Tag Archive | travel

T is Tokyo in When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney (book review) – love, loss, secrets

Apr23

book cover of When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney published by Little Brown Books For Young ReadersEmpty home,
full medicine bottles,
not enough information!

Did Mom’s doctor in Japan convince her to stop taking traditional cancer treatments? Why else would she have died just weeks before Danny’s graduation, her big goal during her five year fight?

Kana is like a big sister to Danny in Tokyo as they visit the clinics and temples that Mom frequented. If only he could figure out what went wrong between him and love of his life Holland, who now wears a necklace honoring Sarah, her friend who died at college…

“All the things my mom will never see and never know flash before me. She will never know what I will study in college, who I’ll marry… She will never learn golf or qualify for a senior discount at the movies. She will never grow old,” Danny muses. (p. 206)

Find When You Were Here  at your local library or independent bookstore, and walk Tokyo’s busy streets with Danny as he tries reclaim the joy that his mom found in her too-short life. (paperback comes out June 24, 2014)

**kmm

Book info: When You Were Here / Daisy Whitney. Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2013 (paperback June 2014).  [author’s Twitter]  [publisher site]  [author in Tokyo videos] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: Bereft and angry, Danny travels to Tokyo after graduation, trying to discover why his mom gave up fighting her cancer just two months short of their shared goal.

Even though she was a year older, Holland was perfect for Danny, but when she left for college last fall, she broke up with him, never giving a reason.

His parents did business in Japan, Danny was born there, his dad died suddenly there six years ago. His mom spent her final cancer treatment time there, before returning home to enjoy the last days of her life.

When the young woman who helped his mom in Tokyo asks Danny what’s to be done about Mom’s apartment there, he decides to leave the empty, memory-filled California house (and not-girlfriend-now Holland, home from college) to spend time in Japan and find out what changed his mother’s mind about holding on until he graduated.

Secrets are powerful. Death is inevitable, but perhaps love and hope are possible in this strongly emotional novel where an unconventional Japanese girl and the scent of lilacs help an angry young man search for answers. (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

S is William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, by Ian Doescher (book review) – yea, Verily a New Hope!

Apr22

book cover of William Shakespeare's Star Wars Verily a New Hope by Ian Doescher published by Quirk BOoksIn a galaxy far, far away…
In iambic pentameter,
Hark! William Shakespeare’s Star Wars is nigh!

When Ian Doescher’s love of the original Star Wars movie collided with Shakespeare’s plays performed in new arrangements and Quirk Books’ celebrated mashups like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (a personal fave), he began this trilogy.

As Luke mourns the death of his mentor, Princess Leia observes “His heart breaks for a person, Obi-Wan — My heart breaks for a people, Alderaan…”

If Star Wars is your thing, you’ll definitely enjoy this 400-year throwback with its familiar plot; if Shakespearean style is your preference, you’ll have too much fun reading the famous film in this format.

Thou must view the book trailer – verily, a worthy way to celebrate the Bard’s birthday tomorrow!

**kmm

Book info:  William Shakespeare’s  Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope / Ian Doescher. Inspired by the work of George Lucas and William Shakespeare. Quirk Books, 2013; Insight Editions. 2025. [author site]  [publisher site https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/William-Shakespeares-Star-Wars-Verily-A-New-Hope-PBK-Reissue/Ian-Doescher/9798337401287]  [book trailer] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: “Friends, rebels, starfighters, lend me your ears,” declaims Luke Skywalker as the rebellion begins its campaign against the Death Star.

Yes, this is the Star Wars story which started them all, retold in iambic pentameter as W. Shakespeare would have staged it!

The chorus sets the scene on Tatooine or in space, R2-D2’s asides give us insight into the plucky little droid’s character, and Chewbacca says “Auuggh!” as well he ought.

Already knowing the plot and details of this story allows readers unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s poetic play style to experience its rhythms and pacing with ease.

