PAYA Spring 2010 Auctions

The PAYA Spring 2010 Auctions began on Monday. For those who don't know, PAYA is something I started to raise money and collect books for Pennsylvania libraries. The auctions are one of our biggest fundraiser. They'll continue until May 14th, with new items being posted each Friday. Right now, there's a bunch of great items available, like:

-a FULL manuscript critique by author Jennifer Brown, currently under $30

-3 pairs of GORGEOUS earrings, all under $15 (two under $10!)

-Signed books by Janette Rallison, currently at $10

-A Marked-up copy of The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott (marked-up means she wrote notes in it!)

-Plus lots of other goodies!

Following weeks will be bringing items including more query and manuscript critiques, including one by an agent, a Skype visit with an author, an author site design package, and more!

All the money goes to help libraries across Pennsylvania so it would be really, really appreciated if everyone would go check it out!

Sid the Science Kid: The Trouble with Germs and A Cavity is a Hole in Your Tooth

Sid the Science Kid: The Trouble with Germs (an I Can Read! Stage 1 book)
The Trouble With Germs breaks down the importance of washing hands as well as giving a small explanation of what exactly germs are. I do think this would be used as a learning tool in a classroom than a book for a child just learning to read as it's definitely more of a learning book than a book to keep a child reading. However, the very bright and 3-D-looking illustrations, as well as the simple breakdown of germs, make it the perfect book to be read in a classroom.







Sid the Science Kid: A Cavity is a Hole in Your Tooth (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Stage 1 book)
A Cavity is a Hole in Your Tooth explains why it's so important to brush your teeth. It also explains the different kind of teeth you have and what the job of each kind is. As with the Trouble with Germs, I definitely recommend it as a learning tool in a classroom or perhaps in to a parent of a child that refuses to brush. My favorite thing about this book was the vibrant illustrations. They'll grab the attention of any young child. If you're looking for a book to teach children about teeth and brushing, this is definitely the book you want.

Update to Review Policy

I just wanted to let everyone know that I've updated my review policy. I now accept picture books for review. However, these reviews will be slightly different than my other reviews - I will be doing short reviews and posting two or three at a time. I'll be posting an example shortly.

As always, if you have any questions, please email me at harmonybookreviews[at]yahoo[dot]com.

PAYA Spring 2010 Auctions

I'm sure most readers of my blog have heard about the project I started back in November - PAYA. If not, it's a project I started to raise money and collect books for PA libraries.

One of our major fundraisers is an online auction. Our first one was last November and it was successful. This time, I'm hoping to double the success. The next auctions will take place from April 9th - May 14th. If you're interested in offering an item, whether it's something you made, a manuscript critique, some books/cds you have lying around, whatever, please email me at harmonybookreviews[at]yahoo[dot]com or bringya2pa[at]yahoo[dot]com. General book donations are also accepted and highly appreciated.

For more info on PAYA and all the information on the auction, please go to bringya2pa.com

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White

Title: Forget-Her-Nots
Author: Amy Brecount White
Publisher: Harpercollins
Rating: 8/10

Summary: (Taken from BN.com) Something—some power—is blooming inside Laurel. She can use flowers to do things. Like bringing back lost memories. Or helping her friends ace tests. Or making people fall in love.

Laurel suspects her newfound ability has something to do with an ancient family secret, one that her mother meant to share with Laurel when the time was right. But then time ran out.
Clues and signs and secret messages seem to be all around Laurel at Avondale School, where her mother had also boarded as a student. Can Laurel piece everything together quickly enough to control her power, which is growing more potent every day? Or will she set the stage for the most lovestruck, infamous prom in the history of the school?

My Thoughts: Forget-Her-Nots is, hands down, one of the most original books I've read in a long time. From the first page I was instantly drawn into the unique world that White creates and honestly, when the book ended, I was left hoping for more.

The characters were enjoyable to read about, though not completely unforgettable. However, as I mentioned above, it's the world White creates that drives the novel. The idea of flower magic is so unique and I loved how she created a world that was completely realistic with just a touch of magic. I never knew flowers could be so interesting! I really, truly hope that White returns to this world very soon because I would love to read more!

