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| That is how happy we are right now! Very happy! |
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
We've Been Interviewed!
We've been interviewed by the fabulous Jude over at In Between Reading and Writing! It was an awesome interview, Jude was super sweet, and she did a really fantastic job, so if you have some time- go check it out, here!
Oh, and I think our blog button should be up and running again!
Monday, June 27, 2011
The Perks of Being A YA Book Blogger Part 1
Ok, so I'm writing this post because there has been a lot of articles lately that are hating on YA and Book Blogging, and they really are just wrong. And I'm upset that people think of YA and book blogging in that way.
To read an anti-YA article, click here. To read an anti- book blogging article, click here. Most of you have probably already read both of these articles. This post, however, is going to focus on article one.
Lets start with article number one- "Darkness Too Visible," from The Wall Street Journal. Here's a direct quote from the article- "nothing, not a thing, that I could imagine giving my daughter. It was all vampires and suicide and self-mutilation, this dark, dark stuff."
Self- Mutilation!? I have yet to read a YA book with self-mutilation. Vampires- ok yes, there are some vampire books, but if that's not your cup of tea, you can avoid those. Suicide- I've read one suicide book, Thirteen Reasons Why, and I know for a FACT that it's changed lots of teens' lives. And then she says "this dark, dark stuff." Umm? Ok, not every YA book is "dark," and if she's just judging every book by a cover and saying that the book looks dark, that's not a fair assumption to make.
Ok, then the article goes onto say "How dark is contemporary fiction for teens? Darker than when you were a child, my dear: So dark that kidnapping and pederasty and incest and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things in novels directed, broadly speaking, at children from the ages of 12 to 18."
Kidnapping and brutal beatings?! I have yet to read a book with brutal beatings, all though I have read a silly little middle-grade book with kidnapping. So, seeing that I read a lot of YA, and I have never come across "brutal beatings," I don't see how it can just be "part of the run" in today's YA novels.
The article goes on to talk about how YA is so much darker than it was 40 years ago, but what they don't mention, is how much more plentiful YA is today than it was 40 years ago. My mom tells me that when she was a kid, YA hardly existed. She had Judy Blume and Jane Austen and a few more, but there was no where near as much YA as there is today. And the more, there is, the more variety. So of course now there are more genres of YA to read, and they are about tons of different topics. Some will be a little dark. Not very many, just a handful.
The article then mentions a few recent contemporary YA titles, most of which I had never heard of. It also says that the plan of "writing about something gory in hopes that people who take part in that gory something will feel comfort and stop" often backfires. Umm, I don't think that happens very often. That book I mentioned earlier, 13 Reasons Why, the one about suicide. Well, that one has definitely reversed suicidal thoughts for teens all over the globe.
Then the article mentions a YA novel I have actually heard of, Shine by Lauren Myracle. I have read this book. And I know tons of people who've read this book. I know someone that told me that Shine turned her onto reading. My english teacher read it to us as a read- aloud! Here's what the article says about Lauren Myracle's Shine- "By contrast, the latest novel by "this generation's Judy Blume," otherwise known as Lauren Myracle, takes place in a small Southern town in the aftermath of an assault on a gay teenager. The boy has been savagely beaten and left tied up with a gas pump nozzle shoved down his throat, and he may not live. The protagonist of "Shine," a 16-year-old girl and once a close friend of the victim, is herself yet to recover from a sexual assault in eighth grade; assorted locals, meanwhile, reveal themselves to be in the grip of homophobia, booze and crystal meth. Determined in the face of police indifference to investigate the attack on her friend, the girl relives her own assault (thus taking readers through it, too) and acquaints us with the concept of "bag fags," heterosexuals who engage in gay sex for drugs. The author makes free with language that can't be reprinted in a newspaper."
