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By: Chris Barton,
on 3/28/2016
To get Bartography Express in your inbox each month — and to have a shot at the April giveaway of Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies, written by Carmen Oliver and illustrated by Jean Claude — you can sign up on my home page.
By: Rebecca (Becky) Fjelland Davis,
on 11/26/2011
I finally broke down and rode my bike on the trainer today.
By: Trisha, Gayle, and Jolene,
on 7/26/2008
Liam Bergstrom has just been called up to his high school’s varsity basketball team from the JV squad because of an injury to another player. He knows he was selected only because the team needed someone to play defense and rebound, so he doesn’t want to make waves when, prior to the start of Liam’s first game on varsity, Coach Kloss leads the team in a prayer.
It’s not that Liam isn’t religious, because he is. But the team prayers and Coach Kloss’s unspoken demand that the entire team join the Horizon Athletic Fellowship (think Fellowship of Christian Athletes) makes him uncomfortable. When Liam tells his parents about the situation, his mother urges him to take action since the prayers are unconstitutional. But no one else on the team seems to have a problem with it. Some of the guys are truly religious and believe in the concept of team prayer; others just go along with it to make sure they get their playing time and to avoid getting on the coach’s bad side.
I really wanted to like Box Out. I thoroughly enjoyed John Coy’s previous book, Crackback, and the topic of sports and religion intrigued me. Thing is, the team prayers just seemed like an excuse to have Liam quit the team to make some new friends and reconsider his appreciation of, and motivations for playing, basketball. While Liam’s religion was referenced in the first half of the book, with him going to church and praying at night, I can’t remember any of that happening in the second half of the book. I suppose I’m a bad person to judge, because I’m not religious and come from a non-religious family, but I would have thought Liam’s struggle with the team prayers would be more difficult, more meaningful. Instead, it was a pretty straightforward “it’s wrong and illegal and needs to stop.”
I think part of the problem can be traced to the third-person present tense narration. At least as it’s used in this book, it makes for exciting, action-packed basketball scenes, but didn’t work so well when Coy tried to explore Liam’s feelings. In the end, I liked Box Out a lot more than I should have, considering my criticisms of the book. But it’s still not as good as Crackback.
Also reviewed at Readingjunky and YA Books and More.
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By: Cheryl Rainfield,
on 1/27/2008
Love reading? Love teen fiction? Then you’ll want to check out this contest that offers you the chance of winning 6 different books that will be published this year–brand new, hot off the press!
The books are:
Liz Gallagher - The Opposite of Invisible - coming this January
Lisa Schroeder - I Heart You, You Haunt Me - coming this January
Jody Feldman - The Gollywhopper Games - coming this March
Stacy A. Nyikos - Dragon Wishes - coming this March
Elizabeth C. Bunce - A Curse Dark as Gold - coming this March
Marissa Doyle - Bewitching Season - coming this March
There are 10 questions to answer, which you can find at the website and the authors’ websites–and then you’re entered for all the books, plus a grand prize of three of the books. Have fun!
By: Cheryl Rainfield,
on 11/5/2007
I love books–and a free book is all the better (if it’s a good one).
Here are some contests you may be able to enter to win a free children’s or teen book this month.
Win 1 of 6 copies of YA fiction book Jimmy Coates: Sabotage by Joe Craig. Contest is run through Families in the UK, but seems to be open to entrants worldwide. The competition closes November 9th, 2007.
Three teachers will win a complete set of Debra Frasier’s books, including Miss Alaineus, On the Day You Were Born, A Birthday Cake is No Ordinary Cake, Out of the Ocean, and The Incredible Water Show from Harcourt. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing. Contest closes November 15, 2007. It may be open worldwide, since it doesn’t list restrictions.
Anorak Magazine is giving away 5 box sets of Lady Grace mysteries. Contest closes November 15, 2007. Open only to UK residents.
Win an autographed copy of Sharon Creech’s The Castle Corona, AND a library of Sharon Creech novels, including Replay, Heartbeat, Walk Two Moons, and Ruby Holler. AND there will be 5 winners, all through HarperCollins. Open only to residents of the US. Contest closes November 21, 2007.
