in love with a Marine, but when she met Cole her life changed.  Told from Ashley's point of view (with the occasional poem written by Cole) the novel jumps back and forth from present day to events in Ashley's past.  I found this method to be very interesting.  We never got to see Cole's point of view, just how Ashley remembers events both with and without Cole present (possible sequel idea- Cole's POV?).  In a way it was strange to read one of Hopkins' books that only has one character point of view (haven't seen that since Glass) but it was nice too especially considering that she used the method of jumping back and forth in time to tell the story.

I've noticed that there seem to be more and more military related books being released (and this makes sense, given that it is a very real scenario for so many Americans at this time) but this is the first one that has really grabbed my attention.  I don't want to reveal anything, but I did like how Hopkins structured the story and how it resolved (and I would have to say, this is one of the happier endings I have seen come out of Hopkins).  I wouldn't say that anything in this novel particularly shocked or surprised me but I never felt like the story felt boring either.  It was a very engaging read that I certainly would like to read again one day.  So if you are a fan of novels in verse or interested in the military related genre, pick this book up- it is worth your time!




Happy Reading!
-Melly

"Tilt" by Ellen Hopkins

This is likely a very biased review as it is no secret whats-so-ever that I am totally in love with just about everything Ellen Hopkins writes.  But I'm going to review it anyway.

Tilit is the companion to Triangles.  It follows Mikayla (Holly's daughter) and her relationship (and sometimes lack-thereof) with Dylan and the complications brought on by an unplanned pregnancy, Shane (Marissa's son) and his relationship with Alex who is HIV-positive, and Harley (Andrea's daughter) and her desire to have a relationship with just about anyone that will have her. This book takes place during the same time as the events in Triangles.  Told from the perspective of the teens, we get to see why they do the things they do and how they react to their parents actions.  Though you don't need to read one to read the other, I do recommend the two novels one right after the other.  I didn't and my memory of the first book was a little fuzzy.  Something else that I liked about this book was that I could see it being perfect for a mother-daughter book discussion.  I like that we see the adult and the teen perspective and think it would be really interesting to discuss these books with someone (sadly I haven't caused a total Hopkins-craze in my community...yet...).  As always, the poetry in this novel is superb.  Something that caught my eye as I was reading was that each characters section always ended on the same side of the novel and was followed by a poem from the perspective of a (mostly) minor character.  The kind of planning it must have taken to always have the right number of papers per character astounds me.  Hopkins has got to be the most brilliant writer of my generation and I look forward to all of her future work.

Happy Reading! 
-Melly 

Book Signing with Ellen Hopkins

It's no secret that I absolutely love Ellen Hopkins' writing.  So I of course I jumped at the chance to see her speak a few weekends ago at the Durango Public Library.  I had a great time- she even signed my Kindle cover (going to start asking authors to sign it so I'll have a whole collection).  If you get the opportunity to see her speak, I really suggest you do.  She is amazing!!

Happy Reading!
-Melly

Top Ten Authors I Wish Would (or Could) Write Another Book

Topic from The Broke and the Bookish!

Ann M. Martin

Ellen Hopkins

J. K. Rowling

Simone Elkeles

Sonya Sones

Hillary Frank

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Anne Frank

Sophie Kinsella

WC Briton

Happy Reading!
-Melly

"Triangles" By Ellen Hopkins

*Note, I will be attempting my first NaNoWriMo this month.  I may not be posting much during November.  I will do my best to keep up though!

Ellen Hopkins has written yet another wonderful book!  As usual, I danced around happily when I got a copy and had a very difficult time putting it down.  It was interesting to read a book by Hopkins that was not narrated by teenagers.  As you may know, Triangles is the story of three middle-aged women, each one entering a very trying time in her life.  All are struggling with their current relationship (or lack thereof) as well as the ups and down of motherhood.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I am interested to know what other readers thought.  Did you pick up Triangles because you too are an Ellen Hopkins fan?  Or is this your first by her?  What led you to read it and what did you think?

I have come across most of my favorite authors once they have published multiple titles and don't really get to see how their writing progresses.  It has been fascinating to read each of Hopkins' novels and see how her writing evolves and how her characters just keep becoming stronger and more impactful.  Now I begin the painfully slow process of waiting for the next book by Hopkins (sequel to Triangles in 2012!).

Triangles marks the end of books I am anxiously waiting for this year (there are still books I want to read, but none that I am obsessing over).  Hopefully this means I can start to make a dent in the pile of other books I want to read!

Check out Ellen on LiveJournal, Twitter, and Facebook!

Happy Reading (and Happy Halloween)!
-Melly

Banned Books Week

"A word to the unwise.

Torch every book.
Char every page.
Burn every word to ash.
Ideas are incombustible.

And therein lies your real fear."

-Ellen Hopkins

Banned Books Week is taking place September 24 - October 1, 2011. For those of you not in the know, Banned Books Week, an American Library Association event, celebrates your right to read. More information on the laws and First Amendment can be found on ALA’s website.

