GET HAPPY by Mary Amato BLOG TOUR AND GIVEAWAY!

I am pleased to welcome author, Mary Amato to Bring on the Books today! She is the author of the great book posted here - Get Happy. Because of the influence of music that runs through this entire story (as well as Ms. Amato's other stories like Guitar Notes), I asked her to share about that aspect of her writing. Here is her response:

I love music and wanted to write another novel exploring music in the life of a character. Music is often the thing that gets a teen through the day. How many times I remember being depressed or angry or sad or confused and then singing my heart out to whatever song I was hooked on and just letting the song take care of purging the negative and replacing it with joy.

When I write I keep my instruments nearby and throughout the day I take little breaks to play and sing. I also work well with music on and often choose music that I think my characters would like or music that reminds me of my characters.

While I was writing Get Happy, I was lucky to see or hear some inspiring local female vocalists: Victoria Vox (http://www.victoriavox.com ) and The Sweater Set ( http://www.thesweaterset.com/)

Check them out and make sure to also check out the 16-year-old Jamey Geston http://www.jameygestonmusic.com who recorded my Get Happy Songs!

Many thanks to Mary Amato for stopping by on her blog tour. You can check out the rest of the tour here. Mary is also offering a copy of Get Happy to one of my readers. Comment below (or on my Facebook or Twitter posts) by 11:59pm on October 31, 2014 for a chance to win!

I thoroughly enjoyed Get Happy. The main character has two great friends who support her throughout the story. When things start to fall apart for her, her anger is raw and realistic as she discovers that relationships are complicated and adults aren't perfect. I flew through this one, cover to cover, and enjoyed every page. I think this would appeal to middle school and high school readers as well as those of us adults who are lucky enough to know how much fun it is to read books that are supposed to be for kids! Four out of five stars.

Remember to comment by the end of October for a chance to win a copy of Get Happy and check out the rest of the blog tour.

Author Bio:

Mary Amato is an award-winning children's book author, songwriter, musician, puppeteer, and poet. She writes for children of all ages, and is beginning to focus on YA. Her first YA novel was Guitar Notes. Mary lives with her family outside Washington, DC, where she also performs regularly, singing and playing her own songs. Mary is a popular speaker and runs numerous workshops for teachers and students, including many on all aspects of creative writing, even songwriting. The author lives in Silver Spring, MD. You can visit her online at www.maryamato.com. You can also find here at www.thrumsociety.com 

* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

IF YOU'RE READING THIS by Trent Reedy

Mike Wilson's dad was killed in the war in Afghanistan when Mike was a boy. Now he's almost 16, and he has a lot of questions. His life has been difficult and platitudes about how his dad was a "hero" are empty when Mike doesn't know how his dad died. Then the letters start coming - letters Mike's dad wrote to him from Afghanistan in anticipation of Mike's 16th birthday and offering advice and challenges in case his dad never made it home.

This was lovely. Mike is a great character - hard working, responsibly, with deep questions. He's trying to figure out life without his dad around and with his mom facing her own struggles. I've never been part of a family walking through deployment or losing a loved one to war, but the description seemed reasonable and realistic. The story is intense and emotional but not so detailed as to be too much for teen readers. Themes include racial tension, a budding romance, bullying, team, identity, family and responsibility.

4.5 out of 5 stars
AR Reading level of 4.6
AR Interest level of Middle Grade + (Middle school and up)

* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

INGREDIENTS OF YOUNG OUTLIERS by John Shufeldt

This is written for teens and young adults to encourage them to develop character qualities that will help them stand out from the crowd. These qualities are highlighted to help students maximize their potential and become "an outlier" - someone who can achieve "extreme success." Qualities include integrity, gratitude, perseverance, guts, etc. Really, readers of any age could read this and find something for personal growth.

This was well done! It has a friendly tone and is story-based. Lots of inspirational quotes - I jotted a bunch of those down! The chapters are short which would make this a great small group or classroom resource. This would make a great graduation gift or a tool to use in a mentoring relationship or between parent and child.

4 out of 5 stars

* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE by Jenny Han

Lara Jean writes a "farewell" letter to the boys she loves when she is ready to let them go emotionally. She writes the letter, gets some closure, and then she saves it in a special hatbox her mom gave her. But when two of the boys walk up to her, holding her letters in their hands, Lara Jean's secrets are out and she'll have to figure out where she stands.

This was a fun "what if" story that is well-balanced with a strong family story. Lara Jean is still growing up and figuring out who she is and who she wants to be -- at home, at school and in her personal life. And these letters really complicate that process for awhile, but they also force Lara Jean to look at her life and her choices from a different perspective. Great read!

