Snow Like Ashes

Okay, so I just finished Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch. 

There is just one thing to say about this book ... I wish I would have read it earlier.  It's amazing!  I have been holding out for a good book that I just can't seem to put down and, well, this is it. 

Our hero is 16 year old Meira, one of the few surviving Winterians.  16 years ago, Spring massacred the Kingdom of Winter, destroying their magic and killing their Queen.  A handful was able to escape the evil clutches of Spring and now those 8 survivors are the only hope the Winterians have.  The orphan Meira has trained her whole life to be a warrior and to protect her best friend and Winters future King, Mather (Love interest #1).  With blond hair, blue eyes and a body to kill for, you can't help but love him right from the start. 

Later in the book we meet Love Interest #2.  The Prince of Cordell Theron (my personal  favorite, yup that's right.  As of book 1 I'm team Theron.)  I could go on and on about why I feel this way but I guess you will just have to read it for yourself and find out why he is so amazing.   lol

After Theron's dad, the King of Cordell turns out to be a real jerk, the fighting begins.  A war is fought and Meria is taken prisoner.  Thrown into the work camps with the rest of the Winterians, Meira sees what they have gone through for the past 16 years and it's heart breaking. 

This is where I must stop because I don't want to give spoilers.  You just need to read the book!  I will say, there is more fighting, kissing and (of course) hot boys ... so run don't walk to the nearest book store and buy this book today!  Or sit on Santa's lap and ask him for it ASAP.

But hold on ... there is a giveaway as well to go with this book! 

The picture is to come but here is a hint ... I asked Sara Raasch what her favorite quote was from Snow Like Ashes and the prize has something to do with that.

Good Luck!

To add to your Goodreads list go to Goodreads

To buy, go to Amazon.ca
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Books Coming out In December!!

It's the start of a new month!  In fact, it's the last month of 2014!  What a great way to finish off the year.  So many amazing books are coming out this month it shouldn't be hard to find a gift for that reader in your life.  I know what books I'm excited for ... what about you?  What are you looking forward to reading to finish off 2014?

Keep reading to find out more about the books coming out this month.

Heartlines Cover Reveal!

Today we have the cover reveal for S. G. Holster’s HEARTLINES. I’m so thrilled to be bringing this gorgeous cover to you!!   Title: Heartlines Author: S. G. Holster Genre: Paranormal romance Release Date: December 30^th About Heartlines: Sometimes in battle surrender is the strongest move of all. Brett Owen, the son of a Sentori leader, promised himself he’d never do the work of his brotherhood - killing reborn souls. He’d been naive to make such a vow. He’d been naive about a lot of things – such as the bond of family and love.   Taunted by a Sentori hunter, Brett does whatever he can to survive, even if it means embracing his dark Sentori side and earning the unwanted attention of the Sentori leaders. His life had never looked so frantic. And all the while, his true family is infecting his heart and mind. When his heart is tied to an unexpected soul, he finds himself fighting for a future he desperately wants to live to see. It becomes clear that whatever freedoms Brett is hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Fragile lives that had been carefully woven together will be ripped apart swiftly and easily. Faith is betrayed. Remorse and innocence intertwine. Fate and chance collide to mend the tattered strands of Brett’s heart in the shocking conclusion to the Thirty Seconds To Die Series. Goodreads   Catch up on the series now!! Thirty Seconds To Die Goodread | Amazon | BN Terrible Lies Goodreads | Amazon | BN   About S. G. Holster S.G. HOLSTER lives in California with her husband and their two daughters. She is the author of the THIRTY SECONDS TO DIE series. The third and final book in the series, Heartlines, will be published late in 2014. Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Website | Email Enter S.G.'s giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway

National Kindness Day Is Today!!!!

All week we have been blogging about kindness. Today is the day, "National Kindness Day" ... so I have been racking my brain on what to post for such an awesome occasion.  (Let's face it.  The world needs a little more kindness in it.)  This is what I came up with ... 

We blog about books and our fictional heroes almost everyday but today I'm going to take a break and talk about the real life ones.  These are the ones that show incredible kindness even when sometimes they shouldn't. I know there have been many times in my life where kindness has affected me for the better ... like getting food for my kids and when I pull up at the drive through they inform me the car in front of me already paid for my food.  Or when I have done my own act of kindness and see the smile on the face of a stranger that is having a worse day than mine.  It makes life worth living. So here we go.  Most of these people you probably have never heard of before but they are the angels on earth, trying to make a difference in at least one person's life.