Ok, this is (sort of) what the book is about. Shine is a darker book, I can tell you that. But it's also a sweet story about doing the right thing. This article is attacking contemporary YA based on a small amount of YA books that have "darker" themes. A lot of contemporary YA is not like that. I would even say the majority. I read mostly contemporary YA, and most of it is a cute love story with maybe a small family problem. Nothing big. Yet, it's cute and sweet and fun so it keeps our attention. Plus if I do pick up a "darker" contemporary YA book, that I don't think I'm ready for I just close it and try it again in a year or so. It's that simple. And it's only happened once or twice.
So what do you think about contemporary YA? Too dark?
In The Perks of Being a YA Book Blogger Part 2, we will be discussing the second article, which is focused around book bloggers and book expo america.
To read an anti-YA article, click here. To read an anti- book blogging article, click here. Most of you have probably already read both of these articles. This post, however, is going to focus on article one.
Lets start with article number one- "Darkness Too Visible," from The Wall Street Journal. Here's a direct quote from the article- "nothing, not a thing, that I could imagine giving my daughter. It was all vampires and suicide and self-mutilation, this dark, dark stuff."
Self- Mutilation!? I have yet to read a YA book with self-mutilation. Vampires- ok yes, there are some vampire books, but if that's not your cup of tea, you can avoid those. Suicide- I've read one suicide book, Thirteen Reasons Why, and I know for a FACT that it's changed lots of teens' lives. And then she says "this dark, dark stuff." Umm? Ok, not every YA book is "dark," and if she's just judging every book by a cover and saying that the book looks dark, that's not a fair assumption to make.
Ok, then the article goes onto say "How dark is contemporary fiction for teens? Darker than when you were a child, my dear: So dark that kidnapping and pederasty and incest and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things in novels directed, broadly speaking, at children from the ages of 12 to 18."
Kidnapping and brutal beatings?! I have yet to read a book with brutal beatings, all though I have read a silly little middle-grade book with kidnapping. So, seeing that I read a lot of YA, and I have never come across "brutal beatings," I don't see how it can just be "part of the run" in today's YA novels.
The article goes on to talk about how YA is so much darker than it was 40 years ago, but what they don't mention, is how much more plentiful YA is today than it was 40 years ago. My mom tells me that when she was a kid, YA hardly existed. She had Judy Blume and Jane Austen and a few more, but there was no where near as much YA as there is today. And the more, there is, the more variety. So of course now there are more genres of YA to read, and they are about tons of different topics. Some will be a little dark. Not very many, just a handful.
The article then mentions a few recent contemporary YA titles, most of which I had never heard of. It also says that the plan of "writing about something gory in hopes that people who take part in that gory something will feel comfort and stop" often backfires. Umm, I don't think that happens very often. That book I mentioned earlier, 13 Reasons Why, the one about suicide. Well, that one has definitely reversed suicidal thoughts for teens all over the globe.
Then the article mentions a YA novel I have actually heard of, Shine by Lauren Myracle. I have read this book. And I know tons of people who've read this book. I know someone that told me that Shine turned her onto reading. My english teacher read it to us as a read- aloud! Here's what the article says about Lauren Myracle's Shine- "By contrast, the latest novel by "this generation's Judy Blume," otherwise known as Lauren Myracle, takes place in a small Southern town in the aftermath of an assault on a gay teenager. The boy has been savagely beaten and left tied up with a gas pump nozzle shoved down his throat, and he may not live. The protagonist of "Shine," a 16-year-old girl and once a close friend of the victim, is herself yet to recover from a sexual assault in eighth grade; assorted locals, meanwhile, reveal themselves to be in the grip of homophobia, booze and crystal meth. Determined in the face of police indifference to investigate the attack on her friend, the girl relives her own assault (thus taking readers through it, too) and acquaints us with the concept of "bag fags," heterosexuals who engage in gay sex for drugs. The author makes free with language that can't be reprinted in a newspaper."