4 out of 5 stars
This is a story for teens/young adults/adults due to language and adult themes.

WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart

The liars - Cady, Mirren, Johnny and Gat. Cousins. Friends. Summering together every year on the family's private island. Until "summer fifteen" when everything changed. Cady can't remember what happened - only that she had an accident and has a traumatic brain injury that gives her debilitating migraines. But now, she wants to know what really happened.

Wow. This isn't my usual style of book. Some of the writing and descriptions were more figurative and flowery than I usually read. The family dynamics in the story were captivating - great love, manipulation, keeping up appearances, drinking to excess. I don't want to say much more than "wow" because this is a story that needs to be experienced first hand and not spoiled for maximum enjoyment. I will say that I had read that the ending would be stunning, so I was trying to guess the ending - solve it like a mystery. But I never came close to the truth in my guessing.

4 out of 5 stars
For teens/young adults/adults. Language, alcohol use.

FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell

Cather and her twin sister, Wren, are leaving for college. Wren is the more vocal sister, pushing for separation and independence from her twin, leaving Cather more than a little lost. Throughout their freshman year, Cather tries to find her own way and her own place both at college and in life.

That summary doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of all the things going on in this novel. And all of it is fabulous! I loved Cather's voice and her journey. I got lost in the beautiful writing (instead of distracted by it which was awesome). I loved the relationship Cather develops with Levi and Reagan and the relationship with her father. The strain with Wren and with their mother was believable and not easily resolved which made it even more realistic. The Simon Snow fan fiction Cather writes was fun to read - parallels to Harry Potter were obvious and only a little distracting at first. I read this while at Phoenix Comic Con which gave an extra depth to Cather's love and fanaticism for Simon Snow. My only complaint was the ending. I wanted more - more details on her final paper, her relationships and her future. The whole book was delightful! I would read this one again. 

5 out of 5 stars.

This is for high school students and older readers. Profanity, underage drinking, homosexuality, and mental illness are among the concepts explored in this book. This is also a book about writing, about identity, and about independence and growing up.

ALSO KNOWN AS by Robin Benway

Maggie Silver is a master safe-cracker in a family of spies. She is also a high school student. She is sent undercover to get information from the father of one of her classmates - information that could expose her family and other spies working to keep the world safe. She has no idea how cute the classmate is, or how quickly she might fall for him. Can Maggie maintain her cover and get the information without getting her heart broken?

I loved this book! I laughed out loud so many times and even had to read some passages to my husband because they were so great. Maggie has a fantastic voice - sassy, sarcastic, confident - but she also has a sweetness about her as she has her first boyfriend and a fierceness when it comes to standing up for herself and her ability to do her job to those who doubt her. The core characters - Maggie, her friend Roux, and her boyfriend Jesse - are fantastic together. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Going Rogue (pictured below)!

5 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 4.2, interest level of Middle Grade + (6th grade and older). There's underage drinking, prescription drug use, language, and other references that make this a better fit for teen readers than my elementary students. Personally, I would recommend this more for high school than middle school readers. Adults who enjoy middle grade fiction, should check this one out - it was great fun to read!

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT by Sarah Mlynowski

A group of high school students receive the flu vaccine at school and within 24 hours they can hear other people's thoughts. This seems cool at first until they start to hear things they never wanted to know. Cheated on your boyfriend? Now everyone knows - including him. Parents considering a divorce? Now you know all the reasons. Your best friend might encourage you to your face, but what does she really say about you to herself? There are no secrets when your thoughts are laid bare to a couple dozen other people you spend every day with at school.

This is a great concept and it is well executed. We all have those thoughts we work to keep on the inside. But these kids can't shield their thoughts from one another anymore. This makes for some funny and awkward moments for everyone. Sarah Mlynowski is the author of the fabulous Whatever After series that my students adore. This book is definitely for a much older crowd than the fans she has at my school. There's some language and frequent innuendo, making this a better fit for older readers.

4 out of 5 stars

This book releases tomorrow, March 11, 2014.

* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 

TWO LIES AND A SPY by Kat Carlton

Kari receives a text from her mother, a coded message that means she needs to get her little brother and go into hiding. When Kari and Charlie make it to the third meeting spot without running into their folks, they know something is very wrong. Kari and Charlie's parents are spies. The kids know how to get to a safe house and use disguises, but they can only keep up like that for so long. Kari knows she needs help. Her friends help her break into The Agency for answers, but she finds out more than she bargained for.

I had walked by this book in the Teen section at Barnes and Noble several times, picking it up, taking a picture of the cover so I would remember it later, and then putting it down. Finally, I tried it during an hour of free reading on my Nook in the store. I was immediately drawn into the story and at the end of the hour, I had to buy the book so I would know how it ended. Goodreads says there's a sequel in the works, to come out in the fall. It's already on my wish list.

Some reviewers find the story "far fetched," but I wasn't reading this to find out how to be a spy. I just wanted to enjoy a fun story with interesting characters, and this did all that. I figured out some of the "mysteries" and twists before they were revealed in the story, but that didn't make me enjoy it any less. I don't read many teen/YA books, but I really enjoyed this one. Some language and innuendo.

4 out of 5 stars

STEELHEART by Brandon Sanderson

Ten years ago, the Epics were still something of a mystery. Granted superpowers by something called Calamity, it was still unclear if those powers would create superheroes or supervillains.  Ten years ago, David stopped wondering which it would be when he watched the Epic, Steelheart, kill his father. That day, eight-year-old David lost his father's hope that heroes would rise up to fight the Epics. That day was the start of David's search for vengeance against Steelheart. In the present, David is hoping to join The Reckoners - a shadowy group that kills Epics. They could be just what he needs to finally get justice for his father. And David could be just what the Reckoners need, too, because he has seen the "invulnerable" Steelheart bleed.

This was fantastic! This could have been a really dark, depressing story, but it wasn't. The world building is excellent and well-thought out. This is a great twist on the superhero genre. The characters are interesting and likable - David is smart and intuitive, but also awkward around girls like a teenager who has been on his own and living in tunnels under the city for years. The Epics are original - there are tiers of power levels, hidden weaknesses to find and exploit. My copy is a "special" one from Barnes and Noble that includes an annotated chapter with the author's notes, which was also very cool. I found out that there's a short "book 1.5" available for e-readers (called Mitosis, pictured below) and that book two, Firefight, will be out in the fall of this year. I am ready to pre-order book 2 as soon as I can! You can go to the author's website to read sample chapters or watch the book trailer.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Cautions: I was happy to see that the author made up some words for the moments when the characters would swear - it fit with the "otherworldly" setting and feel of the story while also making the book accessible for a large group of readers. The story is violent at moments - the Epics are pretty nasty beasts and The Reckoners are trying to kill them. But the violence is not graphic, in my opinion. I think this book would appeal to adult and teen readers, both.

PALACE OF SPIES by Sarah Zettel

Peggy has nothing - no parents to look out for her, no money or status, no one to stand up for her against a ruthless fiance's accusations. She finds herself on the street with nothing. But then an avenue out of her trouble presents itself - pretend to be a maid of honor to the Princess of England. But Peggy finds more trouble in the palace than she bargained for - blackmail, lies, secrets, treason, and murder. Can Peggy figure out what's really going on before she is discovered - or killed?

When I went to ALA this summer, I had this book on my list of Advance Reader Copies I wanted, but I missed it. The publisher graciously sent me an electronic copy this summer. The story was just as good as I had hoped. Great story, great intrigue. The setting and the time period aren't what I usually read, but I really enjoyed the palace scenes and the discussion of the clothes and expectations of the era. This feels like the beginning of a series, and if that is the case, I will be lining up for book two.  The main character was a lot of fun - I loved the scene she has with the Princess' daughter. The other characters were also well written - it was hard to tell who to trust. Great mystery. There is some language and adult situations that would lead me to steer teens towards this one rather than my elementary students. Releases November 5th.

4 out of 5 stars

* I received this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

WARP: THE RELUCTANT ASSASSIN by Eoin Colfer

In London in 1898, an orphan named Riley is on a "job" with the man who cares for him, a magician - and murderer - named Albert Garrick. The job is supposed to be Riley's first kill - a task Riley wants no part of. But the target is a scientist from the future, and Riley and Garrick are pulled into a wormhole to the future.

In our time, 17-year-old FBI agent Chevron Savarro is working in London. It falls to her to protect Riley as they try to run from Garrick and the powers he acquires in the wormhole.

This was a much darker book than I was expecting. I ordered it online, but if I had bought it at the bookstore I would have seen that it was shelved for teens instead of middle grade readers. Other reviewers have said this is a darker story than the author's other work. Older students looking for a good science fiction/time travel story should check this one out. It is well written, and suspenseful. The villain is truly evil and the story is violent, so readers should be prepared for that. As a parent, I would want my son to wait until middle school - and maybe late in middle school - before reading this one.

