Review: Salt by Helen Frost

Salt by Helen Frost.

Page Count: 160.
Published: July 23, 2013.
Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR).
Source: Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Goodreads Blurb:
Anikwa and James, twelve years old in 1812, spend their days fishing, trapping, and exploring together in the forests of the Indiana Territory. To Anikwa and his family, members of the Miami tribe, this land has been home for centuries. As traders, James’s family has ties to the Miami community as well as to the American soldiers in the fort. Now tensions are rising—the British and American armies prepare to meet at Fort Wayne for a crucial battle, and Native Americans from surrounding tribes gather in Kekionga to protect their homeland. After trading stops and precious commodities, like salt, are withheld, the fort comes under siege, and war ravages the land. James and Anikwa, like everyone around them, must decide where their deepest loyalties lie. Can their families—and their friendship—survive?
In Salt, Printz Honor author Helen Frost offers a compelling look at a difficult time in history.

My Review:

Salt is a wartime novel written in dual perspective featuring two young boys who end up on opposite sides of the battle lines. It explores the War of 1812 through their narratives and through their friendship, which is a great way to get young readers to connect with the history.

This novel was excellent for a few different things. First off, I was very impressed by how it explores the innocence of children and how it changes in the face of prejudice. While I do think it will take a young reader with a bit of a higher comprehension level than average to really appreciate the novel, I definitely think there is plenty to enjoy. I thought it was wonderful the way it examines the tense relationships that develop during the war in a way that a young reader can grow to understand along with the two narrators. This way they can feel like they're growing with the characters rather than having history pushed on them. I also really enjoyed the way the narratives were set up visually. As the author explains, the visual aspect of Anikwa's narrative is meant to represent the Miami tribe's traditional weaving patterns, while James' is meant to be presented like the stripes on the American flag. I think it adds an interesting visual dynamic to helping identify each individual narrator and their place in the story.

The drawback for me in this one is that I felt it really only skimmed the surface of a lot of what was going on. I suppose I should have expected it from a book clocking in at only 160 pages, but I still wanted more depth and history. I understand that these young boys would have been sheltered and therefore, because the story was told from their perspectives, we would not be exposed to everything, but I almost felt like they were more sheltered than they would have been and so it was all more brushed over than I hoped it would be. I felt the tension in the situation but if I weren't someone who studies history I probably wouldn't have understood why it was present or its true implications.

Overall, though, this was a well-crafted novel that showcases the profound differences that were present between cultures during the War of 1812 through the innocence and friendship of two young boys living on a battleground. I just wish there had been more in-depth exploration of the situation at hand.
A solid 3 stars.

Review: Black City by Elizabeth Richards

Black City by Elizabeth Richards.

Black City #1.
Page Count: 374.
Published: November 13, 2012.
Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR.
Source: Won an ARC from Fiona Paul during the Venom Twitter Party.

Goodreads Blurb:
A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

My Review:

Black City has vampires (called Darklings). I am so not a vampire person. I still thought it was a great story. Point for Elizabeth Richards!

This was really an interesting book. There was a lot of world-building to set up, which some people may have trouble keeping straight but which I actually enjoyed. I appreciated the way Richards created an intricate and complicated world with some real depth. This made it easy to get swept up in the politics of it all because there was a lot to the ongoing conflict to consider. I also thought Richards did an excellent job of explaining and justifying her rules to her world. When something scientific or biological about the story is revealed, she doesn't just write it in and expect the readers to accept it. She gives reasons and explains how things work, then follows these rules later on, even surprising readers with their implications. She also drops little hints along the way that come back to be part of major plot points and I have to commend her on the skill with which she wove that together. I do want to note that some of the scenes are very harsh and quite graphic. Richards seems to have taken a no-holds barred approach which I appreciate because it demonstrates the true cruelty of the world they live in, but I still found a scene or two a little hard to read.