HarperCollins has a contest to win a complete set of Little House on the Prairie books. Open only to US residents. Contest closes November 25, 2007.
Win a copy of Max and the Gatekeeper (YA fantasy) by James Todd Cochrane. Contest open only to US and Canadian residents. Contest closes November 30, 2007.
Win 1 of 10 autographed copies of Howtoons by authors Saul Griffith and Joost Bonsen and comic illustrator Nick Dragotta from HarperCollins. Open only to US residents. Contest closes December 6, 2007.
Win 1 of 25 sets of Rotton School Series #14 and #15 by R L Stine by HarperCollins USA. Contest open only to US residents. Contest closes December 6, 2007.
FlamingNet has a monthly draw for free teen fiction books. You have to join their newsletter in order to win. This month there are four books in the giveaway: Bad Girls Club by Judy Gregerson; Drama Club: The Fall Musical by Peter Lerangis; Fell by David Clement-Davies; and The Finnish Line by Linda Gerber.
You can win a teen book–and even pick out which one you want from the list–from YABookCentral every month. See “winners” on the left hand column. Right now there are 66 books in the prize bucket. You can earn books by submitting reviews or participating in the forum. Open only to residents of US, Canada, and Mexico.
TeensReadToo has a monthly contest to win a free book. 3 copies of Dustin Grubbs: One-Man Show, and Dustin Grubbs: Take Two! by John J. Bonk; 3 sets of the Date Him or Dump Him? series, including The Campfire Crush, The Dance Dilemma, and Ski Trip Trouble by Cylin Busby; 3 copies of Beginner’s Luck by Laura Pedersen; 5 copies of Head Case by Sarah Aronson; 2 sets of the Drama! series including The Four Dorothys and Everyone’s a Critic by Paul Ruditis; 1 copy of Vintage and So Fey by Steve Berman; and 3 autographed copies of Cristo’s Chronicles: The King’s Challenge by Anthony J. Mirarchi. Open only to US residents.
Win a 50th Anniversary Box Set I Can Read contest, which includes Amelia Bedelia, Biscuit, Frog and Toad Together, and Danny and the Dinosaur. 25 winners. Contest closes December 8, 2007. Open only to US residents.
HarperCollins has a contest to win 1 of 10 copies of Purplicious and Pinkalicious by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann. Open to US residents only. Contest closes December 6, 2007.
Children’s book reviews appears to have a monthly contest where they give away some of their review copies of books. There don’t appear to be any restrictions.
Know another contest to win a teen or children’s book? Let me know.
By: Cheryl Rainfield,
on 10/18/2007
Do you love books as much as I do? Getting a free book in the mail is such a high. Especially if the book is well written, or one you’ll love.
There are a number of contests right now where you can win a teen fiction book. Why not enter? Maybe you’ll score a good read.
Teen Fiction Book Contests:
You can win a teen book–and even pick out which one you want from the list–from YABookCentral every month. See “winners” on the left hand column. Right now there are 66 books in the prize bucket. You can earn books by submitting reviews or participating in the forum. Open only to residents of US, Canada, and Mexico.
Linda Joy Singleton has a contest where you can
win a free autographed copy of one of her books. It looks like the contest ends Oct 31, but then there’s another around Valentine’s Day.
HarperCollins has a “Pitch Black” contest where 10 winners will win a copy of these books: The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle; Jinx; Prom Nights from Hell; Wicked Lovely; Wicked Dead: Lurker; Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives, Volume I; and Vampire Kisses 4: Dance with a Vampire. Contest open only to residents of the US. Contest closes November 1, 2007.
HarperCollins has a contest to win custom-designed, authentic racing helmet by premiere helmet designer Herm Johnson, and a signed copy of Yellow Flag by Robert Lipsyte. Ten runners up will win a copy of Yellow Flag signed by the author. That means you have 11 chances. Open only to residents of the US. Contest closes October 31, 2007.
Bloomsbury has a monthly YA book contest. This month they’re giving away copies of The Highest Tide, and Alfred Kropp: The Seal of Solomon. Open only to residents of the US.
Win an autographed copy of Sharon Creech’s The Castle Corona, AND a library of Sharon Creech novels, including Replay, Heartbeat, Walk Two Moons, and Ruby Holler. AND there will be 5 winners, all through HarperCollins. Open only to residents of the US. Contest closes November 21, 2007. Wow, huh? (WHY aren’t there more contests open to Canadians? Not bitter. No, not me. 
Simon and Schuster have a monthly contest to win teen books. This month you can win a Gary Paulsen book: a copy of the 20th anniversary edition of Hatchet, or a copy of Dogsong, Woodsong, Tracker, Dancing Carl or Sentries. There are 35 copies of Hatchet to be won, and 200 copies of Paulsen’s other books. Contest closes October 31, 2007. Open to residents of the US and Canada.
TeensReadToo has a monthly contest to win a free book. Open only to US residents.
Penguin USA has a contest to win an iPhone and a copy of Those Girls by Sara Lawrence. Contest closes October 31, 2007. Contest only open to residents of the US.
FlamingNet has a monthly contest to win teen books. You have to join their site to win.
TeenReads has a monthly contest to win a teen fiction book. They haven’t yet updated the contest for October, but I’m sure they will soon. Open to residents of the US and Canada.
If you ilke Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’ books, this could be an exciting contest for you. You have to send in 10 questions that you would ask Amelia and tell them why you should be the first Strange Lands Correspondent, and you can win: A trip to New York City and a free pass to the Comic-Con Convention; Lunch with Amelia Atwater-Rhodes; and a podcast of your interview published on Amelia’s web site at www.ameliaatwaterrhodes.com and in the Strange Lands Newsletter. Contest open to residents of US and Canada. Contest closes January 15, 2008.
RandomHouse UK has a contest to win a copy of Jacqueline Wilson’s Kiss and the Girls Collection audio books, and Johnny and the Bomb & Johnny and the Dead by Terry Pratchett. Contest closes October 31, 2007. Open only to residents of the UK and Ireland.
Penguin Books Canada has a monthly contest to win a library of Our Canadian Girls books. Only one entry per person. There don’t seem to be any more limitations than that.
HarperCollins has a contst to win a signed set of the original Warriors series, a signed set of Warriors: The New Prophecy series, a signed copy of Warriors: Power of Three: The Sight and a copy of Warriors: Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest, Warriors Field Guide: Secrets of the Clans, and Warriors: The Lost Warrior. Five other winners will receive a signed copy of Warriors: Power of Three: The Sight and a copy of Warriors: Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest; and twenty runners-up will receive a copy of Warriors: Super Edition: Firestar’s Quest. Open only to U.S. residents. Contest closes October 25, 2007.
Okay, this isn’t a book, but author Robin Brande has a monthly contest where you can win chocolate.
Picture Book Contests:
Picture Book Junkies are having a contest for two autographed picture books by Janee Trasler–
Ghost Gets Dressed! and Ghost Eats It All!. To enter, you send them a drawing or photo of you, your kid, or one of your characters wearing a Halloween costume or fancy dress. Contest runs from Sunday October 21st through Thursday October 25th, 2007.
See more details at their blog. Thank you to Sandra for letting me know about this.
Penguin has a contest to win Nursery Rhyme Jazz by Andy Blackman Hurwitz. Contest closes October 20, 2007. Open only to residents of the US.
BookLoons is offering 5 chances to win Chuck Fischer’s pop-up book Christmas Around the World. Open to residents of US and Canada. Contest closes October 31.
RandomHouse US has a contest where you sign up for their newsletter and you can win books. This month 3 winners will win one of each of these picture books: Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly; Junie B., First Grader: BOO…And I Mean It!; and Punk Farm. Open only to residents of the US. Contest closes November 15, 2007.
Win 1 of 1,000 copies of Jan Brett’s The Three Snow Bears. The first 1000 correct entries will win a copy.
Harcourt has a contest where three teachers will win a complete set of Debra Frasier’s books, including Miss Alaineus, On the Day You Were Born, A Birthday Cake is No Ordinary Cake, Out of the Ocean, and The Incredible Water Show. Contest closes November 15, 2007. It seems you have to be a teacher, but I don’t see any other limitations.
