Release Day Blitz (Giveaway): CIRCUS MIRANDUS by Cassie Beasley (MG)

I am so very excited about today’s release of CIRCUS MIRANDUS by the fabulous Cassie Beasley! 

Thank you for stopping by for the Blogger Blitz that I and so many other wonderful blogs are participating in. Thanks so much to Word Spelunking for organizing this! 

Cassie has sent along a very special letter sharing her feelings about seeing her book get published and all of the amazing support she has received so far...

Dear Readers,

Ages ago I hung a poster in my room with the words “The Circus Opens Summer 2015” in bold letters across the top. At the time, it seemed that Summer 2015 would never come. Now, miraculously, June 2 is here, and Circus Mirandus is springing up in bookshops all over the country.

In the story, those called to Circus Mirandus feel a change in the wind. They hear music on the air, pipes and drums leading them toward magic and hope and heart’s desires. Eventually they find themselves before the gates, standing, as I am now, on the threshold of somewhere both wonderful and unknowable.

As people read the pages into which I’ve poured so much time and self, I wonder what they’ll think of the world I’ve created. I wonder if they will love it as much as I do. It’s an exciting moment, stepping through these gates into a place I’ve imagined but never seen.

Thank you so much for making this journey with me. Thank you for supporting the book. Thank you, most of all, for believing.

Cassie Beasley

More details about the book are below, as well as a Rafflecopter giveaway for a bunch of swag items, courtesy of Penguin Young Readers! 

Enter for a chance to win at the bottom of this post.

CIRCUS MIRANDUS

by Cassie Beasley

Release date: June 2nd, 2015

Published by Dial (Penguin)

Genre: Middle Grade 

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

Micah Tuttle believes in magic, even though his awful Great-Aunt Gertrudis doesn’t approve. Micah believes in the stories his dying Grandpa Ephraim tells him of the magical Circus Mirandus: the invisible tiger guarding the gates, the beautiful flying birdwoman, and the magician more powerful than any other — the Man Who Bends Light. 

Finally, Grandpa Ephraim offers proof. 

The Circus is real — and the Lightbender owes Ephraim a miracle. 

With his friend Jenny Mendoza in tow, Micah sets out to find the Circus and the man he believes will save his grandfather. The only problem is, the Lightbender doesn't want to keep his promise. And now it's up to Micah to get the miracle he came for. 

Readers will fall in love with CIRCUS MIRANDUS, which celebrates the power of seeing magic in the world.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CIRCUS MIRANDUS

« “On one level, the book is a fantastical circus romp… On another, it's both serious and thick with longing… A delicious confection and much more: it shows that the human heart is delicate, that it matters, and that it must be handled with care.”                                     —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

« “Circus Mirandus is not a simple story, but readers will be rewarded for delving into its intricacies. This gripping fantasy tale will have readers hooked from the opening scene to the breathtaking—and unexpected—conclusion.”                                                                 —School Library Journal, starred review

« “Beasley’s debut is a bit of its own three-ring circus, masterfully diverting readers’ attention among the pressing matter of Ephraim’s illness, the inventive descriptions of Circus Mirandus in Ephraim’s flashbacks and Micah’s visits, and the larger, more serious tragedy of those who refuse to believe…Readers will be left with…the hope…that those who still believe will always have magic in their lives.”                                                                                                       —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Debut author Beasley has built an imaginative world in evocative, painterly prose, particularly the circus, and she’s filled it with compellingly multifaceted characters.”                               —Booklist

GIVEAWAY

There will be 5 winners!!!

Winners will receive: 

- Signed hardcover of CIRCUS MIRANDUS

- Audio sampler 

- Animal crackers

- Pack of 10 bookmarks

- Poster

Giveaway begins today, June 2nd, and will end on June 16th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Cassie Beasley

Cassie Beasley is from rural Georgia, where, when she's not writing, she helps out on the family pecan farm. 

She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

CIRCUS MIRANDUS is her first novel.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

Blog Tour (Review): WITHERWOOD REFORM SCHOOL by Obert Skye (MG)

WITHERWOOD REFORM SCHOOL

by Obert Skye

Illustrated by Keith Thompson

Expected release date: March 3rd, 2015

Published by: Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan)

Genre: Middle Grade

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Format read: ARC from the publisher.

SUMMARY

After a slight misunderstanding involving a horrible governess, oatmeal, and a jar of tadpoles, siblings Tobias and Charlotte Eggars find themselves abandoned by their father at the gates of a creepy reform school. 

Evil mysteries are afoot at Witherwood, where the grounds are patrolled by vicious creatures after dark and kids are locked in their rooms. 

Charlotte and Tobias soon realize that they are in terrible danger — especially because the head of Witherwood has perfected the art of mind control. 

If only their amnesiac father would recover and remember that he has two missing children. 

If only Tobias and Charlotte could solve the dark mystery and free the kids at Witherwood — 

and ultimately save themselves.

MY REVIEW

There are very few authors that can pull off such a wickedly humorous story about two siblings that !

The narrator tells us the story about how Tobias and Charlotte Eggars ended up at Witherwood Reform School. And it is not a pretty nor easy story to tell.
Tobias is a normal boy that likes a little mischief. He's very smart and thinks better when he can write things down and loves to study and draw maps. Very protective and attuned to his younger sister.
Charlotte is also just a normal girl who always sees the bright things to every situation. She compliments her brother's darkers side too well. She always seems to be the voice of reason.
The school is dark, mysterious, strange and... perhaps even evil. Too many odd and unexplained things occur. A headmaster that is able to brainwash the students. Unknown guardians that could possibly kill any intruders, and/or, escapees.
And the narrator knows how to guide us with what is right, what is wrong, and what Tobias and Charlotte should have and shouldn't have done. The narrator is very smart, cautious and to the point. Anyone reading this book should take much care in what the narrator suggests.

There is no happy ending here. Tobias and Charlotte brought this bad luck onto themselves. And it will definitely take some time to figure out what they have done, what they are mixed up in... and if they will ever learn their lesson(s) and be able to make amends in order to get out of Witherwood... sane and whole.

Definitely for fans of Lemony Snicket's Unfortunate Events series, this book will have you laughing out loud, grossed out and on the edge of your seat! I anxiously await for the next book to be released! Will the Eggers siblings be able to behave enough to not get into anymore trouble? Will they figure out a way to leave the reformed school for good? So many questions, so little time... can't wait!!!

*An ARC was sent to me from the publisher for the blog tour and an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Obert Skye

Obert Skye is the author and illustrator of the Creature from My Closet series: Wonkenstein, Potterwookiee, Pinocula, and Katfish (forthcoming September 2014). He has also written the bestselling children’s fantasy adventure series Leven Thumps and Pillage. 

He currently lives indoors and near a thin, winding road with his family. 

Goodreads / Website

Macmillan "Witherwood Reform School" Blog Tour Schedule

2/18: Little Red Reads

2/19: A Reader’s Adventure

2/20: Stories & Sweeties

2/23: The Hiding Spot

2/24: Bumbles and Fairytales <---

2/25: Manga Maniac Café

2/26: The Book Monsters

2/27: Mundie Kids

3/2: Milk & Cookies: Comfort Reading

3/3: Green Bean Teen Queen

Waiting On Wednesday #118: PIP BARTLETT'S GUIDE TO MAGICAL CREATURES by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater (MG)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is where we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released!!!

The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night!!!

And, quite possibly, to make our shelves look pretty too :) 

What I'm currently waiting for... 

PIP BARTLETT'S GUIDE TO MAGICAL CREATURES

by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater

Expected release date: May 2015

Published by: Scholastic 

Genre: Middle Grade

Format: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

SUMMARY

From bestselling authors Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pearce comes an exciting new series full of magical creatures, whimsical adventures, and quirky illustrations.

Pip is a girl who can talk to magical creatures. Her aunt is a vet for magical creatures. And her new friend Tomas is allergic to most magical creatures.

When things go amok — and they often go amok — Pip consults Jeffrey Higgleston’s Guide to Magical Creatures, a reference work that Pip finds herself constantly amending. Because dealing with magical creatures like unicorns, griffins, and fuzzles doesn’t just require book knowledge — it requires hands-on experience and thinking on your feet. For example, when fuzzles (which have an awful habit of bursting into flame when they’re agitated) invade your town, it’s not enough to know what the fuzzles are — 

Pip and Tomas also must trace the fuzzles’ agitation to its source, and in doing so, save the whole town.

Why I'm waiting for PIP BARTLETT'S GUIDE TO MAGICAL CREATURES...

Firstly... did you see who the authors are???

AND!!! Maggie Stiefvater illustrated the entire book! Cover too!!!

Secondly... this book sounds too cute to pass up!

I think this might be one where I'll enjoy it more than my own kids will ;) 

Lastly... magical creatures/quirky illustrations!!!

I. Need. To. See. It. ALL!!!

SO, what are you waiting for???

Blog Tour/Guest Post: THE NINJA LIBRARIANS: THE ACCIDENTAL KEYHAND by Jen Swann Downey (MG)

THE NINJA LIBRARIANS: THE ACCIDENTAL KEYHAND

The Ninja Librarians #1

by Jen Swann Downey

Expected release date: April 15th, 2014

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky Kids

Genre: Middle Grade - Mystery, Adventure

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

Just a little story about your average sword-swinging, karate-chopping, crime-fighting ninja librarians.

Dorrie Barnes had no idea an overdue library book would change her life. 

When Dorrie and her brother Marcus chase her pet mongoose into the janitor's closet of their local library, they accidentally fall through a passage into Petrarch's Library - the headquarters of a secret society of ninja librarians who have an important mission: 

protect those whose words have gotten them into trouble. 

Anywhere in the world and at any time in history.

Dorrie would love nothing more than to join the society. 

But when a traitor surfaces, she and her friends are the prime suspects. 

Can they clear their names before the only passage back to the twenty-first century closes forever?

GUEST POST

Why mix Ninjas and Librarians???

Ah yes. Why mix ninjas and librarians? Even as a child, I thought of librarians as fulfilling a sort of sacred magical duty. They were the keepers of the books! The keepers of stories, legends, and great fat tomes full of history's unplumbed secrets. As I got older, I began to also appreciate librarians as important players in the long-term struggle by many to nurture and protect notions about the need for citizens to have access to freely flowing information. They understand well the need to protect books and other writings from those who would suppress or destroy them, and the need to protect the authors of such writings from censorship or punishment.

Once I realized that I wanted my story to revolve around a secret society of librarians, it was terrifically easy to imagine librarians not just as intellectual warriors, but literal ones as well, with only a slightly expanded job description, and only a slightly altered typical day. Hm...something like:  1p.m. - catalogue new arrivals: 2 p.m. - assist a patron to find a book when said patron knows only one word in the title, and the author's middle initial;  2:30 p.m. - excuse one's self from colleagues in order to slip through time in order to help break out an imprisoned "heretical" writer in a different century, an hour before he was scheduled to be burned at the stake. 

The lybrarians of Petrarch's Library are not literally ninjas. They don't wear black hoods (unless that works for a particular mission), and are not members of a feudal Japanese society of mercenaries. They do, however, share with historic ninjas, a high degree of training in secrecy, stealth, and specialized skills useful to attaining their goals. That similarity suggested the strangely elastic modern qualifier of "ninja" for librarian.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jen Swann Downey

Jen Swann Downey's non-fiction pieces have appeared in New York Magazine, the Washington Post, Women's Day, and other publications. 

Her first middle-grade novel, THE NINJA LIBRARIANS, will be published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, April 1, 2014. 

Jen divides her time between libraries and other places, and will never stop looking for lickable wallpaper.

Goodreads / Website / Twitter

http://www.sourcebooks.com/

Cover Reveal: BEN FOX, SQUIRREL ZOMBIE SPECIALIST AT YOUR SERVICE by Daisy Whitney (MG)

BEN FOX, SQUIRREL ZOMBIE SPECIALIST AT YOUR SERVICE
by Daisy Whitney
Expected release date: October 14th, 2014
Published by: Spencer Hill Middle Grade
Cover design: Slake Saunders
Genre: Middle Grade 
Format: Paperback, eBook

SUMMARY

Ten-year-old Ben Fox has good friends, a great dog, and a lightning-fast little sister who drives him a bit batty. The only thing in the fifth grader’s life that’s truly annoying–well, besides having to wear braces on his feet every day–is the family’s wily Siamese cat, Percy. Ben has always suspected something was off about Percy...

But now he’s sure of it—Percy has raised an army of squirrel zombies in the backyard and they’re ready to take on Ben's beloved dog, Captain Sparkles.

Now Ben must figure out how to stop the dastardly cat, especially since Percy and his newly reanimated squirrel friends are gunning for nothing less than a full-scale Animal Zombie Apocalypse—when all the dogs start to behave like cats!

The battle won’t be easy though, because squirrel zombies are the most dangerous animal zombies of all…

MY THOUGHTS

"A modern-day cross between Bunnicula and Goose Bumps."

My boys and I give this cover a 5 out of 5 stars!

Totally gives the a great "Goose Bump" vibe!

