Graceling is the wonderful new book by Kristin Cashore about a girl with grace, but who is no Audrey Hepburn. Katsa's extreme special skill, her "grace," is that she's able to kill people with her bare hands (ouch). In a world of seven kingdoms, Katsa is certainly considered a bad-ass and is respectably feared. Ultimately though, the graceling ends up being shamelessly used by her own family to fight and torture their enemies... until she meets Po.

There's been a ton of early praise about this debut novel -- so much so that I think it's safe to say there's an official buzz.

Read the reviews. Read the book. Visit Kristin Cashore's very cool blog.

SFF World

Bookshelves of Doom

Bookloons

The Dramaturge at Home

Publishers Weekly

Pinot and Prose

Clio's Corner

Hip Librarians Book Blog

Shelftalker

Posted by alli

It's hurricane season. The Gulf Coast is being pummeled by a siege of storms once again. Each year the newest cast of hurricane characters: Ike, Gustav...only serve to remind me of the most catastrophic of storms-- Katrina. Doesn't it feel like since that terrible event, everything is ultimately measured by and compared to her? Each new storm just reminds us of "the big one."

Paul Volponi has written a very heartfelt and realistic account of this great American storm story through the eyes of Miles, a boy confronting life in the shelter that was "The Superdome." Having just moved to Louisiana to live with his father, Miles is uprooted by the storm soon after he arrives. Still getting to know him, they weather the storm together quite literally, and ultimately get closer. Miles tells of the gangs, the horrific treatment by the officials, and the fear and trauma the entire community experienced. Extremely aware of the racism, and ghettoization of New Orleans' poorest victims, Miles grapples with what it all means while trying to survive.

Like anyone wants to relive Katrina, right? Still, I thought it would be appropriate to share some great reviews of Hurricane Song by Paul Volponi. It offers a very quick claustrophobic take on how severe this event was for all who lived through it, from a teen's POV.

Chasing Ray

Young Adults Books Central

Becky's Book Review

The Virtual Loft

School Library Journal: Practically Paradise

Readingjunky's Reading Roose

'Hurricane Song is tale of Katrina and Superdome' (2theAdvocate.com)

A powerful novel about Hurricane Katrina (YA Bookmark)

Posted by alli

I thought I'd finally cover this best seller and seemingly instant classic. I think EVERYBODY who reads this book loves it. Winner of the Horn Book Award, and The National Book Award, Sherman Alexie is one of those beloved authors who inspires people. His humor, honesty and beautiful language are remarkable. He has been around for a long time but is new to a lot of young adult literature lovers. In my opinion, he's our gain. I've read quite a bit of his poetry and looooved "Smoke Signals." I am so pleased at all of the attention and praise he continues to get for his YA novel.

Here's a small sample of the many accolades you'll find in reviews of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian:

Guys Lit Wire

'Off the Res' (New York Times, reg. required)

Teenreads

Richie's Picks

Just a Reading Fool

'Misfit' (LA Times, reg. required)

School Library Journal

Blogcritics

'Straight Shooter' (Star Tribune)

'An Absolutely Great Novel' (Shelftalker)

Posted by alli

Monday is the 2008 Ypulse National Mashup extravaganza and the first official Ypulse Books Pre-Conference hosted by yours truly. We've got a great group of folks gathering to talk about the YA landscape: past, present and future and a lot of hot topics of discussion planned.

Not only will I be emceeing the event, I am also facilitating a discussion among three really cool YA authors; Justina Chen-Headly, Melissa Walker, and Lisa McMann. For today's Review Review. I thought I'd share some of the buzz around each of my panelist's latest releases...to get those of you attending even more excited!

Note: Ypulse Books will return on Friday, July 18th with coverage and the highlights from the Books Pre-Conference and of course, your Essentials.

Wake by Lisa McMann
Teen Reads
A Page Turner Book Reviews
Book Muncher

Violet by Design (Book 2 in the Violet Series) by Melissa Walker
Teen Book Review
Em's Bookshelf
An Another Book Read

Girl, Overboard by Justina Chen-Headly
Teenreads
Papertigers.org
The Faerie Drink Review

Posted by alli

As some of you know, I am going back to work in the fall as an elementary/middle school librarian. I've been home with my son for almost three years and it's just... time. I'm really really excited.

For security and in order to conduct my background check, I had to be fingerprinted. So I went down to a local child protective services office on Church Street in the Mission and followed a social worker into a tiny dark cubicle. I stood patiently while she got each and every finger on both hands printed and recorded. I was disappointed, it wasn't like in the movies, with ink-pads; they have computers do it now, natch. Offensive rap music played loudly from the next cube and my fingerprint-ess took a long, "sweetie-cutie-baby-honey" personal call while I waited. It was weird.

