In My Mailbox (23)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

I am excited about several reads I've added to my mound. As a matter of fact, right now my mound is so overwhelming that I'm not too sure if I'll be able to read all of them...summer break, where are you?!

Purchased from Used Bookstore:

• Carrie (King) - this copy is from 1974! The author photo of King is priceless
• Wench (Perkins-Valdez) - so anxious to read this
• The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (Howe) - have an ARC and wanted to add a finished copy to my library

Purchased from B&N:

• Just Grace and the Terrible TuTu (Harper) - I love this children's series
• Cupcake Diaries: Emma All Stirred Up (Simon) - book 7; keep them coming
• Falling In (Dowell) - a little iffy about this one, but it looks cute
• Summer of the Gypsy Moths (Packer) - love the Clementine books and decided to give this a try
• Cinder (Meyer) - our latest pick for the YA Teacher Reader bookclub
• Insurgent (Roth) - do I really need to tell you why I bought this (awesomeness on paper)

Well, that's it for this week. Do you have any books you recommend for me to add to my mound of reads?

Happy Reading! 

In My Mailbox (22)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

Wow! I have not done an IMM post since February 12th! I know I have purchased a lot of books since then, but since I stopped keeping up, I will just start anew now.

This week my mailbox includes not only tween and YA reads but also two adult reads that I am anxious to dig into since I love both writers.


Arrived from Amazon:

Alice the Brave , Alice in Lace, Outrageously Alice 

I love the Alice books, and while I read reviews that say by this stage her character has grown stagnant, I think tween readers will eat her up. My goal is to read all of them before the end of this year. Maybe I should make a ALICE CHALLENGE badge for myself. Either way, I'm almost through Alice the Brave and again, I just love her!

Downloaded from Audible

LOVE a great audiobook. I usually get them from the library and listen in the car, but Audible allows me to have them on my iPhone as well, so I listen while I walk/run/walk the dogs.

Purchased from B&N or Costco:

While I enjoy abusing my husband's discount at B&N, I've discovered that Costco has even better deals on their novels. You know what's even better? They've begun to have quite a few awesome YA titles as well.

Renegade Magic (S. Burgis) - looking forward to this sequel

Take a Bow (E. Eulberg) - absolutely love Eulberg's style, and I've already read this; can't wait to write the review

The Dovekeepers (A. Hoffman) - one of my favorite adult contemporary writers

The House of Velvet and Glass (K. Howe)  - cannot wait to dive into this; enjoyed her debut novel

Well, that's it! My first IMM post since February. I will try to be more diligent, especially since the school year is finally winding down, so I will have more time to dig into my mound of reads.


Happy reading to all!

In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

Hope everyone is staying warm on this chilly Sunday morning! I am quite excited about the books I've added to my mound of reads. Finding new reads and getting my hands on reads I've been waiting for makes me soooo happy!

Purchased from B&N:

The Hunger Games: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion - I have already read this, loved this, and am now even more ready for the movie. There are no spoilers, just a lot of interesting "behind the scenes" notes and great pictures. I'm still not sold on Hutcherson as Peeta, but Collins says he is the right fit, so I will trust her author instinct.

The Rivals (Daisy Whitney) - I've been waiting for this to come out ever since reading The Mockingbirds. I will say that I do NOT like this cover. It is not working for me at all, and now it does not match the first book, which is a peeve of mine.

Tempest (Julie Cross) - I love the cover, even though I've read that it does not fit the novel. On that note, very few covers actually do, but I think I am going to enjoy the storyline.

Born Wicked (Jessica Spotswood) - I saw this as I was heading to the register. The cover attracted me first, and I am a sucker for a witchy read, especially a series. I immediately checked out the feedback on Goodreads and was satisfied enough to add it to my pile.

Checked out from the library:

Enter Three Witches (Cooney) - This year I am teaching senior English, including Macbeth. I love finding YA novels dealing with Shakespeare from different points of view. It allows me a fresh look at the play, and a bit of insight as I teach it.

The Future of Us audio (Asher & Mackler) - Love both of these authors and am excited to find this as an audio. I've been doing Audible, which is fine, but I prefer having CDs to play in my car as I drive all over town.

Subway Girl (Converse) - The cover attracted me to this novel. It reminded me a bit of Love & Leftovers, so I hope I enjoy it as much as I enjoyed that novel.

Well, that's it for this week's IMM. Have you read any of the above? Any books you think I should add to my list of reads?

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

Happy Sunday all - I cannot wait to see what great reading finds you have discovered this week. For me, I have two new reads and a finished copy of one of my favorite reads from last year.