First in Doescher’s well-played series, Verily, a New Hope  is followed by The Empire Striketh Back  (Star Wars Part the Fifth), with the final volume of the trilogy, The Jedi Doth Return, scheduled for July 2014 publication.

As says Obi-Wan’s ghost, “Remember me, O Luke, remember me, And ever shall the Force remain with thee!”  (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

R is Riese: Kingdom Falling, by Greg Cox (book review) – princess undercover, in danger

Apr21

book cover of Riese Kingdom Falling by Greg Cox published by Simon Schuster Books for Young ReadersWarring kingdoms,
A menacing cult,
Calm future shattered for this princess.

Riese doesn’t relish the tedium of running her kingdom some day, but she didn’t wish to become a fugitive with a price on her nearly 16-year-old head either. All because of a kiss?

Whether you’re already a fan of the Syfy.com series (all 10 webisodes free here) or new to the world of Eleysia, this steampunk-slash-fantasy is a journey into adventure you don’t want to miss.

And who wouldn’t want to have a telepathic wolf fighting on their side? Read chapter 1 here free.

**kmm

Book info:  Riese: Kingdom Falling / Greg Cox; concept by Ryan Copple and Kaleena Kiff. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012. [author site]  [publisher site]  Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk:  On the run, Riese and her wolf try to save her royal family and kingdom from a strange mechanical cult bent on world conquest.

Meeting a young artist while away from the palace in servant guise is thrilling for Riese, who dreads becoming Crown Princess soon and losing her freedom to ride and explore.  His intentions toward her are honorable; toward her kingdom…no.

Intricate clockwork gifts presented to the royal family by the Sect cannot hide the grumbling of kingdoms destabilized by the harsh goddess’s followers, and soon Eleysia’s borders are threatened.

Will the mind-bond between Riese and wolf cub Fenrir endure?
Can Riese convince the Queen that alliance with the Sect is folly?
Will the King allow his warrior-daughter to fight alongside him?

Ancestral tradition battles malign technology in Riese: Kingdom Falling, an action-packed adventure as well as a prequel to the Syfy web video series.

Q is The Wild Queen, by Carolyn Meyer (book review) – Mary Queen of Scots as a young royal

Apr19

book cover of The Wild Queen by Carolyn Meyer published by Houghton Mifflin HarcourtCatholic vs. Protestant,
Cousin vs. cousin,
Room for both in the British Isles?

Step into the glittering royal court of France, the bitterly cold winter of Scotland, and the push-pull relationship between Mary Queen of Scots and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I in this fascinating novel filled with intrigue, plots, and danger.

Which royal person’s story most fascinates you?
**kmm

Book info: The Wild Queen: The Days and Nights of Mary, Queen of Scots (Young Royals series)  / Carolyn Meyer. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012 (paperback, 2013).  [author site]  [publisher site]  Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: Mary’s daring gamble for the Scottish throne could be her last royal act, but the risk is worth the reward.

Sent to France as a very young girl to be raised in the royal court and become wife of Francis I, Princess Mary is merely a bargaining chip to her ambitious relatives.

When widowed at age 18, Mary vows to rule over her homeland of Scotland as is her right, no matter who stands in the way.

However, she is not the only royal woman in the British Isles to master statecraft and subterfuge; her cousin Elizabeth is prepared to keep Mary’s ambitions from affecting her own reign, at any cost.

Another compelling tale of Young Royals in the acclaimed series by Carolyn Meyer, this Wild Queen‘s days (and nights) are surely numbered.  (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

M is Maile Meloy’s The Apprentices (book review) – chasing mystery around the world

Apr15

book cover of The Apprentices by Maile Meloy published by GP Putnam This potion makes you a bird,
this one lets you enter another’s mind,
the apothecary of peace creates many powerful mixtures,
and evil persons want them all…

As the Cold War heats up, our friends Janie, Benjamin, and Pip must  travel the world to find one another and prevent the ancient secrets of the Apothecaries from becoming weapons!

Please do read the first book in the series, The Apothecary (my review here), before savoring The Apprentices in your choice of formats, including its June 2014 paperback edition.

