The Winners for the I Heart YA Giveaway are....

   I want to thank all of my followers and all of you who have entered my second giveaway. I'm thrilled to know that there are many of you who also love YA as much as I do. I had a great time reading your reasons for loving YA literature and many of your reasons mirrored my own.
   There were a total of 35 people who entered the I Heart YA Giveaway. I had to eliminate a few entries because they did not follow my blog neither through Network Blogs nor Google, Twitter, or Yahoo. Each person received a set number of points based on the point criteria that I set for the giveaway. Followers could have points from 4 to 10. 10 was the maximum points you could have received. All entries were placed in a bag and was randomly drawn. 

Now, for the winners! Congratulations go out to:

1st place: Danya @ World of Tapestry

2nd place: Lora1967

3rd place: Orchid

4th place: Becca

5th place: Book~Adorer

6th place: BookQuoter

Winners, I will be sending you an email for your mailing address and book of preference. You must reply within 48 hours or else I will draw another winner to take your place. 

Emma Vol. 10

  I hate when a good series comes to an end. It means that I'll have to leave the world and characters that I love. Today I said goodbye to the characters and the world of Emma, the Victorian romance manga series that I started reading last year. Emma was my second manga series and I enjoyed every minute of it. I recently finished its 10th and final volume, which unfortunately made me disappointed.

Description: Volume 10 is another collection of short stories that wraps up of several story lines and some background stories. We see Emma and William spend time together. Adele and Maria's history is explored in a story where we revisit Maria's first days as a maid. Arthur, William's younger brother, has his own story about being a prefect at his school and dealing with a troublesome new student named Ramsey. Eleanor also has a brief story, and then we conclude the next three chapters with the wedding.

Review: As I mentioned earlier, I was disappointed with this volume of Emma. The pacing and placement of the stories are very rushed and fast. It's as if Mori jammed anything and everything she possibly can in this volume, which is a shame because I wanted to see how the plot and characters develop from one volume to the other. As a result, there is a noticeable time gap and lack of character and plot development between volume 7 and volume 10. While I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite characters happy and loved the terrific artwork by the author and illustrator, the lack of manga's usual warmth during the entire book left me on a sad note. The complete plot in this volume feels disjointed and incomplete. I think this volume by far is the series's weakest installment. I wish it would have ended in a better way.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: None.

If you like this book try: The Shirley series by Karou Mori

Readers, the Giveaway ends at 11 pm EST! You only have 4 hours and counting to enter my:

Author Interview: Lise Haines

  One of my favorite things about my job is discovering new authors and having the opportunity to chat with them. One of the authors that I discovered earlier this year is Lise Haines. I asked Lise if she would be interested in doing an author interview with me. She graciously accepted and was willing to answer my questions during her vacation. How cool is that?


  So who is Lise Haines? She is the Writer in Residence at Emerson College. She has been Briggs-Copeland Lecturer at Harvard, and her other teaching credits include UCLA, UCSB, and Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine. She is also the author of three books. Small Acts of Sex and Electricity (Unbridled Books), which is a Book Sense Pick in 2006 and one of ten “Best Book Picks for 2006” by the NPR station in San Diego and In My Sister’s Country, (Penguin/Putnam), a finalist for the 2003 Paterson Fiction Prize. She has even written short stories and essays that have appeared in a number of literary journals and she was a finalist for the PEN Nelson Algren Award. She also wrote her very first young adult book called The Girl in the Arena, which was released in 2009. Talk about a busy lady, huh? I asked Lise about her writing, particularly about her young adult book, and how she liked growing up in Chicago and its suburbs.

 Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through.  Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family.  Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator.  Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine. (Description from Amazon).

Rummanah:  Hi Lise, welcome and thank you for stopping by. I lived in Chicago for many years. Where did you live in the city? Do you miss it?

Lise: Hi Rummanah, thank you for asking me! I grew up in the city and the suburbs. Mostly the north side of Chicago around Old Town and then New Town for the city. The main suburbs were Wilmette and Evanston. I still have family in the area and get back to visit when I can. I see you’re working in Lake Forest. That’s a particularly beautiful area with a pretty famous writers retreat. I had a boyfriend years ago who went to Lake Forest College. 

Rummanah: It's definitely a beautiful area. I didn't know it had a famous writers retreat! Wow, you learn something new everyday. Girl in the Arena and the Hunger Games series share lots of similarities, although they are completely different books. In your opinion, what sets “Girl in the Arena” apart?

Lise: I’m always curious to see what reviewers have to say. One recent review said Girl in the ArenaHunger Games. I guess you could say our unique internal visions or world building set them apart. Collins was working on her book a few months ahead of mine. Neither of us knew what the other was doing. Perhaps this is a good question for readers to decide. I don’t like to spoil things.


Rummanah: I hate spoilers too, which is why I understand you don't want to elaborate any further. So tell me this, why do you think many people like reading dystopian novels?

Lise: All of us have fear, of course. And it’s easy, when world events and resources become highly stressed, to let that fear get out of control. A dystopian novel can focus and contain the fear in a way that a fairytale can address anxiety. If it’s done well, it gives us room to reflect on people and culture in a new way. 

Rummanah: Speaking of seeing things in a new way, Girl in the Arena takes place in the U.S. in the distant future yet it still retains the Ancient Roman culture. How much did research did you have to do for your book?

Lise: You’re right, it does have the feeling of a distant future and I would say that Girl in the Arena is set in an alternative history. Readers will recognize many things from current day. I was fortunate to go to Rome. It felt important to stand in the Coliseum, to try and imagine that world. My time there was short but breathtaking. I did read a few books before I went, to get a clear idea of how gladiators fought. That’s when I learned that there were female gladiators in Ancient Rome. 

Rummanah: I never knew there were female gladiators at all, which is why I was fascinated by your book. What do you want readers to take away from Girl in the Arena?

Lise: A great read more than anything. And a sense of really being in someone else’s head and heart the way we live and breathe with Anne Frank when we read her diaries.

Rummanah: I'm sure they will. All of your books so far focus on women and families in difficult situations. What draws you to these topics?

Lise: I’m drawn to characters. The topics surface as they will. But show me a woman who does not face difficulties in this world. We continue to make less money than men for the same work and the number of single/divorced mothers has grown exponentially. Women are often pressed beyond their limits. And even the most privileged of women often feel they have no voice, the most beautiful often feel they aren’t appreciated for themselves, the most dutiful wouldn’t mind living beyond duty every now and then to have more creative lives. And how many women of power just don’t have time to spend with their kids or make a family at all. Certainly there are women who lead full and happy lives. But many struggle. It’s been less than 100 years since we got the vote in this country. So I’m not surprised that these concerns keep surfacing in my work. 

Rummanah: Very sad, but unfortunately true. Readers usually see all the glorious things about being a writer, but rarely get to see the behind the story. What is the hardest thing about being a writer?

Lise: For me, balancing the three careers of parenting, teaching full-time and writing. Then there are the dishes and sleep. Finding time to sleep is probably the biggest challenge of all. The dishes can wait. 

Rummanah: I can only imagine. I don't know how you do it with that hectic schedule. If you could meet any author, past or present, who would it be and why?

Lise: I’d probably obsess for weeks trying to come up with just one. Maybe Lewis Carroll, though I’d love to meet Jane Austen. For modern writers, who wouldn’t want to have a long talk with J.K. Rowling? 

Rummanah: Very cool choices! Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by, Lise!

Lise: I wish you all good things!! 

Readers, I would like to thank again Lise Haines and her publisher, Bloombury, for contributing a free copy of Girl in the Arena for my I Heart YA Giveaway. 

You only have 1 day to enter and win a free copy of Girl in the Arena in my:

Top 10 Tuesday: Books that Made Me Cry

  Today I'm participating in another Top 10 Tuesday meme over at The Broke and the Bookish. The purpose of the meme is share our top ten lists with other bloggers. The top ten list this week features books that made me cry. As you know, characters in books and movies are real to me. Yes, I've been told that I'm crazy by many people, particularly by those in my family *grins*, but I can't help it. I'm an emotional reader who hates to see my favorite characters either die or go through difficult times. Below is a list of books that made me cry in no particular order:

1.   The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: There were many emotional and powerful scenes of what a mother will do for her child. Also one of the very rare instants where the movie adaptation is just as good as the book.

2.  If I Stay by Gayle Forman: The flashbacks of family memories had me grabing tissue after tissue while I read this slim yet phenomenal, emotionally draining book.

3.  The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson: A childhood favorite that totally caught me off guard.

4. Twilight Saga: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer: Yeah, I know I'm sappy. Although I'm through and through a Team Edward girl, I couldn't stand seeing Jacob's heart break. It still gets me no matter how many times I reread the book.

5. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater: A perfect example where my favorite character suffers. I love Sam, but learning about his past made me emotional. If that wasn't bad enough, there is a scene where he relives his nightmare over again. I had to stop crying for a while in order to pick the book right back up.

6. Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy: The epitome of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I hated both of the male leads and felt so sorry for what this poor girl goes through.

7. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: A phenomenal book about the Holocaust, which is narrated by Death. Even though I knew it was going to be sad, it was still heart breaking to read. I couldn't grab the tissues fast enough as I finished the last few chapters.

8. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr: This one struck an emotional cord with me. Just something about thinking that your best friend is dead and missing until he/she suddenly reappear and is completely changed.

9. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: Poor Leenie.

10. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: A very emotional book right from the start.

There is only 2 Days left in my:

The Red Church

  I hope everyone enjoyed Halloween yesterday. I had originally planned on reading and reviewing Scott Nicholson's debut novel, The Red Church, yesterday but unfortunately life got in the way. So today I bring you the review of The Red Church. As some of you know, Scott Nicholson is a freelance horror writer who approached me and asked if I would review some of his works on this blog. Scott provided me with a copy of The Red Church so I could provide you with an honest review. 

Description (from Scott's website): For 13-year-old Ronnie Day, life is full of problems: Mom and Dad have separated, his brother Tim is a constant pest, Melanie Ward either loves him or hates him, and Jesus Christ won't stay in his heart. Plus he has to walk past the red church every day, where the Bell Monster hides with its wings and claws and livers for eyes. But the biggest problem is that Archer McFall is the new preacher at the church, and Mom wants Ronnie to attend midnight services with her.
     Sheriff Frank Littlefield hates the red church for a different reason. His little brother died in a freak accident at the church twenty years ago, and now Frank is starting to see his brother's ghost. And the ghost keeps demanding, "Free me." Now people are dying in Whispering Pines, and the murders coincide with McFall's return.
     The Days, the Littlefields, and the McFalls are descendants of the original families that settled the rural Appalachian community. Those old families share a secret of betrayal and guilt, and McFall wants his congregation to prove its faith. Because he believes he is the Second Son of God, and that the cleansing of sin must be done in blood.
"Sacrifice is the currency of God," McFall preaches, and unless Frank and Ronnie stop him, everybody pays.

Review:  Wendell McFall was a mad Southern preacher who painted the town church red back during the Civil War, in anticipation of the birth of the Second Son of Christ. He believed the Second Son of Christ would bring death to the world as a gift. In order to initiate the Second Son's calling, Wendell sacrificed a parishioner's child at the altar and was lynched by the townsfolk as his punishment. Ever since his death, the red church has been haunted, both by McFall's ghost and some demonic shadow in the bell tower.
  Fast forward to the present, Wendell's descendant named Archer McFall has come home to resurrect the red church. He, too, is a preacher, with a television following and a lot of money behind him, back from California to restore the church to its former infamous glory. Archer has numerous faithful followers who are still living in town, and even a former mistress or two (women willing to give up their own sons), as Wendell did almost a hundred and fifty years ago. And the local police officers are concerned, because Archer's return to town has brought with it a series of mutilation murders which is caused by something neither animal nor human.
 The premise of the book sounds better than it actually is, but The Red Church is a pretty good read. You can tell Nicholson has put a lot of time and effort in creating the community of the red church. Each family is discussed in detail, which at times deters from the main storyline and slows down the book just a bit. Out of all the characters, I enjoyed reading about the two little boys, Ronnie and Timmy, who I couldn't help but root for them and hoped they were safe until the book ended. As for villains, I haven't come across a character like Archer McFall for quite some time. He is simultaneously charming and sinister. It's easy to see how he drew his followers.
  I did have a few problems with the book. There were quite a few times where the character's actions and the transitions in the book were abrupt and I wasn't always entirely sure what happened. This is particularly what troubled me in the ending of the novel. While the climax was executed quite well, I wasn't sure how everything got resolved. The nature of the red church's supernatural menace is interesting, inconsistent and confusing, however; I think there was just a bit too much time spent debating the nature of Christian beliefs, especially towards the climax and ending of the book which dragged the book longer for me.  Overall The Red Church is a pretty good horror read. It manages to give me a few chills and lots of "Eww" moments even though its plot twists are revealed prematurely.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language in the book and quite a few gory and violent parts. Since the book contains religious themes, it may be suitable for adults only. Conservative Christians may find this book offensive, although the author has no specific agenda when it comes to religion.

If you like this book try: The Harvest by Scott Nicholson

There is only 3 Days left in my:

Welcome back to Camp Half-Blood!

