Welcome again to In My Mailbox, hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It’s a weekly showcase of what I’ve gotten this week, in the mail, from contests, and from the library. I’m particularly excited to take over from Kelly this week and post my first IMM!

For review:

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #2: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood. (Out March 2011 from Balzer and Bray, Harper Collins Children’s Books. Review copy from publisher.) I read the first book in this series when it was released last February and found it unique, hilarious, and original–Picture Jane Eyre tossed into a mansion with children literally raised by wolves, but who manage to endear themselves to you immediately. (This is also my first review copy received directly from a publisher, so I’m quite excited!)

From contests:

A Most Improper Magick, by Stephanie Burgis (now out in the UK, US release date April 2011 as Kat, Incorrigible) Won from Tricia Sullivan’s blog. I love books with magic, and this one promises to have a strong, headstrong female heroine.

Purchased:

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (out now). I devoured The Maze Runner and can not wait to sink my teeth into this. I couldn’t wait for it at the library!

From the library:

The Odious Ogre by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer. A picture book reunion of the author/illustrator of The Phantom Tollbooth.

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen. The Luxe meets The Jazz Age. Already finished this in two days 🙂

Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst. Magic in the Ivy League. And gargoyles!

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass. I’m reading this now; I am in awe of Mass’s structuring and plotting skills.

Welcome again to In My Mailbox, hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I’m also going to leave you with a list of books still needing to be nominated for this year’s Cybils award consideration (in the YA Fiction category) in hopes you get a vote in before the October 15 deadline.

For Review:

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins (Hyperion Disney, March 2011): There’s no cover yet, so I didn’t want to show you a blank gray one. This is the sequel to Hex Hall and will be my huge treat after Cybils.

From the Library:

Take a deep breath — this is a long list, thanks to the Cybils!

When I was Joe by Karen David: Looks like an edgy title about lies and deceit. I hadn’t heard of it before I saw it come into work a few weeks ago.

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley: An Australian title that involves music, I believe. I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while.

The Freak Observer by Blythe Woolston: I read this one this week, and there will be a review up soon!

Losing Faith by Denise Jaden: A 2010 debut title about secrets and the death of a sister. It sounds a little bit like a few other books I’ve read (the dead sibling part) and the mystery part reminds me of a Ellen Hopkins’s Identical.

Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots by Abby McDonald: I liked McDonald’s first title, Sophomore Switch, and I am looking forward to the environmentally-vested title.

Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick: Jackie tells me this one is a treat, so I’m excited!

The Kid Table by Andrea Seigel: This is another 2010 debut, and its focus is on family. It’s humorous and not at the same time. I read it this past week.

Nothing by Janne Teller: This European translation is an existential title with a lot of Lord of the Flies elements. It depressed the heck out of me.

So Over My Head by Jenny B. Jones: Jones’s series was super popular at my former library. I’m diving into this one without having read the first two, in fairness to the idea that books need to be judged in their individual merit, but I’m excited. It looks fun and squeaky clean.

Change of Heart by Shari Maurer: This sounds a lot like Loretta Ellsworth’s In a Heartbeat.

A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler: Of madness and mental illness, along with an artist to spice it up.

Beautiful by Cindy Martinuson-Coloma: Another author who was wildly popular at my former library. She writes Christian fiction, but it’s less over-the-head than some of Melody Carlson.

Purchased:

Alea wanted someone to do some of the crafts in this book with her, and I jumped at the chance! Lots of cute and fun Halloween crafts here.

And as promised, here’s an updated “to be nominated for Cybils consideration in the YA Fiction category” list. You only have till the 15th to go here and do it! All you need is the 13-digit ISBN, which I’ve conveniently linked to for you.

• No and Me
• Friend is Not a Verb
• Tell Us We’re Home
• Jump
• Blindsided
• Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June
• Nobel Genes
• Butterfly
• John Belushi is Dead

Welcome to In My Mailbox, the weekly meme hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren. It’s a showcase of what books I got this week, either for review, from the library, or I purchased.

For review:

Empty by Suzanne Weyr (out now from Scholastic). Abby’s reviewed this one and it sounds like a really good speculative/realistic book.

You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz (out now from Scholastic). This one is a surprise but it sounds pretty good — and you’ll see this cover again pretty soon in a cover feature.