From B&N:

Partials ARC (Dan Wells) - one of my husband's employees received this and wanted to pass it along to me. She said it was one of the best books she has read since The Hunger Games. That is a tall order, so I am excited to read and review it.


The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) - of course this is going to be an amazing read, it's Green after all! But I have heard people say this novel brought them to tears, and this is from people I did not realize could cry. I am definitely going to keep a box of tissues handy when I tackle this one. 

Ditched: A Love Story (Robin Mellom) - I read and reviewed this novel last year. It is one of my favorite reads of 2011. I am a huge John Hughes fan, so this novel speaks to me. It is the pick for February's SHS YA Teacher Readers book club, so I am excited to re-read this and see what the other teachers think.

That's it for my mailbox this week. Have you read any of these novels? Thoughts? Any suggestions you have for me?

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

This week's mailbox is a small one, but I am excited nevertheless. Both books have received quite a bit of buzz on blogs and on Twitter, so I hope they live up to it.

Purchased from B&N:

Fracture by Megan Miranda - the book trailer alone gave me chills, so I am looking forward to adding to to my "mound" of reads 

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - the cover alone drew me in, but I've read several blog posts and tweets of excitement, so I am going to add this to the top of my "mound"

So, that's it for this week. What was in your mailbox? Have you read either of these? Do you have a reading suggestion for me? Comment below.

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (18)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

This is my first post of the new year, and I realize it has been a while since I've done one. Oh life, why do you have to get in my way? 

Purchased from B&N:

Cupcakes Diaries: Emma on thin icing (book 3)

Cupcake Diaries: Alexis and the perfect icing (book 4)

Cupcake Diaries: Katie, batter up! (book 5)

This series is by Coco Simon. If you've not read them yet, you really should. They are all about friendship and staying true to oneself while growing up. They are perfect for your ten-year-old nervous about middle school

 

The Zombie Chasers: Sludgment Day by John Kloepfer

If you have not yet discovered this series, you should! It is perfect for that reluctant fourth grader in your life. The plot points are adorable and the illustrations are fun. Solidifies my position as TEAM ZOMBIE!

Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

When I saw Lauren Myracle had a blurb on the cover, I knew I had to read it. If it's good enough for Myracle, it will be good enough for me! Plus, it is written in lyrical form, which I love.

Witch & Wizard: The Gift by James Patterson

I'm not a big fan of Patterson's writing, but I have read the first book. Now that this is in paperback, I decided to add it to my mound of reads. I just hope it's better than the first one, which was an okay read.

   
The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix 

This seems like it will be an interesting read. I hope this lives up to my expectation.

Those are the new reads I've added to my mound in the last week. What's in your mound? Have you read any of the above? Do you have other suggestions for me?

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

The next two weeks is going to find me with a small mailbox because the number one gift I receive for Christmas is either books or gift cards to B&N; therefore, I try not to buy as many books so the hubby will have something to put under the tree for me.

This week's mailbox includes two reads I'm excited to dive into during the holiday break - only 9 more days of school, but who's counting.


Purchased from B&N:

WinterTown by Stephen Emond: This has been in a lot of mailboxes recently, and I've read a lot of positive reviews.

Legend by Marie Lu: I love a great dystopian tale, and from reviews, this seems like it will NOT disappoint!

  

That's what is my in mailbox for this week - what's in yours? Have you read either of these two, or do you have suggestions for other reads?

Happy Reading! 

In My Mailbox (16)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

It's been a while since I've done an IMM post, but I have been busy doing everything but reading and book shopping. I know, I know...what else is there? But I've had to step away to take care of business, but I am back and ready to share with you a few of my recent finds.

Purchased from B&N and Amazon: 

I am quite excited about the following novels. I've read great things about them, and I'm looking forward to tackling them during my Christmas break. 

Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact by A.J. Hartley

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen

Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough  

Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer by Fred Kaplan

ARC Swap with Sarah at YA Love Blog: 

I love the idea of swapping books with fellow bloggers. This was my first time, and I will definitely work with Sarah again.

Glow  by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Received for Review:

I've decided to step out of my comfort zone a bit and review books I would not usually read. One of the authors, Larry, is from the same city I live, so I thought I would give a local author a chance. Stay tuned to see how it turns out...

The New Phenomenon by Chris Raabe

Darwin's Children (1 and 2) by Natasha Larry

That's what is in my mailbox, what's in yours? Have you read any of the above novels or have suggestions for me?

Happy Reading!

 

In My Mailbox (15)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  This is a great way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

My mailbox this week is quite small. I have been busy grading, so I have had little time to read and book shop. It is the price I pay for taking a week to relax during fall break, but it was worth it! 

Purchased from B&N

Beautiful Creatures 

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Purchased for my classroom library

How to Rock Braces and Glasses

Meg Haston

It had me at the title!

