Tucson's Teens Read

Review: Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen

2012-02-18T15:00:00.000-08:00

Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Published: February 1st 2011

The football field is a battlefield

There’s an extraordinary price for victory at Oregrove High. It is paid on—and off—the football field. And it claims its victims without mercy—including the most innocent bystanders.

When a violent, steroid-infused, ever-escalating prank war has devastating consequences, an unlikely friendship between a talented but emotionally damaged fullback and a promising gymnast might hold the key to a school’s salvation.

Told in alternating voices and with unapologetic truth, Leverage illuminates the fierce loyalty, flawed justice, and hard-won optimism of two young athletes.

It is hard to know where to exactly begin... Joshua C. Cohen's debut novel is anything and everything BUT disappointing. I honestly cannot come up with a negative thing to say about this amazing, outstanding, one of kind, unique novel. There is so much to say about this book that I am going to have to break it down into parts....

Kurt is the new football star at Oregrove High School. Danny is on the Oregrove gymnastics team. Both boys have a past, full of sorrow and pain. An unlikely friendship between these two boys is formed when pranks made between the football team and the gymnastics team get out of hand.... way out of hand. 'Prank war' is an understatement; things go beyond 'war', creating consequences more severe than one could think possible.

As the book's synopsis implies, steroids becomes a factor in this 'war'. I am always drawn to books that focus on 'social issues' and taboo subjects that most authors dare not touch. If Joshua C. Cohen was afraid to write about steroid use in high school athletics, he does not show it. Kurt and Danny are both given the opportunity to have their say, from their own personal point of view. As a reader you learn about Kurt's and Danny's past and how it in turn it is affecting their present day decisions. Cohen's use of first person narrative makes you feel sympathy, understanding, and sometimes anger at each character; but you walk away with a better understanding of who they are.

Cohen does not shy away from giving real and raw characters. Danny is a hard worker with one goal in mind: to get a full ride to college through his gymnastic skills. His quiet demeanour in the school halls is far from his loud actions as a gymnast. While he is terrified of the 'steroid-infused' jocks that rule the school, he proves he is anything but scared while doing dare devil moves in the air.

Kurt comes from a very sad and brutal past, one that you cannot put into words. Having experienced things that many are lucky to not know about, Kurt hides behind his shaggy hair while out in the real world and a football helmet while on the field. The only place he feels at 'home' is in the gym exercising or helping his teammates score touchdowns.

Both boys' sense of security and safety are shattered when the pranks between the two teams get way out of hand, invading the few places they feel safe. The ripple affect is greater than you could imagine, even as the reader. That brings us to the many supporting characters. While Kurt and Danny are clearly the starts, each supporting character plays a very important role in this novel. You have the 'steroid-infused' football players who literally blow your mind in terms of "How can anyone act that way, and think its normal?". Then you have the tiny small gymnastics team, who work hard to show their place in high school by trying to stand up to the jocks. Without these supporting characters the novel would not be complete.

As I said, no matter how hard I try to come up with something negative to say about this book, I just can't. I first thought that because I couldn't read this book in a few short sittings that this was not going to be as amazing as it was... on the contrary, I found taking this novel in small bits, at least for me, was perfect. I was able to absorb every aspect in their entirety. This book is RAW, GRITTY, and REAL in such a severe and affecting way. Because of that, my mind had to grasp the severity of the topics and themes. There were times I cringed and cried, and had to take a step back. Other times, I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next, on the edge of my seat.

I believe that a novel of any kind should affect you on some level, in some way. You should walk away from that novel with a new perspective or insight into something, especially from a novel that dares to tackle a 'social issue' or taboo topic. Joshua C. Cohen provides this in the most perfect way! I am forever changed by this novel. If you are not afraid to confront such a raw reality that most people ignore, you MUST MUST MUST read this book!

TAKING “NO” FOR AN ANSWER by Tom Leveen

2012-02-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

Howdy, everyone! Gather ’round. Quick story for you.

During my first year of college—long-time-ago, galaxy-far-away, blah blah blah—I finished my first young adult novel, Gothic Rainbow, about a teen girl named Zero who’s trying to become an artist and navigate her first romance. The title . . . well, maybe not a bad name for a band, but an awful name for a book.

Flash-forward many years. I’ve revised and rewritten that stupid book so many times, I’ve gone cross-eyed. Now it’s time to look for a literary agent! Woo hoo!

