Book Sale part deux

Ok so a little follow up... I posted the schedule... make it to the sale, people!  We obviously went on Saturday despite the rumors that you shouldn't.  It's not any less crowded on Tuesday than it is on Saturday FYI.  PLUS you get first pick.  We got there at 5, browsed ALL of the books, stood in line, paid,  went to the grocery store and were home by 7.  (We got A LOT of books!)

Running into these SUPER AWESOME people made the book sale even greater than it would have been!!! We are making another trip back this week.  (Not tomorrow because, duh, it's election day.) A lot of the books that were for my reading level I had already received from Penguin Group.  Ok.... enough writing I need to finish Prodigy and start Matched or maybe one of the other 20 Penguin/Putnam books I have?

Catastrophic History of You and Me

"The Catastrophic History of You and Me" by Jess Rothenberg is about a 15-year-old girl, Brie.  A few days before her 16th birthday her boyfriend, Jacob, tell Brie that he doesn't love her anymore.  This literally kills her.  As soon as Brie gets to Forever (the afterlife) things start to look up.  She meets Patrick Darling a motorcycle riding, leather bomb jacket wearing, handsome guy from the 80's who died "in a motorcycle accident".  He gives her a lot of funny cheese nicknames... her name is Brie after all... and the two share a lot of witty banter. 

The plot of TCHOYAM is spilt into 5 vital parts: 1.  Denial 2. Anger 3. Sadness 4. Bargaining 5. Acceptance.  These are also known as the five stages of grief.  In acceptance Brie learns the truth about Patrick and herself and his sacrifice in the name of true love.  This book also takes a look at the affects her death on the people who were a part of Brie's life. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book because it was dramatic, romantic, saddening angering and happy all in one.  My favorite parts were the flashbacks which really helped me know the characters better by elaborating on some situations.  I was very upset when it was revealed how Patrick really died but I really really loved the ending.  This is another must read!

Penguin Book Sale

Book sale? Yes, please! Every year Penguin has a book sale that conveniently takes place not far from our house.  Last year was the first time Mom and I went.  We were clearly amateurs.  We had NO idea how cheap these books were going to be!  Well, not this year! Thomas (my little brother) and I saved up some dough in preparation.  We wore sneakers and had large bags to carry our finds.  We were also prepared to stand in line for half an hour or so. 

When I say these books are cheap that's what I mean.  A book whose cover price is less than ten dollars are $1.00.  Cover prices from $10.01 to $14.99 are $2.00 and so on an so forth.  A book that is usually $59 is only $6 at this sale.  Most paperbacks cost only $1.00 at this sale. 

We had a BLAST tonight.  My little bro was super excited because this was his first time going.  We both found a lot of books that we are pretty excited about.  A major bonus happened... we ran into Melissa and Ben!!!! The worst part of this book sale are the lines... time flew because we got to stand in line with them and chat.  the book sale this year was a great success!! If you've never been and you live in or near Broome County, NY check it out!!!

#penguingroup #penguinbooksale

Mockingbird

"Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine is a fantastic realistic fiction novel.  This book is about a 10-year-old girl named Caitlyn who is diagnosed with Asperger's Disease.  The book begins at the funeral service for Caitlyn's brother.  Through the book the author writes from the viewpoint of Caitlyn, from her thoughts and feelings in dealing with her brother's death and her peers who find amusement in tormenting Caitlyn. 

I found this book to be very emotional.  Through the book almost every emotion that can be felt is portrayed.  My favorite part of the book is when she gives her father a draft of her mockingbird to put on the top of a chest she and her father are making in memory of her brother.  To learn the significance of the mockingbird you will just have to read the book. 

In my opinion "Mockingbird" is must read.  Most anyone would be able to relate to the feelings in this book.  It also opened my eyes to the world of autism that I never really knew much about.  This book really proves that just because a person has a "disability" it doesn't make them any less of a person or their emotions any less human. 

So Exciting!

Sooooooo... I have some pretty exciting news!  I am going to be reading and reviewing prepublished young adult books and writing little reviews about them for Penguin Group.  I found out a month ago and was so excited it made me cry! PREPUBLUISHED BOOKS?!?!? So cool! 

How did I get this sweet deal you ask? Well on of my mom's best friends, Allison, has a mother who works in publishing for Penguin.  She knows how much I love to read and so she asked my mom if I would be interested.  Of course she said yes!  Oh, she also asked if I mom would allow me to start a blog wellll I had already started one.

Anyway this is alll just so exciting for me!  I am so thankful that Mrs. Quattrocchi asked me to do this! I have read a few of the books (as well as some others) I have just been so busy reading that I haven't gotten down to the reviewing.  Soo... very soon so STAY TUNED!



My first shipment.

 

My second shipment... this just came last week.