Overall, fantastic debut. I would definitely pick up a copy if you get the chance!

Spread the Flower Love Blog Tour!

Today we have Amy Brecount White, author of the very sweet book, Forget-Her-Nots (review of which will be coming soon but I will say I loved it!). Enjoy and don't forget to comment!

Not-So-Romantic Flashbacks

Thanks for the flashback moments, Harmony! This was really fun, and I can exactly feel what I felt then. Weird, huh? I think teens have a hyper-awareness of the world around them, so you always remember your teen years vividly.

Authors have a similar hyper-awareness of the world and the desire to explore it. Most YA and MG authors, I think, could give you blow-by-blow accounts of the highlights and lowlights of their teen years. Here are a few of my most memorable romantic failures:

Biggest Romantic Blooper:

My very first kiss. I still feel bad thinking about this, because he was very earnest. He was a really good friend, and we decided to try the going out thing. We kissed – pleasant but no sparks – and then he called me “Darling.” I started laughing and couldn’t stop. Darling? Really? But I wish I hadn’t laughed. Not that much. He was pretty crushed.


Biggest Turnabout (aka Sadie Hawkins) FAIL:

So senior year, I finally got the guts to ask this guy to the turnabout dance, when the girls asked the guys. He was a total surfer dude, with blonde locks over his eyes and deep, dark brown eyes. I had admired him from afar for years. So I asked and he said yes, and we started moving baby steps closer. Until he decided to go see his dad in California and surf instead of going to the Turnabout Dance in a streamer- festooned gym in Dayton, Ohio, with me.
But all my girlfriends were going, so I asked another guy … and another … and another … and another. Fifth one said yes. (Almost everyone had a date already, so maybe I should have stopped at #4.) The dance was okay at best, but I was with my friends. Here’s the kicker. We left the after-party, and he took me home. If we kissed, I don’t remember.
Then, the jerk went back to the after-party without me!!! Grrrrr. I don’t think I ever spoke to him again.


Biggest Déjà vu Moment:

I dated “Tom’s” -- guys named Tom, I mean. My two serious high school boyfriends were both named Tom. Then I dated two more in college. Weird, huh? But I didn’t marry a Tom.



Biggest Dreamy Twilight Zone:

I’ve been out of high school for a long time, but I still dream I’m there at least once a month. Or friends from high school I haven’t seen in ages show up in my dreams. And sometimes I still dream about the first guy I truly loved.
Yup, his name was Tom.



Biggest Dorky Dancer Move:

It was our senior prom for college, and we were all decked out. I got a little too into the music and dancing and accidentally whomped my date on the nose. Instant bloody nose. It took, like, ten minutes for the blood to stop, and his shirt was a mess. But he still married me.

Thanks so much for having me, Harmony!

--

As part of the blog tour, I had to choose a flower to give to my readers. I chose to give you guys a yellow tulip. One of the meanings of a yellow tulip is friendship. I know I count a lot of you reading this as my friends and for those I don't talk to much, I would love to become friends with. YAY for the amazing groups of friends that reviewing has created. :)

(To learn more about what to do with this flower, please check out this post on Amy's blog.)

WILLOW out in Paperback!

Willow by Julia Hoban, which you might remember as my 2nd favorite book of 2009, releases today in paperback. For those who haven't heard about it, here's the summary:

Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen-year- old Willow's parents drank too much wine and asked her to drive them home. They never made it—Willow lost control of the car and her parents died in the accident. Now she has left behind her old home, friends, and school, and blocks the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when Willow meets Guy, a boy as sensitive and complicated as she is, she begins an intense, life-changing relationship that turns her world upside down.

Told in an arresting, fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl's struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy's refusal to give up on her.

You can get the book from Barnes and Nobles, Borders, and Amazon for 8.99 and from Book Depository for 7.99, as well as other places. If you haven't read it yet, I highlyhighly recommend you do. It's a book you'll never forget. If you have read it, you know how amazing it is so please consider either buying yourself a copy if you don't have one or buy one for a friend. Remember, books make great gifts.

If anyone does buy a copy and emails me the receipt (harmonybookreviews[at]yahoo[dot]com), I'll send you a swag bag full of awesome goodies!