Forty agents in a row said, “Eh. No thanks.” Forty. How many times should you take “no” for an answer . . .?

The forty-first agent I approached said: No.

But, she added, there was an associate agent who might be interested. And lo and behold, before I knew what was happening, I found myself with my very first agent! Bazinga!

We revised Gothic Rainbow again. And again. And again. Finally, after several months of work, my agent decreed it was time to pitch the novel to publishers.

. . . Every single one of whom said: “Eh. No thanks.” (Insert sound of deflating balloon here.)

Not to worry! I was by that time working on my second novel. This one, my agent said after reading it, was going straight to the top. A sure-fire hit for publishers. And so, with that encouragement, we revised. Again. And again . . .

Finally, after many more months of work, my agent decreed it was time to pitch the novel to publishers. Sound familiar?

Twenty-four hours before it was time to pitch, she quit her job.

On my wedding anniversary.

Now, a lesser man might’ve given up hope at this point. Me, I chucked hope off a bridge and called it bad names on the way down.

So why tell you all this? Why tell you, specifically, all this?

So that when I tell you not to let anything stop you when you have a goal, you’ll know why I’m saying it. There’s something powerful in the relentless pursuit of your real dreams and goals. It doesn’t matter what they are. Maybe you want to publish a novel (or ten). Maybe you want to win a gold medal, or be the fastest Rubik’s Cube solver in the world. Whatever it is, do not—do not—let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. That includes parents, siblings, teachers, pastors, friends . . . anyone.

Now here’s the reality: Maybe you can’t do it.

I mean, let’s say every reader of this blog wanted to be an NFL quarterback. Statistically, maybe one would actually make it that far, right? Bleak, I know.

But here’s the thing: If you pursue that goal, whatever it is, with all your heart, then other doors you may never have thought about have a way of opening up. Ideas and jobs and careers and opportunities that aren’t even on your radar right now have this curious way of showing up when you least expect them as you work toward those goals.

Plus, hey . . . someone has to be a quarterback, right?

There is a smart way to do things, of course, and I highly recommend graduating high school (with the best grades possible) and going on to at least a two-year college, if not beyond. These are safe, smart choices, and you can still attack those dreams while you do it. It’s all about how you prioritize things. I started a theatre company in my backyard while working on that first novel, for crying out loud! I only did it that way because I didn’t want anyone telling me how to run a show. That company lasted eleven years. Not bad for a backyard start-up.

So yeah, be smart about where you take your life, but don’t ever give up going after that thing or things that you really want to do. It doesn’t have to be a career thing; maybe it’s hiking Mount Everest or getting a black belt or assisting those who are in poverty or preserving the environment. I don’t care what it is; just go do it.

So. Where was I?

Oh, right: After my agent quit, another one at the agency read my second novel and decided to take me on as a client. We revised that second novel together. Again. And again . . .

It was called Party, and it sold to Random House. It became my debut YA novel on April 27, 2010.

As for Gothic Rainbow, well . . . I rewrote it (again), and did a whole new set of revisions with my new agent again (and again).

Including a title change.

Zero will be out on April 24, 2012. My second young adult novel.

Now. What was I saying? Ah, yes:

Don’t give up, okay?

Take care.

~ Tom

Tom Leveen has lived his entire life in Scottsdale, AZ. He is the author of PARTY and ZERO, as well as the upcoming MUSTARDSEED and MONSTERS, and he is indebted to both of his agents who’ve guided him along the way. He will be co-teaching a writing class with the amazing Robin Brande on Sunday, March 11, at the Tucson Festival of Books. For information on school visits, appearances, or other miscellany, visit him at http://www.tomleveen.com/.

Book Review: Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

2012-02-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Perfect (Impulse #2) by Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Published: September 13th 2011

Review by: Anonymous Entrant

Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there. Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run—on the field and off—Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes that to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never have understood.
Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?
A riveting and startling companion to the bestselling Impulse, Ellen Hopkins's Perfect exposes the harsh truths about what it takes to grow up and grow into our own skins, our own selves.

Where do I begin with another amazing book by the ever-so talented Ellen Hopkins... Perfect is a novel that everyone must read, not just teens. It's message transcends age, gender, sexuality, race and time. We all want to be perfect, and for each and everyone one of us defining what is 'perfect' is different. Ellen Hopkins explores the idea of 'perfection' through characters that struggle with things that many of us have and still do: being the prettiest, the best at sports, the best academically, and to be just perfect for ourselves by being who we are.