Act of Kindness #1
Caitlin Prater-Haacke

On Sept. 25, somebody broke into Caitlin Prater-Haacke’s locker at school and used her iPad to post a Facebook status update that told her to die, she said.  Instead of letting it upset her, Prater-Haacke decided to respond with kindness and put up positive post-it notes on every locker before students arrived for school.

“Bullying is not necessarily addressed, and people get really down about it.  I wanted to do something positive — it was about due time,” Prater-Haacke said.

The community then banded together to launch a new anti-bullying campaign called "Positive Post-It Day", which encourages people to leave anonymous notes of kindness for one another.

The Staples store gave away Post-it notes to support the campaign.

One of the students who recieved a post it note said many students kept Prater-Haacke’s positive messages because the notes made them feel special.

Act of Kindness #2

Jorge Munoz

Jorge Munoz is one of the most inspiring people you'll ever meet.  A school bus driver by day and an angel by night.  Every night for the past 5 years, he with the help of his family, has gone home and cooked food for hundreds of people on his old stove.  He then goes to a street corner in Queens, New York and feeds those that are hungry.  He does this with his own money and donations he receives because "it's the right thing to do".  He is a man that wants to help, and is the epitome of an everyday hero. 

Act of Kindness #3

Mark and Ismini Svensson

Mark and Ismini Svensson have traveled plenty.  Instead of the big wedding or a honeymoon, they've been crossing the country in hopes of helping those who could use it.

The New York couple has spent the last two years doing the "50 Acts of Giving Back" -- the challenge they're determined to complete instead of relaxing in their newly married bliss. They've been on a mission to shed light on causes they believe in and complete random acts of kindness in every U.S. state -- from giving out meals to homeless people in Missouri and showing rescue animals love in Florida, to donating gifts to sick kids in Arkansas and supporting domestic abuse victims in Utah.

The couple had the money for a wedding reception, but decided to use those savings and travel across all 50 states instead.

"We both realized that what makes us happiest is helping people in need," she told CNN

So many amazing stories out there. Today let's try to be a little kinder.  Give someone a sticky note and tell them they're beautiful or pay for someones hot chocolate at Starbucks. Lets pay it forward!

A Week Of Kindness

November is here and for those of you in the U.S., Thanksgiving is on it's way. This week is Kindness Week so things here at My Title Wave are going to be based around kindness. To kick off this week, it's time for a book review.  The book I chose to review was once again an author I had the chance to meet at the Vegas Valley Book Festival. : )

Sarah Ockler's, The Book of Broken Hearts, was a book that hit close to home. Jude is the youngest in a family of girls, I loved how each of these girls had their roll in the family and when the family is dealing with hard things, these traits came out. Jude has grown up her whole life with one rule ... stay away from the Vargas brothers! They are notorious heartbreakers. Eapecially after one of the Vargas brothers cheats on Jude's sister, breaking off their engagement, Jude and her sisters make a pact in blood and forever sealed in the Book of Broken Hearts. never to be broken.

Years later, Jude is the only one living at home and is spending her summer trying to hold on to the one thing that she believes will keep her Papi with them. Jude's Papi has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and it's progressing rapidly.  The only time Jude sees her Father for who he truly is, is when they are fixing up his vintage Motorcycle. The only problem is that the only person who will fix the bike is non-other than the youngest Vargas brother, Emilio. She swears never to tell her sisters and before she knows it, she is caught in the Vargas trap and is starting to fall in love.  What will her sisters say? Will the restoration of the bike help her dad? Well ... you're going to have to read the book to find out.

Jude is one of the most selfless characters I have ever read about. She has stopped her life to take care of her dad who can't be left alone. Leaving behind the epic summer she was supposed to have with her best friends.

You can't help but fall in love with Emilio with his amazing dimple and cocky personality.  (Sorry.  I just love my bad boys.)

I think my favorite thing about this book is the sense of family. I love how close they are (which made the deterioration of Papi hard to handle at times), Oh ... and I have never wanted to make empanadas more in my life than I did while reading this book.

