GreenBeanTeenQueen

Happy Holidays to all my wonderful blog readers!! I hope everyone has a wonderful time-and of course has the chance to read a book! :)

Don't you love those epic scenes in books and movies when you're anticipating and waiting for a couple to kiss and they almost do and then...they don't! To celebrate that No-Kiss Moment, Frankie Diane Mallis is hosting the third annual No Kiss Blogfest! Sign up at Frankie's blog to join in the fun!  Here are the details from Frankie: 1) Sometime between now and Jan 2, 2012 write a post about the No Kiss Blogfest to let everyone know you are participating and that they should too. Why? Because it's awesome! 2) Sign up for the No Kiss Blogfest on Frankie's blog. 3)Tweet about No Kiss Blogfest, using the hash tag: #nokissblogfest because #hashtagsareawesome 4) After you've recovered from New Years Eve, write a blog sharing your Almost Kiss, No Kiss Blogfest entry (either one from your WIP, one you just wrote, one from a book, movie or tv show, or even a really hot almost-kiss picture)and post on January 2, 2012!!! Because reading your posts ...

Rating: 3/5 Stars Genre: Contemporary Release Date: 12/8/2011 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Cam is a teen who is living with cancer. Her recent doctor visit didn't turn out well and she doesn't have much hope. But her mom isn't about to give up and convinces Cam that they should spend the summer in Promise, Maine, a place where miracles happen. Cam is cynical and doesn't believe in miracles, but in a town where flamingos visit and sunsets last forever, Cam has a summer to believe in miracles. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Tough topics like teens dying can be hard to write well. Sometimes they can come off as too cheesy and corny and Nicholas Sparksy. Other times they don't feel real and you don't like the characters. Wendy Wunder manages to pull off a story that makes you care about the characters and feels real without veering into a cheese-fest. Cam is a cynical character and at first I had a hard time relating her. But she grew on me as the novel w...

Day in the Life posts are inspired by Abby the Librarian's Day in the Life series. Many people wonder what it is librarians do all day! (No, we don't get to read books on the desk all day!) Since I've taken my position as Youth Services Manager it seems like my days are even more filled with meetings and scheduling and trainings. Here's a Day in the Life of a Youth Services Manager. 8:30-Arrive at work, turn on computers, wipe down keyboards and headsets, check schedule to see what we have planned for the day 8:40-9:00-Straighten up department, pick up books, take leftover DVD and CD cases up front, clean up Early Literacy Station Toy Centers (My library has Early Literacy Stations that have 9 rotating toy bins with toys like puzzles, plush food, word flashcards, plush mailbox, etc. Each toy goes along with our new Early Literacy Skills. We also have a puppet stage.) 9:00-9:10-Put simple craft out since there are no December storytimes to ease the pain of no stor...

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted here at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens. Join the fun and add your link below. Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Genre: Contemporary  Release Date: 8/2/2011 Add to Goodreads About the Book: It's been 157 days since Mimi's Mammy died. Her father only serves overcooked pizza for dinner and is always sad, her brother plays drums loudly every day and Mimi knows that her sister has a terrible secret (thanks to the peeks she has in her diary). As her family struggles to pull themselves together after tragedy, they learn to come together rely on each other and help each heal. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Mimi is a sweet yet sad story about family and loss. Mimi is struggling to understand the tragedy of her mother's death and is feeling out of place as each of family members grieve in their own way. Her brother plays drums, her father is distant and her sister has a secret that she's afraid to tell others. Even though ...

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars Genre: Paranormal Release Date: 12/20/2011 Books In Series: Hearts At Stake , Blood Feud , Out for Blood Add to Goodreads About the Book: As the Blood Moon is about to begin, vampires from all over the world are gathering near the Drake compound. But not everyone is happy with the invites and a mysterious new tribe that wasn't invited is looking for a seat on the council. Their plan is to kidnap Lucy, because she's close to the Drake family. Everything goes wrong when they wind up with Lucy's cousin, Christabel instead. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: The Drake Chronicles is my favorite guilty pleasure series. I love the snarky, witty banter, the very hot Drake brothers, and the vampire mythos that Alyxandra Harvey has created. Each entry into the series is an engaging and entertaining read. I think Bleeding Hearts though is tied with book number one for my favorite in the series. I loved that Lucy was back as one of the narrators. She continues...

In Style has a gallery of sketches from various fashion designers taking on Katniss's famous fire dress. I'm not a huge fan of to many-Christian Siriano's is pretty cool and I think it captures the original. And this one by Rachel Roy is an outfit I want to own because I'm crazy like that! I think I've been watching too much Project Runway because I was totally critiquing them like Heidi! Thanks to Leila for the link!