“Fake
Is that what you are
if you choose to improve
the basic not perfect you?”

One of my favorite characters is Cara, Connor's sister (from Impulse). Not only is she under thumb of her parents' constant pressure to be the best academically and at everything else, she is left behind while Connor works on his own issues (must read Impulse to find out more about this). And if that wasn't enough she is finding something about herself she never knew... she could be be a lesbian. Can I just say this girl has a strength of wills like no other!

Such a simple question that carries so much meaning and weight. Ellen Hopkins has created a reality in verse perfectly (no pun intended), a reality that many of use tend to ignore or pretend doesn't exist. Ellen Hopkins continues to grab the attention and respect of all her readers through her brute honesty and artistic craft. Without her our Literary World would be less than it is. She gives us hope to find the truth in ourselves, that we are all perfect, just the way we are, in Perfect.

Jessi Kirby's Sophomore Novel

2011-12-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

To the satisfaction of many new fans, Jessi Kirby's debut novel, Honor, will be released in May 2012.

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Expected to be Published 8 May 2012

by Simon & Schuster

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn's celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn's last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn's best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn't seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

Book Review: Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

2011-12-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Published May 3rd 2011

Review by: Anonymous Entrant

From Jessi Kirby, a debut novel about confronting the past in order to move ahead.

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

Jessi Kirby's debut novel, Moonglass, is a wonderful tale of loss, love, and hope. At a very young age Anna looses her mother to suicide. Now Anna is in high school and has just moved to a new town where their home is right off the beach. You would think that Anna's love for the ocean, surfing and finding moonglass (sea glass), Anna would fit right in and love it automatically. But her new home has it owns ghosts, along with Anna's, that she cannot run away from.

Despite Anna's reluctance at first she finds new friends right away; while at first she is unaware of their importance. Constantly being haunted by her Mother's decision to leave her and her father, Anna learns more about her Mother, her Mother's past as well about herself. Not only does Anna grow as a girl troubled by something she could not control, her relationship with her father rides the waves of it all.

Moonglass was an AMAZING debut novel. Jessi Kirby's use of detail, emotion, character development and symbolism are all superb, each playing a vital role in the overall novel. Kirby's details of the beach, the water, and even something as simple as the sand make you feel as if you are walking or running on the beach along with Anna, jumping off a high cliff and then hitting the water. Your experience as a reader is heightened to a new level. Kirby's character development is also done very well. While the novel centers on Anna, other characters are treated as main characters as well. Even though Anna's mother is not physically present in the book, the emotional hauntings of Anna and her memories turns her mother into a main character; on level with Anna herself.

Of course we cannot forget about the Moonglass (the namesake of the novel). The Moonglasses in themselves serve many roles, creating new dynamics for this novel: they serve as a connection for Anna to her mother, they serve as a connection to the past but at the same time the future. Just like Anna's Mother, the Moonglass serve as a main character themselves.

I could go on and on about how amazing this novel was. Jessi Kirby has really set the bar high for her next novel. Every aspect of this novel was beautifully written, created and executed. As an author Jessi Kirby has earned my respect and I for one cannot wait for her next novel. I highly recommend everyone who may have experienced something similar to Anna's experience, or loss of any kind, or anyone looking to read an amazing novel, to read this!

A Day In The Writing Life with Jessi Kirby

2011-12-21T05:52:00.000-08:00

We've all heard the phrase "Butt + Chair = Pages". (At least I think so.) And in theory, it's a great one. One that I SO wish was true for me. But I require a few more steps in my equation, and the first one is actually the exact opposite of putting my butt in a chair...

After the morning dance of getting the kids ready and off to school, I usually have need to clear my head. So I throw on my trusty Sauconys and hit the beach for a run with a playlist that's tailor-made for my WIP. Right now, it's made up of Tom Petty, John Mayer, Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews, Dierks Bentley, Taylor Swift, and Gaslight Anthem. Each song on the list puts me into an important scene from the story and brings back all the feelings I want to convey.

After a run and a shower, I'm ready to get to work. Almost. Generally I need another cup of coffee, some email checking, blog cruising, maybe even breakfast. I'm a terrible, awful procrastinator. Luckily I have my husband, who usually says something like "Aren't you writing today?"--which is enough to get me into gear and finally retire to my office. And because I'm now legit (depending on who you talk to), I actually have one! I used to write in the Teen Center at the library because of its cushy couch and ocean view, but this is much nicer because it's convenient and I don't get kicked out for "not being or working with a teen." Apparently, I don't look as young as I feel, and writing for them doesn't count. I checked.