I love Banned Books Week. I feel very strongly that is up to a child’s parent or guardian (not their teachers, librarians, or friends’ parents) to monitor what they read and the make the decision if a particular book is appropriate. In my opinion a second grader is likely not ready to read Judy Blume’s (the queen of the banned book) Forever, but that doesn’t give me the right to tell someone else that their child can’t read it. Following that logic, I feel that no one else has the right to tell me I cannot read something. It seems like this should be a reasonable solution; take care of yourself and your children but don’t force your beliefs on anyone else. However, every year the content of books is questioned and sometimes access to those books is limited or revoked. As someone who was never once denied the right to read (with the exception of teachers who told me to stop reading and do my class assignment-a fairly common occurrence) I strongly feel that everyone should have the option to read what they want, when they want (my only exception is that parents also should be parents and be aware of what their children are reading, but that’s another rant completely).

Every year I go through the list of most challenged books and find that I have usually two or three of them (at least!) and often find myself confused. It seems that the majority of the banners haven’t even skimmed the book in question and make their accusations based on the description on the back of the book. Yes, there may be questionable content in the book, but notice that the character usually learns something by the end it? And if not the character, the reader certainly should have come away a better person by reading of a character’s struggle. Sometimes I read about the reason a book was challenged and have to re-read a book, because I don’t that reason being mentioned in the book. Again, this is why I feel parents should be involved with what their children read. Let’s say your child wants to read Ellen Hopkins’ Crank. Take the time to talk with your child about the content of the book. Make sure they are aware that the book is not glorifying drug use and that they see how Kristina’s life spirals out of control due to her decisions. Answer any questions they may have. Build a better bond with your child because you’ve opened up communication. And, please don’t discourage your child from reading!

So that’s how I stand. Basically, I want everyone to read. Books, magazines, instruction manuals- just read something! And if you don’t like something in a book, you always have the option to stop and read something else.

I Read Banned Books

I Am a Reader, Not a Writer

I don’t make it a point to read a book because it is banned, but it turns out that quite a few of the books I’ve read (and enjoyed!) have been challenged or banned. Below is a list of such books that are listed in Banned Books: Chalenging Our Freedom to Read by Robert P. Doyle (2010 by American Library Association).

Abel's Island by William Steig

A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Abel's Island by William Steig

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Anastasia Again by Lois Lowry

Anastasia at Your Service by Lois Lowry

Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Deenie by Judy Blume

Doctor Doolittle by Hugh John Lofting

Don't You Dare Read This Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Forever by Judy Blume

Forever in Pants by Anne Brashares

Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers

Geography Club by Brent Hartinger

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

Harriet the Spy by Loise Fitzhugh

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling

Here's to You Rachel Robinson by Judy Blume

It's Not the End of the World by Judy Blume

Jay's Journal by Beatrice Sparks

L8R G8TR by Lauren Myracle

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Marvin Redpost: Is He a Girl by Louis Sachar

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Mississippi Bridge by Mildred D. Taylor

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

One of those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones

Otherwise Known as Shelia the Great by Judy Blume

Red Sky at Morning by Richard Bradford

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Romitette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper and Adam Lowenbein

Ryan White: My Own Story by Ryan White and Ann Marie Cunningham

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Superfudge by Judy Blume

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Caroline Mackler

The Egypt Game by Zalpha Keatley Snyder

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The Headless Cupid by Zalpha Keatley Snyder

The Kid Who Only Hit Homers by Matt Christopher

The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

The Notebook Girls: Four Friends, One Diary, Real Life by Julia Baskin, Lindsey Newman, Sophie Pollit-Cohn and Courtney Toombs

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck

The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss

Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume

There's a Boy in the Girls Bathroom by Louis Sachar

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

TTFN by Lauren Myracle

TTYL by Lauren Myracle

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Where the Heart is by Billie Letts

Where's Waldo by Martin Handford

How many have you read?

Judy Blume & Lauren Myracle help launch Banned Books Week Virtual Read-Out!

Lauren Myracle was 2009’s most
challenged author. She has written
many novels including the TTYL
series, Kissing Kate and Shine.

Ellen Hopkins is the brilliant author 

of Crank, Tricks, the newly released 

Perfect amongst other YA novels. In

 2010, Crank was #4 on ALA’s list of 

Top Ten Challenged Books. Due to the

 content of her books, Hopkins was 

uninvited to the Humble ISD

 Libraries’ Teen Lit Festival.

"Perfect" by Ellen Hopkins

As always, Ellen Hopkins has written a captivating book that I found nearly impossible to put down. I won and ARC from a contest offered by Fire And Ice back in July. I pretty much danced around the post office when the book arrived (a rather common thing for me in libraries, bookstores, the book aisle in grocery stores...) and had to suffer through an afternoon of waiting to get off work to rush home to read. And read I did.

Perfect is a companion to Hopkins' Impulse. If I had to select my favorite of Hopkins' books, Impulse just might be at the bottom of that list. However, I absolutely loved Perfect. The novel centers around four characters (I often find myself forgetting who's who when there are multiple leads, but Hopkins always handles this well), Cara (the sister of Conner from Impulse), Kendra (Conner's ex-girlfriend), Sean and Andre. I was instantly swept into the lives of these characters.

Hopkins, as always, captures the emotions of her characters and in the process creating something more. I do not feel as though I am simply reading a book when I read her work. By starting the book, I am with the character until the end. Often no one is aware of the character's delima until they are too far gone. Because of this I find myself wanting to scream at those who could help, “pay attention!” It is often to hard to remember that these characters are fictional, Hopkins paints them in such a realistic way. In case you haven't guess, I heavily recommend this (and all of her other books) to just about everyone!

Check out Ellen on LiveJournal, Twitter, and Facebook!

And check out Fire and Ice on Twitter!

Happy Reading!

-Melly