Can peace prevail over the desire for power?
**kmm

Book info: The Apprentices (Apothecary, book 2) / Maile Meloy; illustrations by Ian Schoenherr. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2013.  [author site]  [publisher site]   Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: As Janie’s water desalination chemistry project succeeds in 1954, the teen knows that only her friend Benjamin can help her keep its true secrets from falling into the wrong hands.

Although halfway around the world, the friends can finally talk after 2 years of coded letters because Benjamin and his apothecary father have discovered an amazing instant communication method.

Janie realizes that the attack on her chemistry equipment and her expulsion from school were caused by her roommate’s greedy father who owns an island in Malaya.

Being kidnapped, flying in bird form between Pacific islands, eluding a cargo cult – Benjamin and Janie must prevail over terrible odds to prevent disaster in this exciting sequel to The Apothecary.  (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

J is just amazing – books & authors at Texas Library Association conference!

Apr11

letter J of Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014What happens when 7,200 librarians, authors, publishers, and library supporters get together?

It’s book heaven!

This year’s Texas Library Association conference in San Antonio has been filled with discussions about books, authors, reading, writing, and information in our lives.

I listened to Rae Carson and Melissa de la Cruz share what they must have in order to write their bestsellers and Deb Caletti and Elizabeth Eulberg talk about writing strong characters.

Tom Angleberger taught 200+ Nerdy Book Club members how to fold an emergency Origami Yoda and dramatically read aloud the instant haikus written by folks in this huge Twitter community which celebrates reading and books (@NerdyBookClub).

We celebrated 5 years of the TLA Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List, which includes several BooksYALove faves on the 2014 list (click link for my no-spoiler review of the title)  like Will & Whit,
Peanut,
Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant,
Astronaut Academy: Re-Entry,
Boxers and Saints,
Little Fish, and
Relish.

And I visited publishers large and small, seeking out the underappreciated gems in their recent and upcoming books. Lugging bags of advance reader copies back to your hotel is great exercise, you know!

The book world is just amazing! Get ready for some phenomenal reads in the months ahead!
**kmm

I is India – All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens, by Gloria Whelan (book review)

Apr10

book cover of All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens by Gloria Whelan published by Simon Schuster Books for Young ReadersOppressed by outsiders,
India longs for independence,
Gandhi‘s eloquence speaks for millions.

In the 1920s, British young ladies like Rosy oughtn’t concern themselves with political matters, but she believes that her beloved India deserves freedom.

Even though All My Noble Dreams  is a sequel to Whelan’s 2011 Small Acts of Amazing Courage,  you’ll easily be able to follow Rosy’s journey without reading the first book.

Find this fictional look at a tumultuous historical era at your local library or independent bookstore in 2013 hardcover or the paperback edition published on April 1st.

When do you know that it’s time to stand up for what is right?
**kmm

Book info:  All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens / Gloria Whelan. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2013 (paperback 2014). [author site]  [publisher site]   Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: Rosy thinks it most unfair that India is ruled by England, but even she is surprised at what she will risk in 1921 for its independence.

Her British Army officer father tolerates the teen’s volunteer teaching of Indian children, but forbids her listening to Gandhi’s speeches, insisting that these people cannot govern themselves.

Rosalind agrees to take a letter from the independence leaders to the Prince of Wales himself when he visits. Sneaking the Prince out of his hotel in disguise to see India beyond the jeweled ceremonies is her own idea…

How much can one British girl do to help the land she now loves?

This well-crafted sequel to Small Acts of Amazing Courage  takes readers into the years of India’s struggle for independence with vivid accuracy and great heart.  (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

G for Great, by Sara Benincasa (book review) – love, longing, and lies

Apr8

book cover of Great by Sara Benincasa published by Harper TeenThwarted love,
desperate love,
lies, lies, obsession, and lies…

Glitz, glamor, and money only go so far in covering secrets which don’t want to stay hidden in this nowadays retelling of The Great Gatsby.

Just published today, look for Great  in your local library or favorite independent bookstore as you roller-coaster through one summer in the Hamptons.