Anyway, my writing cave is much more glamorous I think:

Okay, glamorous may be pushing it just a little, but inside it has everything I need: cozy chair, lap desk, candles, and a giant bulletin board I use for outlining, which I tend to be obsessive about.

Once I'm installed in my chair, I get down to work. I almost always start by reading what I've written the previous day, tweaking it a bit, then looking over my notes and diving in where I left off. I used to be very conscious of word count, but I've eased up on that and realized that I may be the slowest writer ever and that's not the worst thing to be. Or I might not be-- who knows? I feel pretty good when I can get at least a thousand words down in a sitting, but sometimes that takes me a few hours. I seriously marvel at those amazing people who can do three or five in the same amount of time. In any case, once I'm out there, it's to write, and even when everyone gets home I can do it relatively uninterrupted.

But my favorite treat, when everyone is gone, is to sit at our little dining room table and write and watch the beach. There's never a shortage of things to see.

Case in point: Earlier this month, I was sitting in this very spot when I looked up and saw this. Yes, that is Santa on the beach, directing some outrigger paddlers who couldn't get their canoe out past the waves. And it's hard to tell from this photo, but one of them is wearing reindeer antlers.

No matter where I write, I always depend on the same things--yellow legal pads, GIANT Post-Its, and my favorite orange pen that's so close to empty I'm going to have to schedule my kids' dentist appointments just so I can go to the office and snag another one. Thanks Dr. Hersch.

I also need my two best coworkers around: chocolate and caffeine, which are even better when mixed.

Some days, I stop because I've gotten stuck on a scene or bit of dialogue or feeling I can't quite get right. Others, I triumphantly snap my computer shut, sure I've just nailed it. (Usually this feeling only lasts until the next day when I read it over again.) But EVERY day, when I finish "work," I smile at the fact that I get to call it that, and thank my lucky stars for letting me have a go at the dream I've had since I was a kid. There's nothing else in the world I'd rather be doing.

Author's Corner: Jessi Kirby

2011-12-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

“I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.”- Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Jessi Kirby is a new and very promising Young Adult Author. Her first book, Moonglass, was published in May 2011. Already she is proving to be an unforgettable author, both by fans and fellow authors:

** "I couldn't put this book down. Kirby's voice is fresh and wise, all at once. An incredible first novel." --Sarah Dessen, New York Times bestselling author of Lock and Key

** "Kirby is an author to watch, and her debut will be enjoyed by a large array of teens in search of identity stories."--Booklist

Currently, Jessi Kirby lives her life as a writer, pretty much on the beach. What more of a perfect life can one ask for?! Even before she became a writer, she was in the literature world, as a English teacher and a Librarian. Living on the beach is a turn around from her childhood in Mammoth Lakes, California. Now she spends her days using the beach as inspiration and her running track, where she also collects Sea Glass like Ann in Moonglass.

Other than her family and the beach serving as sources of inspiration, she is inspired by Janet Fitch's White Oleander, Crystal Cove, and her own experiences as life guard (which we see in Moonglass).

Currently, Jessi Kirby lives in Orange County, California with her family, where is patiently waiting for her sophomore album, In Honor.

You can find Jessi Kirby on her Web Site | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Will Hobbs - Survival Against the Odds

2011-12-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

Will Hobbs' love for nature and the wilderness shines through many of his books... books such as Crossing the Wire and Take Me To The River put ordinary people in extreme circumstances, making them extraordinary!

Take part in Victor's journey across the border into the United States. On his own, Victor struggles to cross the border while finding a way to support his family back home.

When falling crop prices threaten his family with starvation, fifteen-year-old Victor Flores heads north in an attempt to "cross the wire" from Mexico into the United States so he can find work and send money home. But with no coyote money to pay the smugglers who sneak illegal workers across the border, Victor must struggle to survive as he jumps trains, stows away on trucks, and hikes grueling miles through the Arizona desert.

Victor's journey is fraught with danger, freezing cold, scorching heat, hunger, and dead ends. It's a gauntlet run by millions attempting to cross the border. Through Victor's often desperate struggle, Will Hobbs brings to life one of the great human dramas of our time.