From the library (or as I should probably say, Cybils books to read):

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Nothing Like You by Laura Strasnik

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Purchases (or, I guess I like buying craft books):

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Amigurumi: I’m working through a crochet book I bought a couple weeks ago, pattern by pattern right now. It’s got 6 patterns, and I’ve done 3, so I need a few simple things for when I finish it. I really want to make amigurumi!

Other mailbox goods:

I purchased a canvas bag to support the Cybils (and haul the reading load) and it’s really nice! I also got my Hunger Games Blog Tour prizes in the mail. I won 2 pins and a water bottle. Both of those will be going into a giant cabinet I have of awesome summer reading prizes for the kids at work.

Speaking of Cybils…:

Make sure you go nominate books for The Cybils! You don’t need to be a blogger, a librarian, a teacher, or anything. You may only nominate one in each category, and all you need is the 13-digit ISBN, which you can find on Amazon.com. They must be books published between October 16, 2009 and October 15, 2010. Since I’m a panelist and will be reading gads and gads of books in the next couple of months, I’d like to read some stuff I’ve been itching to read or some stuff I really liked the first time I read it. If you’re stuck on titles to nominate for the YA category, here’s a few suggestions (conveniently linked to their Amazon pages with ISBNs) I’m deleting them as they’re earning nods:

• Draw the Dark
• No and Me
• Friend is Not a Verb
• Tell Us We’re Home
• Jump
• Blindsided
• Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June
• Nobel Genes
• Butterfly
• John Belushi is Dead
• Love Drugged

Hopefully that gives you an idea or two! Be prepared for tons more YA reviews in the next few months….and then I promise I’m going to offer up a lot more adult and non-fiction book reviews.

Welcome to In My Mailbox, the weekly meme hosted by the delightful Kristi at The Story Siren. It’s a weekly look at what I got in books this week.

For Review:

Hope in Patience by Beth Fehlbaum (Westside Books, October 27, 2010): This one’s already been given nods by ALA for consideration of their quick picks list. I’m excited!

Pull by B. A. Binns (Westside Books, October 27, 2010): A gritty story set in the inner city. I think this sounds a bit like a Walter Dean Myers title, which isn’t a bad thing at all!

Drought by Pam Bachorz (Egmont, January 2011): I loved Candor and am stoked for this one.

Library Picks:

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper on audio: The Wisconsin Library Association holds a book discussion each year, and this is one of the two choices (the other is Neal Schusterman’s Bruiser). I wanted to get both of them.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan on audio: This was my listen on the car ride to the Anderson’s YA Conference on Saturday. She was a featured speaker.

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteygart: An adult fiction that looks right up my alley right now. Despite the title, it’s supposed to be humorous.

Cozy Crochet by Melissa Leapman: I’m really getting into this new hobby, which you’ll know more about in a second. This book looked like it had some really good crafts in it.

Purchased:

Crochet, a Klutz book: Alea suggested this one as a great starter book with a lot of good patterns. It also came with a little yarn and some crochet accessories.

Amigurumi World by Ana Paula Rimoli: Another Alea suggestion. This looks a little easier than the crobots book, and it comes with an owl pattern. I am so excited about this one (and despite being a beginner, I can do a lot of the knots and stylings required here).

Welcome to In My Mailbox, the weekly meme hosted by the delightful Kristi at The Story Siren. It’s a weekly look at what I got in books this week.

For review:

The Miracle Stealer by Neil Connelly (Scholastic, October release)
Monster High by Lisi Harrison (Little Brown, available now): I am utterly curious about the book spawning a huge merchandise push.

From the library:

The Guardians of Ga’hoole by Katheryn Lasky: The movie comes out next week and I had a super successful program for 2nd through 5th graders this week.

A Storm in the Barn by Matt Phalen: A graphic novel about the dust bowl. As much as people will think this is gross or weird, the dust bowl and great depression are among my favorite (as in most interesting) time periods of American history.

Nice & Mean by Jessica Leader: A debut novel in a new line of books aimed at middle grade girls. I’m curious who it will most appeal to.

Bought:

Crobots by Nelly Pailloux: Alea has really inspired me to get back into crafting (as is the fall weather!) and since I’ve always wanted to improve my crocheting ability, I wanted to get something different. This will be perfect for the challenge — and if you know anything about me, you know I LOVE robots.