4 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 6.1

TEENS: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

"Maybe girls need an island to find themselves. Maybe they need a place where no one's watching them so they can be who they really are." ~ Beauty Queens, page 177

The Miss Teen Dream contestants were ready to parade around in gowns and swimsuits and utter over-rehearsed speeches about world peace. They were not prepared for their plane to crash on an island, killing all the adults and most of the pageant contestants. The time on the island will force the girls to deal with the truth about themselves and to learn to take care of themselves in their dangerous surroundings - all while keeping up their pageant practice, of course!

This was a wild story, unlike most of the things I read for kids or adults. The tone is sassy and irreverent with a dark humor. It took a few chapters to get past some of that dark humor and get into the flow of the story. I marked the quote above as I was reading, and I went back and read it again and again because I think it sums up this story really well - and because I think there is truth in it for teen girls and young women in our culture.

4 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 4.4 and an interest level of high school (Upper Grades)

Recommended for: teens and adults, readers who enjoy a sassy and dark tone to their stories. This could be an interesting read for a book group - with the right group, the discussion could be fascinating!

Cautions: There's plenty here to offend - and in some ways I think that's the point - to show readers a variety of life styles, responses to stress, corruption in the world, exploitation of women, etc. Specifically, there's a lot of swearing in the book, sex, transgendered and gay characters, satire of corporate advertising and messages to women about beauty.

FICTION for TEENS: You Have Seven Messages by Stewart Lewis

A year after her mother's death, Luna feels drawn to her mother's studio. There she finds her mom's cell phone - with 7 messages. Luna listens to them one at a time, hoping to make a connection with her mother, but she finds more than she bargains for. The new information leads Luna to make some new friends (including the cute cellist next door), strike out on her own artistically (away from her parent's famous influence), and discover things about her parents she's not sure she really wanted to know.

This was a good story. I was expecting more of a mystery, but this story was pretty straightforward. It was less about discovering the 7 messages and more about how Luna changes and grows as she learns about her mother and about the minutes before her death. Luna's a cool character - very independent for her age.

3 out of 5 stars
AR level of 4.9 (Middle Grade plus - 6th grade and older)

Recommended for: older teen readers. Contains profanity and adult situations.

GRAPHIC NOVEL for ADULTS: Fury's Big Week

This graphic novel is a lot of fun for fans of the recent Avengers movie, as well as the previous movies for Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor and Captain America. Fans who have seen all of the movies will enjoy glimpses of the events leading up to and/or surrounding the story lines of those shows. I'm not sure I buy all of those events taking place in a span of 7 days or so, but I'm willing to suspend disbelief because it's just so much fun to read.

4 out of 5 stars - thoroughly enjoyable

Cautions: some language. I think the content is appropriate for most teens who are already fans and have seen the movies. Folks who haven't seen the movies might not enjoy this as much as I did.

FRIDAY: The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan

Summary: Carter and Sadie and their trainees are gearing up to face Apophis, the great snake of Chaos. They have a crazy plan that just might work - they just have to trust a lying, murderous ghost, avoid elite magicians trying to kill them, and get the testy Egyptian gods to rally and fight with them. What could possibly go wrong?

Review:  I thought this was a very satisfying ending to the Kane's journey - at least so far. Even though the main story line is wrapped up nicely, there are threads left open in case Riordan wants to revisit these characters/this story in the future. Lots of story, energy and adventure packed into the pages. Nice development of the characters of Zia and Walt. There were pieces of this story that really stuck with me; my son and I are listening to the audio book of The Throne of Fire, and I keep thinking about what is to come, and looking forward to hearing the end of the trilogy again.

AR level: 4.8
4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for: Fans of the series, kids 10 and up who are looking for books full of action

Cautions: Story line is based on Egyptian mythology. Some readers may not care for a story with Egyptian gods and demons.

TEENS: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Hadley is on her way to London for her father's wedding to the woman he met and fell in love with when he taught for a semester abroad... while his wife and daughter stayed behind in the States. At 17, Hadley's a little too old to throw a kicking-and-screaming tantrum, but on the inside, that's exactly what she's doing. The stress and tension she's had since the divorce has led to panic attacks. When one starts to build at the airport while waiting for her flight, Hadley meets Oliver, a Brit studying in America, but heading back to London on the same flight. He provides a great distraction to Hadley with his funny comments and questions. Something starts to stir between them, but before they can really examine that, their plane lands, they get separated at customs, and Hadley is forced to face her father and his new life alone. But a passing comment at the wedding gives Hadley new insight into Oliver's reasons for being in London. Is what they had together on the plane reason enough for Hadley to track Oliver down in a strange city by herself?