 I absolutely love the Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan. I first read the first book in the series, The Lightening Thief, when it was featured on a the Abe Lincoln list, a reading list that teachers, students, and librarians in Illinois compile. As soon as I read the first page of the book, I knew I was in for a fun ride. I devoured each book and have been recommending it to people nonstop. When I finished the Percy story arc with The Last Olympian, I was bit saddened to leave Camp Half-Blood, a place where demigods learn about their heritage and study. When I heard that Riordan was going to do a spin off series called Heroes of Olympus, I was elated and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the first book, The Lost Hero. I just finished the book and I will say that it exceeded all of my expectations.
  Since the storyline for The Lost Hero is a bit complex, I will let the author describe the book to you:



Review: The Lost Hero picks up right where The Last Olympian left its readers. While the Heroes of Olympus is a spin off series of the Percy Jackson, I highly recommend that readers read the Percy Jackson series first in order to get a proper introduction to Camp Half-Blood and several major characters that are from the prior series. Otherwise readers may feel like they are dropped into a middle of a series and be a bit confused as to what is going on. 
  As the author mentioned in the video above, The Lost Hero introduced three new demigods: Jason, Piper, and Leo. All three characters are thrown in together at a school for troubled kids. During a school field trip at the Grand Canyon, they are attacked by mythical creatures and are whisked away to Camp Half-Blood where their demigod heritage is revealed. While at the camp, the trio learn that the gods of Olympus has been silent and that Percy Jackson has disappeared. If that is not enough unsettling news, the trio also discover they are involved in a new, dark, great, and complex prophecy: Seven half-bloods shall answer the call/To storm or fire the world must fall/An oath to keep with a final breath/and foes bear arms to the Doors of Death. Thus begins a new quest by the trio of newbies to find and free Hera.
  I continually appreciate that Riordan continues to give us both strong female and ethnically diverse characters. Leo is Latino and Piper is half Cherokee. He seems to effortlessly hits the right tone in depicting teenage language, emotions, and behaviors. He is able to make his characters complex by giving them interesting back stories and insecurities. I cared for each of his characters as the details of their lives are revealed in each of their chapters (the story is seamlessly told from each character's perspective without sacrificing pace and tone). With an equal balance of humor, action, and a dash of romance, I was never bored with The Lost Hero. In fact I tried really hard not to read the book so quickly because I knew I would have to wait a long time for the second book to come out.
 What I love about Riordan's books is that he is able to tell a story that is fun, action-packed and simultaneously educational. Since I love Greek mythology, I love the foreshadowing and allusions to some of the famous myths and characters. In The Lost Hero we get Roman mythology as well as Greek, which was the primary focus in the Percy Jackson series. I loved the discussions of the subtle differences in the gods from one culture to the other. The Roman names of the gods really kept me on my toes and I wanted to know more about both.
 As you can tell, I really loved this book and I can not wait until the second book reveals what happens to Percy. It was a blast getting to know these trio newbies as well as meeting old friends at Camp Half-Blood. 

Rating: 5 stars

Curriculum Connection:  English and Social Studies

Words of Caution: There are some scary, fantasy violence that is PG rated. I think this book is appropriate for Grades 4 and up.

If you like this book try: The Son of Neptune (Book 2 of the Heroes of Olympus series, available Fall 2011), The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, Gods of Manhattan by Scott Mebus, The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh

There is only 5 Days left in my:

Where I Live

  Moving can be a significant event in a child's life. I remember when I moved from Chicago to the Chicagoland suburb back in 1996. I lived in the city for 13 years and my life was deeply city rooted. Moving to a suburb was very much like a cultural shock and starting out from scratch. I went from being known in my neighborhood to the 'new' girl who knew practically no one. I could relate to Diana's anxiety and sadness of leaving her home in Eileen Spinelli's novel in verse book entitled Where I Live.

Description: In a series of poems, Diana writes about her life before and after she and her family moves far away to live with her Grandpa Joe. 

Review: Where I Live is a sweet and quick read. The book is told from Diana's perspective in a series of free-verse poems that describe her emotional journey of being forced to move. Diana loves where she lives. She has a house with white shutters, a maple tree she planted in the front yard, and a midnight-blue bedroom that she and her best friend Rose painted. Everything changes when her father loses his job and the family must move across the state to Grandpa Joe's. The move means leaving behind Rose, the maple tree and the poetry workshop she'd competed for a spot in all behind.
  In Spinelli's short poems, Diana's voice is effective and perfectly yet at times too idyllically describes the perfect life of a junior high kid who is too precocious for her age. It was nice to see Diana grow emotionally as she adjusts to her new home, meeting  new friends, and writes poetry to write how she feels, however, I think the adjustments were a bit abrupt. As Diana gains a friend named Sam, her best friend Rose (who I really liked) was dropped out of the picture. I wish we got to see how and if Diana connects with her old friends.
 The drawing by Phelan match the poems in brevity and sensitivity. Children, who may not grasp Diana's emotions can use the drawings as inferences and follow along the story quite well. All in all, a pretty good children's book that portrays a common event in childhood.

Rating: 3 stars


Words of Caution: None. I would recommend this book for grades 1 to 3.


If you like this book try: Love that Dog by Sharon Creech

There is only 6 Days left in my: