Blog Tour! Hero's Guide to Storming The Castle - Guide to Heroes

THE HERO’S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE - GUIDE TO HEROES

4. Gustav

Occupation: Prince, monster hunter

Affiliation: Founding member, The League of Princes
Kingdom of Origin: Sturmhagen
Current Residence: Castle Sturmhagen
Parents: King Olaf & Queen Berthilda
Siblings: Henrik, Bjorn, Alvar, Osvald, Torvald, Sigfrid, Harald, Hans, Frans, Jorgen, Lars, Knute, Gunnar, Sven, and Viktor
Longtime Foes: Henrik, Bjorn, Alvar, Osvald, Torvald, Sigfrid, Harald, Hans, Frans, Jorgen, Lars, Knute, Gunnar, Sven, and Viktor
Likes: Fighting, sarcasm, meat
Dislikes: His sixteen older brothers, dancing, napkins
Signature Move: The Human Battering Ram
Quote: “Stuuuurrrmmmm-haaaayyyy-gennnn!!!”
Little Known Fact: Likes to sit in trees when he’s feeling sad.

About the Book:

• Age Range: 8 and up 
• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Walden Pond Press (April 30, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062118455
• ISBN-13: 978-0062118455

CONTEST ALERT!!!!!

All readers of Alison's Book Marks have exclusive access to a special giveaway for THE HERO’S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE. You will need this SECRET CODE to enter: PRINCE CHARMING. Click here to enter.

WHAT YOU WIN: If you are one of the first three people to enter the giveaway TODAY, you will receive a signed copy of The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle. EVERYONE who enters the giveaway from 5/6 to 5/26 is eligible to win a $200 gift card to the bookstore of his or her choice.

The contest closes the last day  of the tour on 5/26, and a signed copy of the book will be given away to the first three entrants each day – the grand prize winner of the bookstore gift card will be chosen after closing on 5/26.  US only.

Review: The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen

Perfect summer read!

College friends get together to celebrate one of their birthdays at an all-expenses-paid vacation to Jamaica.  Life is not as easy as it was when they were in college, but they are all determined to have the time of their lives. Struggling with work, marriage, and friendships, they don't leave their cares behind.  Instead, they brought quite a bit of baggage along on their vacation, and drama ensues as friendships and marriages are tested.  As a hurricane threatens their tropical paradise, storms brew inside the house as well.

I had been hearing so much about Sarah Pekkanen in the last few years, so when Simon & Schuster Audio asked me if I wanted to listen to the audio of one of her books, I jumped at the chance.  Now, I can't seem to get enough of Ms. Pekkanen. Her writing is engaging, the pace is quick, and her characters are flawed, realistic and likable. I found it very easy to get drawn into this story.

A note on the audio:  Narrator Cassandra Campbell's voice sounded familiar to me, yet not.  This was not my first audiobook that she has read. She has a way of bringing out the best of a book without making it hers.  Instead, she becomes the voice in our heads. Her voice is pleasant and the emotion is never forced.  I enjoy her audiobooks quite a bit, and will absolutely listen to anything she narrates in the future.

Fun, light, and enjoyable, my only wish for The Best of Us was that I was reading it while sitting on a beach with a drink in my hand!


Book Extras:
Author website, Facebook, Twitter
Goodreads Page

About the Audiobook:
Cassandra Campbell (Narrator)

• Listening Length: 11 hours and 11 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Audible.com Release Date: April 9, 2013

About the Book:

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Washington Square Press; Original edition (April 9, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451673515
• ISBN-13: 978-1451673517

About the Author:

Sarah Pekkanen is the internationally-bestselling author of the novels THE BEST OF US, THESE GIRLS, SKIPPING A BEAT and THE OPPOSITE OF ME.


*Review copy provided by the publisher

Review: Made By Dad by Scott Bedford

Arts and crafts turbo-charged with testosterone!

