I Am Not Joey Pigza

The 4th Joey Pigza book is here!  I am so glad Jack Gantos decided to add another book to the "trilogy".  Now that I'm in Harry Potter withdrawal, it's good to catch up with another old friend who I thought was gone.

Gantos, Jack.
I AM NOT JOEY PIGZA
New York : Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2007
IL 5-8
ISBN 0374399417
He's back.  And his life is about to change dramatically.  Grandma Pigza has died and now Joey is living with his mother.  But Carter is back in the picture.  He's won some money in the lottery and he and Fran are getting remarried.  But in typical non-traditional fashion, Carter has decided that  they need to reinvent themselves and become new people.  Hmm.  Not so easy you say?  Well, not for Charles and Maria Heinz and their son Freddy.  Joey isn't too sure about this.  He really doesn't want to be Freddy.  What's wrong with just being Joey Pigza?  Will he be able to leave the old Joey behind just be changing his name and moving to a new home?

technorati tags:pigza, gantos

Blogged with Flock

Harry Potter mania

I just finished the book.  I am not going to give anything away.

The parties I attended were interesting.  The one at the book store chain did nothing for me.  Most of it was just people waiting in line to get their bracelet to secure a place in line.  Hmmm.  There was a trivia contest but the way it was done left most of the people out.  Just one person giving the questions and those lucky enough to be close to her being called on for the answers.  There was a cart of butterbeer and other goodies being wheeled around and you could buy the items.  Mostly from what I could see, it was just a lot of people dressed up and milling around.  I spent my time there going through the shelves putting my favorite books and authors face out.  I always do that but usually not so many!

I stayed for a couple of hours and then went over to Gibsons, our local independent store.  What a great party was going on!  There was a potions class in one corner.  Ollivander was dispensing wands in another.  Lots of FREE butter beer and cake.  There were tattoos to be had and even a place to take your O.W.L. exams.  A scavenger hunt for the horcruxes was also going on.  I found one but decided to leave it for the younger crowd!  There was lots of sharing and enjoying the moment.  The staff were all decked out as characters from the books and obviously enjoying themselves as well.

We were all given numbers when we got there and my number 70 took 41 minutes to reach the register.  But there was no grumbling going on.  It was just a great time.  Thank you Michael and the staff of Gibson's.

technorati tags:harrypotter, gibsons

Blogged with Flock

Countdown to Harry Potter

Well, tomorrow night is the release of the last HP.  I have been enjoying some of the hype.  I did not go to the pages that were released on the web like some others have.  I will wait.  And speaking of the pages that were released, who knew that your pictures contain the serial number of the camera that took them.  Wonder if that person registered the camera!!

I am mostly enjoying the videos that are being released.  Just viewed Hank Greene's video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvvFiZyEyTA

Also liked the Welcome Back, Potter take off. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB_poq2XDkw

I haven't been to any of the release parties in the past but since this is the last one, it's now or never.  I plan to start out at Border's at 9:00 and then scoot over to my local independent, Gibson's Book Store, when their party starts at 11:00.  I ordered my books through Gibson's.  Then, I guess it's on the hammock in the yard all day Saturday reading.  Tough life, eh? 

technorati tags:hp, gibson's

Blogged with Flock

Dawn's Early Light by Nancy E. Krulik

Summer vacation.  A time for celebration and fun, right?  Well, Sarah has just one last day with her boyfriend Tim and is determined to make the most of it.  Tim has enlisted and will be heading off to basic training tomorrow.  And from there, who knows?  Sarah only knows that this town, her life, will seem very empty after Tim leaves.  But they have today.  What could go wrong today?  Well, you know when you start to think like that, something will go wrong.  Sarah's father gets a phone call that Sarah's Marine brother is missing in the Middle East.  The helicopter he was on has crashed.  Sarah decides not to tell Tim about this and it becomes a very long, very emotional day for Sarah.

technorati tags:krulik

Blogged with Flock

Bhangra Babes by Narinder Dhami

They're back.  Three sisters that you are sure not to forget.  I have put off reading this book because it is the last in the trilogy.  I'll miss them!

The Dhillon sisters are back for the final chapter of their story.  Auntie is still living with them and they are still trying to get her married off.  And it looks like that finally succeeded!  Auntie and Mr. Arora have set the date and will be getting married in just six weeks.  Can life get any better?  Auntie will move out and the girls can go back to their spoiled lifestyle.  But all is not perfect.  Mr. Arora has made Amber promise to befriend Kiran, a new girl in school.  OK, how bad can that be?  Well, pretty bad actually.  And then there's Rocky, the beautiful new boy in school.  Jazz, Amber and Geena make a bet over who will gain his attention.  And, if you know the Dhillon girls, you know that this will not go smoothly.  Even if you haven't read the other books in this series, you are sure to enjoy meeting these funny girls.

technorati tags:bhangrababes

Blogged with Flock

Lessons from a dead girl by Jo Knowles

Leah Greene is dead.  That comes as no surprise to Laine.  She knew it.  She knew it would happen sooner or later.  She still remembers that time when they were in elementary school together and Leah said they would be friends forever.  Leah Greene was popular and everyone wanted to be her friend.  Why would she choose someone like Laine?  Was she really special or was it something else?  Something Laine couldn't understand.  Was it because Laine was easy to control?  Why had Laine let Leah run her life for so many years?  Why hadn't she made her stop sooner?

Candlewick, 2007

technorati tags:knowles

Blogged with Flock

Right behind you by Gail Giles

I've got to tell her.  But how?  This is not something that you can tell everyone and expect things not to change.  I should know.  I don't really understand it myself and I've been living with it for a very long time.  You may not believe it to see me now, but I'm a murderer.  Are you shocked?  Well, it's true.  When I was nine years old, I doused a kid with gasoline and set him on fire.  Sort of takes your breath away doesn't it?  I don't really remember much about what happened after.  All I know is I meant to burn his baseball glove.  I was locked up in a juvenile facility and I've gone through just about every therapy you can imagine.  But it can't change the fact that I killed a kid.  I deserve to be locked up.  Away from society. Locked up so I can never hurt anyone else.  But now my shrink tells me that he is ready to release me!  To the outside.  With a new name and a new chance.  But am I ready?  I don't think I am.  Only time can tell.  But just how does a person start a new life when he has done something so horrible?

technorati tags:Giles, rightbehindyou

Blogged with Flock

Podcasts resume

Between a bout with laryngitis and a week away at American Library Association, I have not been keeping up with the daily podcasts.  Well, I am determined to change that.  The voice is back (such as it is) and the bags are unpacked.  And it is a new month.  The podcasts will begin again today.  I'll finish up the New Hampshire Isinglass award nominees.  Thanks to all of you who wrote telling me you missed them.  That is so nice to hear. 

technorati tags:podcasts, Isinglass

Blogged with Flock