Coraline

Coraline
Neil Gaiman

If I'm going to do this, thought Coraline, I'm not going to do it in her clothes.  She changed back into her pajamas and her dressing gown and her slippers, leaving the gray sweater and the black jeans neatly folded up on the bed, the orange boots on the floor by the toy box.

I don't know why I'm just now reading Coraline.  But it was worth the wait.  It's dark and creepy and delious. 

It's that terrible part of the summer, right before school starts.  Coraline is bored and her parents aren't paying much attention to her.  In her boredom, Coraline makes a discovery that will liven things up.

Coraline finds an other world full of parodies of the world she knows.  Dark parodies.  Coraline sets out on an adventure that will seriously impact her world.  If she is successful, things will return to normal. If not, it's the button eyes for Coraline.

I really enjoyed being with Coraline on her adventure.  I love the changes the adventure brought to Coraline's life. Gaiman's writing is dark and creepy.  You are really right there with Coraline.  But, as a writer, I have to say that my favorite part of the book were the 'extra features' at the end.  Gaiman tells about how and why he wrote Coraline.  There are extra drawings and he tells the story of working with the illustrator.  

Recommendation: grade 6 and up
Pages: 162 pages
Rating: Love it!

Sisters Red

SISTERS RED
Jackson Pearce
 

Nothing can help you, Dragonflies.  Say good-bye to the world you knew, welcome tot he mouth of the cave.  I'm sorry I failed you.  I'm so, so sorry. 

Scarlett March is intense.  I mean, the girl is seriously obsessed.  And rightly so.  She and her sister, Rosie were attacked by a Fenris (that's a werewolf to you and me) as young girls.  They lost someone very special to them.  Scarlett gave up part of herself save Rosie.

Scarlett continues to try to save Rosie.  As older sisters are wont to do to, Scarlett is over protective and under estimates Rosie.  I don't think she does it on purpose.  It's just what older sisters do (I guess, I'm the younger sister).  And, as younger sisters are wont to do, Rosie's not sure she wants to be saved or protected.  She's not sure she wants what Scarlett wants. 

And to that drama, add a boy.  Silas is Scarlett's partner (no, I'm not going to tell you in what) but he's falling for Rosie.  Can she fall back?  How will Scarlett react?

SISTERS RED is billed as a fairy tale re-telling.  I think it's more of a 'Where are they now?'  Or the aftermath of the fairy tale.  The story is told in alternating chapters by the sisters.  I love that.  You really get to know the thoughts, feelings and motives of each sister. 

I highly recommend SISTERS RED.  It's a beautifully told tale of sisterly love, first love, revenge and following your heart.  Plus, the cover is so wicked awesome!  It's a work of art.

Recommendation: grades 6 and up
Pages: 324
Rating: Loved it!

You can follow Jackson Pearce on Twitter and on her website.  She does awesome live shows!
Also, a special thanks to Saundra Mitchell.  I won SISTERS RED from her and it arrived very quickly and with a lovely hand written note.  I love it when people write notes.  You can follow Saundra on twitter and on her website.  She also writes awesome books that I'll review soon. 

The Cinderella Society

THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY
Kay Cassidy

In a lot of ways, playing Cinderella is like watching a train wreck in slow motion.  You're terrified of what you might see as it unfolds, but you can't not look.  

Especially when you suspect that you might be the train. 

Jess is like a lot of high school girls.  She blends into the background.  She pines for a hot football player who may or may not know she's alive.  Things should be looking up though.  She made the cheerleading team.  That should help, right?  Wrong.  The extremely cranky, perhaps slightly evil displaced cheerleader Lexy has decided to make Jess pay for 'stealing her spot'.  Jess is a good person.  She's an excellent cheerleader, an awesome volunteer and she wants to do the right thing.  But she lacks a key ingredient, as so many of us do, confidence.

Things begin to change when Jess finds a note in her bag with a little silver high heel pin.  Jess has been invited to join a secret society of popular do-gooders - The Cinderella Society. 

I have been privileged to be part of two 'societies' in my life.  The first was the Stingerettes - my high school drill team.  In Stingerettes, I was always comfortable.  There was some degree of competition but nothing cut throat.  I felt safe there. 

The second is Kappa Delta Sorority.  Kappa Delta took that safe feeling to a whole new level.  I felt loved because of my goofiness, not in spite of it.  I found a group of girls who believed in me more than I believed in myself.  In Kappa Delta I discovered I could be an excellent leader as well as a good follower.  I also found the joy of service. 

THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY reminds me a lot of Kappa Delta.  High school is rough.  The thought of a loving society helping you become the best you could be warmed my heart. 

There are so many other reasons I love THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY.  The intrigue.  The romance.  The need to serve the greater good.  But I really love the make over scenes.  TCS doesn't try to make Jess into who they want her to be. They help her discover her true self, her own sense of style.  I'm thirtysomething and I still struggle with that.  I'd love to have a Cindy make over. 

Recommendation: Girls 6th grade and up (I'm planning a TCS book club for my 8th grade girls in the fall)
Pages: 322
Rating: ALL TIME

I have to say thanks to Myra McEntire, Holly Root and Kay Cassidy!  I won TCS from Myra's blog.  She was interviewing Holly.  And Kay sent a lovely note, bookmarks and a signed bookplate.  Thanks Ladies!

An Awesome New Blog!

