I Heart Monster

Where You'll Find Us At Phoenix Comicon

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Sat, 26 May 2012 06:48:00 +0000

Phoenix Comicon kicked off tonight. Here's where you'll find us for the rest of the Con.

IHM Phoenix Comicon 2012 Conquest

drumroll please Introducing... Young At ♥

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:26:00 +0000

See, we know that a lot of adults read YA novels. And we think that even more adults should read YA. The problem is that a lot of our peers snicker and look down their nose at us when we talk about a book we've read that was meant for teens. My grandma gives me the look when she thinks I could be doing something better with my time. My coworkers used to give me the look when I snuck my Meg Cabot book out during my lunch break. My doctors give me the look every time they check out the cover of the book I'm reading when they finally walk into the exam room. Sometimes the look is paired with the eye roll and the insinuation that I'm so immature. Sometimes it's paired with the dismissive smirk. And sometimes it's followed-up with the even more severe you-are-such-an-idiot look.

Know the look? Young At ♥ is a book club for you. Young At ♥: A YA Book Club for Adults is a joint effort between I Heart Monster and Bookmans Mesa. We'll meet every third Thursday starting June 21st, 2012 at 7pm to discuss a particular YA book at Bookmans. The title schedule (posted a year in advance) is available both at bookmans.com and iheartmonster.com along with the dates that we will be meeting to discuss the awesome that is YA literature and buck the masses who think it's lame. It's going to be ~~fun~~. Scratch that. It's going to be ~~epic~~ ~~legit~~... quick someone come up with a non-teenaged word that means... Oh heck, it'll rock. And just to prove it will rock...

Enter to win a copy of The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor from Young At ♥. Just enter your details into the form below. I'm taking it to Frank Beddor to get it signed, make no mistake. Open only to Arizona residents, or people interested in attending Young At ♥. Sorry, my elsewhere-located lovelies. Ends June 3rd at midnight my time. And we'll see what I end up from Comicon with for all of you lovelies that show up on the 21st.. There may or may not be awesome door prizes. I'm leaning toward the positive on that one. Update: Frank Beddor could not be located at the Con, so we're signed-copy-less... but still have a copy to give away.

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Questions? Just ask me. Tweet me, email me, Facebook me, or find me at Phoenix Comicon... pick your poison. I'm here to help.

The Selection by Kiera Cass [Book Inspection]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:18:00 +0000

Plot Sketch: Fives? They're the artists. Singers, painters, sculptors. Sixes? They're the laborers. Eights? Untouchables. Ones? Royalty. Yeah, in this dystopian story, your main character, America Singer, a five, is in love with Aspen, a six. Sorta forbidden, sorta not. But mostly? Forbidden. Sixes have to work really hard just to put the food on the table. If America marries Aspen, she'll go down a notch to a six. The Selection is announced, where eligible young women fill out a form and are entered in a drawing to become the next princess of Illea, marrying Prince Maxon Schreave. Aspen insists America fill out the form, and the rest is the story of America's journey to and at the palace.

Verdict: Not gonna lie, I bought the book for its delicious cover. Doesn't it make you drool? Thing is, after I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. It's a fast read, an engaging read, well-written and carried me through the story without stumbling. I have no complaints about its content. In fact, for a book that has a degree of hot and heaviness in it, it's remarkably clean. No language. No sex. No drugs. Not really any violence either. Nothing graphic. But everything pulling you in with strong emotion and making you want more. Did I say you? I meant me. (see that was my subliminal attempt to make you read it which I just outed myself by telling you in parentheses, lame)

The narrative and characters came together to give me a great read that I heartily recommend to you. In fact, I'd be happy if this series was the next super-duper-awesome blockbuster series to follow-up Harry Potter/Twilight/Hunger Games if only for the fact that I finished book one and I have no idea if I'm #TeamMaxon or #TeamAspen. NO IDEA! That never happens. I'm firmly on the fence between the two camps and can't make up my mind. Which means... I've been thinking about this book since I put it down! I want to demand that everyone I know read it so that they can squee as much as I did and help talk me off the fence and into one of the camps. Plus, no major technical beefs... a rarity among squeeable fic.

The dystopian element was also pretty awesome because the whole situation is not explained to you. You only know what America, as a five in the caste knows. The reader isn't offered any extra information to help him/her figure out what's really going on with the government or its opponents. So that left me with about seventeen gazillion questions at the end, none of which I even have enough information yet to properly process. Frustrating? You bet, just frustrating enough for me to want to dive right into the next novel... due out sometime in 2013 I'm sure. I have to wait a whole year? Say it ain't so!

There were some scenes that made me think "Hunger Games!" but with a twist. They were similar, but not the same by any means. And the premise is similar, but not the same. I mean, there's a drawing and you go on to assume your fate. The Selection is just much more glamorous, much less violent, about the same amount of starvation, I'd say. Fans of Asian history, dystopian romance, and The Bachelor are bound to enjoy.

Connect with author Kiera Cass on Twitter or YouTube or on her website, and find the hardcover at an Indie store near you. Oh yeah, and last week? It was #9 on NYT Bestsellers.

Today Is Free Comic Book Day.

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Sat, 05 May 2012 10:32:00 +0000

Don't forget that today is Free Comic Book Day. For a list of comic shops participating near you, click over to freecomicbookday.org and enter your zip code! Yes, they're free. For everyone. So go get yours!