Fourteen-year old Dylan Sands has come all the way from North Carolina to Big Bend National Park, on the Texas/Mexico border, to paddle the fabled Rio Grande. His partner in adventure is a local river rat, his cousin Rio. As they’re packing their boats for ten days in the canyons, six Black Hawk helicopters appear overhead and race across the river into Mexico.

None of their previous river experience can prepare them for the approach of a deadly hurricane and a Mexican gangster who’s carting a kidnapped child in tow. In order to make it out of the canyons alive, Dylan and Rio will have to find a way to get both themselves and the child away from the fugitive, all while navigating the wildest waters of the Southwest.

Jessie, Troy, and the rest of the crew from Downriver have returned to the Grand Canyon for adventure down the Colorado River. In the year since they last were together, each has changed; each feels more mature. But how will they interact now that they are facing new challenges--challenges greater than anything they've had to deal with at home?

For Troy, it is a chance to prove he can be a team player, someone worthy of friendship and love. For Jessie, the river is the ultimate test. Does she have what it takes to row down the mighty Colorado? The only way to find out is to get into the raft and set off to face the thundering rapids and the powerful emotions that the river unleashes.

Visit Will Hobbs' Web Site for more information about these books and many others by Will Hobbs

A Few Words from Will Hobbs

2011-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

Come see me at the Tucson Festival of Books and buckle your life jackets for a wild ride down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon! My novel River Thunder grew out of the first of my ten trips through the Canyon, during the flood that Jessie and her companions are facing in the story. The other two novels I’ll be featuring are set on the Mexican border, one in southern Arizona, the other in far west Texas, and both are filled with suspense. In Crossing the Wire, I’ll take you on a hike to southern Arizona’s Baboquivari Peak and show you the exact ledge where Victor Flores is cornered in the moonlight. With Take Me to the River, we’ll paddle the Rio Grande down to Outlaw Flats, where Dylan and Rio meet the scariest character I’ve ever created. Between now and the Festival, you can learn a whole lot more about these and all of my books by visiting my website, www.WillHobbsAuthor.com. You’ll find interviews and lots of photos from my own adventures. I’m excited to be meeting you soon, showing you where it all comes from, and maybe sending you home fired up to try some writing yourself. Go Big with Reading!

-- Will Hobbs

Young Adult Writers' Workshop

2011-12-12T13:35:00.000-08:00

A Young Writers’ Workshop was held at Catalina High School on Thursday, Dec. 1. Approximately 100 TUSD students attended the event, which was funded with a grant from the Educational Enrichment Foundation, and had an opportunity to interact with four published authors talk about the writing process and the publishing process. The four authors were Stan Strom, author of Blue Ribbon Desserts and Catalina graduate (1977); Robin Brande, local author of several Young Adult fiction books; Bob Hunton, local author and former middle school teacher; and poet and slam artist, Logan Phillips.

The Arizona Daily Star was also there. You can read their article about this wonderful event HERE.

For those that were not able to attend this workshop, there is still plenty that you can partake in:

Book Mark Contest - due February 14th

Templates are sent to interested schools in January. As your librarian for a copy.

A TUSD Student Anthology is going to be published on a EBM (espresso book machine) at UofA. This Anthology will be available for sale at the Tucson Festival of Books. - -Due February 3rd

Those interested in submiting work submit/contact Cheryl at Cheryl.beran@tusd1.org
Students who works are included in the TUSD Student Anthology will be invited to present their work at the TUSD book at the Festival on March 10th and 11th.

All students can post their writings on the Festival's Tucson's Teens Read Blog and to get feedback from other teens and authors
Have the opportunity to interview YA authors at the Festival and create either a digitgal video that will be played at the Book at the Festival or via podcast. For more information contact Patricia McKelvy at TeensRead@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org
Participate in poetry slams in March and April. There will be Cash Prizes!! Poetry Slams are held at Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea on Speedway.

Author's Corner: Will Hobbs

2011-12-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

"Learning to write well takes practice and dedication, just like learning to play a musical instrument or a sport."

(Source)

Will Hobbs is no stranger to travel, growing up in an Air Force family. Growing up he was an avid reader of the classics, The Hardy Boys and Tom Sawyer, as well as an explorer in the natural background of his homes in Alaska and California. This love of reading and exploring still remains today. Before devoting all of his time to writing Will Hobbs was a Reading Teacher.