Leave the pre-fab model car kits at the store! Just in time for the kids to get out of school, MADE BY DAD brings kids and dads together to make fun, humorous projects using common household objects.  You know Dad, he can fix or make anything with duct tape, but Scott Bedford has upped the ante and given dad some more tools - cardboard boxes,  an X-acto knife, and glue.

The first thing I did when I got this book in the mail was hand it to my kids and asked them to find a few things they wanted to make with their dad. While the two flipped through the pages, I heard things like, "Cool!" "This looks awesome!" "I'm doing that!" The favorites were:

- Claw-Through-The-Wall Picture

- Titanic Bookshelf Art

- Customizable "Keep Out" Sign

- Snakes and Ladders

I am especially impressed by the artistic quality of the book.  Scott Bedford mixes photos with illustrations, creating not only the crafts themselves, but an eye-pleasing and engaging book.  Kids love this mixed media approach to their cartoons and books, so MADE BY DAD serves it up right.

Just now, as I'm typing this post, the hubby comes in and asked, "What are you doing with my book?"  Ah, I see.  It's HIS book already!  This is good stuff.  My boys love to do stuff with their dad - set off rockets, change the oil in mom's car, rake leaves - ok, maybe not rake leaves, but they like spending time with dad.  If this book gives them some ideas in which to bring a purpose to their time together, I'm all for it.  I just hope they have taken a look at the last chapter where there are several great handmade gifts for mom!

Go ahead, be the cool dad that makes cool stuff for his kids, like the Slingshot Car Launcher or the Cat-Trap birdfeeder!

**And, yes, Moms can make this stuff too!

Book Extras:
Make These Mother's Day Gifts 
http://www.whatimade.com/ - VERY cool website
Author's Twitter
Workman Page

About the Book:
Made By Dad: 67 Blueprints For Making Cool Stuff by Scott Bedford

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (May 7, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761171479
• ISBN-13: 978-0761171478

About the Author:
Scott Bedford is, by day, creative director at Velti, an ad agency in London, and by nights (and weekends) a Webby Award–winning blogger and occasional columnist for Make magazine who creates really cool stuff with and for his two young sons. He lives with his family in London, England

Book Trailer:



*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher

Children's Book Week

The following is courtesy of the Children's Book Council:Brian Selznick's official poster commemorates the 94th annual celebration of Children's Book Week (May 13-19, 2013), the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country.

Brian Selznick – Caldecott winner, 2012 Children's Choice Book Awards Illustrator of the Year, and creator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret andWonderstruck – has created a commemorative masterpiece that beautifully illustrates the idea that books can take you anywhere. The poster pays homage to two of children’s literature’s legends: Remy Charlip, author and illustrator of more than 38 books, including modern classics like Hooray for Me, I Love You, Arm in Arm, Mother Mother I Feel Sick, A Perfect Day, and Fortunately, the latter of which has been in print continuously for over 48 years; and Maurice Sendak, Caldecott Medal winner for Where the Wild Things Are, creator of children’s classics including In the Night Kitchen, Chicken Soup with Rice, Alligators All Around, and illustrator of the Little Bear books.

Links:
Children's Book Council
Children's Book Week

Review: Family Tree Book One: Better To Wish by Ann M. Martin

Captivating!

Synopsis:

In 1930, Abby Nichols is eight, and can't imagine what her future holds. The best things today would be having a dime for the fair, keeping her Pops from being angry, and saving up eighty-seven cents to surprise her little sister with a tea set for Christmas.

But Abby's world is changing fast. Soon there will be new siblings to take care of, a new house to move into, and new friends to meet. But there will also be good-byes to say and hard choices to make. As Abby grows older, how will she decide what sort of life will fit her best?

In this incredible new series, bestselling author Ann M. Martin brings the past and the present together one girlhood at a time and shows readers the way a family grows

I am completely enamored with the idea of this new series from Ann M. Martin - following four generations of girls in the same family through time. The first book begins with a letter written by an elderly Abby in the year 2022, when she starts to look back upon her life.  She decides to begin her story with the year 1930 when she was just 8 years old.