Needless to say, I loved the book! The language at times was not the best so it's a 17+ book but it's a must read. Just as your heart is breaking, something swoops in to put it back together.  (Mainly a boy named Emilio.)

If you would like to know more about this book, keep reading ...

New Books for November!

Okay It's that time again...A new month which means new books to read!!! Let's have a look at what is coming out this month.

I don't know about you but I am so excited for some of these books! Keep reading to find out more about the November books....

The Taking

Oh my goodness … where do I start!  How about … I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!  I didn’t know what to think when I first picked it up.  It’s not my “usual” read.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  I was surprised by the characters.  I was surprised by the plot.  I was surprised by how entertainingly brilliant the book was.  It kept me locked in my room, reading … only coming up for air to eat.  The Taking was everything I hoped for and more.

Kyra was the heroine.  She was your typical teenager, trying to figure out what path her life was going to take.  One night, everything changed.  After getting in a fight with her dad, she disappeared.  To Kyra, it seemed like she was only gone for the night.  However, five years had gone by and EVERYTHING had changed.  Life had gone on without her and now she was trying to figure out how she fit in with all the changes.  I don’t want to say too much because part of what I loved most about the book was not knowing what was around the corner.  I liked discovering things as Kyra was discovering them and trying to figure out the puzzle that The Taking revealed so amazingly.

There was a swoon-worthy love interest in the novel.  Kimberly Derting wrote it brilliantly.  Just the right amount of “crushing” to go along with a sixteen year old brain.  It was a sweet relationship that flowed easily and worked perfectly.

The plot was fast moving and kept me hooked throughout the entire book.  There were tons of thrills and secrets that kept me in the roll as “novel-detective” … trying to figure out what was going to happen next.  This was definitely a “can’t-put-down” book!  (This book has already cycled through two others in my family ... Dad/Husband included.  PS - He LOVED it!)

The Taking was an incredible YA paranormal romance.  I absolutely loved it!  And the ending … oh my goodness!  Just read it.  See what I’m talking about.  I’m sure you will love it too!

Here’s a little bit more about what The Taking is all about:

The School For Good And Evil

In honor of Halloween, we decided to do a book review to go along with the “Halloween” theme.  On Friday we are going to see TONS of amazing costumes. We might see fairies, brides, or princesses. Some may choose to be something more evil like zombies, vampires, or evil wizards.  Everyone decides if they want to be good or evil for the night.  What if that choice was taken away?  What if they were assigned to be good or evil for the night?  What if the thing they got assigned, good or evil, they were stuck being that way forever?  That is how it is in The School For Good and Evil.

At first I did not know what I would think of this book. Do you know the saying, "Don’t judge a book by its cover"?  I did the complete opposite when I saw this book.  I saw the cover and immediately thought, "Nope.  This is NOT a book for me."  However, I read what the book was about and I thought, "Let's just give it a shot."  I ended up liking it.  I liked seeing the two main girls, Sophie and Agatha, try to figure out how to live in these schools that they obviously did not belong to at first.  I loved trying to figure out what was going on and how everything was going to fit together.  It is a book for younger people so the language is clean, which I always love.  There are not a lot of books like this book so it was something different.

Now for the bad part. I hate saying this, but there were some things in the book I was not crazy about. Some of the things in the book were a little too weird for me.  Somethings just sounded wrong when I read them in the book. (If you read it you can probably guess what I am talking about).  However, do not let that stop you from reading this novel.

Overall, I thought the book was pretty good.  Now it is time for you to read The School For Good and Evil and decide...are you really good...or are you evil?

Here is a look at what the book is about:

Happy Halloween....And Then There Were None!

We all remember the great Agatha Christie novel And Then There Were None. 

It is Christie's best-selling novel with 100 million sales to date.  This makes it the world's best-selling mystery ever and one of the best-selling books of all time. With the dark poem we are all know ...

Ten little Indian Boys went out to dine;

One choked his little self and then there were nine.

Nine little Indian Boys sat up very late;

One overslept himself and then there were eight.

Eight little Indian Boys travelling in Devon;

One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.

Seven little Indian Boys chopping up sticks;

One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.

Six little Indian Boys playing with a hive;

A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.

Five little Indian Boys going in for law;

One got in Chancery and then there were four.

Four little Indian Boys going out to sea;

A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.