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars Genre: Mob/Crime Fiction/Dystopian/A bit of Mystery Release Date: 9/6/2011 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Anya Balanchine lives in a future where chocolate and caffeine is illegal and paper is rationed. As the daughter of a chocolate "mob boss" Anya could work in the family business. Anya wants nothing to do with the chocolate business that killed her parents and injured her brother. She wants as normal of a life as possible for herself and her siblings. But life gets complicated when Anya is accused of poising her ex-boyfriend with an illegal chocolate bar. I have loved Gabrielle Zevin's two previous YA novels, so I went into this book with high expectations. Luckily I was not disappointed! I was sucked into the story and couldn't put this book down until I had finished. The book is set in a future where the government has more control, things have been rationed due to supplies running low, and some items, such as chocolate, have beco...

There have been some contests here on the blog and I'm happy to announce the winners! Liesl and Po Giveaway Winner: Jen This Is Teen: Guys Reads Giveaway Winner: Candice Congrats! I hope you enjoy your books!

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted here at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens! Join the fun and add your link below. Rating: 3/5 Stars Genre: Graphic Novel Release Date: 8/20/2011 Add to Goodreads About the Book:  Cupcake has a pretty great life-his bakery is doing well, he's in a band, and he has a great friend in Eggplant. But lately he's been struggling to bake. When Eggplant suggests that Cupcake join him on his trip to Turkey. It turns out Eggplant is old family friends with Cupcake's hero, Turkish Delight and Cupcake is sure that Turkish Delight has the answer to his baking woes. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I really enjoy Sara Varon's books and her art style (even if Robot Dreams made me a bit sad!) I love her artwork because she really knows how to put emotion into her characters and it makes the story come to life. Sure, talking food isn't real, but I believe it with Sara Varon's art. Bake Sale is an adorably funny book...

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Genre: Art Release Date: 9/22/2011 Add to Goodreads About the Book: A collection of artwork based on missed connections ads. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Not my usual fare, I know, but I do read some adult titles once in awhile! This book has been on my radar since I got the Love at First Sight poster from ALA which features a missed connection in a bookstore. (Sadly, this print is not incldued in the book). I love Sophie Blackall's artwork, so I was very excited for this collection! We've all read missed connections, right? (Admit it, I'm not the only one!) It's a fascinating peek into another person's story and in some ways it gives us hope that love can be found. Some are funny, some are strange, and some are heartbreaking. The introduction to the book made me nod along as Sophie explained her fascination with missed connection ads. Who hasn't read one and wondered what happend? (Or secretly wished there was one about you?) ...

Rating: 4/5 Stars Genre: Short Stories Release Date: 9/27/2011 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Seven lost stories from the masterful Dr. Seuss compiled and published together for the first time in a new collection. From cautionary, lesson tales, to humor and fantastical new creatures, this is a must have for Dr. Seuss fans young and old! GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I think this book is best enjoyed on audio with wonderful narrators!! I'm always a bit nervous about "lost" stories, but I enjoyed this collection for the most part, especially after hearing about how they were short works originally published in magazines and newspapers. I thought I'd share a breakdown of what I liked or disliked about each story: The Bippolo Seed narrated by Neil Patrick Harris-I loved this story and I really thought it was the strongest of the book. It had the classic Seuss feel to it of silliness and a lesson in the end. I also liked the rhymes and felt they all worked well in...

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens! Join the fun and add your link below. Rating: 3/5 Stars Genre: Contemporary/Novel in Verse Release Date: 9/13/2011 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Joylin is finding herself at the crossroads of middle school. She's always been content the way she is, playing basketball and enjoying her friend's. But now her best girl friend is flirting with her best guy friend and basketball seems different. Then Joylin notices Santiago and suddenly her clothes aren't right, she wants Santiago to notice her, and Joylin is feeling a bit left out. Why does middle school have to be so confusing? GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Planet Middle School is a short and sweet novel in verse. I listened to this book on audio and while I could tell it was written in verse, it still worked well on audio. I really enjoyed the narrator and she really drew me into the story and made Jaylin come to life. ...

I've always loved reading picture books, but since I took on my new position as Youth Services Manager, I've been reading picture books a lot more. I'm hoping to start reviewing picture books more regularly on the blog-you're never too old for picture books!! Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet How many times have I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and just accepted those balloons without wondering how they were created? That's what I love about this book-it introduces readers into a little known history of the balloons in the parade. I watched this year's parade with much more interest. The text is accessible and the story is simple enough for younger readers. A great new treat to read over the holidays! Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner When it snows where do the animals go? Told through parallel verse, we see what happens above the snow and underneath. The narrator is skiing ...