Book 26 - What the RATCHET?!

Nancy & I :)

On June 20th, I had the privilege of meeting Ms. Cavanaugh, a cute little lady who just published her first book with a punch! During her session with fans, she explained that she began writing this story in 1994, and it wasn't until 2012 when she finally found someone who wanted to publish it. If that's not perseverance, I don't know what is. She's now a great inspiration to me, and when I begin my own writing journey (soon, I promise), I will forever remember her stories about fighting to keep her work alive.


"One of the freshest new voices I've heard in a while... This debut novel is a winner."      -Augusta Scattergood

Yay!!

"Miss Noonan" (giggle) Love it!

Nancy created a great presentation! Very unique - she really
welcomed us into her personal life. She's human, like every one
else, and has dreams (that came true!!).

Nancy setting up

Nancy :)

Let me tell you - there is NOTHING cooler
than listening to an author read his or her
story to you! :)

Book 26: This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy J. Cavanaugh

This Journal Belongs to Ratchet
(click here to purchase)

Description: A debut middle grade novel about a girl named Ratchet and her quest to make a friend, save a park, and find her own definition of normal. Ratchet tells her story through the assignments in her homeschool journal. If only getting a new life were as easy as getting a new notebook. But it's not. It's the first day of school for all the kids in the neighborhood. But not for me. I'm homeschooled. That means nothing new. No new book bag, no new clothes, and no friends – old or new. The best I've got is this notebook. I'm supposed to use it for my writing assignments, but my dad never checks. Here's what I'm really going to use it for:
Ratchet's Top Secret Plan
Project Goal: turn my old, recycled, freakish, friendless, motherless life into something shiny and new.
This year, I'm going make something change. [GoodReads]

If there's an author out there who has thrown all of herself into a novel, it's Nancy. Ratchet is a book that was eighteen years in the making. When Nancy described this journey during her session, she explained that when she was finally published, her husband bought her a ratchet and had the word Perseverance engraved onto it. That's just who Nancy is to me: a hero; a fighter; a woman who stopped at nothing to get her story into the hands of readers.

As a middle grades Language Arts teacher, this is the perfect book! Ratchet (aka Rachel) is homeschooled - therefore she tells her story through her writing assignments in the form of poems, free writing exercises, essays, speeches, etc. Not only does this book tell a very likable story about a young girl trying to discover herself despite not having a mother or any real friends, but it shows young people the value of writing.

What I like most about the story is Ratchet's dedication to fulfill the goals she's made for herself. While she struggles growing up with her father by living in numerous "handy man specials" and knowing more about cars than the average mechanic, Ratchet never gives up her dream to learn about her mother, make friends, and discover who she truly is. Nancy's own spirit really shines through Ratchet's writings.

Oh, and Nancy does have another novel, Always, Abigail, that will hit shelves in the fall of 2014! It's another original story, but unlike Ratchet, this one is written through notes and letters. If it's anything like Ratchet, it's sure to be a hit among young students and adults and everyone in between.

*You may be able to find a signed copy of This Journal Belongs to Ratchet at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, Illinois.

Meet the author: Nancy J. Cavanaugh lives in Florida with her husband and her daughter. This Journal Belongs to Ratchet is her first book, but she has been writing for almost twenty years. Like her main character, Nancy is pretty handy with a ratchet and is able to take apart a small engine and put it back together. In addition to her mechanic's hat, Nancy has been an elementary and middle school teacher as well as a library media specialist. One of her favorite parts of writing for children is being able to say "I'm working" when reading middle grade novels. [GoodReads]

To visit Nancy, follow these links:
Nancy J. Cavanaugh SITE
Facebook

Nancy signing my book!

UPCOMING BOOKS: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate & Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
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Book 24 - The RECESSIVE soul

Kat Zhang & I :)

On Friday, June 14th, I attended a Young Author's Give Back panel at Anderson's Bookshop and met four fabulous young authors, Kat Zhang being one of them. I was ecstatic to see so many young readers and writers in attendance, soaking up everything that the authors were saying. They had been traveling around the country together giving workshops and offering advice to interested young writers. 

When the Q & A session began, I asked the writers when they decided they were going to pursue writing professionally and then how they went about incorporating writing into their days. Kat said that she had been writing since she was very young - at home, during class, etc - and I was glad to find that my writing habits had been similar to hers. Her and the other authors told me that if I want to write, I simply decide to do so and just do it. They said make writing my full-time job and treat it as such. They really encouraged me to begin working on my life-long dream!!

 

Book 24: What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Description: I should not exist. But I do. Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t... For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything. [GoodReads]

 

 On Friday night, I wasn't planning on purchasing Kat's novel, but the more she began to talk about its premise, I decided that hers was on that I really needed to read. Boy, am I happy I did!

I just finished this first in the Hybrid Chronicles series only minutes ago, and I'm so glad to have added this story to my repoirtore of books. Like I said, I had never before been presented with the idea of one body being born with two souls. Can you imagine sharing your body with a completely different person? One body; two souls. My name is Vanessa. My friends know me to read a lot and eat bakery. What if, tomorrow, another person takes over my body to live out her already-existing life? This concept has blown my mind!

