GreenBeanTeenQueen

Reading a lot this year I'm noticing lots of trends in YA. So far I've seen Italy, Glass Blowing , One Crazy Night, and what got the most comments, the Game of Thrones for YA trend. Now, the gossipy historical trend isn't new. The Luxe came out in 2007. But this year I've nocticed a rise in the gossipy historicals being published. I think it's partly due to Downton Abbey's popularity that is making this trend rise, especially give the this book:   Wentworth Hall by Abby Graham -This one is a pretty obvious Downton Abbey readalike     Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl -Austenesque historical that I think fans of Downton Abbey would love!   It doesn't have the be the same time period as these. There is gossip in historical fiction to be had even further back!     Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan -Gossipy historical set in the 1600s     Gilt by Katherine Longshore -Gossipy historical set in the Tudor Age   Have you seen any other gossipy

    Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham, Illistrated by Paul Zelinsky   About the Book: Moose really wants to be in the alphabet book. Zebra has a plan and has the alphabet organized but Moose has other ideas.   GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: How have I not shared my love of Z is for Moose ? And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! It rivals Robot, Zombie, Frankenstein as my most favorite and adored picture book of the year.   This is one of those picture books that just never seems to get old. It's a blast to read aloud, especially if you really act out Moose's part-his excitement is infectious and you can't help but give a dramatic reading as Moose when you read this one. And the illustrations are fantastic. They really add to the humor of the story and it's fun to spot Moose on the pages. You read this book and try not to laugh-it's just that great. Seriously, I've read this book numerous times this year and I find something new I love with every reading

We finally have a Finnick for Catching Fire! I don't know about you, but this was the casting news I was eagerly waiting for! Sam Claflin has been cast as Finnick! I think he will be awesome, don't you? The Hollywood Reporter has a very handy Catching Fire casting guide to keep you updated . And The Hunger Games Movie Facebook page has a very cool cast photo collage so you can see who everyone is.

I've mentioned how much I love Game of Thrones here on the blog. Mr. GreenBeanSexyMan had read the whole series and couldn't wait for the TV Show. I was quickly hooked on the TV Show and am now working my way through the books. Of course, the YA world took note and now a big trend of books being marketed as " Game of Thrones for Teens" are coming out. And even those that might not have that tagline are appearing this year and I think they could have the same thing said about them. I'm really hoping this means a rise in epic fantasy in YA! Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes -This was the first book I heard as described with the Game of Thrones for Teens tagline when it was announced in Publisher's Weekly . It's been on my radar ever since because, that simple sell totally works for me! Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas -Another one I heard mentioned with the "for Game of Thrones fans" tagline Defiance by C.J. Re

Tween Tuesday is a meme started here at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens! Join the fun and add your link below! Rating: 5/5 Stars Genre: Picture Book/Activity Book Release Date: 2/1/2011 Add to Goodreads About the Book: It's a book-but there's a hole in it! Sometimes it's an eye, sometimes a face, sometimes a place-use your imagination to discover what's inside! GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I'm in love with Herve Tullet's  Press Here which I constantly sing the praises of to my library patrons. So when a co-worker first showed me The Book With a Hole , I was excited to find a picture book that would work great with tweens. On each page is a different scene-a swimming pool, an animal, a basketball hoop. Sometimes you have to draw things to go behind the hole to complete the scenes. Sometimes you can hold the book up to your face and complete the picture. It's interactive all with imagination which makes it stand out. You

One of the fun parts of being a librarian is that I get to listen in on reader's advisory webinars. These webinars are basically hour long booktalks from publishers telling you about what's coming out in the next publishing season. I never get tired of them and I think listening to booktalks is something I could do all day! So I watched the archive of the Booklist Fall YA Announcements webinar I had missed and discovered the best meets-you know, the "it's this meets that" line that you hear that helps sell a book. "It's Harry Potter meets Veronica Mars" The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett Yep, I was sold. I really can't wait for this book now! We just have to wait until March 2013! And way to go Tor Teen for the having the best meets line of the webinar! Heard any other great meets lately? 

The more you read, the more you notice certain trends in books. With as much reading as I have to do this year, I've noticed A LOT of trends in YA. So far I've pointed out the Glass Blowing Trend and The Hangover for Teens (aka One Crazy Night) Trend . So where's the popular setting for YA books this year? Italy is the place to be apparently! Just take a look: Sisters of Glass by Stephanie Hemphill -It has one trend already-glass blowing-and where does it take place? Italy! Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould -Historical secret society-in Italy! Venom by Fiona Paul -This novel is out in October and takes place in Italy! Cross My Heart and Venom also have a mini trend of masks on the cover. Changeling by Philppa Gregory -Another historical-with ties to Italy Flirting In Italian by Lauren Henderson -It's not just historical fiction that's set in Italy-we've got contemporary fiction there too! Have you noticed

Welcome to the 52 Days of 52 Reasons to Love Jessica Brody and Her Books Tour! Today I have just 1 of the reasons to love Jessica Brody!  For 51 other reasons, visit Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf (August 14th), In Bed With Books (August 16th), and Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile (August 17th) and stay tuned for more! So why should you love Jessica Brody? After college, Jessica worked for MGM studios in acquisitions and business development. How cool is that?? Maybe that experience in the movie buisness is why Jessica's book trailers are so awesome! Plus, her books are hilarious. So even more reasons to love her and her books! About the book : Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it. Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes conver

Since I'm in the middle of my Committee Year, I haven't gotten to read as much middle grade as I've wanted. It's never too early to start thinking about the Newbery and I'm curious to know what books have been gaining buzz and what you think will be showing up on Mock Newbery lists this Fall. I have a few that I have my eye on! May B by Caroline Starr Rose -A historical novel in verse, I've had my eye on  May B  ever since I reviewed it earlier this year . Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage -I'm part of a group on Facebook called the Centurians and this one has gotten some award buzz from fellow librarians in the group! The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate -I've heard lots of early buzz around this one! Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz -She's a previous Newbery winner and a fantastic writer! Wonder by R.J. Palacio -So many people have been buzzing about this book. I think it'

George Ella Lyon's newest novel, Holding On To Zoe , was just released in July. Readers often want to know where writers’ ideas come from. Tell us about the genesis of your novel Holding On to Zoe . Is the story imagined, based in reality, or some of both? Like so much of my writing, Zoe began in my journal. My practice, when I don’t have an ongoing project, is to come to the page and ask who wants to speak. Then I wait. Sometimes nobody shows up. Sometimes it’s somebody I don’t connect with. Maybe a guy who wants to tell me how the St. Lawrence Seaway was built. I try to be open to whoever comes, but if I really don’t connect with the voice, I don’t return to it the next day. With Jules, I was captivated from the first page. Who was this narrator? Where did she come from? What was her story? Would she come back? Would I have the courage and stamina to go on her story? If you compare this beginning with the final novel, you’ll see that Zoe started out as Lily and the fa

How have I not blogged about Sync yet this summer? Sigh...that's what having a super busy summer reading program will do to you! Anyway, I had to share that this week featured audiobook is one of my favorites: Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy -and it's available to download for free!  It's one of the audiobooks I recommend to readers looking to try audiobooks for the first time as well as seasoned listeners because the audio version is just so good. Plus, Skulduggery is just awesome. It was also one of the few audiobooks that Mr. GreenBeanSexyMan and I agreed on listening to and we both enjoyed it. So head over to Sync and get your copy of Skulduggery Pleasant ! And if I haven't convinced you, maybe this incredibly awesome trailer will do the trick?

If you work with tweens, you know today is a very exciting day! Today is the release of the next book in The Origami Yoda series: The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee ! Happy release day Fortune Wookiee!! I can't wait to add you to my library shelves! 

Looking for an adventure story? Survive is a new Young Adult book that is full of adventure! About the book: (from goodreads): Hatchet meets Lost in this modern-day adventure tale of one girl's reawakening Jane is on a plane on her way home to Montclair, New Jersey, from a mental hospital. She is about to kill herself. Just before she can swallow a lethal dose of pills, the plane hits turbulence and everything goes black. Jane wakes up amidst piles of wreckage and charred bodies on a snowy mountaintop. There is only one other survivor: a boy named Paul, who inspires Jane to want to fight for her life for the first time. Jane and Paul scale icy slopes and huddle together for warmth at night, forging an intense emotional bond. But the wilderness is a vast and lethal force, and only one of them will survive. Alex Morel's Website I don't know about you guys, but I was hooked from the tagline " Hatchet meets Lost ". I think Survive is a going to be

I've come across two very good book trailers recently that I just had to share! The books couldn't be more different. The first is for an upcoming picture book called Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DeCosta and Ed Young. I'd love it just from the title alone, but then I saw the book trailer and I'm even more excited to read the book now! Then there's the book trailer for Libba Bray's upcoming YA novel, The Diviners . And yes, both of these books are from Little Brown. Hats off to their marketing team for such awesome book trailers!!!