Despite the intricate world, the characters and their struggles do manage to take control of the story. I really enjoyed that there was a lot more to most of the important characters than it seemed at first. As the story went on I felt like not only were the characters growing but that they were also constantly continuing to reveal parts of themselves to other characters and to me. It was an excellent reminder not to take everyone at face value. While Natalie starts out frustratingly privileged and naive, she learns over time to open her eyes to the things going on around her and to other people's realities and this made her grow into a likeable character by the end. Ash begins the story very closed off, angry, and defensive, with good reason, but also grows throughout the book to become an interesting and complex character. They are both still not without their faults, though, which makes them seem all the more realistic. It is a balance that Richards has worked out quite well.

Something I thought was interesting with this one was the parallels I noticed to other popular works. The love story between Natalie and Ash was, I thought, very much an homage to Romeo and Juliet. There was a lot that felt familiar from the classic story, including the lovers being from opposing sides in society and even a balcony scene. However, I do not see Romeo and Juliet as a genuine love story. It is a prime example of the insta-love that everyone hates in YA. Black City, though a bit insta-lovey, gives a real reason for the initial connection that then grows into a genuine relationship, so I actually really appreciated their love story. They're also not "the perfect couple" once they get together. There are moments of doubt and uncertainty on both sides, as well as some rocky moments where I worried for their future together. This served not to be unnecessary drama but to show that relationships aren't perfect and I loved that there was a strong representation of that. Still, I got swept up in their relationship and definitely support them as a couple.

The other parallel I noticed was with Harry Potter, and it comes in the form of a character named Gregory. He holds the same hatred and disgust for anything remotely Darkling as Draco Malfoy does for anything not pure-blood wizard. They have a couple similar moments and it was interesting to see where they were similar and where they differed. In the end, though, I think Gregory outdoes Malfoy with his actions.

Overall I was very impressed with the depth and honesty presented in Black City. There was real and interesting world building and flawed characters that grow but do not become perfect. There were so many shades of grey when it came to good and bad that my opinions were constantly shifting. It was a thoughtful and very enjoyable novel.
4 stars.

Review: Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski.

Page Count: 288.
Published: July 2, 2013.
Published by: Henry Holt.
Source: Received from Raincoast Books in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thanks, Raincoast!

Goodreads Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Samantha D’Angelo has death on the brain. Her summer internship at the local newspaper has her writing obituaries instead of soaking up the sun at the beach. Between Shelby, Sam’s boy-crazy best friend; her boss Harry, a true-blue newspaper man; and AJ, her fellow “intern scum” (aka the cute drummer for a band called Love Gas), Sam has her hands full. But once she figures out what—or who—is the best part of her summer, will she mess it all up?

As Sam learns her way around both the news room and the real world, she starts to make some momentous realizations about politics, ethics, her family, romance, and most important—herself.

My Review:

I don't love a lot of contemporary novels because I find many of them all feel the same to me. Famous Last Words is definitely an exception to that. It covers, over the course of a summer, a growing phase in a young girl's life that finally sets her on her path. The story is told with humour and heart and I adored every moment of it.

Sam is a fantastic main character in that she is so perfectly average. This isn't a story about her "becoming the chosen one" or "achieving her destiny" or anything extraordinary like that. She's just a normal girl working a summer job that ignites a fire in her (in more ways than one). I absolutely adored Sam. She's the type of girl I could definitely see myself being best friends with, and those are the types of characters that are always fun to read about. I felt like I could totally connect with her; she loves 80s movies, is a bit of an introvert, and tries really hard to please everyone in her life, especially her parents. Throughout the whole book I felt like she was talking right to me, as if we were friends chatting and being funny about the goings-on in our lives. I even felt like I could talk back and tell her she was being blind towards a certain boy's advances (but then, who hasn't been like that at some point?). It was so encouraging to see her grow and begin to realize where she really wanted to be in life and then finally take the steps to get there. I was rooting for her the whole way. Her sense of humour was really enjoyable; a little self-deprecating, occasionally snarky, and overall very relatable. I loved her as main character and as narrator and wish she could actually be my new best friend.