Readers are introduced to Abby's family during a difficult time in history, as is consistent with the Great Depression. There are some tough themes in this book - abuse, miscarriage, poverty, moving to a new home, prejudices - and Ann M. Martin manages to deliver a lot of emotion in a relatively short book.  Though a tough first book, it sets the foundation for the strong character Abby is sure to become.

This would be a great book to read as part of a Mother-Daughter book club, so the more difficult themes can be discussed at an appropriate maturity level.  I wish this book existed when I was a girl.  It's right up my alley and I can't wait to read the second book, The Long Way Home, due out in November 2013!



Book Extras:
Scholastic Book Page
Read First Chapter


About the Book:

• Age Range: 8 and up 
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (April 30, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545359422
• ISBN-13: 978-0545359429

About the Author:
Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-sitters Club series has over 176 million copies in print and inspired a generation of young readers. Her novels include the Main Street series, Belle Teal, the Newbery Honor book A Corner of the Universe, Here Today, A Dog’s Life, and On Christmas Eve, as well as the much-loved collaberations P.S. Longer Letter Later and Snail Mail No More with Paula Danziger, and The Doll People and The Meanest Doll in the World, written with Laura Godwin and illustrated by Brian Selznick. She lives in upstate New York.

Don't forget to sign up for Scholastic's Annual Summer Reading Challenge!  

Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Engaging!

Synopsis:

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time



Highly recommended for book groups, Me Before You, is an engaging story of an unlikely friendship with an expiration date.

Everyone tip-toes around Will Traynor ever since he became a quadriplegic in a motorcycle accident. Once a successful attorney by day, wealthy traveler and thrill-seeker by night, Will is convinced the best of his days are behind him.

Then enters his hired companion, small-town girl, Louisa Clark. She has a mountain of responsibilities and needs the job, but what she didn't expect is for Will to get under her skin as much as he does. The two develop a friendship, and a witty banter that keeps the pages turning.  When the truth of her role is revealed to her, she is not sure if she is able to play her part and do what she must.  A matter of life or death, Lou's own life is about to change forever.

Readers will fly through this book, yet the characters and subject matter will stick around for days after. With a wealth of topics and questions to discuss at book club, you will have lots to talk about, just be prepared with a few tissues toward the end of the book.

Book Extras:
Author Website, Facebook, Twitter
Goodreads Page

About the Book:

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books; First Edition edition (December 31, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670026603
• ISBN-13: 978-0670026609

About the Author: (from author website)

Jojo Moyes was born in 1969 and grew up in London. After a varied career including stints as a minicab controller, typer of braille statements for blind people for NatWest, and brochure writer for Club 18-30 she did a degree at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, London University. In 1992 She won a bursary financed by The Independent newspaper to attend the postgraduate newspaper journalism course at City University, and apart from 1994 when she worked in Hong Kong for the Sunday Morning Post, she worked at The Independent for ten years, including stints as Assistant news editor and Arts and Media Correspondent.
She has been a full time novelist since 2002, when her first book, Sheltering Rain was published. She lives on a farm in Essex with her husband, journalist Charles Arthur, and their three children

Review: The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne

Everything you can ask for from a memoir.

Josh Hanagarne started having small ticks, eyeblinks, when he was six years old.  By the time he was in his 20s, he had developed into a severe form of Tourette Syndrome.  Thanks to his father's introducing him to the inside of a gym, Josh began gaining control over the battle he was having with his own body by pushing his body to its limits.  From a child with small ticks to paralyzing his own vocal cords with Botox in order to keep himself from having loud outbursts, and studying extreme fitness, Josh Hannagarne's story will touch your heart.

