New
Books to Cure the Summertime Blues
Win a bag of books
Tips for writers
Never judge a book
by its cover. Good advice? Of course not...
who doesn't do that? We all remember some very
good books that had really terrible covers,
and some fantastic book covers that hid some
poor writing.
I must confess that most of the books I buy
are based on the covers. When I pass the book
rack in the local grocery store and a cover
illustration or title catches my eye, I frequently
buy the book. I do notice when one of my favorite
authors is on the cover and I read the blurbs
by reviewers from the front and back covers.
Sometimes I'm disappointed, but usually not.
I would probably never have picked up The
Great Gatsby, or even Moby
Dick based on the title alone, but
For
Whom the Bell Tolls, Firestarter,
and The
Last of the Mohicans would have made
the cut. It's interesting to think back about
some of the great books I have read and try
to remember why I chose them in the first place.
Summer is in full swing and beach time and
camping are great for being lazy and reading
a great book. Here is a selection of new books
that look just right for exciting summer reading.
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi.
A futuristic story centered in America's Gulf
Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are
being broken down for parts, Nailer, a boy from
an abusive home, works on a crew that scavenges
for copper wiring just to make quota—and
hopefully live to see another day. But when,
by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite
clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane,
Nailer faces the most important decision of
his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth
or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and
wealthy girl. Set in a post-oil, global warming
world, this fast paced adventure for young adults
is a keeper.
Med Head: My Knock-down, Drag-out, Drugged-up
Battle with My Brain by James
Patterson and Hal Friedman
Picking a book by an author that you can trust
to always give you a compelling story works
too. Here is a story by James Patterson and
Hal Friedman that will give you a lot to think
about in a can't-put-down book about a teen
in peril. This deeply personal account of Cory
Friedman's struggles with Tourette's Syndrome
and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as well as
depression, anxiety and alcohol addiction, is
available for teen readers. Med Head: My
Knock-down, Drag-out, Drugged-up Battle with
My Brain isn't light entertainment, but
it's a must-have nonfiction book for teens.
These Boots Are Made for Stalking: The Clique
#12 by Lisi Harrison
If you love series books, you know what to expect
when you grab the next one in your favorite
series. Here is a new one in the Clique series.
THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR STALKING: The Clique
#12 by Lisi Harrison.
THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR STALKING is a smart,
sassy YA novel that is peppered with Lisi Harrison’s
signature references to the latest trends in
fashion, technology and entertainment. She realistically
portrays the age when girls are becoming young
women and their struggles to become self-assured
and comfortable in their own skin. The Pretty
Committee is back. All is forgiven, and Massie
Block is firmly in control of her PC alpha status.
Sensitive, ever-loyal Claire Lyons has kept
secret Massie’s desperate measures to remain
on top. But to what lengths will Massie go in
order to keep Landon Chase's attention and make
him her boyfriend?
Books recommended
for younger children:
Sophie The Awesome by Lara Bergen
Sophie Miller’s life is boring. Average. Blah.
She's not the oldest or the youngest, the tallest
or the shortest. She’s not even the only Sophie
in her third-grade class!
Sophie knows she’s special. And she’s come
up with the perfect name to show it: Sophie
the Awesome! But living up to her new name won’t
be easy—especially if super-annoying Toby
Myers has anything to say about it.
Felix Takes The Stage by Kathryn
Lasky
Bestselling author Kathryn Lasky now has a series
for younger readers!
Felix Takes The Stage is the newest
book in the series. The Deadlies are like any
other family with a loving mother and bright,
rambunctious children. Except they're really,
really poisonous spiders. But they are kind
and cultured. In fact, the Deadlies had been
happily living in a Boston symphony hall until
Felix had a misunderstanding with the maestro.
Now they have to outwit the overzealous arachnologists
and evil exterminators as they hunt for a new
home. Will they ever find a safe place to live
in peace?
Humor and action aplenty as these spiders struggle
for survival along with the clever supporting
cast. Funny dialogue moves the story along,
and Gilpin’s lively black-and-white drawings
provide an animated accompaniment.
Animal Rescue Team: Gator on the Loose!
by Sue Stauffacher
Ages 8-10
Meet the Carters: Mr. and Mrs. Carter, 10-year-old
Keisha, five-year-old Razi, baby Paolo, and
Grandma Alice. Together, they run Carters' Urban
Rescue, the place you call when you have an
animal where it shouldn't be. In their first
adventure, there's a baby alligator at the city
pool, which will seriously interfere with opening
day, especially Keisha's cannonball practice.
So it's up to the whole family to figure out
what to do with the poor guy who has no business
hanging around Michigan. Luckily for all of
them, and thanks to some serious ingenuity from
Keisha, the answer is closer than they ever
could have imagined.
Contest
To enter, send an email to wingoodbooks@aol.com,
put "Contest" in the subject line and your mailing
address in the body of the email. The drawing
will be July 31. The prize will be all ten books
listed below!
Tips
for Writers
So you have your children's book manuscript
ready to sell. Now What? John Bard of Children's
Writer has some great ideas for you in this
new video.
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