Ok, this is (sort of) what the book is about. Shine is a darker book, I can tell you that. But it's also a sweet story about doing the right thing. This article is attacking contemporary YA based on a small amount of YA books that have "darker" themes. A lot of contemporary YA is not like that. I would even say the majority. I read mostly contemporary YA, and most of it is a cute love story with maybe a small family problem. Nothing big. Yet, it's cute and sweet and fun so it keeps our attention. Plus if I do pick up a "darker" contemporary YA book, that I don't think I'm ready for I just close it and try it again in a year or so. It's that simple. And it's only happened once or twice.
So what do you think about contemporary YA? Too dark?
In The Perks of Being a YA Book Blogger Part 2, we will be discussing the second article, which is focused around book bloggers and book expo america.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
In My Mailbox (14)
"In My Mailbox" is a weekly event hosted by the super fabulous, Kristi at The Story Siren. "IMM" is a way to share thoughts on the books you've received throughout the week with readers. To read more about "In My Malbox," click here.
Erin is out of town right now, and so it's just me this week. And, I'm warning you, I got a pretty small haul, but because the books I got are super duper awesome, it makes up for the small amount.
So the books I got this week are...
Yeah, there's only two (extremely amazing) books this week.
1. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter- I've been waiting for this one for a while and I'm VERY excited to begin reading it. (I've already read a few chapters) Can't wait to see what Kat and Hale are up to! If you haven't read the first book, Heist Society, I highly recommend you read it.
2. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway- I picked this one up because I'm a Robin Benway fan and loved Audrey, Wait! I've already started it and it's different then I thought it would be, but it's still great. I love the new paperback cover too. It's reminds me a bit of the Audrey, Wait paperback cover.
Well, that's all that was In My Mailbox this week. Feel free to leave a link/ html link to your IMM in the comments!
Erin is out of town right now, and so it's just me this week. And, I'm warning you, I got a pretty small haul, but because the books I got are super duper awesome, it makes up for the small amount.
So the books I got this week are...
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| Gasp! Only two books! |
1. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter- I've been waiting for this one for a while and I'm VERY excited to begin reading it. (I've already read a few chapters) Can't wait to see what Kat and Hale are up to! If you haven't read the first book, Heist Society, I highly recommend you read it.
2. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway- I picked this one up because I'm a Robin Benway fan and loved Audrey, Wait! I've already started it and it's different then I thought it would be, but it's still great. I love the new paperback cover too. It's reminds me a bit of the Audrey, Wait paperback cover.
Well, that's all that was In My Mailbox this week. Feel free to leave a link/ html link to your IMM in the comments!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
A Midsummer Night's Read Giveaway
That's right! It's Giveaway time! Erin and I thought it would be great to host another giveaway, so here you go! And yeah, we even made up a cheesy title to go along with it!
Every book we have available for giveaway is (in someway) tied to an old story/play/shakespeare tale. Thus, the giveaway title- "A Midsummer Night's Read." There will be 3 different winners. One for each title.
So, the books available for giveaway are:
A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan (ARC)
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| Release Date- August 9th, 2011 |
The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone (finished copy)
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| Release Date- January 1st, 2011 |
A signed copy of Flawless by Lara Chapman (finished copy) See our review here.
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| Release Date- May 10th, 2011 |
Ok, one more thing before you enter. Remember...
- you must be 13 years or older to enter
- we would prefer it if you were following Mint Tea and A Good Book so it's easier to get back to you, but it's not required
- you must live in The United States
- you are only allowed one entry per person
- contest closes at midnight (EST) on July 8th, 2011
- and you must read our contact/policy page if you have not already
Ok, if you've checked everything off, you can fill out this form or click here.
Friday, June 24, 2011
TGIF-Favorite Place to Read a Book
TGIF is a feature hosted over at GReads! Ginger asks a fun question every week and bloggers post their answers. Here is Mint Tea's response!
This weeks question:
Where is your ideal place to take a summer vacation and get lost in a book?
Where is your ideal place to take a summer vacation and get lost in a book?