Honestly, the whole event struck me as ironic. I just finished Little Brother by Cory Doctorow and it's already super spooky reading about the modern Orwellian landscape of my fair city, San Francsico. I couldn't help but imagine that I was living in that world. Not only was I blocks away from some of Marcus and his friends' stomping grounds, I was being fingerprinted for god's sake! Don't get me wrong, I'm totally down with background checks and of course I have absolutely nothing to hide, but I had to wonder, what would Marcus say?

Little Brother is not without its critics but overall, people agree that it's a super smart novel with a rebel soul. The pace is fast and fun and the technology is scary and exhilarating at the same time.

Join the 'Little Brother' revolution

The AV Club

'Little Brother,' 'Madapple' for young adults' (SF Chronicle)

Firefox News

Changing Planes by Neil Gaiman

Strange Horizons

The Mumpsimus

Cleveland.com

Dangerous Beauty

Mistaken For the Enemy (LA Times)

Civil Disobedient

Reading Rants

'Little Brother' comes out fighting (Publishers Weekly)

Posted by alli

Last night I started Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, and now I have a whopping six books on the nightstand! Could it be another book about sisters? Oh joy -- one of my favorite subjects. So far, so good. Before I get too into it though, I decided to cover it as a 'Review Review' piece and see what other people are saying about it.

Sarah Dessen is a beloved YA author and probably most famous for writing How to Deal, which was made into a movie with Mandy Moore. I like her writing style. She seems to get teen girls pretty well and never talks down to them. Looking at her website though and seeing all of the covers together, (I know, again with the covers?!) I thought, they just don't do her books justice. I think her writing is more sophisticated than the hearts and flowers so prevalent on the front of her books.

Alright already. I'm excited about Lock and Key, and I guess the cover's fine. :)

Bookshelves of Doom

Becky's Book Reviews

COSMOgirl!

Young Adults Books Central

Powell's (Includes a cool video)

Teen Book Review

The NewsObserver

Liv's Book Reviews

MySpace Books

The Reading Zone

The Ya Ya Ya's

Little Willow

A Patchwork of Books

Reader Rabbit

OBYA

A True Reality

Posted by alli

Originally self-published as The Highland Mole, Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams has been touted as the next Harry Potter. Needless to say, the hype has been amazing for this British fantasy novel about a 12-year-old boy archaeologist -- and it does look great! Personally, I feel bad for any author being set up to compete with JK Rowling. It's just not fair. But if this book does half as well and excites half as many readers, than I think we all know that means phenomenal success.

Anyhow, Enjoy the buzz!

Digging deep (The Guardian)

Who will be the next Harry? (Telegraph)

Financial Times (reg. required)

Reviews on Powell's Books

Teen Reads

Shelf Elf

Can you dig it? (Publishers Weekly)

Bookami

OMS Book Blog

Listen to PRI's, 'The World' (audio file)

Related articles:

Publisher claims to have found Potter successor (The Guardian)

'The Next Harry Potter' Ignites the Next Hollywood Freak-Out (New York Magazine)

Rowling publisher creates hype for new boy-wonder series (The Star)

Publisher of Harry Potter to reveal 'next big thing' (The Independent)

Posted by alli

In 'Review Review' we'll spotlight one book and while we won't review it ourselves, save the occasional, "It's great. Loved it. Yay! " comments, we'll provide you with a round-up of some of the reviews available online and around the blogosphere.

Last night I attended a reading and book signing at the new Books Inc. in the Opera Plaza here in San Francisco. It was super entertaining and fun. For some reason I forgot David Levithan was also on the bill and on top of that they brought along a friend -- writer Eliot Schrefer. Bonus.

David Levithan read a short story called "Starbucks Boy" from a book of short stories called How They Met and Eliot Schrefer read a first draft, of a first chapter, of his first young adult novel. Wow. I felt honored and it seemed really promising too. Not sure if I'm supposed to name it since I think it's still a work in progress--still an idea. "Starbucks Boy" was hilarious and we laughed a lot. Sort of a nicer, younger, gay Nannies Diaries.

My friend Leah is in town so I dragged her along. She really enjoyed it and not being a YA person, kept saying things like, "Wow, that was really well written" and "I would totally read stuff like that." I think she's officially converted and being a big vampire fan, she left with a copy of Twilight.

Siobhan Vivian read from A Little Friendly Advice and it sounded sweet and fresh. Seeing her in person made me understand Ruby, the main character, in a different way. There is a brightness that they clearly share. I'm really looking forward to her next book, I enjoyed this one so much! In short: It's great. Loved it. Yay!

See what else is being said about Siobhan Vivian's debut novel. It's still very new, so feel free to send me any I missed and I'll add them.

Teen Book Review

Page Flipper

Slayground

SF Gate

Little Willow at Amazon

Share some Buckeye pride at Ohio.com

Ya Ya Ya's

Big A Little A

Suggested at Readergirlz and Booksense

Posted by alli