Zero by Tom Leveen [Book Inspection]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:41:00 +0000

Plot Sketch: Amanda Walsh, or Amy as her mother calls her, or Zero, as she's nicknamed herself, applied to The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. She got accepted. Only thing is? She can't afford it. Her scholarship application was rejected. And then, something weird happened that same day with her best friend Jenn... something she's not getting over easily. And then, she meets this guy with these intense "emerald-sapphire" eyes, and decides to take a chance on talking to him. And whaddya know, he talks back. And then the story follows the relationships in Zero's story until she is forced to make an incredibly hard decision in the end.

Verdict: I loved Zero/Amy/Amanda Walsh. Same gal, so we're gonna call her Z to keep it straight. I thought she was a brilliant character and I saw a lot of myself as a teenager in her. Probably because the original manuscript was written in the early 90s, when I was almost a teen, but that's beside the point. Her struggles and reactions were real. Her thought processes were eerie - Tom, how do you get inside a teenaged girl's head like that? And really, the characters were awesome on all points. I love Z. She's adorable. Seriously. And the little punk-rock chick would totally hate me for saying that. Truth.

Here's the thing.

The plot was flat. It was more like a character study than a novel. We got a glimpse of a time period in Z's life, but the plot map looked like this: _________^__________^______. Now, if I was in a college class or a place where I was grading this for some reason, I'd take off points for that. And some of you will no doubt have this as a grip. Z does experience personal growth... but she also experiences personal regression.

Here's the thing.

Despite the flat plot, I couldn't put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed the happenings and issues that Z had to deal with. So you tell me, is a flat plot a bad thing? Oh holy heck, I dunno. I'm just a lowly reviewer on the internet. It's all about personal preference, I presume.

Also, I loved all of the references to bands and songs, and thank-yous from Z to the lead singers of bands. Nice touch, Tom. And I loved the theme of self-discovery. I really did. And being a Mesa native, right next to the Phoenix, where the story is set, I'm completely happy that someone has finally described my Sonoran Desert with accuracy - the creosote, the oily rain puddles, and the parents who warn you not to drive in the rain. I love this desert too, Z. There are so many great points to this book I almost didn't bring up the flat plot, but hey, what's a girl to do?

For parents: Strong, strong, language. Too many uses of the f word to count, and many other swear words at all. All used well in context and not excessive for me, but you should know about them. There is parental conflict, with a very alcoholic and borderline abusive father. There is a sex scene, and allusions to almost-sex scenes not graphically depicted, but the reader gets the point. There is also a girl to girl scene that doesn't come to fruition. But that's all in there. And I'd want to know about it if I was a parent.

Tom Leveen is the author of Party, and now Zero, both pubbed by Random House. He lives in my wonderful Sonoran Desert. He adequately describes the Phoenix Metro as a black hole for the arts. And... *Arizona Native Fist Bump*, yo. OH and he does this totally awesome Halloween thing at Changing Hands. Don't miss it.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor [Book Inspection]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:18:00 +0000

Plot Sketch: Alyss Heart has an impressive, powerful imagination - perhaps the most fearsome Wonderland has ever seen. Her mother, Queen Genevieve and her father, King Nolan have ruled over Wonderland and the noble families - Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades - since Genevieve's sister, Redd was banished because of her love for Black Imagination. Redd exacts her revenge on her sister, and tries to kill all other Heart progeny, but Alyss escapes with Hatter Madigan through the Pool of Tears to our world. The tale that follows is one of a disintegrating Wonderland, a poor orphaned Alyss unable to use her imagination in our world, and the search to oust Redd from the throne.

Verdict: Even though I have never been an epic fantasy fan, I adored this story. And even though this is technically epic fantasy, it could be considered epic urban fantasy because much time is spent in this world we live in here called Earth. Yeah, I'm going with that. I promised I'd read this before the next Phoenix Comicon, and boy am I glad I did. The next in the series should be arriving tomorrow. I hope. Fingers crossed. Though, The Looking Glass Wars does end nice and tightly and could be a stand alone.

I adored the vibrance of the characters, the distinct fullness each offered me as a reader. I felt like even though I couldn't relate to the characters, I could understand fully their motivations and their psychology. I could get behind them or chastise them or in some instances even get to be friends with them.

I think that the third-person omniscient viewpoint helped with both the character development and the escalating plot. The vividness of the world still shocks me, and honestly, I don't know how Frank Beddor did it. He jam-packed this world with color and glamour and all sorts of beauty and ugly, but I never felt like he forced it. I think that's the key. It all flowed, it all flowed together, and the use of the characters and imagery made a story I will never forget and have already recommended to people in my family. In fact, I ordered the audiobook for Monster without even asking him. So there. And if he doesn't like it? Off to Outerwilderbeastia with him!

Frank Beddor has a world of card soldiers, online game play, and all sorts of things in TLGW world. Check out lookingglasswars.com for all kinds of great information. The Looking Glass Wars was published in 2005 by Dial Books for Young Readers. I'd recommend it to fans of retellings, action movies, and The Hobbit.

Dollhouse: Epitaphs Volume 1 [Comics]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 01:59:00 +0000

So I saw an ad for Dollhouse: Epitaphs by Dark Horse Books in one of the industry newsletters I receive. I was like, "Dollhouse, as in Joss's Dollhouse?" Then I clicked on the ad and was taken to a page where I totally squeed. Yeah, buddy. It is totally a continuation of the two-season TV series on Fox. So, I lightning fast went to my local comic book store to pick it up, but they had no idea what I was talking about and wanted to sell me the individual comics... which I had no idea were even out there, and I could get into a whole weird tangent, but I won't.

So, I kindly declined and went home and purchased the five-issue volume on Amazon. I devoured the 160-page compilation in less than an hour. Now. I had just had surgery a few days before and I was high on Vicodin... but I really liked the series. I'll definitely buy the next volume from Dark Horse if there is one.

It starts off slowly, reorienting you to a world that contains dollhouses and what's currently going on with Rossum and how they're furthering their hold on people's minds. I'll admit that there was a point where I was confused as to whether or not this was the same story. But that confusion was quickly diffused and I was immersed in a new conflict with Alpha, Echo, Zone and Rossum.

Now I'm not a seasoned comic-book reader. I read them on a regular basis, but I sometimes have a hard time getting into them. I know, blasphemy to some of you. Apologies. But the thing that was hardest to get into about this story was that the art for characters wasn't always consistent and I wasn't always sure where I was and who was talking as the scenes would change from page to page and some of the art work was so close to other characters. Don't get me wrong, I figured it out, but I did have a hitch here and there.

That said, I was engrossed in the story and the artwork, and when I finished, I was super disappointed. I wanted more. So, I'd totally recommend this for fans of Dollhouse that want more of Echo, Alpha, and the world that Rossum wants to rule.

An aside: I really like that they based Rossum in Tucson - the hippy, artsy, holistic-loving people of Tucson, two hours to the south. It's kind of just another degree of sinister lent to Rossum. And I really liked that they didn't neglect that fact from the show in the book. They kept the vast majority of the things the same. Also, the book was written by the same people who wrote the TV series. So, that's another tally in the awesome column for me.

May The Odds Be More In Your Favor: Trivia Tonight at Bookman's Mesa [Leaks]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:06:00 +0000

So. You think you don't have an edge if you're an I Heart Monster reader? Wrong. I'm hosting The Hunger Games Trivia Challenge at Bookman's tonight, and I'm giving you a glimpse into some of the harder questions I'll be asking. Am I telling you all of them? Um. No. Just a few to get you excited and researching and racking your brain.

Questions are limited to the first book and the first movie and maybe a little of the soundtrack. They do not cover any of Catching Fire or Mockingjay.

Leaked Question #1: How many districts compete in the Hunger Games?

Leaked Question #2: What does District 11 send to Katniss?

Leaked Question #3: What is the name of the girl who gives Katniss the Mockingjay pin in the novel?

Leaked Question #4: Name the town in North Carolina where the District 12 scenes were filmed in The Hunger Games movie.

Leaked Question #5: Name the only artist that features two tracks on The Hunger Games soundtrack.

There's a Bookman's gift card and a special edition hardcover copy of The Hunger Games up for grabs for the person who gets the most questions right!

I'm going to try to sport this Katniss hairdo... we'll see how it turns out. Hope to see you there in your costume!

Galahad Legacy by Dom Testa [Blog Tour] [Giveaway]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:35:00 +0000

“Of course I did,” Gap said with a quick smile. “And had my dad honk the horn in
tunnels, too.” He turned back to Triana. “Did you have any sense of time at all when you
woke up? I mean, I can kinda tell the difference when I’ve slept for an hour versus six
hours, you know?”
“I know what you mean,” Triana said. “But no, I had no concept at all. I might
have been out for ten seconds, or ten days. All I know is that I woke up to see normal
space through the pod’s window. Well...maybe normal’s not the right word.”
She stood up and walked over to the water dispenser. The other Council members
waited patiently as she slowly sipped from the cup. She kept her back to the conference
table to hide the fact that her hand was shaking.
The Galahad Legacy, Dom Testa

I'm thrilled to bring you guys a fantastic six-book, entire series giveaway of the entire Galahad series by Dom Testa. Just enter into the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please visit VVB32 Reads for the next excerpt from the second chapter of The Galahad Legacy and check out the entire list of stops at Tor. Also, if you're in Texas, Dom will be appearing in-person at the following times and locations:

* Saturday, April 14th: Murder by the Book, Houston, TX; 11:00 am
* Wednesday, April 18th and Thursday, April 19th: Texas Library Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX; various times
* Friday, April 20th: Barnes & Noble, 1000 Research Drive, Austin, TX; 7:00 pm
* Saturday, April 21st: Barnes & Noble, 15900 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, TX; 2:00 pm

Divergent by Veronica Roth [Freebies]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:44:00 +0000

I've been wanting to try out Divergent by Veronica Roth for a while, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Last night a book group friend reminded me that I hadn't read it yet. Then some little piece inside of me said, "Hey check out the Browse Inside Full Access titles at Harper Teen!" and I did. And guess what I found lurking there all by its lonesome? Divergent by Veronica Roth. You never know when these full-access rights will expire, but I thought I'd alert you guys that you can read Divergent online for free. You know, until you can't anymore.

Survive The Hunger Games At Bookmans Mesa [Events]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:43:00 +0000

I'm proud to announce that I'll be hosting The Hunger Games Trivia Challenge at Bookman's in Mesa on April 18th at 7pm. You guys! How fun is this? Mark your calendars. Show your faces. I wanna see you there!

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon [Events]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:12:00 +0000

Mark your calendars for April 21st! It's the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon!

Why? 'Cause, you're not going to miss this, yo. I mean, 24 solid hours of reading with people from around the globe? How does it get better than that?

Oh, and did I mention there are prizes?