Three little Indian Boys walking in the zoo;

A big bear hugged one and then there were two.

Two little Indian Boys sitting in the sun;

One got frizzled up and then there was one.

One little Indian Boy left all alone;

He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.

I loved this story that forced the detective in me out, trying to figure out the "who-done-it".  I was trapped in the story and could not put it down until I had the answer.

When my sister told me about a book called Ten that was written by Gretchen McNeil, and that she was going to be at the Vegas Valley Book Festival, I knew that was one I had to get.  After the amazing day at the festival, Ten was the first book I picked up to read.  I was not disappointed!  The book was everything I expected ... a great modern retelling of the original. 

The Story takes place on a secluded Island (already creepy).  A bunch of kids get together for what is supposed to be an epic house party.  Even the swoon worthy T.J. was going to be there.  What more could a girl want?  However, when a storm blows through and there is no way off the island, the party turns into a nightmare.  One by one, people start being killed off and red slashes start to appear on the wall for every body that turns up. 

I read the book in 24 hours!  I couldn't put it down.  The best friend drove me crazy, but trying to figure out the puzzle that was Ten, kept it a "couldn't-put-down" book.  I wish I could say this book is for everyone but unfortunately I can't.  :(  I understand that when faced with death you're not going to use the best language.  For that reason I have to say 17+ is my recommendation.  With all this said, it's a good Halloween read full of murder and suspense and whole lot of sexy.

To find out more about Ten keep reading ...

Release Day!

I am So excited to be a part of Julie Cross's new book "Whatever Life Throws At You".

 

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Julie Cross' WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT YOU! WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT YOU is a Young Adult Contemporary Romance, published by Entangled Teen!!

 

Amazon ** Amazon UK ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Powell’s Books