The newspaper office as the primary setting for the story was very interesting in that it's so original for me. I don't think I've ever read another book that takes place in that kind of setting, let alone a YA book. I loved getting an inside look at the workings of a local newspaper and getting caught up in the mysterious scandal that they try to expose. It was a great environment to read about and made for a perfect setting. Getting to know Sam's co-workers was fun because they're all so distinct in personality. Everyone in the office just seemed very real, as if you could meet someone like any of them at any time. I especially enjoyed AJ as a character and his interaction and friendship with Sam. It was so genuine and I think Doktorski handled their awkward phase very realistically. I think I enjoyed all the characters in the novel even more because of the way Sam helps you get to know everyone. It was done so well that I felt like I was right there in the room with them. That's one thing that Doktorski has excelled at with this novel: making you feel like you're a part of it. A lot of the time I didn't feel like I was reading a book, I felt like I was watching a friend's life unfold.

All in all, this was a cute and fun read about a main character that shines for just being herself and figuring out where she fits in her world. With a lively and entertaining cast of characters in a very original setting for YA lit, this book is definitely not just another contemporary.
4 stars!

Sophomore Spotlight: Jennifer Salvato Dokstorski

I'm so excited to welcome Jennifer Salvato Doktorski to the blog as part of Sophomore Spotlight! So without further ado, here's some info and an interview about her sophomore novel, Famous Last Words!

Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski.

Published July 2, 2013
by Henry Holt.

Goodreads Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Samantha D’Angelo has death on the brain. Her summer internship at the local newspaper has her writing obituaries instead of soaking up the sun at the beach. Between Shelby, Sam’s boy-crazy best friend; her boss Harry, a true-blue newspaper man; and AJ, her fellow “intern scum” (aka the cute drummer for a band called Love Gas), Sam has her hands full. But once she figures out what—or who—is the best part of her summer, will she mess it all up?

As Sam learns her way around both the news room and the real world, she starts to make some momentous realizations about politics, ethics, her family, romance, and most important—herself.

Welcome, Jen! I'm so happy to have you here for Sophomore Spotlight!
To start us off, describe your sophomore novel in 5 words or less.
J: Teen obit writer starts living.

Where did the idea for it come from?
J: My first paid writing gig was as an editorial assistant at a newspaper in New Jersey. In addition to answering phones and going on coffee runs, I wrote obituaries for eight months. If we didn’t have enough obituaries to fill the page, we’d have to write a feature obit with a photo to fill the space. This required calling the family of the recently deceased, which wasn’t always easy. But I learned a lot about people, and life, writing those feature obits.

Sounds like an interesting experience, at least! And definitely great story fodder. I loved seeing the experience of working at a newspaper come alive in the book. 
Is there any crossover between this novel and your debut? Was there anything from HOW MY SUMMER WENT UP IN FLAMES that influenced your writing of FAMOUS LAST WORDS?
J: There’s no crossover per se, but there are some commonalities. Both main characters, Rosie and Sam, hail from the same fictitious town in northern New Jersey and are proud of their home state. Both come from families of Italian descent. In Rosie’s case, only one side of the family is Italian, the other is Ecuadorian. The stories both take place the summer before the girls’ senior year in high school, and both Rosie and Sam have close, loving relationships with their parents. The similarities probably end there, though. Rosie and Sam are very different characters with totally different stories. I can’t say that one novel influenced the writing of the other, but after spending a lot of time with one character I wanted to make sure my next character had her own, unique voice.

Totally makes sense. After loving Sam the way I did reading FAMOUS LAST WORDS I'm even more convinced that I must meet Rosie soon! 
How did the journey for this book differ from that for your debut?
J: FAMOUS LAST WORDS is actually the first novel I wrote even though it’s my sophomore release. From start to finish it was definitely more of a learning experience. There were more rewrites of FAMOUS LAST WORDS than of HOW MY SUMMER WENT UP IN FLAMES. But FAMOUS LAST WORDS is the manuscript that landed me an agent (the wonderful Kerry Sparks) and it was also the first novel I sold. The editor who originally acquired the manuscript left for another publishing house shortly after my first rewrite was turned in. I was very fortunate that her boss, Christy Ottaviano, wanted to work on my book. The change in editors delayed the publishing date, so the process for this novel was definitely longer than that of HOW MY SUMMER WENT UP IN FLAMES, but the journey has been worth it. I’m thrilled that I had the opportunity to spend the last eighteen months working with two amazing editors and at two incredible publishing houses.