And if you don't want to read, you can cheer for those who are reading. All you do is sign-up and get put on a cheer team and get a set of blogs to leave comments on, telling them that they are awesome and that they can stay up reading for 24 hours.

It's like this whole bookish community just comes together and READS!

Find out more about reading, cheering, or volunteering today!

Purity by Jackson Pearce [Book Inspection]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:08:00 +0000

Plot Sketch: Before Shelby's mom died, she made her promise her three things: to listen and love her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Up until now, she's done a really good job of living without restraint, and obeying her mostly-uninvolved father. But now Shelby's got a conundrum on her hands impending Princess Ball, where she has to pledge her purity to her father. And her father won't let her out of it. This is the story of how Shelby tries to reconcile the Promises in her life, trying to find a loophole that allows her to keep both Promise One and Promise Three.

Verdict: This is one of those books I won't be able to reconcile for a while I'm afraid. And I can't explain to you why because it will spoil the book. But here's what I can tell you. The writing is on-par with Pearce's other work; while not sublime, it's solid. There are no giant gaping holes in the plot leaving me to second-guess Shelby's decisions or the journey she takes to get to the end. The characters are relatable and realistic. They're not an idealized version of today's teen or a grieving husband turned single parent.

I also like the structure of the book. Its chapters are titled in relationship to a big event at the end... one that if I tell you, will betray some of the suspense in the book because you don't know which event the countdown refers to. Which was pretty awesome.

That said, I'm still emotionally upended with this book. After I finished it last night, I laid in bed, wondering about how Shelby could have taken a different path. I came to the realization that she couldn't have. But that just made me so much more disappointed. This morning, after sleeping on it, I find that I'm not even disappointed in any of the characters, I'm disappointed in the situation. But the situation is one that probably thousands of teens in the world face each year, and it's real, and it just makes me sad that they have to go through something similar to what Shelby did. It sorta broke my heart.

PURITY is more complex than its surface suggests. Yes, there are major themes of *gasp* purity and virginity and respect in the book, but there are also deeper themes I wasn't expecting to encounter like God, religion, parenthood, and love - true love. Shelby's struggle with religion is so different than the normal struggles with God we see depicted in YA. It's a struggle that illustrates, and illustrates very vividly, that teens have a better grasp of logic and experience than they get credit for.

Personally, I think that this book will benefit parents of teens more than it will teens. And that's a good thing. The psychology of the teen mind is dead on, the reaction to conflict is exactly what I saw happen with a teen last week, and the lessons I learned as an adult have to be just as important - if not more - than the lessons that are inside for teens to learn. But of course I'd say that. I'm an adult.

Parents: There is sex in this book. The plot revolves around Shelby's plan to lose her virginity to satisfy both her parents. And *SPOILER* she does lose her virginity and not in a good way or one that even ends up mattering in the end *END SPOILER* There is usage of the f-word, I remember I think three instances, and it is used by the main character in a moment of anger in a true-to-form verb.

I want to give you a fantastic reference to compare it to and say that elements of this are similar to another great thing that I love, but honestly? I can't think of a pop culture reference that even closely parallels these themes or experiences. And that, my friends, is a first.

PURITY releases April 24, 2012 from Little, Brown. Preorder from Amazon.

The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 07:06:00 +0000

Scavenger Hunt Tour Stop!

Saurent barked out orders to his team of workers, and after a brief struggle, the young men lifted the stone lid. Nestled inside was a wide wooden coffin painted with still more scenes of the two people represented in the murals. This cover they were able to pry off without much difficulty.

Inside was an oversize mummy, oddly shaped—the right length but too wide by half—blackened with asphalt from the Dead Sea. Instead of only one, it wore two elaborate gold masks. Both were crowned with headdresses of turquoise and lapis and wore carnelian, gold and amethyst breastplates. The only difference between them was that the one on the right was male and the one on the left, female.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Abu uttered in hushed astonishment.

Next stop: http://nomoregrumpybookseller.blogspot.com/

Scary School by Derek The Ghost [Book Inspection]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Plot Sketch: Derek the Ghost, author of Scary School, navigates us through the halls of the only school in the whole entire world where kid monsters and kid humans learn side by side from Monster teachers. There's a dragon for a teacher, a zombie student, and the principal is a scary chick with hands like one of the Fantastic Four. You spend an entire school year getting to know students and teachers and watching them prep for the 561st annual Ghoul Games where every student competes with students from other schools that educate monsters (none of those admit humans though). Scary School gets to host the Ghoul Games this year, but there's a catch... the winners of all of the games get to eat the losers, and they win a golden Elephant and a trip to meet the Monster King in Albania!

Verdict: This is reluctant reader paradise. Each chapter reads like a short story which makes it perfect for parent/child reading together, and makes it less intimidating for readers starting out on their own. But not only is the format fantastic, the prose is hilarious and imaginative and made me laugh out loud uncontrollably in many inappropriate places including a rather stuffy doctor's waiting room where everyone stared at me. But I kept reading despite the judgement because the characters were amazing and the concept is completely fun.

This volume is mostly an introductory volume so that you can meet characters like Charles Nukid (who really is the new kid, and doesn't understand why everyone calls him by his last name), the three Rachels: Raychel, Raechel, and Frank (pronounced Rachel). It's a road map for the rest of the stories, introducing you to this world and what it has in store with a little bit of plot along the way. Don't get me wrong, it's not completely lacking plot. It's just very character heavy. Which I'm confident is going to work out well for this series, and makes this a very good starting place for the reluctant reader because it's easy to piece the story together over multiple sittings. You don't get lost in the intricacies of the plot.

This series is also unique in that it will equally appeal to boys and girls. You could sit your small family down and read it together and everyone would pay attention. Especially since there are pictures. I'm not gonna lie... the pictures are my favorite part because they are timely and only add to the story. I particularly liked it when the zombie kid's tongue fell out and he dusts it off and puts it back in his mouth and there's a small drawing of a tongue jutting into the paragraph.

Perhaps the real best part though is the web integration and the secret chapter. At the end of the book you're instructed to go to scaryschool.com for the secret chapter. But, when you get to scaryschool.com, you have to pass a quiz to get to the chapter. A couple of the questions I thought were tricksy enough to trip up a kid, (the dodo one and the uniform one if anyone is keeping track), but they didn't fool me. Or is that just me thinking I'm smarter than your average kid? Maybe I should get knocked down a few notches.

I'm not usually a fan of Middle Grade fic, but I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for Scary School #2: Monsters on the March which is due out at the end of June 2012. Fans of Teen Wolf (M.J. Fox version) will adore this.

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard [Book Inspection]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:15:00 +0000

Plot Sketch: Bria's friends don't think that traveling with her after graduation is such a good idea because she's still processing her break-up with Toby. So, they bail on her, thinking it will force her to stay and confront what's going on in her emotions. And what does she do? She heads down to Guatemala with Global Vagabonds, a tour group that she thinks will be filled with fabulous people. But to her horror, the people are anything but fab. Seeing the backpacking people her same age, she is immediately envious of their travel choices and wishes she could be as carefree. But she's stuck on the tour with no one her age. That is, until she meets Rowan and he invites her to their hostel, and gives her a little taste of what backpacking through South America is like, exposing her to a way that will challenge her, enlighten her, and ultimately change her in ways she never imagined.

Verdict: Wanderlove is a nice change of pace for YA lovers. It's a contemporary teen coming-of-age tale, with an eighteen-year-old protagonist, allowing Bria a journey with more options than your typical coming-of-age path simply because she's legally an adult. We need more YA like this! We need more YA that has advanced themes of self-discovery and consequence. And not just for the adults who read YA. This has so many poignant teaching moments that I wish I would have seen somewhere as a teen:

Don't change your future because of a boy.
Don't betray your plan because it's not easy.
Don't underestimate your parents.
Live in the moment.
Love in the moment.
Live life with meaning.
Forgive.
Make the most of what you have.
It's okay to change your mind.

I totally want to backpack through Central America now thanks to the amazing details and settings that made the characters and plot just come alive. As Bria's character develops, the format of the book changes to reflect her growth. The more she grows, the more we are treated to her pencil sketches in one of her sketchbooks. I thought that evolution was done very nicely.

I also thought that the characters were deep. They were complex and evolving and made for a very good read because they weren't super predictable,even though the story arc seemed like it should be. Writing this story in the present tense was absolutely the right choice because it helps teach the reader a great lesson about living in the moment and making adjustments to your philosophy on the fly, and it kept us guessing as to what was really going to happen next.

I feel lighter having read Wanderlove, happier. I haven't been able to say that about a book that I've enjoyed in a while. It toyed with my emotions, but left me on a high note. It is sure to enthrall you and suck you in to the Central American landscape just as it did me. Now, someone find me a tamale from a street cart... I'm feeling adventurous... itching for a backpacking trip to Guatemala or Belize or heck, anywhere, please. (Who am I kidding? I love pillows.)

Parents: There is strong language in the book. It's not excessive, but it is present. There is no sex, but there is a mention of how Bria lost her virginity and how she regrets it. And the impact of that decision and the self-hate she displays for it manifests throughout the entire book. There is mention of drugs. There are no scenes with main characters doing drugs, but one of the main characters alludes to having a past in selling and distribution. No violence. I'm thinking it should be okay for fourteen and up... depending on your stance on the language.

If you liked ABC's Off The Map, or if you like to travel, or read about exotic places, this is your story. Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard releases tomorrow!

More Info: Kirsten Hubbard’s new book, Wanderlove, is set in Central America. But not just in one location -- in over a dozen! Wanderlove settings range from bustling capital cities to dense rainforest to tiny Mayan villages to idyllic Caribbean islands, and each is special in its own way.

Most exist in real life; all are based on real life. We’re very excited to share these amazing places with you in the novel -- and on the brand new Wanderlove-themed Tumblr site.

www.wanderlove.com

The site is all about favorite places: in Wanderlove and beyond, Kirsten’s places and YOUR places. That's right. We want you to participate!

Kirsten is hosting a HUGE giveaway starting tomorrow, March 13th, at http://kirstenhubbard.blogspot.com/ and YA Highway -- with prizes including Wanderlove art prints, bookmarks, and bracelets just like Rowan's.

Kirsten will also be featuring all the destinations in Wanderlove, with photos she took herself over the years. She’ll cross-post her personal Wanderlove posts here as well as Tumblr, so you can follow along on Bria's journey in either spot.

The Albatros: An IndieGoGo Project

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Every once in a while I see a kickstarter or Indiegogo project that makes me smile. But once in a blue moon, I see one that makes me want to contribute. Folks, the moon is blue. The Albatros bookmark is stinkin' genius. And you better bet I ordered some:

My only concern was whether or not they would come out of the book once I was done reading it. From the website:

Made out of polyester and with repositionable adhesive, the bookmark can last forever and without damaging any pages.