Erin's Response
Short Answer: In a treehouse
Long Answer: My favorite place to escape and read is the treehouse I have in the country. In the city I have lots of distractions and things to be doing, so I can get distracted from my book. In my treehouse in the middle of nowhere, I have nothing to be doing, but reading. Outside of my treehouse it is scorching hot, so a shady, breezy treehouse (and lemonade might help) in the summer is my perfect reading spot.
Meredith's Response
Short Answer: On the beach
Long Answer: I love reading on Vancouver Island because the weather is not so hot, there aren't tons of crazy tourists running around on the beaches, and it's just so fresh, calm and beautiful. And when the sun sets, it's absolutely breathtaking. It's the perfect spot for an awesome summer read.
P.S. Ginger at GReads is hosting Summer Lovin' Week and there is an awesome summer giveaway prize. Go check it out, here.
I hope you enjoyed this week's TGIF!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Solid Review
Title: Solid
Author: Shelley Workinger
Release Date: July 9th, 2010
Publisher: Self Published
Synopsis (from Goodreads)-
Teens who discover they were secretly genetically altered before birth are brought together at a classified site where they forge new friendships, find love, develop "super-abilities," and even unearth a conspiracy.
My Thoughts-
We get lots of review requests for self-published books and most of the time we can't accept them, but I just couldn't resist solid. Genetically altered teens?! Sounds pretty awesome right? It is.
I don't have a whole lot to say about Solid because well, it's pretty short and the plot is relatively simple compared to some other YA books. The main character, Clio, is pretty average besides the mutation part, so it allows readers to connect with her easily. In fact, all the characters are pretty easy to relate too, which is definitely something good to look for in a YA novel. When the government calls all the mutated kids Clio finds out the truth, and well the plot sort of unravels from there.
Solid is an extremely quick read that pulls you in from the start. It's complete with romance, action, plot twists, and is definitely pretty unique. Even though it's self published- it's still just as good as books published by big name publishers.
To find more reviews from Mint Tea and A Good Book, visit our review archive or connect with us on Goodreads, here and here.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Wanted: Hero Prelude To A Hero Review
Title: Prelude To A Hero
Author: Jaime Buckley
Release Date: May 27th, 2011
Publisher: On The Fly Publications
Synopsis (from Goodreads)-
Wendell is a young man who learns what his potential is while on a strange, enchanted world with a funny old wizard and ugly troll to mentor and guide him. Prelude to a Hero, the debut book about how Wendell came to be the one expected to save an entire world. . . by accident.
My Thoughts-
First, I will say, this is not the type of book that I would normally read. The first chapter of this book dives right into a new universe, and some very odd names, and I was a little confused as I often am during the first chapters of books. So, I admit, I was a little dubious. Then the second chapter came in and you really got to meet the main character, Wendell. And from there on- the books gets better and better! Each sentence pulls you in more and more. And I loved the 'under-dog' aspect of it all! Also, I really liked that this book was originally a comic book, and you can kind of see how it would work as a comic book while you're reading. I think younger boys (especially) will love Prelude To A Hero!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
IMM (13)
"In My Mailbox" is a weekly event hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. "IMM" is a way to share thoughts on the books you've received throughout the week with readers. To read more about "In My Malbox," click here.
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley- I have heard great things about this book, but I haven't gotten around to reading it.
Heist Society by Ally Carter - Meredith and many of my friends adore this book, yet I have not read it. I have read the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter and loved them, so I am sure I will like Heist Society. Heist Society #2 (Uncommon Criminals) comes out on June 21!
Shine by Lauren Myracle - I read Peace, Love & Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle and loved it. I have read a quarter of Shine, and it is amazing.
Reborn by Ley Mesina - I just got this book on my kindle. This book only comes in the form of an ebook. I have heard a little bit about Reborn. It involves vampires and witches. I am looking forward to reading and reviewing this book!
This weeks IMM are mostly books that Meredith and I have been meaning to read for a while, but haven't gotten the chance.
Erin's IMM
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley- I have heard great things about this book, but I haven't gotten around to reading it.