Is this enough for you to now go out and get a copy for yourself? :)

Kat signing my book!

Meet the Author: Kat Zhang spent most of her childhood tramping through a world weaved from her favorite stories and games. When she and her best friend weren't riding magic horses or talking to trees, they were writing adaptations of plays for their stuffed animals (what would The Wizard of Oz have been like if the Cowardly Lion were replaced by a Loquacious Lamb?). This may or may not explain many of Kat's quirks today.

By the age of twelve, Kat had started her first novel and begun plans for her life as a Real Live Author (she was rather more confident at twelve than she is even now). Said plans didn't come into fruition until seven years later, when her agent sold her trilogy, The Hybrid Chronicles, to HarperCollins. The first book, WHAT'S LEFT OF ME–about a girl with two souls–will released September 18, 2012. Book 2 in the series, ONCE WE WERE, will be released September 17, 2013.

Kat is represented by Emmanuelle Morgen of Stonesong. She also performs as a Spoken Word poet and contributes to Pub(lishing) Crawl, a site for aspiring writers to talk about books, storytelling craft, and the publishing process. Kat has also had the pleasure of remote interning for a literary agent, specializing in Young Adult fiction.

When she is not exploring the world of her characters, she is exploring her own. To date, she's had the pleasure of visiting five countries, including more than half of the United States. She hopes to always keep writing and traveling. [GoodReads]

To visit Kat, follow these links:
Kat Zhang SITE
Facebook

 

UPCOMING BOOK: This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy J. Cavanaugh
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Book 23 - The Testing

Joelle & I :)

I was blessed - yet again - to meet another brilliant author. This is Joelle Charbonneau, a mystery author who's recently published a young adult, dystopian novel. While Joelle's mystery novels have been in my to-read pile for some time now, I haven't had a chance to read her work until I picked up The Testing. Joelle is such a great author and a great person. She is fun, down-to-earth, and genuinely enjoys interacting with her fans. I'm so glad that a good friend of mine (again, THANKS, Shelly!) invited me out to meet Joelle. Having a book of hers is a HUGE addition to my own personal library!

*Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, IL has some GREAT author events taking place this summer. They have multiple events each week, so there's always something going on there. I highly recommend Anderson's.



Book 23: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau



The Testing
(click here to purchase)

Description: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?  The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career. Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one. But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust. [GoodReads]

 

Joelle explained that she feels honored to have her new series compared to The Hunger Games (even though it upsets me because she has established her own, unique story within The Testing), but she does so with good reason. While I am not a huge fan of THG, I fell in love with Joelle's characters and storyline. Even though there are some similarities, these novels are two different worlds. (And because they are both young adult, dystopian stories, referring to Joelle as "taking" some of her ideas from THG is like saying that Janet Evanovich borrows ideas from Agatha Christie because they are both mystery writers.) I just wanted to mention THG now so that I do not have to mention it again throughout the rest of my review.

From page one, I was taken into the story! The Unites States is still recovering from the Seven Stages War, and Tosu City (the government home) requires that the remaining colonies be willing to send off their best high school graduates when they are requested. Malencia Vale's dream is to be accepted into The University so that she can learn the skills she needs to aid in the reestablishment of health and peace across the country. She looks the part and has the grades, yet her family is devastated when she is called to Tosu City to partake in The Testing, the initial requirements that weed out the poor from the best when deciphering which students may move on to The University.

The story seems innocent enough - what high school graduate does not want to head off to college now-a-days? But Malencia's dreams are shattered when she begins seeing her friends and classmates gruesomely killed while trying to complete simple, every day tasks. There are four tests to complete: the first is a simple comprehensive exam which tests the candidates on basic English, math, science, and history; the second test asks students to complete tasks (such as purifying water and then drinking that water to be sure that it really is safe to drink) with dire consequences; the third test judges how well the candidates work in groups; and the fourth and most horrifying test requires students to be dropped off over 700 miles away from Tosu City in a remote area and told to survive the rough reality of a destroyed world in order to return to the country's Capitol.

Through Malencia's experiences, she is not only faced with the harsh reality of her surroundings - she also discovers that love, true love, between two people, can get you through even the darkest of days.

 

I give this novel 5/5 stars. I've even emailed Joelle asking if she could send me an ARC (advanced reading copy) of the second in the series because I simply CANNOT wait to see what's next in story for Malencia.

 

 



Joelle signing my book!!



 

Meet the Author: "I am a storyteller at heart. I have performed in a variety of operas, musical theatre and children's theatre productions across the Chicagoland area. While I'm happy to perform for an audience, I am equally delighted to teach private voice lessons and use my experience from the stage to create compelling characters on the page. I am the author of the Rebecca Robbins mystery series (Minotaur Books), The Paige Marshall Glee Club mysteries (Berkley) and The Testing YA trilogy (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)." [GoodReads]



To visit Joelle, follow these links:
Joelle Charbonneau SITE
Facebook

UPCOMING BOOK: What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
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Book 22: Mr. & Mrs. President

*I had only recently heard of this novel through a friend of mine (thanks, Shelly!), but as soon as I knew it had to do with the Lincoln's, I was sold. Recently, I took a trip to Springfield, Illinois to feed my historical/Lincolns/presidential hunger. It was my first time there. I was blown away by all of the history relating to one of the greatest presidents in our country's history in my own home state! While I was there, I picked up the neatest little trinket - check it out here. Here are some photos from my trip!!