If you contribute to the IndieGoGo, you'll get a bit of a price break, and shipping break too from the looks of it for folks in the US. This is a France-based project and the preorders stop Friday March 23rd. What are your thoughts? Concerns? You like? Think it's stupid? I'm curious, so dish.

Aaron Rosenberg: ACTIONOPOLIS Interviewee

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:08:00 +0000

Hey gang! Aaron Rosenberg is a Libra from New York City who likes jamocha almond fudge icecream. Oh, and he also writes books and stuffs. And he came to have a quick chat with us today, so help me welcome him to I Heart Monster!

IHM: In Ten Words or less, tell us about your most recent book.

AR: KnightStar is about a father and daughter who gain cosmic power.

IHM: Why are you a writer instead of a car salesman or a shrink or a teacher or any other profession?

AR: Because I can't help myself. I don't just love to write, I need to--I actually get something similar to withdrawal symptoms when I go too long without writing fiction.

IHM: Who is your most interesting character never published in the series (yet)?

AR: Hm. That would probably have to be a villain we have YET to reveal...

IHM: Who is your hero?

AR: I'd have to say Mark Twain. The man was astounding--a brilliant storyteller, a visionary, a hard worker, an independent thinker, he did it all.

IHM: It doesn't get more American pie than Mark Twain! What is the message you want readers to gain from your work?

AR: Honestly, I don't often try to impart messages in my writing. I just want my readers to have fun and enjoy the experience, and come away having been thrilled or chilled or amused, as appropriate.

IHM: How refreshing is that? Awesomely, if you ask me. Thanks for hanging out with us for a little bit today!

You can buy KnightStar in paperback from Amazon for $6.99!

Some of Aaron's other works include: The Birth of the Dread Remora, "Crossed Paths," "OCLT: Brought to Light," Incursion, Indefinite Renewal, Eureka: Substitution Method, Eureka: Road Less Traveled, Tides of Darkness, Beyond the Dark Portal, Stargate Atlantis: Hunt and Run, Queen of Blades, The Carnelian Flame, SCE: The Riddled Post, SCE: Creative Couplings, SCE: Collective Hindsight, Pete and Penny's Pizza Puzzles, Chaotic: The Khilaian Sphere, iGo to Japan, Bumblebee vs. Meltdown, Attack of the Dinobots

Don't forget to check out other ACTIONOPOLIS titles!

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe [Book Inspection]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Plot Sketch: Kaelyn is busy navigating the ins and outs of moving back and forth between big-city minded Toronto and the small-town minded island she grew up on. She's just seen her ex-best friend leave for school on the ferry and decides to keep a journal as if she were telling him how she feels about what's going on until she can tell him face to face when he comes back for Thanksgiving. But then, the journal becomes a chronicle of an outbreak, the early symptoms, early measures of prevention by the government, (Kaelyn's father is a microbiologist and has inside information sometimes) and the progression of the disease. We see the World Health Organization (WHO) through her eyes. We see the best of humanity and the worst of humanity as she tells her old friend what's going on in their community. We see life and we see death, all through the pen of a sixteen-year-old girl.

Verdict: If you're looking for dystopia, this is not your book. This is not a book about a dysfunctional messed up government in the future with some whacked out crazy totalitarian alien war mutant gladators. It's set now, in the present, in rural Canada. If you're looking for doomsday, suspense, with a little mystery and romance though, this is a sure bet. This is not a paranormal romance. This is not a paranormal anything. It's contemporary. And it's scary.

The epistolary format of this novel allows the reader to connect with the narrator in a more powerful way than traditional prose would. You are able to see the world in a way an outsider could not. I read the entire book in one sitting, even though I wanted to put it down and sleep, I couldn't. And I had a fever. Not only was it powerful, it was haunting, and I'm still thinking about what decisions I would have made had I been in Kaelyn's shoes even today. The book is both technically sound and emotionally engaging. There were only a few plot progression points that I found questionable, but they were easily rationalized and explained away.

The ending will feel rushed if you think that the book is a stand alone. But if you know this is a series going in, you'll be left at the end with a whole passel of questions, and they'll just keep coming.

There was a point in the book where I became so numb to all of the death that my brain kicked in and told me I should be more upset about this one particular death. It was important. It had more impact, power, than the rest of the deaths to that point. Or at least it should have. But, it was like I was linked with Kaelyn and couldn't bring myself to feel any more than she did, which I found to be quite brilliant, even though it left me disappointed in my own humanity. For an author to be able to evoke an intellectual response to my lack of emotional response sort of blew my mind. Good job, Megan Crewe. Good. Job.

We read this for book group and had a blessedly awesome discussion from it. I would highly recommend this for book groups. For parents: I counted 2 instances of the f word. Another woman in our book group counted 5. I thought that they were used in good places for emphasis and were true to the characters who used them, not just tossed in for effect. I was not offended by their presence, but you should know that they're there. Also, I applaud the author for having a gay character whose sexual preference is not a major source of conflict in the story. *claps hands* Oh, and if you are sick, be forewarned, this book might frighten you a little bit more than if you are healthy. And if you're healthy, you still might want some hand sanitizer close by.

This book will be enjoyed by people who like Stephen King's The Stand, Survivors (the British tv series), and pretty much anyone who likes to think about the zombie apocalypse. Oh, and if you're interested in the discussion questions, download them from Megan's site!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! [You're The Expert]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:17:00 +0000

It is my firm belief that Dr. Seuss is the reason I like reading today. Today is his birthday. I thought I'd celebrate by sharing a clip from my favorite Seuss tale, The Lorax, and ask you which one is your fav?