So where does Will Hobbs get his ideas from? From life! Will Hobbs writes about what interests him. It is no wonder why his books are beloved by so many! Having written 18 books for ages ranging from children to young readers, Will Hobbs' books have much to offer for everyone, including the nature lovers in us all.

Will Hobbs' literature has received much praise, including ALA's 100 Best of the Best Young Adult Books of the Past 25 Years, California's Young Reader Medal.

Make sure to come back this week to take a deeper look at Will Hobbs amazing books and to hear from Will directly!

"My first hope for my novels is that they tell a god story, that the reader will keep turning the pages and will hate to see the story end.... I'd like my readers to appreciate and to care more about what's happening to wild creatures, wild places, and the diversity of life."

Will Hobbs currently lives in Colorado as a full-time writer.

You can visit Will Hobbs on his Web Site

A Few Words from Jewell Parker Rhodes!

2011-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to welcome Jewell Parker Rhodes today with a few inspiring words!

So without further ado...

Growing up, books sustained me. They made me laugh, cry, empathize with characters, and envision new places and horizons to explore.

For me, reading was the most important part of my day. Is it any wonder that I grew up wanting to be a writer?

Though I've written many adult books, my greatest joy is writing NINTH WARD, my first book for youth! It's been such a thrill and I feel as though writing for YOU - - writing for the young woman I once was - that I've done the most important work in my life.

Please come and visit me at the Tucson Festival of Books! I'd love to talk with you about New Orleans, about the spirits that linger in the French Quarter, and about Lanesha, a brave young woman who survives Hurricane Katrina and the levees breaking. NINTH WARD is a very special American story - it explores how racism, poverty, and gender politics can't oppress a young woman who knows and loves herself, who has the power to see ghosts, and who believes family, friendship, and a dog make life worthwhile.

Author's Corner: Jewell Parker Rhodes

2011-12-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

"Writing a good children’s book was literally my goal when I started as a writer."
(Source)

Jewell Parker Rhodes is an Arizona-local, award winning, Piper Endowed Chair of ASU's Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing, American novelist and playwright of numerous books.

She has received awards for Voodoo Dreams, Magic City, Douglass’ Women, Season, Moon, Hurricane, and the children’s book, Ninth Ward.

Jewell Parker Rhodes started writing at a very early age, writing her first elementary book in elementary school. While most of her works were written for an adult audience, after Hurricane Katrina hit she decided it was time to write for a younger audience. The product: The Ninth Ward, which was given the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award and the Parent's Choice Foundation Gold Award in 2010.

She has even been featured on NPR.

Jewell Parker Rhodes currently teaches at Arizona State University.

You can learn more about Jewell Parker Rhodes on her
Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

A Few Words from R.L. Stine!

2011-12-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

"My job is to scare people, and it's a fun job. I hope to be scaring you at the Tucson Festival of Books. I'll be there telling ghost stories, answering your questions, and signing your books. I'll be talking about the new Goosebumps series - - Goosebumps: Most Wanted. And I'll be talking about my book, "It's the First Day of School...FOREVER!"

Hope you'll come see me in Tucson. We'll have some laughs--and a few SCREAMS."

- - R.L. Stine

Book Review: A New Fear by R.L. Stine

2011-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

A New Fear (Fear Street Sagas #1) by R.L. Stine
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: March 1st 1996

Review by: Anonymous Entrant

Have you ever wondered how R.L. Stine's Fear Street series began? How the "Street" became "Fear Street"? The Fear Street Sagas gives a glimpse into the history of the Fear family and Fear Street of Shadyside. A family feud between the Fears and the Goodes, have created a long history of fear, hate, mystery and wonder. Nora Goode and Daniel Fear had hoped to put their families' feud to an end through their marriage. Unfortunately, the night of their marriage announcement a fire rages through Fear Mansion, killing everyone except Nora and her unborn child, Nicholas.

After escaping an asylum, Nora finds a new beginning for herself and Nicholas, until she can no longer keep her son away from learning about the Fear family. Nicholas embarks on a journey to Shadyside to inherit his dead father's legacy, which in turn will allow his to marry the girl of his dreams. What waits for Nicholas is a legacy of secrets and death which he discovers rather quickly, a legacy that does not stay in the past but becomes his present and future.

This place calls to me, Nicholas thought. But why? For what purpose? For good...or evil?

