'Middle Ground' Blog Tour: Character Interview + Giveaway Winner Announced

I am so excited to be a part of the Middle Ground blog tour sponsored by The Readiacs for Katie Kacvinsky.  

 For those of you who are unfamiliar with this series, let me summarize it for you: imagine a world where we lived behind screens; we could be anyone at anytime and never worry - except none of it is real; school is not real; human communication is limited to a screen. Does this sound like many of us today? That's why I love this series - Kacvinsky really brings us into a world that eerily mirrors the one we are currently living. If we don't change now, her novels show us what will happen. 

Unlike many dystopian novels, there are echoes of ourselves between the pages of Awaken, the first novel in the series, and in the sequel Middle Ground, we experience what will happen to the youth, the "future", if we do not stop and awaken to what is around us now.

Intrigued?   

Today to bring the blog tour to an end, I am hosting Clare, a key character as well as dear friend to our series' heroine, Maddie. I also announce the giveaway winner!

Enjoy! 

Welcome to Book ‘Em! Clare. I am pleased to host you today and give you a chance to tell your story.

  1. Tell me about your friendship with Maddie. What makes the two of you mesh? 

We’re really different. Maddie is unpredictable, and she questions everything.  She’s like a loose cannon and I love that about her. I think she’s so inspiring. I’m more consistent and upbeat, so I think we complement each other.

  2. What really happened at Club Nino?

Oh, man, that whole night was a MISTAKE. I never should have taken Maddie to that club, it’s as bad as trying to take Justin to a virtual hangout. I should have figured there would be trouble.

  3. What do you remember about the last time you saw Maddie before she was sent to LADC?

I remember how relaxed she looked next to Justin--after she barely escaped from getting arrested (again). Sometimes I worry about her. She’s braver than she thinks and it gets her into trouble.

  4. What went through your mind the first time you saw Maddie in the tunnel after the lock up?

I thought she was dying. Seriously. And the worst part, for me, was that I couldn’t even get close to her.  She was afraid of all of us, and we’re her best friends.

  5. Why is this fight against Digital School so important?

Because whenever a system goes too far to one extreme, it gets too controlling. My mom wanted to home school me and my brother, but DS wouldn’t allow it. It’s illegal not to be enrolled. I think people need to have choices.

  6. Do you support Maddie’s relationship with Justin?

At first I didn’t. I honestly didn’t think it would go anywhere. And Justin only encourages Maddie’s ultra-rebellious streak. But, so much has happened the last few months, now I can’t imagine either of them with anyone else. They’re perfect together.

  7. What do you think about Maddie and Pat instead?

Justin’s cousin? Noooo. Maddie runs from people that try to hold her back, or tell her what to do. Pat’s a good friend, but he’ll never inspire Maddie and I think that’s what she’s looking for. She wants to be fired up by people, not anchored down. Justin definitely fires her up.

  8. What is the best part about living in LA? Worst?

L.A. wasn’t my favorite place, mostly because I spent all my time there trying to get Maddie out of the DC, and worrying about her. When I went to my brother’s shows, I would feel guilty for having fun because I’d imagine what Maddie was going through.  But…I have to admit, after living in rainy Oregon forever, all the sun and sandy beaches were amazing. I actually got a tan. :-)

  9. What message would you send to the youth of 2012 regarding how to change the future to keep tragedies that brought about digital school?

That’s a great question.  I’d love to know the secret on how to avoid tragedy.  I think you need to be compassionate with people.  And also be aware.  If you suspect something, if you think someone is struggling, reach out to help them.  Or tell someone—tell a teacher or a parent or a friend.  The worst thing you can do is nothing.

10. Favorite pizza topping?

In Eden, Justin’s parents grow tomatoes and zucchini and artichokes in their garden. We chop all of those vegetables up and put them on pizza. HEAVEN.  

And now it's time for the giveaway--and the winner is...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All giveaway entries across the blog tour will be entered to win a grand prize: One (1) signed copy of Middle Ground and Maddie's Journal (US only).  Seriously guys, this is awesome. I will contain my jealousy - GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

FYI: This is a continuation of the giveaway from the Oct. 19th post.

Happy Reading! 
 
 

'Middle Ground' Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

I am so excited to be a part of the Middle Ground blog tour sponsored by The Readiacs for Katie Kacvinsky. 

Today I am hosting a review as well as a giveaway, so be sure to scroll down and enter for your chance to win awesome prizes. 

gorgeous cover!

Title and author: Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky 
Pages: 321 
Date: November 20, 2012 
ISBN: 9780547863368 
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin 
Source: Publisher

Summary (from book jacket):

For four weeks Maddie has been living in Los Angeles, trying to be good. But no matter how hard she tries, something inside her won’t be sated. She can’t live a life of half-truths and false pretenses. So one night, she says how she really feels.

That’s all it takes. One night, one bad decision, and Maddie is thrown into the place she fears the most: a detention center where she’s forced to undergo secretive treatment meant to quell her rebellious streak. The powers that be call it rehabilitation. Maddie calls it torture.

Alone, Maddie will not survive. But if she can find something to hold on to—an image of Justin, their love—maybe she can fight. And if she’s really lucky, maybe she’ll even win.

My Thoughts:

When I read Awaken last summer, I was in love with a world that is not unlike our own right now. The only difference is that society has not completely fled behind screens—but we are choosing self-isolation.

In this sequel Kacvinsky really brings it full circle. Readers will follow Maddie in her turmoil as she experiences what is really happening in the detention center, and how she fights for her survival. After all, no one who goes in comes out the same.