Can you share a favourite quote from this book?
J: “…my own metamorphosis from ugly duckling to swan stalled out in the Cornish-game-hen stage.”

One of many lines in this one that made me chuckle! Sam has a great sense of humour, which I loved about her. 
Are you interested in ever trying to write a different genre from contemporary?
J: Yes. In fact, the novel I’m working on now may fall into a different genre. It’s still YA, though.

Ooh, interesting! I can't wait to hear more!
What is the best part of already having a book out in the world?
J: That people are reading it! People I don’t even know. That’s an amazing feeling. It has also given me the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful people—YA bloggers, librarians, avid readers, fellow authors. I feel honored to have a place in the publishing world. I keep checking my local library because I want to take a picture of my book on the shelf, but both copies are always out, which is a good thing, I know.

Are there any other sophomore releases you've either loved or are looking forward to?
J: Good question and yes! I just got DEATH, DICKINSON, and THE DEMENTED LIFE OF FRENCHIE GARCIA by Jenny Torres Sanchez. I loved her first YA novel, THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING CHARLIE, and I can't wait to read this one.

Ah, that one is definitely on my to-read list! Even the title is attention-grabbing! 
What is one thing on your bucket list?
J: To sing back up in a band.

Can you share anything about your next project?
J: Well, I have ideas for sequels to both books, but right now I’m about halfway through a third manuscript that may be considered a slight departure from contemp. It is set in New Jersey, but in a different fictional town than the other two.

Exciting stuff! I can't wait to see what we get to read next from you! Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions!

Jennifer has kindly offered up a copy of FAMOUS LAST WORDS to a lucky winner! If the winner is located in the US or Canada, it'll be a signed copy with some swag. If the winner is international, it'll be an unsigned copy from The Book Depository. That's right, open internationally! Good luck!

Some Rules (aka the not so fun but important part):
~ This giveaway is open Internationally, provided The Book Depository ships free to your country (check here). As stated above, if the winner is located in the US or Canada, they will win a signed copy with some swag. If the winner is international, it'll be an unsigned copy from The Book Depository.
~ Must be 13 or older to enter.
~ Winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email, otherwise they forfeit their prize and I will choose another winner, who must abide by the same rules.
~ Neither Jen nor I are responsible for lost or damaged packages from TBD.
~ No cheating! In this case, I have the right to disqualify entries as I see fit.
~ By entering the giveaway, you are agreeing to these rules.

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Novella Review: Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi.

Shatter Me 1.5
Published: October 2, 2012.
Published by: Harper.
Source: Won from a Goodreads group.

Goodreads Blurb:
Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me,Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

My Review:

This is the novella that seems to have converted many a fan over to Team Warner. While I was definitely interested in getting into Warner's mind (because I knew he couldn't just be a psychopath for the sake of having one in the story; there had to be a reason there), I was not converted over to supporting him as a love interest for Juliette. *cue collective disappointed sigh from Warner fans* Please don't attack me.

I think that this novella definitely does add to Warner's character because once you read it you see that it's clear that a lot of what he presents to the world is a front, forced upon him by his father. I don't think this excuses what he does, but I actually feel bad for him now, whereas in Shatter Me I just despised him. The way he forces himself not to block off emotions is interesting and I can see how it helps him deal with his situation, but more than anything it was just sad. The novella really showed me that Warner isn't living, but simply coping with the circumstances that have been shoved on him.

I appreciated that I grew to better understand where he felt his connection to Juliette was coming from. He wasn't just some psycho who was obsessed with using her as a weapon and I'm glad I know that now. Their connection in his mind makes sense because he sees that they have common experiences and pains. However, his obsession with her still strikes me as more creepy than actually loving. It was nice to see that there is some good in him, but it was really just disappointing how much of a coward he is. I expected more from him. At least he acknowledges it, I guess.