6 Things To Do To Get Ready For The Hunger Games Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:30:00 +0000

The Hunger Games movie premiers one month from today as a PG-13 rated film. For not liking the book, I'm a little too stoked about the movie. I mean, I wasn't excited at all, UNTIL I saw a preview and realized that the first-person issue I had with the story is resolved in the movie because movies (with the exception of a very few) are not presented in first person.

So now I'm stoked about the movie. And confident that The Hunger Games will be an exception to the "The Book Is Always Better" rule for me.

Anyway, I've been seeing a lot of fun The Hunger Games things come through my Pinterest feed, so I thought I'd share some with you in case you have a party or get your Hunger Games on a month early... enjoy!

#1 Print out some Movie Watch printables by Living Locurto

#2 Get the Hunger Games Training Days Board Game to get yourselves mentally ready:

#3 Don't forget some swag... this The Hunger Games Military Messenger is especially fitting if you ask me:

But you could always go the classic Mockingjay pin route:

#4 And send your friends some ecards while you're at it... no matter how you feel about them:

#5 Then make some Mockingjay cupcakes to get your friends inspired:

#6 Bone up on your Hunger Games geography:

Whatever you do, especially if you haven't read the books in a while, DO NOT REREAD THE BOOKS. You'll just be disappointed with the movie. And remember, movies are a different art, they're a different story. They're not meant to be clones of the book, which is why we most often think they suck.

And lastly, HAVE FUN!! ♥

Happy 100th Birthday, Arizona!

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:53:00 +0000

ONE HUNDRED years ago, Arizona was granted statehood in the United States of America. Being that my family had already settled these here parts long before statehood (I'm a fifth generation Arizonan), I feel a strong connection to the state I call home. So I thought that in honor of my favorite state, I'd share some of my favorite things about it and places in it. Here are a few highlights:

THE GRAND CANYON

It's perhaps what our awesome state is best known for, being one of the seven natural wonders of the world and all. Dude, it's right up there with Mount Everest and it's only 5 hours from my front door. I've been several times, and my favorite part is not the new fancy skywalk, but that every time I go, even if it's the same time of day, the colors and experiences are different. They're amazing. And I can truly, honestly say that I ♥ this place.

[Photo: Grand Canyon NPS]

FACT: It's illegal to harm a saguaro in Arizona. Doing so can carry a fine of more than $10,000 and a jail term of up to 25 years.

ARAVAIPA

Monster and I have only been here a couple of times because it's a protected riparian area in Southeast Arizona, but I've loved it both times we've gone. It's gorgeous. It's protected by The Nature Conservancy. And it's one of the few places I have successfully communed with wild water and not had a panic attack. And that's only ever ever happened in Arizona. (I'm like three-quarters hydrophobic)

[Photo:me]

FACT: It's also illegal to refuse anyone a glass of water.

OREGANO'S

A local chain of Italian restaurants that Monster and I and my grandma love. I was introduced to the restaurants through work, and no one I've taken has ever not liked it. We eat there at least one time a month, and my favorite dish is the Pablo Picasso Salad (Junior) 'cause I can't finish a full-size.

[Photo: yelp.com]

FACT: The state reptile is the Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake. I've never seen one. In fact, I've only ever seen ONE rattlesnake in all of my outdoor activities, and it was a Western Diamondback. Arizona has thirteen species.

SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS

I'm decidedly a mountain person. I hate the beach. And for seven and a half years, I lived in the foothills of the Superstition Mountains. I've spent too many hours to count hiking through these trails (my favorite is Massacre Falls) and probably just as many sitting on a rock on the side of a trail reading a book. I love these mountains and I love the lores and legends that accompany them. While I'm happy that I moved back to the city for many many reasons, the only thing I miss is seeing snow on these in March and watching the sunset over them out my front window each evening.

[Photo: me]

FACT: There are 26 units of the National Parks Service in Arizona.

MESA ARIZONA TEMPLE

Regardless of your religious affiliation, the Mesa, Arizona LDS Temple is a gorgeous place. It's where Monster proposed to me. And I've spent hundreds of hours by its reflection pool pondering life and meditating. I love the Christmas lights and love the beauty it brings to my hometown.

[Photo: lds.org]

FACT: Pluto (that thing out there we used to call a planet) was discovered at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.

SUPERSTITION RANCH MARKET

It's my favorite place to shop for produce. It's dirt cheap. Like I bought apples there on Saturday for 25¢ a pound. And the week before that I bought strawberries for 2 lbs. for a buck. Cilantro was five bunches for a buck this time and lettuce was three heads for a dollar for romaine and redleaf, and iceberg was 25¢ a head. Get the picture? Love me some Ranch Market.

FACT: Taser International, Cold Stone Creamery, P.F. Changs, and Ticketmaster were all founded in Arizona.

CHANGING HANDS BOOKSTORE

It's not Arizona's only Indie bookstore, it's Arizona's most awesome. The staff is supremely helpful and they all love love love what they do. Not that employees at other bookstores don't, but man, it feels like I've got a friend and a place to adore when I head into Changing Hands. It's just not the same at the others. And their events are the bomb diggity, yo.

FACT: Arizona has haboobs. We don't call them that though. We call them dust storms. But you really are driving down the road and see a wall of dust and sand coming at you from the right. It's not just in movies like The Mummy. And I've had the pitted windshields to prove it. But I'll take haboobs and heat over earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes any day.