Heist Society by Ally Carter - Meredith and many of my friends adore this book, yet I have not read it. I have read the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter and loved them, so I am sure I will like Heist Society. Heist Society #2 (Uncommon Criminals) comes out on June 21!
Shine by Lauren Myracle - I read Peace, Love & Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle and loved it. I have read a quarter of Shine, and it is amazing.
Reborn by Ley Mesina - I just got this book on my kindle. This book only comes in the form of an ebook. I have heard a little bit about Reborn. It involves vampires and witches. I am looking forward to reading and reviewing this book!Meredith's IMM
1. Alpha Dog by Jennifer Ziegler- I loved How Not To Be Popular and I am super excited for Jennifer's ner book, Sass and Serendipity. So when I saw this one at the library I couldn't resist.
2. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher- I bought this one for a little 'book get together' in July. To tell you the truth, I'm a little scared about reading it.
3. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart- I've been meaning to read this for a while! I'm about halfway done so far and definitely enjoying it.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Summer Reads!
Ok, so there's been a lot of talk lately about summer reads, and we keep wanting to join in, but we didn't have our list of summer reads ready. So here's our (slightly late) list of Top 6 Summer Reads! (we couldn't stop at 5)
Meredith's Top 5 (+1) Summer Reads (in no particular order)
1. All Sarah Dessen Books (especially ones with beach settings)
2. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
3. The Summer I Turned Pretty Series by Jenny Han (The Summer Series)
4. Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
5. The Penderwicks Series
6. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan (this one comes out in August)
Erin's Top 5 (+1) Summer Reads (In no particular order)
1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
2. Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer
3. Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande
4. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (kind of a downer)
5. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
6. The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone
What are some of YOUR favorite summer reads?
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| Yes, I did take that picture. Oregoners will know where that is. |
Meredith's Top 5 (+1) Summer Reads (in no particular order)
1. All Sarah Dessen Books (especially ones with beach settings)
2. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
3. The Summer I Turned Pretty Series by Jenny Han (The Summer Series)
4. Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
5. The Penderwicks Series
6. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan (this one comes out in August)
Erin's Top 5 (+1) Summer Reads (In no particular order)
1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
2. Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer
3. Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande
4. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (kind of a downer)
5. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
6. The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone
What are some of YOUR favorite summer reads?
Friday, June 17, 2011
TGIF- Favorite YA Lit Quotes
TGIF is a feature hosted over at GReads! Ginger asks a fun questions every week and bloggers post their answers. Usually I'm pretty busy on Fridays and don't have time for these, but this week I'm free, plus this is such an awesome question I couldn't resist.
This week's question is...
What Are Some Of Your Favorite Book Quotes?
For me, I save a lot of my book quotes on Goodreads, so I dug through my goodreads list to find some of my favorites. I also have written down a few awesome book quotes, so I looked through those too. Here is my ultimate list of amazing book quotes.
“Love isn't about obsession. Love is about . . . connection,”
- Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
"Well, don't expect us to be too impressed. We just saw Finnick Odair in his underwear."
-Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (I have endless amounts of Hunger Games quotes, but I will spare you and not list all of them)
-Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (I have endless amounts of Hunger Games quotes, but I will spare you and not list all of them)
"I don't want to lose the boy with the bread."
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (yeah I couldn't resist putting this one up)
"I think it's kinda nice.' And I did. my mom isn't famous for her pies. No, she's famous for defusing a nuclear device in Brussels with only a pair of cuticle scissors and a ponytail holder. Somehow, at the moment, pies seemed cooler."
- I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd have to Kill You by Ally Carter
"Life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend."
-Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
"Every minute you spend with someone gives them a part of your life and takes part of theirs."
-Matched by Ally Condie
"I wish friends held hands more often, like the children I see on the streets sometimes. I'm not sure why we have to grow up and get embarrassed about it."
- Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
"3. Taste: Gross! What am I supposed to do, lick him?"
- Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt (I have a list of favorite quotes from this book somewhere...)
I could go on and on about my favorite quotes, but it would probably take a while. So, have a good weekend everyone! See you tomorrow!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Review: Flawless by Lara Chapman
Title: Flawless
Author: Lara Chapman
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Good Reads Synopsis (Good Reads)
Sara Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all right, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.
On the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class, and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do-she agrees. For someone so smart, what was she thinking?
This hip retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilariously misguided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws.
My Summary: Sarah Burke has one obvious flaw-her huge honker. Despite the fact that Sarah says she is fine with her huge nose, it may be holding her back. Sarah's best friend Kristen is drop dead gorgeous, and she is like a sister to Sarah. Besides the fact that Sarah's huge nose causes people to snicker in the hallway and avoid making eye contact with her, Sarah's life is fairly simple-until Rock arrives. Rock is (as you might guess) good looking, smart, charming, a good listener, and loves to talk about literature. He is perfect for Sarah. The only problem is that Kristen AND Sarah have a huge crush on him, and Kristen doesn't know that Sarah likes him. The plot thickens when Kristen asks Sarah to help her get Rock to like her. Sarah doesn't want to lose her best (and only) friend who stands up for her and supports her, so she goes through Kristen's plan to get Rock to like Kristen.
My thoughts-
What I Loved: As I was skimming through the Good Reads summary of Flawless, and Lara Chapman's website I read that Flawless is the retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac. Flawless and Cyrano de Bergerac have very similar plots, but Flawless is set in a modern day high-school. I love old stories that authors take and change a little bit so that the story is told in present day with some plot tweaks. Lara Chapman did this with Flawless which was a bonus to reading the book. This was Lara Chapman's debut novel, so I am thoroughly impressed! I love the moral of the story as well, which is "Fight for your happiness."
What I Critiqued: I enjoyed the book, but it was repetitive. Kristen would continue to ask Sarah to do favors for her, Sarah would decline, and then Kristen would convince Sarah to go through with the favors. This part of the book happened a lot. Another critique I have is that the author made Sarah and Kristen too comfortable with each other. In the book Sarah would walk into Kristen's house with-out knocking, walk into Kristen's room (Kristen would be in her room), and flop down on Kristen's bed. I have a best friend, and I am very comfortable around her, but I wouldn't come into her house with out asking. I felt that the author tried to make Sarah and Kristen exactly like what perfect best friends would be like in high school. She made them a little too perfect and their relationship became unrealistic.
Side Note: I met Lara Chapman when she was on the Chills and Thrills book tour, and she was very nice. She signed my book "Always fight for your happiness". I could tell that Lara Chapman was very passionate of the moral of Flawless. Knowing that Lara Chapman was passionate about what she was writing made reading Flawless a lot more meaningful.
Now I am going to open up a question for those reading the blog. In Flawless, Rock asks Sarah if she would change the way she looked in order to please someone else. My question: Would there ever be a situation where you would consider changing the way you looked to please someone else? Leave your answer in the comment box below.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
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| Photo from Goodreads |
Author: Jeanne Birdsall
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: May 10th, 2011
Synopsis (from Goodreads)-
When summer comes around, it's off to the beach for Rosalind... and off to Maine with Aunt Claire for the rest of the Penderwick girls, as well as their old friend, Jeffrey.
That leaves Skye as OAP (oldest available Penderwick) - a terrifying notion for all, but for Skye especially. Things look good as they settle into their cozy cottage, with a rocky shore, enthusiastic seagulls, a just-right corner store, and a charming next-door neighbor. But can Skye hold it together long enough to figure out Rosalind's directions about not letting Batty explode? Will Jane's Love Survey come to a tragic conclusion after she meets the alluring Dominic? Is Batty - contrary to all accepted wisdom - the only Penderwick capable of carrying a tune? And will Jeffrey be able to keep peace between the girls . . . these girls who are his second, and most heartfelt, family?
It's a rollicking ride as the Penderwicks continue their unforgettable adventures in a story filled with laughs and joyful tears!