  About WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT YOU: Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas is too young to remember her dad’s glory days as a pitcher for the Yankees. So when her father is offered a coaching position with the Kansas City Royals, Annie is intrigued to see the baseball side of her dad. Of course, knowing he’ll be a mentor to hot young rookie pitcher, Jason Brody, certainly makes it more enticing. After an awkward first meeting with “Brody” involving very little clothing and a much-too-personal locker room interview, Annie’s convinced she knows Brody’s type: arrogant, self-involved, bossy. As her dad grows closer to the pitching phenom, the friction between Brody and Annie increases. But when opening day arrives and it looks like both her dad and Brody may lose their dream jobs, Annie steps up and offers support. She and Brody call a truce that grows into friendship—and beyond. Falling for a rising star who’s quickly reaching a level that involves rabid female fans is not what Annie would call smart, except suddenly she’s getting hints that maybe this crush isn’t one-sided after all. Could someone like Brody actually fall for a girl like her?     Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross Excerpt: He eyes me skeptically. “What kind of article?” “It’s for Sports Illustrated,” I say without hesitation and then quickly realize that I don’t look nearly old enough to be a real reporter for a huge publication. “I’m an intern,” I add. The skepticism falls from his face and he looks nervous, which gives me a boost of confidence. I walk closer and pull out the chair in front of the locker beside his, propping my feet up on the bench across from me. “Frank Steadman said you’d be willing to answer a few questions.” His mouth falls open, and he looks down at his towel and then back at me. Water drips from his hair and off his dark shoulders. “Um…okay,” he says. “Mind if I get dressed first?” I wave off his concerns, my face heating up, blowing my confident cover. But him getting dressed might allow enough time for Dad to return, and I’d rather not have to deal with that. I duck my head down, letting my hair hide my cheeks and flip open the first page of the notebook. “This will just take a minute… So, you’re nineteen? And you’re from Texas?” “Chicago,” he corrects. I had no idea where he was from but figured it sounded better if I pretended to know. I write down this information and then search my brain for some more questions. “Does the wind in Chicago affect your curveball? Do you throw into it or against it?” He gives me a funny look. “I…well…I just throw toward home plate.” My face gets even hotter. “Right, kidding. What’s your favorite color?” “Orange.” I take my time writing orange in really big loopy cursive while I think of my next question. “What are your opinions on sushi?” His forehead wrinkles like I’ve just asked him to publicly declare a political party. “Raw fish and seaweed? I think it’s best eaten while stranded on a desert island with no other options.” “Very diplomatic.” I scribble down his answer. “How many strikes have you thrown in your career?” “Don’t know,” he says. “Do people actually count that stuff? Before the majors?” “Some of them do,” I say, though I have no idea. “If you could be any magical creature in the Harry Potter series, which would you choose?” “You said this is for Sports Illustrated, right?” “Yeees, But it’s the…kids’ edition.” “Oh, right.” He scratches the back of his head. “I guess maybe one of those elves.” “A house elf? Seriously? They’re slaves.” I shake my head. “Why would you want to be an enslaved elf? They can’t even wear clothes.” He grips his towel tighter and releases a frustrated breath. “Fine, I’ll choose an owl. That’s what I’d want to be.” I snort back a laugh and drop my eyes to the page again. “What? What the hell’s wrong with being an owl? They’re smart, they know geography and shit like that.” “Owls in real life are actually pretty stupid. But no big deal, I’ll just relay that message on to the children of America. Jason Brody, temporary Royals pitcher, wants to be an owl when he grows up because they know geography and shit like that.” Okay, I’m getting way too into this fake reporter role. “Who says this is temporary?” he snaps. “Your two-way contract.” Isn’t that how Dad explained it? He plays a few games then goes back to Triple-A, all without signing a real major league contract. He yanks a pair of jeans from his locker and then grabs a bundled up orange T-shirt. “Well, I plan on kicking some ass on Opening Day and making this a permanent gig.” “I think you need a reality check,” I say. “One game isn’t going to be enough--” “Annie, what the hell are you doing?” I leap off the bench and turn around to face Dad and Frank standing about five feet from me. “Introducing myself to your new pitcher.” “Brody, what are you doing here, son?” Frank asks. “We’re off today.” “Just getting in some cardio and weights.” His gaze darts from me to Dad to Frank. “I was just finishing up this interview for Sports Illustrated. The kids’ edition.” “Well, we won’t keep you from getting your clothes back on, then,” Frank says, like he’s trying not to laugh. “And just for future reference, all interviews will go through the team’s publicity department so no one will be wandering in here, surprising you. Savannah will meet with you tomorrow to discuss publicity.” Dad moves forward and extends a hand to Jason Brody. “Jim Lucas, nice to meet you, son. I’ve seen your spring training videos. You’ve got some real talent. I’m looking forward to working with you.” Brody shakes Dad’s hand, his eyes still on me. “And this is my daughter Annie,” Dad adds. Brody glares at me. “Let me guess—you don’t work for Sports Illustrated?”   Julie Cross Bio: Julie Cross lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast and longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former gymnastics program director with the YMCA. She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres. Outside of her reading and writing credentials, Julie is a committed—but not talented—long-distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar-weather survivor, and expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym-shoe addict.      

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Author Goodreads | WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT YOU Goodreads

 

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Splintered

It’s national “Mad Hatter Day”!  This is the perfect day for me!!!  Why?  I guess the best way to explain it is to show you what is on my computer screen every time I log on …

That’s my life in a quote … a little crazy!  But that’s the way I like it.  J

In honor of this amazing day, I want to introduce one of my favorite books to you … SPLINTERED!

This stunning debut novel delves into the mad, magical, delicious, much-loved world of Wonderland.  When I first heard about this book, I was instantly taken by the idea of this story.  It has wonderful connections to the Alice Story we’ve known for years … taking us into the life of Alice’s very own great-great-great granddaughter – Alyssa.  However, I must admit, I almost passed this novel by.  I was attending the Vegas Valley Book Festival when A.G. Howard was there.  I picked up Splintered a few times thinking, “This is a book I would LOVE to read!”  The problem was … I had already spent TONS of money and this was one I decided to cut.  My daughter saw me contemplating the purchase and after seeing me put the book back down, secretly bought it for me, had the author sign it, and gave it to me for Christmas.  I am sooooo happy she did!

One of the things I loved about this book was A.G, Howard’s incredible talent for “world-building”. 

She takes the original Alice story and twists and turns it inside out.  This is NOT Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland.  This is a Wonderland that is darker, more seductive and more terrifying … but gorgeous and magical at the same time.  Everything Alyssa thought she knew was wrong or false.  I loved how we got a completely new “this-is-what-really-happened” story.  It’s brilliant!