I have rules when it comes to my books.  First and foremost, I do not dog-ear the pages.  Next, I never ever write notes in the margins.  Finally, if I must make a small notation it is only with pencil and erased as soon as possible.  I keep an index card as a bookmark, making notes there as I read.  Well, I gave up taking notes on my index card at page 50, because I had run out of room.  I wasn't home to grab another, and I couldn't put the book down, and thus began breaking all of my rules, and the rules of every librarian on the planet.  I had no choice but to underline, star, and circle my favorite passages, of which there are many. With pen!

Josh fell in love with libraries as a small child, where his mother would frequently bring him and his siblings, so it's only natural that Josh became a librarian.  What's extraordinary is that he is able to manage his Tourette's while working.  As difficult as that control can be, it's worth it.

Josh on working in a library:  "This is one of my favorite things about working here:  If you believe censorship is poison, here lies paradise."  

"...when it comes to books and libraries, too much is never enough."   

"...nobody was as worthy of respect as a teacher."  

"I might be the only person whose first three-hundred pound bench press was accompanied by the Recorded Books production of Don Quixote."  

 

Are you in love yet?  Those are just the beginning.  I'm not giving you the best ones, which you must discover for yourself.  I actually had to erase most of what I originally wrote in this review, simply because I was giving too much away, and the review was way too long! I even had subtitles:  Libraries, Faith, Religion, Family, Love, Strength.  Discover them for yourself!

Josh Hanagarne's memoir chronicles the journey of his disease, the love of his family, his Mormon faith's role in his spiritual life, and his love of the written word.  I highly recommend you take the opportunity to witness this journey for yourself.



The World's Strongest Librarian was my pick for May 2013 Bloggers Recommend Newsletter.  If you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for?

"This heartfelt memoir will capture your heart, tickle your funny bone, and satisfy your soul. Readers are in danger of breaking librarians’ rules of underlining passages and writing in the margins, while witnessing the journey of a fellow book lover’s heroic struggle with Tourette syndrome" - Alison Skap, Alison's Book Marks


Book Extras:
Goodreads Page
Author Website, Facebook, Twitter


About the Book:

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Gotham (May 2, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592407870
• ISBN-13: 978-1592407873

About the Author:
Josh Hanagarne fell in love with Fern from Charlotte's Web at the age of six. Every day since, he has enjoyed reading more than eating, sleeping, and breathing. Today the 6'7" Hanagarne is an author, speaker, performing strongman, and, despite having an extreme case of Tourette Syndrome, he works as a public librarian in Salt Lake City Utah. His memoir, The World's Strongest Librarian, is his first book


*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher

Review: N0S4A2 by Joe Hill

Brilliantly Creepy!



A character-driven thriller that will suck you in within the first few pages, and keep you sleeping with one eye open until you've finished.  Supernatural elements enhance the chilling plotline, leaving readers flying through this hefty novel.

Victoria McQueen has the ability to find lost things using the Shorter Way Bridge - a covered wooden bridge that no longer exists unless Vic needs it. She rides her bike across it and finds herself in a different place, sometimes taking her only minutes to travel clear across the country. From the time she was a small girl retrieving her mother's jewelry, Vic's trips took her farther from home, and closer to danger.

Charles Manx is the ultimate creepy guy. He drives around in a rare 1938 Rolls Royce with the license plate, N0S4A2 - a play on the term "nosforatu" which refers to a vampire-like monster. His Rolls Royce is much like Vic's bike and bridge, taking him to places that don't exist in the natural world - places like Christmasland, where everything is the opposite of merry, a freak show where he brings his kidnapped children to lose their humanity.

Bing Partidge becomes Charles Manx's sidekick on his quest to kidnap a specific little boy and bring him to Christmasland.  It is unclear whether Bing is unstable, mentally handicapped, or simply one of the most frightening characters I have seen in a long time. Any time Joe Hill goes inside Bing's head, you'll want to keep the lights on.