KARTCHNER CAVERNS

Just to the east of Tucson lies these caves that were kept a very close secret until they were acquired by Arizona State Parks and developed by them. The result? Pristine cave formations without graffiti, that are still very much alive and very much jaw-droppingly awesome. You have to plan well in advance to get your tickets, but man, it's totally worth it.

FACT: We might reek of desert, but Arizona is home to the largest Ponderosa Pine forest on the continent, stretching from the White Mountains past Flagstaff.

BEYOND BREAD

When Monster and I spend a day in Tucson, it's never without at least one stop to Beyond Bread, a small Tucson chain. They have the most delicious sandwiches. And the sticky buns? They're ridic. Seriously. And it's the only standing exception to my "I Hate Brie" rule 'cause they just know what to pair it with and how much to use to make it oh so yummy instead of oh so ew.

FACT: Arizona claims three of the 50 largest cities in the nation: Phoenix (#6), Tucson (#33), and Mesa (#38).

I hope you enjoyed this little bit of me, this little bit of culture from my home state and my little tribute to the place I call home. I'm so wholeheartedly happy that I can call Arizona home and hope it continues to be an incredible place to live for at least another hundred years. And with that, I'll leave you with a couple of lists. Happy Birthday, Arizona!

AWESOME ARIZONANS

Sandra Day O'Connor: first female member of the Supreme Court

Frank Lloyd Wright: totally dope architect

Jimmy Eat World: a band from my hometown, Mesa

YA Author like Jillian Cantor, Tom Levine, J.S. Lewis, Lisa McMann, James A. Owen, Janette Rallison, Janie Lee Simner and of course that Stephenie Meyer chick. (no means a complete list)

AWESOME ARIZONA EVENTS

And since you made it this far, we're giving away a $20 Changing Hands gift card in honor of Arizona's birthday. Enter the rafflecopter below:

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Shakespeare Originated Phrases

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:56:00 +0000

This is for all the Shakespeare haters out there - people who think that he didn't really have any influence on modern-day English speakers. I daresay there's not a person I know who hasn't said one of these phrases this week. Saw this on Pinterest and just HAD to share with you bookish peeps.

Via Pinterest via Tumblr

ARC: Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin [Giveaway]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:12:00 +0000

Hey so... ARC Giveaway. Clap your hands! Scream for joy! Meredith Zeitlin's FRESHMAN YEAR AND OTHER UNNATURAL DISASTERS could. be. yours. Just fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance. Open internationally, my lovelies. ♥

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I Hate You, Kelly Donahue by Mark Svartz [Book Inspection] [Giveaway]

noreply@blogger.com (Shesten Melder) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:01:00 +0000

Plot Sketch: Mark has seen Kelly Donahue and used this journal to plot her demise. He forges a relationship with her so he can get to know her better and make her death a reality. He goes to extreeeeme lengths in the relationship to get to know her well enough to plot the best way to kill her.

Verdict: For those of us who trend toward the morbid for our humor, I Hate You, Kelly Donahue is as enjoyable as crepes. With Nutella. And powdered sugar. Even though I was ready for bed and just curious what the inside looked like when I picked it up, I couldn't put it down, or stop laughing, until I finished. Fifteen minutes later I was wondering when I could get another glimpse into the demented and hilarious mind of Mark Svartz, and if there'd be another edition, Die, Beth Erikson, Die?

It's spiral bound, with a stiff cover - stiffer than your average notebook, but not as rigid as a hardcover journal. It's got full-color pages on both sides with drawings and pictures and even metro cards. Okay, only one metro card. That's gotta pique your interest, right? The whole thing is in Mark's handwriting... in different colored pens just like in my journal.

This is probably not appropriate for your teen. There are a few f-bombs and depictions (not photos) of male genitalia. Parental discretion advised ;o).

If you like Roman Dirge's Lenore, this is a sure hit for you. And with it's release timing, it's perfect for the person who is both alone and bitter this Valentine's Day. Enter to win your own copy below.

Mark Svartz seems to have his hand in everything from writing to film to inventing. Check out his other projects on MarkSvartz.com

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I Heart Monster

Where You'll Find Us At Phoenix Comicon

*drumroll please* Introducing... Young At ♥

The Selection by Kiera Cass [Book Inspection]

Today Is Free Comic Book Day.

Zero by Tom Leveen [Book Inspection]

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor [Book Inspection]

Dollhouse: Epitaphs Volume 1 [Comics]

May The Odds Be More In Your Favor: Trivia Tonight at Bookman's Mesa [Leaks]

Galahad Legacy by Dom Testa [Blog Tour] [Giveaway]

Divergent by Veronica Roth [Freebies]

Survive The Hunger Games At Bookmans Mesa [Events]

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon [Events]

Purity by Jackson Pearce [Book Inspection]

The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose

Scary School by Derek The Ghost [Book Inspection]

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard [Book Inspection]

The Albatros: An IndieGoGo Project

Aaron Rosenberg: ACTIONOPOLIS Interviewee

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe [Book Inspection]

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! [You're The Expert]

6 Things To Do To Get Ready For The Hunger Games Movie

Happy 100th Birthday, Arizona!

Shakespeare Originated Phrases

ARC: Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin [Giveaway]

I Hate You, Kelly Donahue by Mark Svartz [Book Inspection] [Giveaway]

drumroll please Introducing... Young At ♥