If you were to ask me which character I liked best, I couldn’t tell you.  Each one was a “stand-out” on its own.

Alyssa - here's how I pictured her:

Alyssa at first appears … ummm … different.  She can hear the whispers of insects and flowers and is afraid of becoming what every women in her family has become … cursed with madness.  However, as you get to know her better, you warm up to her.  She’s independent, she’s sympathetic, she’s delightful, and above all – she’s brave.

Then there’s Jeb:

Jeb is the "best-friend" who is not the stereotypical boy-next-door.  He is definitely swoon worthy.  He is protective, a loyal friend, sensitive, and honest.  He is ruled by his emotions and sometimes that wasn’t a good thing.  Overall, “Team Jeb” has tons to brag about.

But we can’t forget about Team Morpheus!  When I read about Morpheus, this is the picture that came to my mind.

Morpheus is a Wonderland native who (we see hints) is madly in love with Alyssa and trying to win her over.  He is seduction and mystery, expertly wrapped into a dark, enticing package.  He’s all black wings, cockney accent, and a fetish for well-made hats.  In my opinion, Morpheus is sly, sexy, mischievous, and has his own way of caring.  He’s the guy we’re not supposed to like … so naturally … we like him more. 

All the other characters and creatures we meet along the way are based on the original Alice books but are definitely more twisted.

Splintered is a "can’t-put-down" book!  I found myself cheering for Alyssa as she went through her “tests” on her road to self-discovery.  I gasped along with her as family secrets were revealed.  I found myself walking beside her as I was sucked into the world of Wonderland, wanting to jump in and help her at times.  But what I especially appreciated was that Alyssa went through everything she went through out of love for her mother and father, and in the process, learned who she really was. 

The bottom line: you won’t regret reading this Splintered.  Its pages are full of heart-pounding adventure, and an unforgettable romance … not to mention a story you'll be thinking about for a long, long time.

Stay “mad” everyone!  After all … we’re all a little like that!

Here’s a closer look at what Splintered is all about:

Let's Start A Rebellion!!!!!

Okay people ... I'm not much of a rebel, which might be why I love to get lost in characters like Katniss Everdeen or Celaena Sardothien.  Strong women who fight the powers that be.  With that being said, there are a few things I will fight for; my family, my religion and my books!  Most people who know me know that if I want to do anything for me, it's to curl up with a good book and just get lost in the characters and story.  I share my love for books with everyone I meet and I'm like a kid in a candy shop as soon as I walk into a book store.  I get giddy with excitement when someone asks me what a good book is.  Which is why I was shocked to find out about the Banned Book list. 

My good friends at Epic Reads brought this to my attention and here is some good information about it ...

BANNED VS. CHALLENGED

Challenged Books:  Books that people are trying to remove or restrict from schools, libraries, etc. 
Banned Books:  If a group of people challenge a book and they win, then the book is banned and removed from public spaces like schools, libraries, etc.

So pretty much anyone who finds a problem with a book can challenge it and get it banned from libraries and schools.  This in turn restricts what people can read.  Sure, there are books I choose not to read.  However, I don't want to take that choice from others or take that away from an author who puts hours upon hours into their "baby".

Now ... I didn't do this post so I could rant about banned books.  I wanted to feature some of the books on the "Banned" list.  You might be as shocked as I was to see some of these books have been banned ...

Banned Book #1 

Gone With The Wind

Gone with the Wind is a novel written by Margaret Mitchell, 1st published in 1936.
The story is set in Clayton County, GA, & Atlanta during the American Civil War & Reconstruction era. It depicts the experiences of Scarlett O'Hara, the spoiled daughter of a well-to-do plantation owner, who must use every means at her disposal to come out of the poverty she finds herself in after Sherman's March to the Sea.  A historical novel, the story is a Bildungsroman or coming-of-age story, with the title taken from a poem written by Ernest Dowson.  Gone with the Wind was popular with American readers from the onset & was the top American fiction bestseller in the year it was published & in 1937.  As of 2014, a Harris poll found it to be the 2nd favorite book by American readers, just behind the Bible.
More than 30 million copies have been printed worldwide.
  
Why:  For glorification of slavery.  The Author wanted it to show exactly what the world was like in the time and place in our history.  There was no glorification, just facts.

Banned Book #2

Hunger Games

Winning will make you famous.
Losing means certain death.

