Dystopian Giveaway Hop: Audiobook of Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin

This blog hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and My Shelf Confessions.

For my portion of the hop, I am giving away two copies of the audiobook:

Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin
Series: Birthright #2
Audiobook Narrator: Ilanya Kadushin
Published: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Format: 9 audio CDs
Length: 10 hours, 51 minutes
Disclosure: Audiobook copies provided by Macmillan Audio


Read my review of Because It Is My Blood

Goodreads summary:
Since her release from Liberty Children's Facility, Anya Balanchine is determined to follow the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, her criminal record is making it hard for her to do that. No high school wants her with a gun possession charge on her rap sheet. Plus, all the people in her life have moved on: Natty has skipped two grades at Holy Trinity, Scarlet and Gable seem closer than ever, and even Win is in a new relationship.But when old friends return demanding that certain debts be paid, Anya is thrown right back into the criminal world that she had been determined to escape. It’s a journey that will take her across the ocean and straight into the heart of the birthplace of chocolate where her resolve--and her heart--will be tested as never before.

Terms and conditions:
Must be 13 or older to enter and have a U.S. mailing address
Use the Rafflecopter widget to enter.

It's Monday! What are you reading? 10-29-12

 

Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen and Kellee  over at Teach Mentor Texts also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

Last week I finished:
 
Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli


Currently reading:

Drama by Raina Telgemeier


Currently listening:

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick


Last week on the blog:
Laura Ellen Blind Spot debut event at Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor
Author Carrie Harris does a writing workshop with my students
The Turtle Hospital: Marathon, Florida

Current giveaway:
Audiobook of Outpost by Ann Aguirre

The Turtle Hospital: Marathon, Florida

While in Florida this past summer, on our way from Key West to Miami, my husband and I had one of the most memorable and educational moments of our trip: a visit to The Turtle Hospital in Marathon.

Opening its doors in 1986, The Turtle Hospital began its life originally as The Hidden Harbor Motel and eventually morphed into a full-time turtle rehabilitation facility. In the 26 years since its inception, they have treated and released over 1000 sea turtles. Today it is not just a rehabilitation facility but also an educational and research facility.

They offer daily tours to the public in order to help raise funds for the medical treatment and equipment that is needed for its temporary and permanent residents. You can also buy Turtle Hospital merchandise like t-shirts and hats, and/or adopt a sea turtle to help them raise much-needed funds.

Reservations are recommended if you want to take a tour, but we lucked out because we just stopped by on our way to Miami and there was still room for us on the 12:00 tour.

A tour of The Turtle Hospital lasts about 90 minutes and begins with a slideshow of the different types of sea turtles and the reasons for why each species is endangered or threatened. From there, the tour group is escorted into the medical facility where you get to see how the turtles are treated. And then comes the fun part: meeting the turtles. Hearing about each turtle's story and reason for being at the facility is both sad and uplifting at the same time. It's sad to know that so many sea turtles are in need of rescue because of what humans are doing to them, but it's also uplifting to know that a facility like this exists and is doing all it can to educate the public to prevent these beautiful creatures from dying out.

Some of the residents of The Turtle Hospital:

 

Canopied salt water pool that holds the permanent residents

Feeding time!

I highly recommend a visit to The Turtle Hospital if you're ever driving through the Keys. Even if you don't have a chance to make reservations for a tour, don't let that stop you from dropping in to see if there is space available. It is well worth the 90 minute detour. I'll never forget the experience of getting to see these beautiful creatures up close and personal.

Carrie Harris classroom visit take 2

Last year Carrie Harris, author of the epically funny Bad Taste in Boys and the soon-to-be released Bad Hair Day, came to visit my 6th graders at the end of the year to give an author talk. But I recently had a conversation with Carrie and told her I thought it would be awesome if she could come in October this year and do her Monster Prom writing workshop with my class before NaNoWriMo. Not only would it be awesome to have a published author come and do a writing lesson with them, but it would also help to give them ideas and motivation to do the Young Writer's Program of NaNoWriMo. And being the awesome person Carrie is, she agreed. So that is what happened in my classroom today.  And it was amazing. The kids were engaged and enthusiastic, and they came up with some brilliant ideas.

Carrie started the workshop by having students brainstorm types of monsters in groups. They were asked to defy convention and create new and unusual types or combinations of monster. Students wrote down their own ideas as well as the ideas from the people in their group. My favorite monster of the day was Santa Claws.

Next, they were to pick one of the monsters on their list and write interesting and unusual traits about their character: like maybe their vampire-like creature doesn't like blood and only eats organic produce.

I don't want to give it all away because, well, you just have to experience a Carrie Harris writing workshop to truly appreciate how much fun it is, but I am certain that based on their experience today, many more students than usual will be participating in NaNoWriMo this year. And given the fun, crazy ideas they came up with, I can't wait to read their stories!

My students hard at work making a welcome poster for Carrie

The epic zombie/monkey/ice cream post my students made

Author Event: Laura Ellen's debut novel, Blind Spot

Last night at Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor, local author Laura Ellen debuted her YA mystery novel, Blind Spot. I attended this event with a couple of my Nerdy Book Club friends, Brian Wyzlic and Jessica Crawford and we had a great time.

It's always interesting to hear what inspires authors to write their novels and with Laura Ellen it was no different. As per usual, author inspiration so often comes from personal experience. Like her main character, Laura Ellen also suffers from macular degeneration and relates a great deal to the poor choices of her protagonist, Roz.

This was the first book signing I've been to at Nicola's where there were literally no more books left on the shelf. Clearly Laura Ellen has a loyal fan base and loads of supportive friends and family who came out to celebrate her new success as an author. It was wonderful to see. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books in the future!

Brian, Me, and Jessica with debut author Laura Ellen

Check out my review of Blind Spot from earlier this summer: the only book I've read in recent months that kept me up until 2 a.m. finishing.

Check out the awesome book trailer, which Laura's son and his guitar teacher wrote and performed

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop: Win an audiobook of Outpost by Ann Aguirre

This blog hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and The Diary of a Bookworm.

For my portion of the hop, I am giving away an audiobook copy of:

Outpost by Ann Aguirre
Series: Razorland #2
Published: September 19, 2012
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Format: Audiobook, 9 CDs
Audiobook Length: 10 hours, 20 minutes
Narrator: Emily Bauer
Genre: Dystopia
Audience: Young Adult
Disclosure: Audiobook provided via Macmillan Audio

From Goodreads:
Deuce’s whole world has changed. Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn’t fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.

Giveaway Terms and Conditions:
You must be 13 or older to enter and have a U.S. mailing address
Use the Rafflecopter widget to enter

It's Monday! What are You Reading? 10-22-12

 

Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen and Kellee  over at Teach Mentor Texts also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

Last week I read: 
 
Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Brian Mealer, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Currently Reading:
 
Pathways to the Common Core by Lucy Calkins, Mary Ehrenworth, and Christopher Lehman
The Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm
I actually started listening to the audiobook of The Trouble with May Amelia, last week but the narrator was so incredibly apathetic and unemotional that I couldn't listen to it anymore so I decided the check out the real book instead.

Currently listening:
 
Swim the Fly by Don Calame
Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli

Last week I reviewed:

Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson
Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin