Title: The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin Author: Josh Berk Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers Publication date: February 2010 Hardcover: 248 pages Being a hefty, deaf newcomer almost makes Will Halpin the least…
Title: How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy Author: Crystal Allen Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Balzer + Bray Publication date: February 22, 2011 Hardcover: 288 pages Thirteen-year-old Lamar Washington is the maddest, baddest, most spectacular bowler ever at…
“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free reign so they can go wild…
The FBI wants her cooperation. As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city’s top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there’s only one party the FBI wants…
Title: The Latte Rebellion Author: Sarah Jamila Stevenson Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Flux Publication date: January 2011 Paperback: 336 pages Our philosophy is simple: Promote a latte-colored world! —from the Latte Rebellion Manifesto When high school senior Asha Jamison…
Title: Jazz in Love Author: Neesha Meminger Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Ignite Books (self-published) Publication date: January 10, 2011 Paperback: 260 pages Jasbir, a.k.a. Jazz, has always been a stellar student and an obedient, albeit wise-cracking, daughter. Everything has…
Today we bring you the latest installment in our feature, “What She Said…” in which we both review books that the other has already read and reviewed. The idea arose because of the dilemma that if one of us…
Title: Cosmic Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce Genre: Contemporary (with a bit of Sci Fi since it’s sort of set in SPACE) / Children’s Publisher: Macmillan Publication date: July 2008 (First edition) Paperback: 256 pages Liam has always felt a…
Title: The Lost Gate Author: Orson Scott Card Genre: Fantasy Publisher: Tor Publication Date: January 2011 Hardcover: 384 Pages Danny North knew from early childhood that his family was different, and that he was different from them. While his…
The Feats of Strength are an integral part of our annual Smugglivus Tradition. In the Feats of Strength, we each dare each other to read a book that we know is so far beyond the other’s comfort zone as…
Title: Midsummer Night Author: Freda Warrington Genre: Fantasy, Contemporary Publisher: Tor Publication Date: November 2010 Hardcover: 416 pages A sensuous, suspenseful modern fantasy of love, betrayal, and redemption Decades ago, in a place where the veil between our world…
Title: Five Flavors of Dumb Author: Antony John Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Dial Publication date: November 2010 Hardcover: 352 pages The Challenge: Piper has one month to get the rock band Dumb a paying gig. The Deal: If she…
Welcome to Smugglivus 2010: Day 12 Throughout this month, we will have daily guests – authors, bloggers and publishers alike – looking back at their favorite reads of 2010, and looking forward to events and upcoming books in 2011.…
Title: Please Ignore Vera Dietz Author: A. S. King Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers Publication Date: October 2010 Hardcover: 336 pages Stand alone or series: Stand alone Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love…
Title: Bloodthirsty Author: Flynn Meaney Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Poppy Publication date: October 5 2010 Paperback: 240 pages Stand alone or series: it can be read as a standalone but I think there will be a sequel. Some vampires…
Title: Fly On The Wall Author: E. Lockhart Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher:Delacorte Books for Young Readers/ Corgi Childrens Publication date: First edition: 2006/ 2007,2008. Paperback: 208 pages Stand alone or series: Stand alone At the Manhattan School for Arts,…
Title: Prospero in Hell Author: L. Jagi Lamplighter Genre: Fantasy (Contemporary) Publisher: Tor Publication Date: August 2010 Hardcover: 352 Pages The exciting, suspenseful story of Miranda’s search for Prospero, the fabled sorcerer of The Tempest The search of a…
Title: The Space Between Trees Author: Katie Williams Genre: Contemporary YA/ Mystery Publisher: Chronicle Books Publication Date: Jun 2010 Hardcover: 280 pages Stand alone or series: Stand alone This story was supposed to be about Evie–how she hadn’t made…
Today is National Coming Out Day (NCOD) in the UK (celebrated yesterday in the US). NCOD was established in 1988 as a day to celebrate coming out, to further discussion and increase awareness about GLBT issues. This is just…
Title: Elfland Author: Freda Warrington Genre: Fantasy, Contemporary Publisher: Tor Publication Date: August 2009 Hardcover: 464 Pages Elfland is an intimate, sensual novel of people—both human and Aetherial—caught between duty and desire. It’s a story of families, and of…
Title: Extraordinary Author: Nancy Werlin Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Urban/Contemporary Fantasy Publisher: Dial (Penguin) Publication Date: September 2010 Hardcover: 400 pages Phoebe finds herself drawn to Mallory, the strange and secretive new kid in school, and the two girls…
Title: Ascendant Author: Diana Peterfreund Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy (Urban/Contemporary), Unicorns Publisher: Harper Teen Publication Date: September 2010 Hardcover: 400 pages Now a fully trained unicorn hunter, Astrid Llewelyn is learning that she can’t solve all her problems with…
Title:The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks Author: E. Lockhart Genre: Contemporary / YA Publisher: Hyperion Publication date: March 2008 Hardcover/ Paperback 352 pages Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14: Debate Club.Her father’s “bunny rabbit.” A mildly geeky girl attending a…
To: The Society of Totally Awesome Books Subject: For your consideration – Jaclyn Moriarty’s books ****** Dear Society of Totally Awesome Books, It is with the utmost delight that I write to you today. I have found a new-to-me…
Title: John Belushi is Dead (US)/ Hollywood Ending (AUS) Author: Kathy Charles Genre: YA/ Contemporary Publisher: Text (AUS) / MTV (US) Publication Date: 2009 (AUS) / August 24 2010 (US) Paperback: 320 pages IN THE END WE ALL FADE…