The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts.  Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games.  In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games.  The 'tributes' are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight
to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory.

When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place.  She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives. , she sees it as a death sentence.
But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

Why:  It has been challenged for containing sexually explicit material and scenes, violence, and the ever-popular “being unsuited to age group.”  With its strong commentary on social themes like psychology, economics, and politics, it has also been accused of being “too real.”

Banned Book #3

Harry Potter

Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick.  He's never worn a
Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon.  All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley.  Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a
birthday party in ten years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed.  There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny
that's been waiting for him ... if Harry can survive the encounter.

Why:  The books promote witchcraft, Satanism, and anti-family themes.  They also claim that the movies “subconsciously market a new belief system on the viewing public.”

Banned Book #4

Anne Frank

Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable diary has since become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit.

In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the "Secret Annexe" of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death.

In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.

Why:  Because at one, brief point, 14-year-old Anne describes her maturing anatomy.

Banned Book #5

Captain Underpants

Pilkey plays with words and pictures, providing great entertainment.  The story is immediately engaging - two fourth-grade boys who write comic books and love to pull pranks find themselves in big trouble. Mean Mr. Krupp, their principal, videotapes George and Harold setting up their stunts and threatens to expose them.  The boys' luck changes when they send for a 3-D Hypno-Ring and hypnotize Krupp, turning him into Captain Underpants, their own superhero creation.  Later, Pilkey includes several pages of flip-o-ramas that animate the action.  The simple black-and-white illustrations on every page furnish comic-strip appeal.  The cover features Captain Underpants, resplendent in white briefs, on top of a tall building.  This book will fly off the shelves.

Why:  It was banned for insensitivity and being “unsuited to age group,”
as well as for “encouraging children to disobey authority.”

And there are many many more. If you want to know if your book your reading has been banned have a look at this site... http://bannedbooks.world.edu/

Our First Ever Guest Blogger

First off ... I would like you all to meet our first ever "Guest Blogger" ... Belle!

Belle is 11 years old and is in her first year of Middle School.  She loves all things aquamarine and anything with bling!  She loves jewelry, shopping, drawing, doing crafts and reading.  Belle can never have enough fun.  Every day is a "GREAT!" day for Belle.  Here is her book review:

Ever After High ... The Storybook of Legends

One of my favorite book series is the Ever After High series.  I think it is a good book for anyone my age.  The first book in the series is The Storybook of Legends and I LOVED it!!!  I had a hard time putting it down each night.  I wanted to keep reading even though I needed to be getting my sleep for the next school day.  It was a resort-to-flashlight-under-the-covers kind of reading.

The Storybook of Legends taught a good lesson.  It made me want to "write my own story" and not worry so much about what others think I should be doing.  After reading this book you will realize that following the crowd is not the way to go!  

And ... you don't need to be a kid to enjoy this novel.  My Mom and I read it together and she even liked it.  Any age will love these books.  I strongly suggest reading out loud with your mom or anyone else who wants to join in the fun.  It made reading the book even better.

My favorite character in the book is Madeline Hatter (the daughter of the Mad Hatter).  I like her because Madeline doesn't care what other people think of her.  She is a loyal friend, she's carefree, she loves to have fun, she's playful, and has a good personality.  She also walks to the beat of her own drum.  All of the students in the story are children of famous fairy tale characters.  The adults in the story are also based off of fairy tales.  I loved meeting new people throughout the pages of the book and trying to figure out who's kids they were.

There is also a little side story twist that I thought was cute!  An unexpected romance at Ever After High between Ashlynn Ella (the daughter of Cinderella) and Hunter Huntsman (the son of the Huntsman in Snow White).  You don't find out too much about their story but I'm hoping to find out more in the following book.

Oh ... I almost forgot ... not only are the books great, but there are other things that go along with the books!  They have clothing ...

... and what I love ... DOLLS!

And I just found out ... they have Halloween costumes!!!

How's that for "Three Wishes"?!!  I have a few more things to add to my Christmas list!

The Storybook Of Legends is absolutely charming!  I was surprised with how fun the plot was and how much I liked the characters.  Will they choose to keep the story they were born to do or will they choose their own destiny?  Find out everything in the Ever After High Series!

Here is more about the book The Storybook Of Legends: