BOOK READ RECENTLY: Title:The Agency 1: A Spy in the House Author:Y.S. Lee Other books in series:The Agency 2: The Body at the Tower comes out Aug. 10! First Impressions: I read the first chapter online at Amazon and was completely hooked. Last Impressions: I could NOT put it down–I loved how Lee took the popular “Victorian Boarding School” novel, and pushed it forward so the story is actually what happens AFTER Mary Quinn, the feisty narrator, finishes her education and is out causing scandal in the real world. How did women live back then?! I also loved the suspense created by Mary having to live within the home of the people she was spying on–You think this would make spying easier? ummm not so much. You might just get stuck in a wardrobe with a very attractive stranger…wait…that doesn’t sound soooo bad. Favorite Moment (POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT): I thought I knew the reason why Mary was so protective about her past, so I was completely shocked when the real reason was revealed–it made her even more of a compelling and kick-butt heroine. Least Favorite Moment: There was lots and lots of talk the horrible stench of the Thames that almost made me want to vomit. Thoughts on the bookcover: Classic mystery cover–I am totally enchanted by the glowing windows reflecting onto her face and bonnet. YES BONNET! I have an unexplained fascination with bonnets… An ideal place to read this book: on a bench overlooking the Mississippi River. preferably on a non-stinky day. Dream Cast:Katie Leung or Gemma Arterton as Mary Quinn, Shia LeBeouf as James Easton, and Dakota Fanning as Miss Thorold. If you like this book, you may also like:Graceling by Kristin Cashore or Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy by L.A. Meyer. You might also want to watch Manor House –a BBC reality show from a few years ago where one family was chosen to live as a wealthy family and a group of strangers had to work as their servants. They live as if in the Edwardian time, not the Victorian, but it still extremely fascinating to watch how people from modern society both fight and succumb to the class separations. Also, Scullery Maid???? gotta be the WORST job ever.
So where can you find all that YAuthor information? RIGHT HERE because it’s YAuthor Stalking Tuesday! Learn about your favorite authors, have a chat with them and then share your YAuthor adventures. This week is Lisi Harrison since numero 13 of the Clique Series: My Little Phoney comes out TODAY!
I ended up staying at MTV for 12 great years. I had every brutal job there was and eventually worked my way up to Head Writer and then, Senior Director of Development. That’s when things got really cool. It was my job to create and develop new shows for the network including, “One Bad Trip” and “Room Raiders.” And believe it or not, it was MTV, not middle school that inspired me to write The Clique. There were so many employees at MTV who would do and wear anything just to be accepted by the so-called “cool people.” It reminded me so much of life in the seventh grade I had to write about it. And the rest is history.
So where can you find all that YAuthor information? RIGHT HERE because it’s YAuthor Stalking Tuesday! Learn about your favorite authors, have a chat with them and then share your YAuthor adventures. This week is Christopher Paolini!
LITTLE NERD MOMENT:
So last week I spent a good deal of time experiencing San Diego’s Comic-Con virtually through other people’s blogs and twitters. However, Christopher Paolini and the folks at Shur’tugal got to ACTUALLY be there. Me=jealous. You can check out Shur’tugal’s twitter for lots of pictures and updates and they will post their incredible, super long interview with Mr. Paolini (I think they said they had 70 PAGES OF QUESTIONS originally) soon!
But here’s the comic-con moment EVERYONE is talking about: a young boy asked Ryan Reynolds how it felt to recite the Green Lantern speech which inspired Ryan to recite in public for the first (known) time. gosh, kids could rule the world, you know?
No more teen craft programs. The Summer Reading Program ends on Saturday. Grump. Sigh. How do we deal with this?
There’s only one way: BEACH PARTY!
What better way to end the summer than with a friendly hula hoop contest, followed by a few rounds of musical beach towels, maybe a water balloon toss, a little beachball volleyball, and even some ice cream with sprinkles on top?
Can’t think of a better way.
So, your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to show up at the Fairmount Library at 3:00 tomorrow in your tie-dyed t-shirt (that you made at the library this summer), carrying your duct tape beach bag (that you made at the library this summer) with a picture of your balloon animal (that you made at the library this summer) in the seashell/button encrusted photo frame (that you made at the library this summer), with your stylin’ flip-flops on (that you made at the library this summer). Oh, and bring a friend and make them wear the bleach pen decorated t-shirt (that you made at the library this summer). Do it. If you choose to accept this mission you will be rewarded lavishly. Plus, you will make our day, probably our summer, and quite possibly even our year. Forilla. Do it!
It is very icky and stormy and hot and humid outside, so here is a little song to make you feel supercute (and learn that you should never let boys get between you and your bandmates…no offense, boys…):
Title: The Agency 1: A Spy in the House
Thoughts on the bookcover: Classic mystery cover–I am totally enchanted by the glowing windows reflecting onto her face and bonnet. YES BONNET! I have an unexplained fascination with bonnets…
There’s only one way: BEACH PARTY!