Cupcake Diaries: Alexis and the Perfect Recipe

Coco Simon 

This is such a cute series!

Won from Goodreads

Drama: An Actor's Education

 John Lithgow 

   

That's what is in my mailbox - what's in yours? Have you read any of the above?

Happy reading!

 

In My Mailbox (14)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  It is a way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

 

This week's load is quite large because I spent a bit of money on my classroom library. Most of them are books I have previously read and have waited for them to come into paperback.

 

I'm excited for the new reads I have added for myself. I have already read a couple of them (I love fall break) and cannot wait to dive into the others.

Purchased from B&N

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

 I've already read and loved it 

 

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

I fell in love with the cover and with the plot idea

 

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

It's Maureen; do I need to say more?

 

 

Received as an ARC

 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

LOVE the cover on this one; I have already read and reviewed it

 

Received from The Compulsive Reader

 

Emily the Strange: Piece of Mind by Jessica Gruner, etc.

Black Boy White School by Brian F. Walker

 

 

Purchased for my classroom

 

Life As We Knew It, The Dead & Gone, and This World We Live In by Susan B. Pfeffer

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Traitor to the Nation by M.T. Anderson 

The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Matched by Ally Condie
Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Beastly by Alex Flinn
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Tyrell by Coe Booth
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Heist Society by Ally Carter
Jane by April Lindner

 

Any thoughts on the books above? Happy reading to all!

In My Mailbox (13)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  It is a way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

This week two of my books are repeats because I received them as ARCs.  

Won from Nayu's Reading Corner - thanks Jessica:

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - excited to read this one. It has been getting a lot of positive buzz on other blogs.

Purchased from B&N:

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick - I love Nora and Patch and cannot wait to see where the author takes us. I've read nothing but positive reviews on this book, but of course I have because the series is awesomesauce!

Received as an ARC: 

Wildwood by Colin Meloy - I purchased an autographed copy at the Decatur Book Festival, but then I received an ARC. Look for a giveaway on this soon.

Eve by Anna Carey - I downloaded this from Netgalley and was in the middle of reading it when I received the ARC. So, I put down the digital copy and went for the printed one.

  That's what's in my mailbox this week - what's in yours? Have you read any of the above?

Happy reading to you all!

Note: The two ARCs I received were from the local B&N store where my husband is an employee.

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  It is a way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

This week it became clear that I should not be allowed near my son's book fair.

From Scholastic Book Fair 

School of Fear: Class is Not Dismissed by Gitty Daneshvari - I read the first one and thought it was okay, but I was not too sure about the sequel; however, when I saw it in paperback at the fair, I decided to give it a try. 

Guys Read Funny Business by Jon Scieszka - do I need to say more? 

Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger - I have been waiting for this book fair so I could pick this up in paperback. LOVED the first one.  

This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel - Have not seen a lot about this book, but with the arrival of fall I am always in the mood for a creepy reads. This seemed to fit the bill. 

The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared by Alice Ozma - I love books. My hubby loves books. Naturally, my son loves books. Hoping to read and enjoy this, making a connection to my own family's love of reading.

That's it for this week's mailbox - what's in yours? Have you read any of the above? Thoughts?

I'm always on the look out for great audios and great witchy reads. Let me know if you have suggestions.

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  It is a way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

I'm back - finally! After two whirlwind weeks, I've finally had a chance to do an IMM post.

This week I have a pretty big haul. Between attending the Decatur Book Festival and my trip to Barnes & Noble, my "to be read" pile has grown quite a bit. BUT, there's no such thing as too many books, right?

From Decatur Book Festival

Quite excited to add these three novels to my pile of books to read. The Unwanteds and Wildwood are signed.

From B&N

I love this time of year because I find the most interesting novels. Since I collect "witchy tales," I usually find great reads to add each year.

When I saw Glow, I knew I needed to add it to my pile of reads. There is quite a bit of buzz surrounding this book, so I hope it lives up to it for me.

I wish I would have bought Anna and the French Kiss at the festival since Perkins was there signing, but hearing her speak did encourage me to want to read it.

 
From the library

While looking for my next audio, I stumbled across Wonderland by Tommy Kovac, a graphic novel of the famous tale. The illustrations are amazing, so I cannot wait to dive into it.

I've never read Beastly but almost have meant to add it, so I grabbed it the moment I saw it as an audio. I hope I love it as much as many of my students have.

And that's it for this week's finds. Have you read any of these? Do you have witchy suggestions for me?

Happy reading!