I think this novella, while helping me understand Warner better, really just proved to me a few different things: one, that his dad is the true psycho, but Warner isn't strong enough to not follow his father's directions; two, that Juliette is actually the one I feel most sorry for (still), as her diary entries revealed even more hardship and pain she had to face; and three, I am not Team Warner. And happy about it.
For the character development that happened, I say 3 stars.

I'm a Paper Lantern Lit Preferred Blogger!

A couple weeks ago Paper Lantern Lit put out a call for bloggers to apply to become part of their team of "Preferred Bloggers." I applied and crossed my fingers, knowing there would be some tough competition, so I was shocked but thrilled when I got an email saying I was selected! This means I'll be bringing some exciting PLL titles to you via my blog.

A little about Paper Lantern Lit:
Paper Lantern Lit is, as they call themselves, a "literary incubator." The PLL team comes up with and plots out story ideas and then find and works with writers to bring the stories to life so they can be sold to a publisher and made available for all of us to read.

Some PLL books I've read and loved:


Venom & Belladonna by Fiona Paul.

I read Venom at the end of last year and completely fell in love. It was one of my favourite books of the year so of course I was excited to get my hands on Belladonna. When I finally did, it didn't let me down. I loved it as well and absolutely cannot wait for the third and final book in the series, Starling, where everything will wrap up. Honestly, these are just beautiful books in a beautiful setting.

Fury & Envy by Elizabeth Miles.

This trilogy takes a dramatic and dangerous high school mystery story a la Pretty Little Liars (you know those guilty pleasure books) and takes it to another level by including the Furies (like the ones from Greek myth). The result is some heart-pounding books with high stakes, a ship in danger (not, like, a boat ship. A couple "ship"), and an ending I can't wait to read!



Some PLL books I can't wait to read:

Eternity by Elizabeth Miles
The final book in the trilogy! I must know how it ends! Does anyone die? Does my ship get together? What lengths do the Furies go to to teach the characters a lesson? I can't wait to find out!

Meant To Be by Lauren Morill

I have heard so many good things about this book since it came out that it makes me wonder how I've gone so long without reading it! Clearly I'm missing out, so I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it!

Obviously I am dying for Fiona Paul's Starling as well, but that one isn't even in their bookshop yet, so I know I have a bit of a wait.
Want to check out all Paper Lantern Lit has to offer? Take a look at their bookshop.

Also make sure you check out their blog, where they currently have an awesome Historical Hotties tournament going on in celebration of Fiona Paul's upcoming Belladonna!

Plus a bonus: This one isn't a PLL-incubated book, but since its author is one of the co-founders, I thought it would be okay to include it on my list.


Panic by Lauren Oliver.
Due out in 2014.

Goodreads Blurb (Because I think gives a great explanation of this one):
From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes an extraordinary novel of fear, friendship, courage, and hope.

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

Already optioned by Universal Pictures in a major deal, this gritty, spellbinding novel captures both the raw energy of fear mixed with excitement, as well as the aching need to find a place to belong.

Sounds pretty exciting, right? Definitely looking forward to that one!
Anyway, after sharing all these exciting books with you, I just want to take a minute to thank Papaer Lantern Lit for selecting me. This is very exciting news for me and I'm really looking forward to being part of the PLL team and working with everyone. You can get excited about seeing some exciting Paper Lantern Lit content on the blog! Be sure to let me know if there are any PLL titles I have to check out, or if there are any you're excited to read!

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: This is W.A.R by Lisa & Laura Roecker

Today I'm very excited to be part of Soho Teen's blog tour for Lisa & Laura Roecker's new book, This is W.A.R. Thank you, Soho Teen, for choosing me to be part of the tour!

This is W.A.R. by Lisa Roecker and Laura Roecker.

Published July 2nd.
Published by Soho Teen.
Source: Picked up at the Soho Teen booth at BEA.