Dear Readers,
I am currently up to my eyeballs (as usual).  I wrapped up the school year last week.  I have this week off then summer school starts. My boys are super busy (evidence: Brennan just stole my notebook and pen and wrote all over the couch while I was typing this.  He'll be 2 next week)  I've been working more than usual on my own book.  And, of course, I've been reading.  Oh, and playing on Twitter.  Always with the Twitter.

Well, today on Twitter I found a true gem.  Mitali Perkins (author of the upcoming book BABOON PEOPLE) tweeted about a new blog about Middle Grade books.  From the Mixed Up Files is named after an awesome middle grade novel - FROM THE MIXED UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER by E.L. Konigsburg. 

From the Mixed Up Files is a group blog and website put together by an extensive and fun list of middle grade authors.  The first post and book giveaway went up today. 

I am really excited about this site for a number of reasons.  First and foremost because I'm a huge book geek and a new place to read about books is exciting to me.  Second, middle grade is my first love.  I love teach middle school.  I love reading middle grade.  I'm enjoying writing my own middle grade book.  Third, well, actually all those loves were #3, 4 & 5.  I'm just excited, okay?  Work with me here.

So, what are you waiting for? Get over there and check them out!  You can also follow them on Twitter @MixedUpFiles

I'll be back later this week with my review of THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY by Kay Cassidy. 

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures
Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

 

Isn't this what people do around here?

Yeah, no.  Not people like us.  Not in the middle of a school day.

For once can't we be them? Do we always have to be us?

I like being us.

In the name of full disclosure, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES was the first book that I read on my new Barnes & Noble nook.  I thoroughly enjoy my nook but that's another post perhaps.  The sheer awesomeness of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES added to the joy of the nook exponentially.  Back to the matter at hand.

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES is a love story.  A wonderful, old fashion love story - with a paranormal twist.  Ethan has lived in Gatlin, South Carolina his entire life.  But he doesn't fit in.  Well, actually he does.  He's a very popular basketball player.  Ethan feels different.  He doesn't feel that he fits in.  He's dreaming of getting away.

Lena is new to Gaitlin.  She's beautiful but she does not fit in.  It could be that's she's new.  It could be that she's beautiful.  It could be that she lives with her Uncle Macon, the town recluse.

Gaitlin itself is as much a character in BEAUTIFUL CREATURES as Ethan and Lena.  The town is steeped (or stuck depending on your point of view) in Civil War history.  There are secrets around every corner.  I grew up in a tiny town in Texas and I could relate.  Now I'm wondering what secrets Rockwall holds.  Which, I think, is what a good book should do for you...change your outlook.  

But Ethan and Lena are drawn together.  Their story is sweet and touching and real.  I could picture them together.  Their relationship reminded me of my first love, actually.  (The feelings, not the paranormal bits.)   And, as in all good love stories, forces are working to keep them apart.  It's their quest against those forces that seals the deal. 

I had been looking forward to reading BEAUTIFUL CREATURES since December when it was released.  It did not disappoint. I had a hard time concentrating on other tasks.  I wanted to be reading BEAUTIFUL CREATURES all the time.  I am looking forward to the next book in the series BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS to be released this October. 

Recommendation: 8th grade and up - boys or girls.
Pages:  563 (according to Barnes & Noble.com  - the nook doesn't have the same page numbers)
Rating: ALL TIME!  Right now I'd rank it in my top 3 of the year with THE DARK DIVINE and HEX HALL

More Flip Flops!

I have more flip flops in! Here's a photo of the variety:

Here's what I have:
Cheetah with brown - size 6

Blue Plaid - sizes 7 & 8

Green and White - size 6

Stripes - sizes 8 & 9

Brown Sequins - size 7

Black Sequins - sizes 8 & 9

Cheetah with Pink - Sizes 8 & 9

If you'd like individual pictures of a particular style, send me an email - aimeebartis@gmail.com

They are $20 a pair and I'll ship them to you for free. They are super comfy and super cute!

As always, you can donate directly to my 3-Day account by clicking here. 

I walk because I can and for the millions who can't

Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure

http://www.the3day.org/goto/aimeebartis

Give a FLIP!

(please excuse the cross post but this is SUCH an important topic)

I am so excited to be doing the Breast Cancer 3 Day walk again this year.  I will walk 60 miles over the course of 3 days.  I will also camp out 2 nights (which is the hard part ;).  I participated in the 3 Day last year and raised $2300.  I had an asthma attack and wasn't able to fully participate in the last day.  However I was proud to have raised so much money for an important cause.

I walk with a great group of ladies - The Hot Pink Mommas.  We have a good time.  We met through our boys' sports teams.  We have 14 boys and 2 lonely girls between us.  Thankfully, none of us have been directly touched by breast cancer.  But we walk because it could be one of us.  Or one of our daughters or daughter in laws (ya know, way in the future)

This year I am committed to raising $2300 and completing all 60 miles!  To help raise money, I am selling super CUTE and super COMFY flip flops.  The first part of my order arrived yesterday!  Here are the four great styles that arrived:

Here they are individually:

They are $20 a pair and I'll ship them to you for FREE (if you're not local :) Comment below or email me at aimeebartis (at) gmail.com to order
Silver sequins sizes 8 & 9
Blue sequins size 8
Blue plaid size 7
Brown sequins sizes 7, 8, 9 & 10

I'll post more pictures and sizes when the rest of the order arrives.

If you would like to learn more about the 3 Day, join the Hot Pink Mommas or donate directly to my fundraising account, visit my website.