In My Mailbox (11)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  It is a way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

This week's haul was quite light until yesterday. I made a visit to my local used bookstore and hit a YA jackpot for my classroom library. I am quite excited about my finds there because (1) they are all hardback and (2) I did not pay more than $4 PER book (squee).

From the library:

Forgotten by Cat Patrick (audio) - I love a great YA audio book. I hope the reader does not disappoint.

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard - I waited for several weeks for this to come in at the library. I saw her interview and cannot wait to read her book.

Entwined by Heather Dixon (audio) - I have the book, but I am now so bogged down with grading that I don't have as much free time to read, so I decided to give the audio a try. I'm listening to it right now and am really enjoying it.

From Booklegger:

I am excited about these finds. Once again, found them all in hardback for $4 or less. I cannot wait to add them to my classroom library. We are two weeks in and already my kids are looking for fresh reads.

Sovay by Celia Rees

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eleventh Grade Burns by Heather Brewer

Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

From NetGalley:

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe - I actually received this two weeks ago but forgot to add it to my IMM list. Can't wait to read it; sounds like an interesting dystopian novel.

That's what I've got in my mailbox this week - what's in yours? Have you read any of these novels? Do you have any other recommendations?

Happy Reading!

And be sure to return next weekend. I am attending the Decatur Book Festival, so there is no telling what I will have for the IMM post. Anyone else going next weekend?

In My Mailbox (10)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  It is a way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

I have survived the first week of school, but my reading has suffered badly. Since my reading has suffered, so has looking for new, great reads. My husband says, "You already have too much to read already." I've tried to explain to him that there is no such thing as too much to read, but alas, here is what I was able to get my hands on this week.

 Won from JD Nichols Writes: 

My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff - I was so excited to win this. It's my first win on Twitter, and I have been working hard. I have several students that I know would love this book, so I am excited to gave a chance to share it with them.

Received in the mail:

Signed bookmarks from Lisa Schroeder - Lisa was very generous with the signed bookmarks. I have a YA book club for teachers in my school as well as lots of Schroeder readers, so I wanted to surprise them with their first piece of book "swag". I am excited to hand these out at our first book club meeting in September. Oops, I hope I didn't just ruin the surprise.


     
Purchased from B&N: 

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay - after speaking with my favorite B&N bookseller about this book, I decided I had to give it a try. Romeo & Juliet is taught to our freshmen, but I am always looking for Shakespearean retellings to help students connect with what they have been taught. I can't wait to dive into this and then share it with my students. 

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by C. M. Valente - I have had my eye on this novel for a while. Last school year I was hoping to find a librarian job, so I handed over my Mythology class to someone I thought would do a great job with it. This book would have been perfect to advertise to that class, but I love stories such as this anyway, so I can't wait to give it a try. A big bonus is the blurb on the cover by Gaiman (swoon). That had me sold on the novel as well.

An exciting one in my mailbox! Have you read any of the above? Any suggestions as to what I should add next?

That's it for my IMM - what's in yours? Comment and leave me a link. 

Happy reading everyone!

In My Mailbox (9)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme sponsored by The Story Siren.  It is a way for bloggers to network and share what books they are reviewing, borrowing, and/or buying.

This past week I have been busy with workshops, preparing my classroom, and open house. It is now officially the start of the school year, and I will welcome students back into my classroom tomorrow (yikes). Where did the summer go? 

While I didn't have a lot of time to read, I was able to get my hands on four great books. Here they are!

Won

This week I am a winner - yes, you read that correctly. I never win, so when I learned that I was one of twenty people Barry Lyga picked from the "Be A Superhero" Archvillain contest, I was ecstatic! I love Lyga and I love that he thought my superhero costume was awesome. So what did I win? A signed copy of Archvillain, which I've been dying to read.



From B&N

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz - First I noticed that this novel was on quite a few IMM posts over the last few weeks, so I was anxious to find it in the book store. Then I saw that Rachel Hawkins had a blurb on the cover. Since I love Rachel and so many seemed to enjoy it, I thought I would give it a shot. And now it is in my ever-growing "to be read" pile.

Between by Jessica Warman - The cover drew me to this novel as well as seeing it on a few IMM posts last weekend. After reading the first chapter I was hooked. Cannot wait to really get into this one.

The Lady if the Rivers by Philippa Gregory (advanced reader) - My husband works for B&N, and every now and again they get ARCs. If he sees one he thinks I will enjoy, he grabs it for me. I love that man! I cannot wait to read Gregory's latest. While her writing can be dense, I learn so many interesting tidbits to bring into my classroom.

That's it for this week. Have you read any of the above books? Care to share what you thought? Comment and leave your link. I love seeing what others have received mainly because it helps my own reading list. It also gives me suggestions to make to my high school juniors and seniors.


Happy reading everyone!