And what's better than having a 10yo and 7 1/2 yo approval ;)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Daisy Whitney

By day, Daisy Whitney is a reporter and ghostwriter. At night, she writes novels for teens and is the author of THE MOCKINGBIRDS and its sequel THE RIVALS (Little, Brown). Her third novel WHEN YOU WERE HERE releases in June 2013 (Little, Brown), and her fourth novel STARRY NIGHTS (Bloomsbury) hits shelves in September 2013. When Daisy's not inventing fictional high school worlds, she can be found somewhere north of San Francisco walking her adorable dog, watching online TV with her fabulous husband or playing with her fantastic kids.  A graduate of Brown University, she believes in shoes, chocolate chip cookies and karma. 

Goodreads / Website / Twitter

Cover Reveal: THE FIRES OF CALDERON (The Balance Keepers #1) by Lindsay Cummings (MG)

THE FIRES OF CALDERON

The Balance Keepers #1

by Lindsay Cummings

Expected release date: September 23rd, 2014

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure

Format: Hardcover, eBook

SUMMARY

The first book in an epic middle grade fantasy adventure series that takes place in an underground society at the center of the earth. 

Packed with action, humor, magic, and mystery.

After following a mysterious map into the woods and then under the woods, eleven-year-old Albert Flynn learns he’s a Balance Keeper — someone with special magical skills for fixing problems in three underground Realms at the Core of the earth. His new job is important; 

if the realms fall out of balance, the world above could be in great danger.

Albert and his Balance Keeper teammates Birdie and Leroy arrive in the Core not a moment too soon. There’s an Imbalance in the Calderon Realm 

and it’s threatening to bury Albert’s hometown of New York City in a mountain of ash.

The three must train hard completing mental and physical challenges, but above all, they must harness the power of their Tiles — unique superpowers given to each Balance Keeper. 

So far, Albert’s mastered the art of not mastering his Tile....

With the situation in Calderon growing worse every day, can Albert, Leroy, and Birdie restore balance before New York is destroyed forever? 

Will Albert master his Tile before it’s too late?

Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, The Unwanteds, 

and the classic Journey to the Center of the Earth.

MY THOUGHTS

This sounds amazing!!! Definitely a book that both my boys would love to read - 

they just started the Percy Jackson series and are mesmerized with the books, and movies too!

We just picked up The Unwanteds not too long ago and hope to read it soon!

The cover is wonderfully illustrated and has already caught my son's attention; and, of course, being the organized 10 year old that he is, he has already added this to his wishlist - release date and all, lol!!! 

Can't wait!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Lindsay Cummings

Lindsay Cummings is the 20-year-old author of THE MURDER COMPLEX, as well as its sequel, coming 2014 from Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, and the MG trilogy THE BALANCE KEEPERS, coming Fall 2014 from Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins.

Lindsay deals with chronic fatigue, can’t get enough of her two pesky German Shepherds, wolf cub, and two horses. She's still waiting on her letter from Hogwarts--it was probably just lost in the mail.

Goodreads / Website / Blog / Twitter

Mira's Diary "Lost in Paris" (by Marissa Moss) Blog Tour: Review/Giveaway

Mira's Diary: Lost in Paris
by Marissa Moss
Release date: September 24th, 2012
Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Genre: Middle Grade
Format read: ARC

SUMMARY

"Mira is shocked when she receives a postcard from her missing mother from Paris.

Her father decides it's time for a trip to France to search for her. 

While visiting Notre Dame, Mira touches a gargoyle and is whirled into the past. 

There she meets the famous painter Degas and catches a brief, shocking glimpse of her mother. 

Mira begins to suspect that her mom didn't run out on them, 

but is a prisoner of the past. 

Can one family on an incredible worldwide adventure stop a plot in time?"

MY REVIEW

What a surprising little time-traveling gem! I did not expect this "diary" to go the way that it did! Marissa Moss really knows her readers and how to tell a story fluently in journal form.

 I was a bit surprised at the fact that Moss had chosen to dive into the 19th century Paris, France, surrounded by French artists and well into France's politics too. As much as the time-traveling was the main concern of the main character, the story focuses on intolerance and political corruption. At times, in my opinion, a bit too mature for the lower ages of the middle grade crowd. 

The story begins with us getting to know Mira and her family, her mother has left them and they are dealing with why she would leave without any indication of her ever being unhappy and needing an outlet. Mira's father is so positive that her mother has left unwillingly and will be back as soon as she can. Her brother believes that she was having an affair and has gone to create a new life. Mira can't believe that her mother would ever leave such a loving and talented husband or a smart and promising son... but she thinks that if she had any reason to leave behind anything, it would be Mira.
And then they receive a postcard from Paris with a breezy message ending with "Love, Mom" - no one understands why she is there and why she sounds... happy?
Off to Paris they go!

Within a few hours of being in Paris, Mira time-travels back to 1881 and is off on her first adventure ever. While back-in-time, she meets a handsome boy who works with the famous artist, Degas. Thrown right into the middle of the artists world, Mira, who wishes to be an artist herself, observes her new world and doodles along the pages of her journal. Yes, the journals is filled with all kinds of drawings by her.
Mira also sees and finds things that she's never thought of being in the midst of.
Coming from a world that she always took advantage of and never had to think twice about, she is surprised by the intolerance of the Jewish people in France and soon discovers that there are deeper things going on within the society and government.

Readers will learn a lot about France's history and art history, while seeing a bit of a romance brew between Mira and Dega's assistant, Claude. The suspense of finding out what is going to happen, will Mira find her mother and how Mira will get back to her own time will keep you up for hours to finish this book!  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Marissa Moss

Who is Marissa Moss anyway???

Find out HERE now!!!

See Marissa's Guest Post here on the blog, 
right HERE!!!

Official Website, Goodreads  

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Enter to win a finished copy of MIRA's DIARY: LOST IN PARIS by Mariss Moss
directly from Sourcebooks!!! (Sorry, U.S. and Canada only.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post: Marissa Moss, Author of Mira's Diary

I am very happy to welcome Marissa Moss to the blog today :)

Marissa Moss is most popular known for Amelia's Notebooks, Daphne's Diary of Daily Disasters and Max Disaster books. She has been writing and illustrating children's books for a very long time now - she submitted her first picture book when she was only nine year old! It didn't get published, but it didn't discourage her either.

For today, Marissa shares with us on how she creates her characters...   

"The Me I Wish I Could Be"

             

"There's a little bit of myself in every character I create.  Partly, that's how I get to know my characters, by drawing on my own quirks and those of people I know (one of the dangers of being friends with a writer!).  For main characters, like Amelia and Mira, these characters also become stand-ins for how I'd like to be, showing traits I wish I had. 

            Amelia is heavily based on me as a kid and the notebook I used to keep.  Except where I was gawky and awkward, Amelia uses her sense of humor to define herself.  She embraces the weirdness that I tried to hide.  When I get fan mail from girls saying they're just like Amelia, I think, “Where were you when I was a kid?”

            Mira shares my love of history and art, my compulsive need to draw everything, but she's much braver than I am.  She thinks quickly on the spot where I usually come up with the perfect come-back the next day, not the next second.  She has the same curiosity, the same willingness to experience other cultures, other times, but where I time-travel by reading and writing, she gets to do the real thing, meeting the people I'd love to meet, having the adventures I can only experience on paper.  That's one of the magical things about writing.  You can create whole worlds and people them with characters you want to know.  And those you want to be."

____________________________________________________

Thank you so much for vising Bumbles and Fairy-Tales today, Marissa!!!

You can find out more about Marissa right HERE!!!

And on her Official Website and Goodreads.  

*You can see my REVIEW 

and enter to win a copy of MIRA's DIARY right here!!!

Thank you for stopping by...

and happy reading :)

Blog Tour: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger (Excerpt & a YA Giveaway)

I am so very happy to be a part of Shannon Messenger's KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES blog tour, hosted by Mundie Moms today! I have an excerpt to share with you AND a giveaway to Shannon's young adult novel,
LET THE SKY FALL!

Keeper of the Lost Cities
by Shannon Messenger
Release date: October 2nd, 2012
Published by: Simon and Schuster (Aladdin)
Genre: Middle Grade  

SUMMARY

"Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She's a Telepath - someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It's a talent she's never known how to explain. 

Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there's a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known. 

Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come "home". There are secrets buried deep in Sophie's memory - secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans - that other people desperately want. Would even kill for. 

In this page-turning debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first. 

EXCERPT

"Makeovers?" Keefe scoffed behind them. 
"You girls sure know how to have fun. Maybe you can braid each other's hair and giggle about boys while you're at it."

To see the tour schedule and gain more chances to win one of the giveaways, 
please be sure to visit Mundie Mom's for all the details! 

Purchase KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES from:

• Simon & Schuster
• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Books-A-Million
• Indiebound
• iTunes
• SIGNED Copies from Once Upon a Time (Must order by October 2nd)
• The Book Depository

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Shannon Messenger

Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts where she learned - among other things - that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She also regularly eats cupcakes for breakfast, sleeps with a bright blue stuffed elephant named Ella, and occasionally gets caught talking to imaginary people. So it was only natural for her to write stories for children. KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES is her first novel, with LET THE SKY FALL, a young adult novel, to follow in 2013. She lives in Southern California with her husband and an embarrassing number of cats. 

Blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest 

Enter to win an ARC of Shannon Messenger's new young adult novel, 
LET THE SKY FALL!!!

SUMMARY for Let the Sky Fall

(Release date: March 5th, 2013)

"Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who's swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is. 

Seventeen Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She's also a guardian - Vane's guardian - and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life. 

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra's forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim - the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them - but the forbidden romance that's grown between them."

GOOD LUCK!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Review & Giveaway: The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

The Spindlers

by Lauren Oliver

Release date: October 2nd, 2012

Published by: HarperCollins

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Format read: ARC

SUMMARY

"One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different.

When Liza's brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul.

She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him.

To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests--or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.

From "New York Times" best-selling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope."

Author, Lauren Oliver, chats about how she was inspired to write The Spindlers!

FAVORITE QUOTES from The Spindlers

"The world is a freak, she should have said.
Everything that happens in it is strange and beautiful."

~ Liza, The Spindlers, (ARC) page 83
_______________________________________

 "Impossible."

"That is a human word," she said.
"And a very ugly one at that. We have no use for it Below."

~ Conversation between Liza and Mirabella, The Spindlers, (ARC) pages 126-127
________________________________________

"I didn't think that hope was something that grew," Liza said.

"Of course it grows," Mirabella said. "What else would it do? Sing?"

~ The Spindlers, (ARC) page 127

MY REVIEW

This is my first Lauren Oliver read, and I honestly don't know why I have waited so long to read one of her books! She has created a magical and unique world called Below where dark and creepy things live and come Above to take things that they need. Now, don't let dark and creepy deter you and make you believe that everything Below is bad, looks can be deceiving. Give things a chance, take a closer look and then decide if it's good or bad... The Spindlers was inspired by Maurice Sendak's book called, Outside Over There, a creepy children's book about a little girl who has to go find her baby brother who was stolen by goblins. Definitely not your typical bedtime story - and neither is The Spindlers. 

One day, Liza wakes up and instantly notices that something is not right with her little brother, Patrick. And she instantly knows what has happened to him - it's the work of a Spindler. A "spindler" is a large spider that has human hands. They come Above (our world), steal people's souls and bring them down Below (there world is under ours) for their Queen. There is no time to hesitate, Liza knows what she must do. As much as a bother little brothers can be, she is the only one who knows what has happened and must go Below and get Patrick's soul back before it's too late. 

As soon as Liza goes Below, I felt like I was right next to her and was able to picture every single detail that Oliver laid out for us!   

We quickly meet Mirabella, an eccentric rat who volunteers to guide and help Liza get to the spindlers nest. Now don't judge, not all rats are dirty and scandalous!

And Liza's determination, stubbornness, bravery and most of all, her outpouring love for her family - even after her parents ignore her and constantly dismiss her "imagination" - she is an inspirational, motivating and memorable character. 

If you are a lover of all things from Alice in Wonderland, the dark and magical things from Coraline and the trials and tribulations of Harry Potter - then this is definitely a must have book to add to your shelf!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Lauren Oliver

"Lauren Oliver comes from a family of writers and so has always (mistakenly) believed that spending hours in front of the computer every day, mulling over the difference between “chortling” and “chuckling,” is normal. She has always been an avid reader. 

She attended the University of Chicago, where she continued to be as impractical as possible by majoring in philosophy and literature. After college, she attended the MFA program at NYU and worked briefly as the world’s worst editorial assistant, and only marginally better assistant editor, at a major publishing house in New York. Her major career contributions during this time were flouting the corporate dress code at every possible turn and repeatedly breaking the printer. Before I Fall is her first published novel. 

She is deeply grateful for the chance to continue writing, as she has never been particularly good at anything else."

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Enter to WIN an ARC of THE SPINDLERS by Lauren Oliver!!!
- Giveaway ends October 10th, 2012!
- U.S. only, sorry!

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