Lee & Low has a monthly contest to win one of their picture books. This month the prize is an autographed copy of Mama Elizabeti, written by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen and illustrated by Christy Hale. There are 3 copies to be won. The contest is open to everyone, except for previous winners. Contest closes October 30, 2007.
Know any more contests for teen or children’s books? Let me know.
By: Cheryl Rainfield,
on 10/1/2007
Two wonderful things begin today in the kidlit world: Cybils nominations and 31 Flavorite Authors for Teens.
The Cybils are the internet’s first literary awards for the best children’s and teen books of 2007–and you can have a say in which books are nominated. Yes, you! Anyone with an email address can nominate a book.
Love children’s books? Have a favorite 2007 picture book, middle grade, teen fiction? Then head on over to the Cybils blog, and have your say. You can nominate books from there–one book for each category.
There are seven categories:
Curious about last year’s winners? Click here.
If you love children’s books, this is an experience you won’t want to miss out on. Get over there and make your voice heard! I can’t wait to see what you all nominate.
The other neat thing that begins today is 31 Flavorite Authors–an opportunity for readers to chat live with some great YA authors, every evening in October (5 pm Pacific, 8 pm Eastern). Meg Cabot opens the 31 Flavorites tonight, and Stephenie Meyer closes them on October 31. ReaderGirlz have lined up some fantastic authors.
The authors include (in order):
Week One
1. Meg Cabot 2. Tiffany Trent 3. Brent Hartinger 4. Lorie Ann Grover 5. K.L. Going 6. Nikki Grimes
Week Two
7. Ellen Hopkins 8. Justina Chen Headley 9. Chris Crutcher 10. Ann Brashares 11. Sarah Mlynowski 12. Cecil Castellucci 13. Kirby Larson
Week Three
14. Tanya Lee Stone 15. John Green 16. Sara Zarr 17. Deb Caletti 18. Rachel Cohn 19. Kirsten Miller 20. Mitali Perkins
Week Four
21. Sonya Sones 22. Lisa Yee 23. Carolyn Mackler 24. E. Lockhart 25. Janet Lee Carey 26. Gaby Triana 27. Lauren Myracle
Week Five
28. Holly Black 29. Cynthia Leitich Smith 30. Dia Calhoun 31. Stephenie Meyer
Make sure you join the ReaderGirlz forum on MySpace; you must be a member of the forum to participate in the 31 Flavorite Author chats. (http://groups.myspace.com/readergirlz)
You can print a 31 Flavorites bookmark or poster from ReaderGirlz’s current issue found on their website. You can also win a FREE book; the thirty-first person each night to comment on the Flavorite Author chat will win a book. So put the chats on your calender, and don’t forget.
‘Allo, YA YA YAs, I’ve nominated y’all for an award! Thanks for making a great blog that I always look forward to reading!
I recently heard of a real-life scenario which is much like this — I’m a little horrified that the FCA, which was just a benign small thing on the West Coast when I was growing up, sounds so completely out of control. I’m disappointed that this novel doesn’t sound quite like it lived up to its premise, but I’m happy to hear about it anyway.
Abby - Wow, thanks for the compliment!
TadMack - It’s interesting because the publisher’s description doesn’t mention the prayer issue at all. (The LC summary on the verso does, however.) So I’m not sure if it was supposed to be as important as I wanted it to be or if Scholastic was playing it safe by downplaying the religious factor. But the resolution just seemed too simplistic.
I actually put this one down a few chapters in. It didn’t grab me. I was also disappointed like you, because I had really enjoyed Crackback.
The issue of prayer in public school is a key part of this novel, but other factors influence Liam Bergstrom’s decisions and school life. Though his faith life may not be mentioned in the book’s second half, his challenge of Coach Kloss’s use of pre-game prayer remains, as well as his attempt to understand the hypocritical behavior of teammates who play the prayer game simply to keep a spot on varsity.
There are so many issues in this book that I felt would engage young adult readers: the unconditional acceptance of authority and how challenging that can be for a young person concerned about moral behavior, the racist attitudes and behavior on the part of a coach, the untrustworthy acts on the part of some adults to wrongly reassure children, and the ultimately redeeming qualities of acceptance and team work demonstrated by other adults. John Coy’s dialogue and plot development show his obvious work with young adults as he wrote a compelling, realistic story.