My Thoughts-
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette is the third installment in The Penderwicks Series. If you have not read this series, go read it. Right now. It's also one of those books that you can really connect with, especially if you have siblings. I think it's the character interaction that makes it easy to connect with. The body language, the dialogue is all so real!
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette is a bit unlike the other two books in the series, in that the oldest sister, Rosalind, is scarce throughout the book, and the second oldest, Skye, really has to take Rosalind's position in the family.
Complete with romance, action, adorableness, and hilarious scenes, The Penderwicks at Point Mouette is a must read for readers craving a fun, adorable story, and it will not disappoint the (already) Penderwicks Fans.
To find more reviews from Mint Tea and A Good Book, visit out review archive.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
IMM (12)
"In My Mailbox" is a weekly event hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. "IMM" is a way to share thoughts on the books you've received throughout the week with readers. To read more about "In My Malbox," click here.
Now that we have Erin here, IMM is going to be a tiny bit different, so bear with us for a few weeks here. I think we are going to end up doing a section for my IMM and a section for Erin's. Also, I (Meredith) is SUPER ULTRA jealous of all of you with ARC's of Uncommon Criminals! (aka Ally Carter's new book) Tell me what you think of it! :)
Meredith's IMM
Ok, so the books I got this week are...
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| And then, here's the artsy photo! :) |
1. Bluefish (ARC) by Pat Schmatz- I know absolutely NOTHING about this book! But I like the cover!
2. Divergent by Veronica Roth- Ok, so I know I already read this book, but I had to buy a finished copy. (last one was an ARC)
3. Shug by Jenny Han- I picked this one up at the library because I've never actually read a Jenny Han book, and I figured Shug was a good place to start
4. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jean Birdsall- the third book in The Penderwicks Series! If you have not read these books, go read them right now! They are ADORABLE! And I know Erin loves this series too.
5. Strings Attached by Judy Blundell- I picked this one up at the library because one of Judy Blundell's other books, What I Saw And How I Lied, was on our summer reading list.
Okay, and now for Erin's IMM! (no picture this week)
1. Flawless by Lara Chapman: This book seems good. I've heard it is about a girl and her best friends who have the same crush.
2. Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer: This book seems very interesting and somewhat spooky.
3. The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson: The Sequel to 13 Little Blue Envelopes, which I reviewed earlier this week.
4. Divergent by Veronica Roth: Look a few posts down to see the review of this book. This book is very popular right now and I am excited to read it!
5. What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Bundell: I am super excited to read this book! I've heard a few things about it and it sounds amazing.
6. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jean Birdsall: Like Meredith! Meredith and I both adore these books!
That's all for this week's IMM! (I apologize about the spacing of the post, something was off and we couldn't get it to work correctly)
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Review: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Title: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Author: Maureen Johnson
Release Date: October 1, 2006
Publisher: HarperTeen
Good Reads Synopsis
When Ginny receives thirteen little blue envelopes and instructions to buy a plane ticket to London, she knows something exciting is going to happen. What Ginny doesn't know is that she will have the adventure of her life and it will change her in more ways than one. Life and love are waiting for her across the Atlantic, and the thirteen little blue envelopes are the key to finding them in this funny, romantic, heartbreaking novel.
My Summary and Thoughts-
Summary: When 13 little blue envelopes arrive on Ginny's doorstep from her deceased Aunt Peg, and the first one tells her to fly to New York City, Ginny has to go. From New York City Ginny travels all over Europe meeting people ranging from overly coordinated tourists to a famous artist with wild black hair who lives in a castle. Ginny gets put into situations that she never thought she would be in, which makes this book exciting.
My Thoughts: The plot of 13 Little Blue Envelopes was creative and new, which made the book fun to read. Maureen Johnson did a great job of describing what people and places in the book looked like. I could clearly see what Ginny, Fiona, Keith, David and other characters looked like. This book was good for a light-hearted summer read. You can also enjoy the sequel The Last Little Blue Envelope.
I hope you enjoyed my first review!
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