REVIEW : This was a great love story. I first read about this book in a review magazine, and I was completely captivted by the plot line. While I couldn't remember the title, I kept scouting shelves in the teen section of book stores hoping something would ring a bell. It was worth it - I read it in one sitting, even staying up late in a school night because I wanted to know how it worked out. Hadley's angst is well conveyed without getting old for the reader. The whole story takes place in a 24 hour-ish period, with flashbacks to fill in the back story.

4.5 out of 5 stars. I'd recommend this to teens who are ready for a romantic tale. I only noticed one swear word, and the European teen (18 years old) drinks alcohol.

FRIDAY: The Maibox, Touch Blue

Two final Book Fair books:

Gabe was in foster care for years before being placed with his crusty old uncle, Vernon. It's not a perfect placement, but it has become home for Gabe. Then one day he comes home from school and discovers Vernon is dead. Gabe doesn't know what to do - and he doesn't want to go back into foster care. So he does nothing. The next day when Gabe gets home, Vernon's body is gone and cards start showing up in the mailbox. The cards are an encouragement and comfort to Gabe. As Gabe mourns his loss and worries about someone finding out, he remembers colorful moments from his life with Vernon and he learns some things about himself.

4 out of 5 stars

This was a beautiful story. I really liked Gabe's character and the glimpses the reader gets of Vernon. There are great supports in Gabe's life that he discovers through the story. This would be an interesting story to read to a class - maybe 5th or 6th graders - and discuss together.

Tess enjoys her life on an island off the coast of Maine. But that life is in jeopardy because the state says there are too few students to keep the school open. The townspeople decide to take in some foster children in order to build up the school's numbers, and to help some kids in need. Tess' family takes in a boy named Aaron, but Tess worries that he won't like them and won't want to stay and she'll lose everything precious to her.

4 out of 5 stars

This is another great story. Not as dark as The Mailbox, but with similar themes of family and belonging. The author does a great job with Tess - her eagerness to make Aaron like them and want to stay is portrayed well. If you need material to talk to kids about foster care, you might check this title out.

MONDAY: Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Summary
Benevolence wasn't supposed to be princess. Her uncle was the king and she was happy with her life away from the castle proper with her parents. But when the king is killed, along with Ben's mother, and her father is missing and presumed dead, Ben is next in line for the throne. Grieving and put out over all she has lost, Ben and the queen enter into an epic power struggle that leaves Ben locked in a tower cell. But that cell leads to a secret room where Ben begins to learn magic. And her new skills lead to an adventure that will change the direction of her life and will impact the future of her kingdom.

Review
This was a great story! Beautiful language - more intricate than typical middle grade fiction. Frankly, it is more intricate than a lot of adult fiction. Ben is a sympathetic character at the beginning, but the transformation that comes through time, trial, insight and maturity is even more satisfying. Plenty of material for discussion at home or school - body image and weight, assumptions and pre-conceived notions about people, etc. Excellent story!

4.5 stars out of 5
AR level of 7.9

Recommended for: strong readers 6th grade and older, fans of prince/princess stories

Cautions: none

BOOK FAIR Preview: Sound Bender by Lin Oliver

Summary
Leo's parents are dead, so he and his brother move in with their uncle, a wealthy and secretive business man. In the midst of his grief, Leo receives a birthday package from his father - an unusual disc - along with a story about Leo's birth. A story Leo has never heard before. The letter and the disc unleash a power in Leo; when touching an object, he hears things that took place around or related to the object. At first, it is simple stuff - a girl drops a pen and he hears her dad talking to her about the pen. He picks up a dropped backpack and hears the girl's mom tell her to grab her brother's backpack since she can't find her own. Then Leo touches an artifact in his uncle's warehouse and he hears a horrifying sound that he can't place but knows he has heard before. Leo is determined to track down that sound, no matter what.


Review
I originally read this book because it came in the preview pack for our book fair. I'm not sure I would have picked it up on my own, but I found it to be completely engrossing and delightful. The grief of the brothers is well portrayed without overpowering the rest of the story. Plenty of mystery surrounds the supporting cast, especially the uncle. I can recommend this wholeheartedly to my students who like adventure and fantasy stories.


4 out of 5 stars
AR level of 4.9


Recommended for: school, home and public libraries, fans of adventure and fantasy stories
Cautions: AR bookfinder says there is mild profanity in the book. Maybe I was too caught up in the story, but I did not catch any.