What classics-retold have you read lately?
**kmm

Book info:  Great / Sara Benincasa. Harper Teen, 2014.  [author site]  [publisher site]  Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk:  Naomi didn’t like summers with her baker/celebrity mom in the so-snobby Hamptons, but she never dreamed that the second-nature posing and lies of the rich teens there would move from foolish to fatal.

This summer began strangely enough when Naomi found herself helicoptering from NYC with the senator’s daughter Delilah, her boyfriend Teddy, and cute classmate Jeff. Then she discovered that mysterious Jacinta had leased the huge, fabulous house next door, planning extravagant parties which made teens clamor for invitations

Naomi did think it odd that Jacinta, whose exclusive teen fashion blog has a huge following, actually begged her for an introduction to Delilah, subject of the blogger’s fashion show photo spreads with much commentary.

Drinking and drugs, crazy driving and worse behavior – just another summer for these Hampton teens, until Teddy starts objecting to Delilah and Jacinta spending so much time together. Old secrets bubble to the surface, new secrets erupt with dire consequences, and Naomi wonders if any of them will make it to their senior year of high school unscathed.

A wry retelling of The Great Gatsby with social media, a foodie IPO, and fashion designer name-dropping thrown in for good measure. (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

D is Dane & dads & other Dead Ends, by Erin Jade Lange (book review)

Apr4

book cover of Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange published by BloomsburyNo dad – no big deal or no rest until he’s found?

If his single mom would start cashing in her winning lottery tickets instead of framing them, Dane wouldn’t be the poor kid in school, so ready with his fists.

If Billy D’s dad had stayed with his family, everything would be wonderful, believes the teen with Down syndrome.

If Dane and Billy D had listened to their friend Seely, they wouldn’t be in trouble as they hunted for Billy D’s dad – big, big trouble.

Listening to Dane explain everyday sayings to so-literal Billy D makes for some light moments in this very tense story.

When do you decide that it’s time to finally stop searching for something?
**kmm

Book info: Dead Ends / Erin Jade Lange. Bloomsbury, 2013. [author site]  [publisher site]   Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: A school-assigned partnership leads to a road trip with huge consequences for bully Dane and bullied Billy D.

If walking the new special ed kid to school will keep Dane from being expelled for fighting, he’ll do it. If showing Dane and Seely the clues in his atlas will help him find his dad again, Billy D will do it.

Dane gave up on finding his dad long ago, Seely’s two dads have taught her freedom and responsibility, and Billy D is utterly certain that his dad left those atlas clues so he can be found.

After traveling with Seely uncover more information, Billy D insists that Dane take him one more place to look for his dad… but forgets to share some vital information.

Expectations, high and low, create anxious situations for these teens and their families – will all their searching just lead to Dead Ends?  (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

C is Callie, wondering Where the Stars Still Shine – by Trish Doller (book review)

Apr3

book cover of Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller published by BloomsburyKidnapped by her mom,
her new family is her real family,
how to erase a decade of lies?

After years on the run with her mom, Callie is suddenly taken to Tarpon Springs to live with her dad and his new family, plus their extended Greek family and uncomfortable truths which she can’t share (but Alex keeps worrying).

Check your favorite local library or independent bookstore to discover the rest of this tough and fragile 17 year old’s story (and meet handsome guy Alex, too).

How far should we go to keep secrets when the truth is more dangerous?
**kmm

p.s. No affiliate links *ever* on BooksYALove!

Book info:  Where the Stars Still Shine / Trish Doller. Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2013.  [author site]  [publisher site]   Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: Returned to her family 12 years after being kidnapped by her mom, Callie has to learn how to love them and herself, even after what happened to her on the road.

Never started high school, so she won’t attend her mom and dad’s alma mater. Never stayed anywhere long enough to have a boyfriend, but…

Just as Callie’s getting comfortable with Dad’s family and cute Alex, Mom blows into Tarpon Springs – will her eccentric behavior always haunt the teen?  (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)