Rubbing Abe's nose!



One of Mary Todd Lincoln's dresses

In front of the Lincoln's House

Springfield, IL

Book 22 - Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker
(click here to purchase)

Description: In Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, novelist Jennifer Chiaverini presents a stunning account of the friendship that blossomed between Mary Todd Lincoln and her seamstress, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Keckley, a former slave who gained her professional reputation in Washington, D.C. by outfitting the city’s elite. Keckley made history by sewing for First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln within the White House, a trusted witness to many private moments between the President and his wife, two of the most compelling figures in American history.In March 1861, Mrs. Lincoln chose Keckley from among a number of applicants to be her personal “modiste,” responsible not only for creating the First Lady’s gowns, but also for dressing Mrs. Lincoln in the beautiful attire Keckley had fashioned. The relationship between the two women quickly evolved, as Keckley was drawn into the intimate life of the Lincoln family, supporting Mary Todd Lincoln in the loss of first her son, and then her husband to the assassination that stunned the nation and the world. Keckley saved scraps from the dozens of gowns she made for Mrs. Lincoln, eventually piecing together a tribute known as the Mary Todd Lincoln Quilt. She also saved memories, which she fashioned into a book, Behind the Scenes: Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House. Upon its publication, Keckley’s memoir created a scandal that compelled Mary Todd Lincoln to sever all ties with her, but in the decades since, Keckley’s story has languished in the archives. In this impeccably researched, engrossing novel, Chiaverini brings history to life in rich, moving style.[GoodReads]


Rich in history and filled with colorful stories, Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker is definitely one I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys time pieces. To be honest, I am not very interested in politics (to say the least). But there is something about the Lincoln's and the 1860s that really catches both my attention and my admiration.

I especially like Elizabeth's character. A former slave, she has recently been able to buy both her own freedom and her son's freedom. In the late 1850s, she moved to Washington D.C. (which she refers to as Washington City) and runs her own business as a seamstress. Working only for Washington D.C.'s most elite socialites, Elizabeth is recommended to Mrs. Lincoln and quickly becomes a part of the White House's inner circle. Not only to does Elizabeth create the most eloquent and one-of-a-kind dresses for Mrs. Lincoln, but she also mends her broken hearts and cares for her family. While Elizabeth knows that she has built the life she wants for herself, she cannot help but aide others who are in need (the Lincoln's, the newly freed slaves, etc.).

Abe & Mary Lincoln

While the story moves through Lincoln's presidency nicely, I thought at times that the story stood too still. I know that Elizabeth was Mrs. Lincoln's her dressmaker. And I know what the daily life in the White House looked like. But I wish Chiaverini could have done a better job at filling some of the gaps in with either new stories or some real history lessons. I also have one very LARGE complaint, though I'm not sure it's aimed toward Jennifer or Mary Todd Lincoln herself. Throughout the entirety of the novel, Mrs. Lincoln endlessly complains about how she wishes her life would end so she would no longer have to deal with certain trials: her son's death, her husband's death, her failing reputation, and her never-ending debt that continues piling throughout her life. Multiple times throughout the novel, I had to set it down and shout, "Well then, just do it already!" During the 1860s, I imagine that the First Lady had more than her fair share of tribulations to occupy her time. Honestly, I would never agree to my husband taking up the most important job in the country. But at the same time, Mary Todd Lincoln was a very gifted woman who exhibits proper ethics, strong convictions, and has her family's best interests in mind. There is no reason, then or now, for her to spend her days welcoming death. In regards to the novel, I suppose Mrs. Lincoln isn't the only one to blame for her actions. While she runs many of her ideas (many of which are toxic, though their intentions seemed to be in the right place...most of the time) past Elizabeth, Elizabeth makes no attempt to stop Mrs. Lincoln from carrying out her extravagant ideas (one being that she fires President Lincoln's favorite doorman on the grounds that she suspected him of stealing from the White House). Both women are at fault for their actions, and while both make great accomplishments throughout their lives, their negative actions seems to run on par alongside one another.

Having now added this novel to my repertoire of Lincoln memorabilia, I have to get back to Springfield ASAP to pick up this little trinket!

 



Jennifer Chiaverini

Meet the author: Jennifer Chiaverini is the author of ten Elm Creek Quilts novels and An Elm Creek Quilts Sampler and An Elm Creek Quilts Album, as well as Elm Creek Quilts and Return to Elm Creek, two collections of quilt projects inspired by the series, and is the designer of the Elm Creek Quilts fabric lines from Red Rooster fabrics. She lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin.[GoodReads]


To visit Jennifer, follow these links:
Jennifer Chiaverini SITE
Facebook

UPCOMING BOOK: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
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