R.L. Stine has created a haunting world for his characters, where ghosts, magic, good and evil roam free. He wonderfully creates some of the most memorable haunting scenes in young adult horror literature:

A large scorch mark covered the drapes. A scorch mark in the shape of a human body.

Nicholas edged closer to the drapes. the scorch mark grew darker. Thicker. It bulged out, straining away from the fabic.

Nicholas heard a tearing sound. The body is ripping through the drapes!

Growing up, I could not get enough of this series. R.L. Stine's writing is simple while at the same time heavy with meaning and mystery, making it very unique. This series is a perfect introduction for any Teen wanting to read horror literature, or for adults to revisit a part of their childhood.

R.L. Stine's Fear Street

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For the older teens R.L. Stine's Fear Street series is perfect!

Just like Goosebumps there are numerous smaller series within the Fear Street series.

Fear Street #1: The New Girl

The new girl is as pale as a ghost, blond, and eerily beautiful -- and she seems to need him as much as he wants her. Cory Brooks hungers for Anna Corwin's kisses, drowns in her light blue eyes. He can't get her out of his mind. He has been loosing sleep, ditching his friends...and everyone has noticed.
Then as suddenly as she came to Shadyside High, Anna disappears. To find a cure for his obsession, Cory must go to Anna's house on Fear Street -- no matter what the consequences.
Anna may be the love of his life...but finding out her secret might mean his death.

Fear Street Sagas #6: Daughters of Silence

Summoning the dark powers of their family to bring back their dead daughters, Angelica and Simon Fear unflinchingly begin an act of black magic that calls for the sacrifice of two innocent girls.

Fear Street Super Chillers #12: High Tide

Adam Malfitano still has nightmares about the night his girlfriend, Mitzi, died. He sees the blood. He sees her in the water. He is a lifeguard, and he can't save her. He wakes up screaming. Even worse, he has begun to see Mitzi while he is awake. He knows it is impossible, but she looks so real. What does she want from him?

Fear Street Cheerleaders #3: The Third Evil

Did the evil spirit really leave Kimmy's body? The cheerleaders of Shadyside High can still feel its dark presence, and Corky knows that it is out there, somewhere close. And getting closer.
Corky is tormented night after night by dreams of her dead sister, Bobbi. What terrifying message is Bobbi trying to tell her? When the evil begins again - more horrible, more gruesome than ever - Corky knows it is up to her to learn the century-old secrets and destroy the evil spirit's power for good. But so many have died already - will Corky be next?

Fear Street Saga #2: The Burning

In this terrifying new trilogy, R.L. Stine takes readers back in time, telling them finally the awful truth of what happened to the cursed Fear family . . . and why their evil lives on. Simon Fier meets an old gypsy who tells him his family will all die in a terrible fire. Terrified, he changes the family name to Fear, but he can't escape the curse.

New Fear Street #2: Camp Out

Although persuaded by her two best friends, Beth and Ellen, to go on a camp out, Maria is extremely nervous, and her fears are confirmed when strange accidents begin to occur.

With so many fearful adventures on Fear Street you are sure to find new frights and fears you never knew you had! And of course amazing fun!!

Have you read any Fear Street lately?

Want to share your thoughts?

Send your comments, reviews, and thoughts to

teensread@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org

to have them published on the site!!

R.L. Stine's Goosebumps

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R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series is a series many of us grow up with.

Goosebumps is perfect for every generation!

With over 60 books to choose from and many different Goosebumps series, thrills and scares are guaranteed!!

Goosebumps Classic #1: Welcome to Dead House

Just when you thought it was safe....the 25 top-selling titles in the series that revolutionized horror for kids are back w/ a fresh new look. The updated design will make you scream. The original artwork will give you nightmares. And the classic bone-chilling stories from the master of horror will just kill you. This spine-tingling series sparked a licensing phenomenon & made R.L. the #1 author in the U.S.--and it's STILL the "must have" collection for true horror fans. Now a whole new generation will discover the thrill of reading ...and they'll never be the same again.

Give Yourself Goosebumps #8: The Curse of the Creeping Coffin

Goosebumps fans will return to this adventure time and again to choose among the 20 spooky outcomes. When the tombstones behind Grandmother's house move closer and closer, the reader can stay and battle the ghosts or run away--with ghostly company!

Goosebumps HorrorLand #19: The Horror at Chiller House

Take a little Horror home with you!
Jonathan Chiller has called the kids from books #13-18 back to HorrorLand to collect payment. The only way for the kids to get back home is for them to win at a HorrorLand-style scavenger hunt. They each must find a red chest. Inside, the miniature Horror will act as a portal to send them back home.
They'll be competing against Murder the Clown, Chef Belcher, Mondo the Magical, and three other unsavory characters from the previous six books. Little do they know that all six adversaries are actually Chiller in disguise. And Chiller will lie and cheat his way to victory.

Goosebumps Hall of Horrors #4: Why I Quit Zombie School

Welcome to the Hall of Horrors, HorrorLand's Hall of Fame for the truly terrifying.
Matt was never a superstar in school, but he's definitely the most energetic and quick-witted student here. But what's up with the others? His suspicions are finally confirmed when Franny, his new friend asks, "How long have you been dead?" To his horror, Matt realizes his parents have unknowingly enrolled him in a zombie school. When Matt overhears the zombie plans to march and claim the whole city for the undead, he has to make a frightening choice- protect himself and continue his charade-or reveal his aliveness and try to save the unsuspecting alive people in the town.

Goosebumps Series 2000 #13: Return to Horrorland

Lizzy and Luke have returned to HorrorLand with television reporters to show the world the deadly dangers of the park, including such all-new attractions as Torture Mountain, Dungeon of No Return, and Buzzard Beach.

Have you read any Goosebumps lately?

Want to share your thoughts?

Send your comments, reviews, and thoughts to

teensread@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org

to have them published on the site!!

Author's Corner: R.L. Stine

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"My job is to give kids the CREEPS!"

(Source)

While R.L. Stine (Robert Lawrence Stine) didn't grow up in a life of horror and thrills he loved reading the comic books Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror. R.L. Stine's imagination was sparked at the age of 9! The products of such an imagination are some of the most memorable books and series that still live on today.

"When I write, I try to think back to what I was afraid of or what was scary to me, and try to put those feelings into books." (Source)

Before R.L. Stine published his infamous Goosebumps and Fear Street series, he focused on humor in 101 Silly Monster Jokes and was even an editor for Bananas magazine (under the name of Jovial Bob Stine). In 1968 R.L. Stine started add in his scary-side into his writing.

R.L. Stine's first 'scary' novel was Blind Date (Point Horror Series #1) where a blind date turns into a nightmare!!

From there it was downhill to success for R.L. Stine, with no end in sight. Today, R.L. Stine is still creating numerous thrills and scares. His words and imagination have been noticed and awarded by many - Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards and the Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards.

Find R.L. Stine at his WebSite | Scholastic | Twitter | Facebook

Author's Corner Schedule

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Every week a participating YA Author will be highlighted. As each week passes they will be directly linked under the Author's Corner Page. Make sure come back each week to find about more about your favorite authors!

November 27th - December 3rd: R.L. Stine

December 4th-10th: Jewell Parker Rhodes

December 11th-17th: Will Hobbs

December 18th-24th: Jessi Kirby

December 25th-31st: Robin Brande

January 1st-7th: T.A. Barron

January 8th-14th: Amy Fellner Dominy

January 15th-21st: Aprilynne Pike

January 22nd-28th: Cynthia Leitich Smith

January 29th - February 4th: Janni Lee Simner

February 5th-11th: Ellen Hopkins

February 12th-18th: Courtney Rene

February 19th-25th: Adam Rex

February 26th - March 3rd: Joshua C. Cohen

March 4th-8th: James A. Owen

Tucson's Teens Read is Live!

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Welcome to the 1st ever Tucson Festival of Books Teen Blog, completely devoted to Teens, Young Adult Literature, and Teen events as related to the 2012 Tucson Festival of Books, given to you by the Teen Committee.

Goals & Purpose

You might be asking what the purpose of this Blog is? Through this Blog our goal is connect Teens to Authors, their books, important topics, and to share the love of reading with others.

How This Blog Works

Every week an attending Festival YA Author will be highlighted. This means their books, topics and events will be focused on.

Also, every week we will have a "Poet of the Week" where aspiring poets will have the opportunity to have their poetry works published.

More information on both weekly events will be given shortly.

Most importantly, this Blog is a place to share your thoughts, ideas, questions, and passion for books and the written word.

Make sure to come back tomorrow to see a full schedule of what is to come on

Tucson's Teens Read

You can send all questions to the Teen Committee at teensread@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org