Welcome to the first installment of In My Mailbox for 2011. It’s hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a way to showcase the books received for review, picked up from the library, or purchased. I’ve been in San Diego at the ALA Midwinter conference and have a ton more to share than what’s here, but that’s for later.

For review:

Trapped by Michael Northrop (February release but available now on Amazon): I read this one on the plane ride out and loved it. It’s a story about 7 kids being trapped inside their high school during the worst snow storm ever. It’s got a killer voice, has massive guy appeal, and despite the tragic, horrible circumstances, it manages to be funny.

Will Work for Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris (February release): Prom’s coming up, but it’s costly. This story’s about a girl workin’ hard to make the money for her dream prom. . . but it might not go as planned.

Library:

Beautiful by Amy Reed: A group of bloggers — I think there’s 7 or 11 of us — are starting a reading club amongst ourselves to catch up on some titles we’ve missed. I got to pick the first book, and this was my pick. Edgy and contemporary.

Girl by Blake Nelson: I dig Blake Nelson but I’ve never read his classic Girl. Time to do so!

Purchased:

Flyaway by Lucy Christopher: I loved, loved, loved Stolen so I wanted to check out Lucy’s middle grade novel. I had to get it sent from Britain but I suspect it’s totally worth it.

I Knows It’s Over by C.K. Kelly Martin: I read Lighter Side of Life and Death for the Cybils and had some mixed feelings about it, but the writing was compelling enough to make me want to go back to her earlier works. And it was nice this one was available on nook, too.

Patterns of Paper Monsters by Emma Rathbone: Steph Su did a series of guest “best of” book lists at the end of the year and Forever Young Adult talked about this being one of their favorite gateway books. It sounded really good and one I’d never heard of on their list. I had to get it.

If you’ve made it this far, I have just one quick photo of some of the books I’ve picked up at ALA. I already sent a couple boxes home, so these are just my top-of-the-list wants that I’m taking home with me on the plane to ensure a safe arrival:

All of the links hit GoodReads, and I’ll post more about some of these soon, along with some of the wonderful things that happened over the course of the last week (WAIT – it’s only been 2 days? It feels like we’ve done 2 weeks worth of stuff!!).

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (5/11)
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young (7/11)
Chasing Alliecat by Rebecca Fjelland Davis (available now)
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan (no date — this is just a bound manuscript, so also no description)
Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer (2/11)
Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker (7/11)
Blood Red Road by Moira Young (summer 2011 — you’ll hear more about this one soon)
Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal (out this month)
Miles from Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams (3/11)
Displacement by Thalia Chaltas (6/11)
Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler (3/11)
Bitter End by Jennifer Brown (5/11)

In my mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme started by Kristi of The Story Siren. It’s a weekly look at the books received for review, purchased, or picked up at the library. Although she’s not “officially” running it this week, I picked up a few books I’d like to keep record of anyway — for me, IMM is about thanking the publishers and authors for their books, as well as keeping a record of what’s coming up the pipes.

For review:

Will Work for Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris: Looks like a cute, lighthearted story.

The Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie: A story about a girl who loses her father, then her home, then her school. It looks a little unrealistic/overdramatic to me.

Addicted to Her by Janet Nichols Lynch: A Cybils book.

Trapped by Michael Northrop: I am so jazzed about this one. Let’s add up all the reasons why – snowpocalypse (I relate), teens stuck together in a small area from different backgrounds (ala The Breakfast Club) and the need to survive through it.

Purchased:

Stolen by Lucy Christopher: You’ve read my review. I really wanted to own a copy to reread this one, and immediately upon buying it, I lent it to a friend.

Other:

I got my book blogger holiday swap gift. It took me forever to figure out who the gift was from but I got it — thanks to Martha at Reviews at Martha’s Bookshelf!

When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer: I have this one already, actually, and I’m reading it now in order to talk it to my 9th graders. I really dig it, and I cannot wait to give this copy away in February.

Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson: A runaway mother, music, and romance in this one. It looks a little bit like Sorta Like a Rockstar in plot, which I can dig.

Martha also sent some swag which I plan on passing to the teens at my library. Thank you!

Welcome to In My Mailbox, a weekly meme highlighting the books received for review, purchased, or picked up from the library, started by Kristi at The Story Siren.

This week, I was super excited to see some non-Cybils titles mixed in with the Cybils lot.

For review:

Hellie Jondoe by Randall Platt: Hellie is an orphan and a pick pocket in 1918 during the world flu outbreak.

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells: I’ve read and reviewed this one here.

We Hear the Dead by Diane Salenari: A book about a couple of prank pulling girls who start a whole new spiritual system.

Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen: Second book in the “Wish” series. I disliked the first book. So there it is.

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg: I’m looking forward to giving Eulberg a second shot. I read her first book — The Lonely Hearts Club — and found the decidedly anti-male message to be a little bothersome. Fortunately this isn’t a sequel.

Happyface by Stephen Emond: I read this one and reviewed it here.

The River by Mary Jane Beaufrand: This mystery is set in rural Oregon against the banks of a river. I read this one last week and will probably have the review up this week. An excellent book.

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger: I’ve read this one, too, and my review can be found here.

Freaks and Revelations by Davida Wills Hurwin: I know this one is based on a true story about hate crime, with one main character being gay and one being a violent misfit. I’ve been meaning to read it for a while and am excited to have the chance.

Fairview Felines by Michele Corriel: I met Michele at KidLitCon and she offered me a copy of her book to read. I’m looking forward to a nice middle grade mystery post-Cybils.

From the library:

The Heart is Not a Size by Beth Kephart: I know this one is set in Juarez, Mexico. Kephart’s writing style has always been pleasing to me, but the story on this one might not be my cup.

Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Weiss: I have a regular teen volunteer who comes in to help me out once a week. She claims she’s not a reader but she’s always got a book with her, and she’s always eager to tell me what she thinks of the book I send her home with. This week, she told me this was one of her favorite books and I should read it. I sent her home with books, so of course I had to take home her recommendation. She said it’s quick enough to read between my Cybils titles.

And that was this week’s busy mailbox!

Welcome to the 16th installment of In My Mailbox, hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. It’s a weekly showcase of books received for review, purchased, or picked up from the library.

It’s been a week, friends. We went from having a tornado on Monday to snow flurries on Tuesday. Such is life in Wisconsin. Fortunately, there were plenty of wonderful new arrivals this week to temper the weather.

For review:

Paper Daughter by Jeanette Ingold: I know this one kind of, and I’m still convinced the girl on the cover looks way too young for the target audience.

Flying Feet by James McCann: A sports novel. I know what to expect already since it’s an Orca title.

Addicted to Her by Janet Lynch: The cover creeps me out. I’ve heard less-than-amazing things about this one, but my mind can be changed.

When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrar: I am so excited about this one. A story about performance with a Latina as the main character. I work in an area with a large latino/a population, so anytime a book looks appealing with a poc main character, I’m immediately drawn in.

Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter: I read this one already and it didn’t really work for me. It’s a romance.

Wildthorn by Jane Eagland: A historical fiction.

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted: Pretty excited for this one. I loved The Twin’s Daughter.

Bought:

Bible Camp Bloodbath by Joey Cormeau: Read and LOVED this one. But please do not read it if you have a weak stomach or can’t get a good laugh out of a huge body count.

From the library:

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen: Loved The Luxe and since I’m a big fan of the 1920s, I’m stoked about this one.

Gunn’s Golden Rules by Tim Gunn: Tim Gunn might be one of the coolest people on television. He’s fresh and realistic and yet always so darn positive.