Manx may have Bing, but Vic has a few people on her side as well.  Her lovable ex husband, Lou, sticks by her and librarian Maggie Leigh waits for her on the other side of the Shorter Way Bridge, knowing Vic was eventually going to come, as her Scrabble tiles told her she would. Unfortunately for Maggie, she might not have been prepared for the trouble Vic brought along.  

Maggie has one of my favorite lines in the whole book:

"If books were girls, and reading was s-ss-sss-f**king, this would be the biggest whorehouse in the county and I'd be the most ruthless pimp you ever met." 

All the characters are bound together when Charles Manx kidnaps the one child he most wants to bring to Christmasland - Vic's son.

Dark and twisted in all the right ways, Joe Hill delivers another utterly original, engrossing, spine-tingling novel that is dripping with with his very own brand of horror.  He gives his father, Stephen King, a run for his money - and that's saying something!

Highly recommended.

Book Extras:
Joe Hill website, Twitter, Facebook

About the Book:
Hardcover: 704 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (April 30, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062200577
ISBN-13: 978-0062200570

Image Courtesy of HarperCollins

About the Author: (from author website)

Joe Hill is the author of a novel, Heart-Shaped Box, a collection of short stories, 20th Century Ghosts, and an occasional comic book series, Locke & Key. His second novel, Horns, will be available from William Morrow, in February of 2010. He lives in a small stone cell at the bottom of a chasm; there is only one steep, treacherous trail leading down to it, and the way is protected by fierce goats.

You can get nearly daily doses of his pithy one-liners and mind-numbing insights over on Twitter, where he goes by the inspired handle of joe_hill. Now and then he even updates his blog.



*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher

National Teacher Appreciation Day

I love teachers.

I remember fondly the teachers that had an impact on my love for reading, my skill for writing, and my confidence in life.  Now I hold my sons' teachers in a special place in my heart as they guide my children through their grammar school years. I am in constant awe of their patience and caring.

Today, and every day, I celebrate teachers!  Thank you!

  "One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child."
--Carl Jung

BEA Speed Dating: Reading Group Guides

Attention Bloggers, Librarians, Book Group Leaders and Power Readers attending BEA (Book Expo America) in New York City!  

The great people over at Book Group Guides have put together two speed dating sessions this year. All the information you need, including links for signing up, is below.  Promises to be a great session! Space is limited! 

Friday Event: 
Audience is Booksellers, Librarians, Bloggers and Book Group Leaders:

Great Book Group Titles for Fall/Winter for Booksellers, Librarians, 

Bloggers and Book Group Leaders on Friday, May 31^st from 9:30-10:50 in Room IE12/IE13.

On Friday, May 31st, at BookExpo America, Carol Fitzgerald of ReadingGroupGuides.com, will moderate a speed-dating session designed to give booksellers, librarians, bloggers and book group leaders a sneak peek at upcoming titles that will be natural book group picks. Representatives from 21 publishers will share their selections  from August 2013 through January 2014 at the event, along with galleys and other promotional materials.

Seating is limited and signup in advance is required by Thursday, May 23^rd as well as purchase of a BEA Badge for Friday, May 31st.

Sign up here:
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/features/2013_bookexpo_great_book_groups.asp

Saturday Event: 
Audience is Power Readers and Book Group Leaders

Great Book Group Titles for Fall/Winter for Power Readers on Saturday, June 1^st from 11:00-11:45 in Room IE12/IE13.

On Saturday, June 1st, at BookExpo America, Carol Fitzgerald of ReadingGroupGuides.com, will moderate a speed-dating session designed to give Power Readers a sneak peek at upcoming titles that will be natural book group picks. Representatives from 16 publishers will share their selections  from August 2013 through January 2014 at the event, along with galleys and other promotional materials.

Seating is limited and signup in advance is required by Thursday, May 23rd as well as a badge for BEA for Saturday, June 1^st.

Sign up here:
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/features/2013_bookexpo_power_readers.asp