The one element of the novel I loved was the deeper evolution of Maddie’s character. In the first novel I felt as if she was not as developed as she could be, and I convinced myself that the author was holding back for a purpose—that purpose is revealed in this novel. In Awaken we are given a snapshot into Maddie’s home life, school life, and social life (or lack thereof). In this sequel we see her true transformation from a teen behind a screen to a teen fighting to stay a part of life and all it encompasses.

What struck me most about this novel is the pacing. The pacing for this one was a lot faster than the previous. In Awaken it took many chapters to finally get my heart beating and pages begging to be turned. For Middle Ground, it took no time at all. I wanted to know what would happen next in that detention center, but mostly I was craving Justin. His absence in this sequel was felt by me because as a reader, I am convinced that if Justin is on the page with Maddie, all will be well with her. His absence made me question it—much like Maddie—and made me see her true independence, the fact that she could and would survive on her own. But why should she when she has Justin? Because that is life—sometimes going it alone is the better option.

I will say this about the detention center: WOW! I mean really, truly, WOW! I was not prepared for all Maddie experienced. Many times during the novel I felt as if I was there with Maddie, trying to fight through the therapy, the nightmares, the depression. And that is all I am going to say about the detention center, because I am afraid I will ruin important plot points.

This sequel has it all: romantic love,  true friendship, absentee parents, tattle-tale brothers, detention centers...does it need anything more?

As far as sequels go, this one really worked. I will say this: re-read the final two chapters of Awaken before picking up Middle Ground just to refresh your memory of where Kacvinsky left us.

And now it is time for a giveaway—and who doesn’t love a good giveaway? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
All giveaway entries across the blog tour will be entered to win a grand prize: One (1) signed copy of Middle Ground and Maddie's Journal (US only).  Seriously guys, this is awesome. I will contain my jealousy - GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

FYI: This is a continuation of the giveaway from the Oct. 19th post.

Happy Reading! 
 

Middle Ground Blog Tour: Interview with Mrs. Freeman + Giveaway

I am so excited to be a part of this blog tour for Middle Ground on behalf of The Readiacs and Katie Kacvinsky!  

For those that are not familiar with Kacvinsky's work, you need to be ASAP. 

Awaken was published last year, and next month its sequel, Middle Ground, will hit the shelves.

Middle Ground Summary (from Goodreads):

In this provocative cautionary tale for teens, the sequel to Awaken, seventeen-year-old Maddie’s rebellion against the digital-only life grows dangerous. Maddie is in Los Angeles, trying to stay out of trouble. But one night, a seemingly small act of defiance lands her in the place she fears the most: a detention center. Here, patients are reprogrammed to accept a digital existence. Maddie is now fighting for her mind, her soul, and her very life. Once again, Katie Kacvinsky paints a disturbing picture of our increasingly technology-based society.

On the blog today:

My interview with Maddie's mother, Mrs. Freeman. 

Welcome to Book 'Em! Mrs. Freeman. I know how busy you are and I appreciate your time.

1.  How did your school experience differ from that of Maddie’s experience with Digital School? 
    
Schools were becoming more dangerous when I was a teenager. They were overcrowded (about sixty or seventy kids in a classroom) and understaffed. I thought Digital School would be a good idea because there would be less distractions so kids could learn easier, and more resources available to them. 

2. How was Maddie as a child?

She was sweet and well behaved.  Her drama years didn’t hit until high school.

3. How was your own childhood different from Maddie’s?

It was drastically different. We didn’t have wallscreens in our rooms, and we played outside most of the time. We only went to school four days out of the week, so we had a lot of time to hang out with friends.

4. With the resistance, are you finding more and more difficult to support your husband in his efforts to hold on to Digital School?

I support my husband and I respect what he’s trying to do.

5.  What are your feelings on Maddie and Justin’s “relationship”?

*Sigh* I think it’s inevitable.  I doubt any mother wishes her daughter to date a rebel leader. I understand why Maddie cares about him, but if he could tone down his lifestyle a little bit, I’d be happy.

6.  Do you support your son’s decision to turn Maddie over to the LADC?

Joe is like his father.  He thinks logically.  He was trying to do what was right—he was trying to help Maddie. I don’t support what he did, but I also don’t blame him.

7.  How difficult do you find it to keep on a brave face knowing your daughter is in a DC?

I was worried sick every single day. My husband kept reminding me that the DC’s were safe, but I reminded him he had never actually visited one. I was the one that pushed him to go to the LADC.

8.  Do you support Maddie’s fight for humans need to step from behind the screen and have more human-to-human interaction?

I understand Maddie’s side.  I raised her to spend time off-line and socialize face-to-face.  I just didn’t expect her to take it to this extreme. 

The one thing that strikes me about Mrs. Freeman is that she seems to have a larger role behind the scenes, we just have not been exposed to it just yet. She is complacent in her home, but when it comes to Maddie, well...that's a bit of a different matter. Her answers above really give a feel for her - she wants to do what is right by both her husband and her daughter Maddie, but it seems as if there is no resolution. At least, not yet.

And now it is giveaway time - woot! Who doesn't love a giveaway?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All giveaway entries across the blog tour will be entered to win a grand prize: One (1) signed copy of Middle Ground and Maddie's Journal (US only).  Seriously guys, this is awesome. I will contain my jealousy - GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

And check back next week when I review Middle Ground. Can I include a "squee" in here because I loved it?!

Happy Reading!