Goodreads Blurb:
This is W.A.R. begins with a victim who can no longer speak for herself, and whose murder blossoms into a call-to-arms. Enter four very different girls, four very different motives to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan, and only one rule to start: Destroy James Gregory and his family at any cost. Willa's initials spell the secret rallying cry that spurs the foursome to pool their considerable resources and deliver their particular brand of vigilante justice. Innocence is lost, battles are won—and the pursuit of the truth ultimately threatens to destroy them all.

My Review:

If you're looking for a juicy revenge story in the vein of Sara Shepherd's novels, This is W.A.R. is the book you've been waiting on. It brings together four girls who each had a connection to Willa to try and take down the seemingly invincible Gregory family, especially James, who they believe killed Willa. This book has mystery, suspicion, and drama galore. If you love revenge stories, you should definitely check this out.

This is W.A.R is told through a combination of standard present day narration and flashbacks. The flashbacks provide glimpses into the night of Willa's death and help to slowly unravel the mystery for the reader. This combination was a great way to keep the revenge story moving while also keeping the reader in the dark about a lot of what each girl thinks she knows. There are plenty of secrets being kept and I thought they were presented well because I was reminded of them as the storyline moves, so I was kept interested and in suspense, but at the same time the secrets were not shoved in my face nor were they blatantly obvious. It was a great mix that really kept the pages turning.

The other point of the novel I found very strong was the narrators. Each of the four girls, Rose, Lina, Sloane, and Madge are very easy to distinguish from one another and all deal with Willa's death in different ways. It was interesting watching them struggle to work together for their common goal and seeing their motivations revealed through each of their personal lives and flashbacks helped to solidify them as deeper characters. They were a very realistic set of teen girls put in an unrealistic circumstance and watching them try to bring these two aspects of their lives together was great. They each brought something different to the table, resulting in a group of girls who normally probably wouldn't have really been friends, brought together over Willa's death to form an occasionally dysfunctional but overall pretty smart and solid team. There were high stakes and dangerous decisions and I thought these girls handled them impressively while still facing some consequences like true teenagers.

Overall, this was a tense and mysterious novel with a frustratingly slippery target and four very different girls struggling to take him down. It was an excellently wrapped up standalone and is a perfect summer read for when you need something darker and more suspenseful than a contemporary love story.
4 stars.

About the authors:

Lisa and Laura Roecker are sisters-turned-writing partners with a passion for good books, pop culture, and Bravo programming. Not necessarily in that order. A prepubescent obsession with Lois Duncan and their mother's insistence that they read Men Are Just Desserts inspired This is WAR. The sisters live in Cleveland, Ohio, in separate residences. Their husbands wouldn't agree to a duplex. Cyberstalking is always encouraged at lisa-laura.blogspot.com and @landlroecker on Twitter.


Join the WAR!
Lisa and Laura Roecker, along with Soho Teen, are running a special campaign for the release of This is W.A.R. Preorder the book from any of these online retailers and you'll be entered to win your very own key necklace just like the ones the four girls get in the novel.
Preorder and enter here: Amazon, B&N, Kobo, iBooks, BAM.

Or, if you preorder from a select group of indie bookstores or reserve it from a select group of libraries they've teamed up with, the first ten people automatically get one of the necklaces! Check out the list of participating indies and libraries here: http://www.thisiswarbook.com/#%21page-5/c12qm

Check out more info about the giveaway here: http://www.thisiswarbook.com/#%21page2/cjg9

Now for my tour stop giveaway!
Soho Teen has kindly sponsored a giveaway of one copy of This is W.A R. for a lucky US or Canadian resident. Enter in the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

Some Rules (aka the not so fun but important part):
~ This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only.
~ No P.O. boxes.
~ Must be 13 or older to enter.
~ Winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email, otherwise they forfeit their prize and I will choose another winner, who must abide by the same rules.
~ Neither Soho Teen nor I are not responsible for lost or damaged packages.
~ No cheating! In this case, I have the right to disqualify entries as I see fit.
~ By entering the giveaway, you are agreeing to these rules.

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