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If you're in the New York or San Diego areas, here a two amazing events well worth checking out.  I'd love to be attending, unfortunately a little too far for me to travel right now.  Let me know if you're attending, I'd love to hear all about it. 



Let me know of any other workshops you know about around the world.  I'm always happy to promote writing events, courses, etc. 

So many books. So little time. I'm sure you all know the feeling.

But I've been reading up a storm the last week or so. Here's my little list:

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson. Comment: Wow! What a voice. I hope someday I can write a book with such an authentic male protagonist.

Life as we knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Comment: I hope this wins the Prinz. I couldn't put it down. I'm trying to get my son to read it so we can discuss it. Brilliant idea, cleverly executed and incredibly thought-provoking.

The Sunflower: On the possibilities and limits of forgiveness by Simon Wiesenthal. the_webmeister's aunt Pauline was reading this for her book club when we were in Canada, and I was so intrigued I had to order it the minute I got home. Another thought-provoking read. saramerica used it in a recent column which you can read
here.

Those who save us by Jenna Blum. My friend Malaine recommend this and as I was reading it I realized I'd already read it a while back, but it is so engrossing I didn't mind reading it again, especially given my recent visit to Germany and after reading The Sunflower and Life as we knew it. How would we react in a given life -threatening situation?
Would we be able to hold on to our deepest moral values? Or would the will to stay alive trump all?

Currently reading:

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins. I'm amazed at how much she is able to convey about the characters in verse in a short time (although I guess having read Sonya Sones' books, I shouldn't be) and how much I have come to care about these kids in a short period of time. I've got a sinking feeling that one of them isn't going to make it, and but I'm not sure which one - keep changing my mind about who is going to be the one whose demons get the better of them.
I was hoping to finish it last night but fell asleep. Note to self: go to bed to read earlier tonight!

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. This one's been sitting on my nightstand since my new editor extraordinaire, David Levithan, handed me a copy when I visited Scholastic HQ. I kept putting off reading it because there was so much hype and I wasn't sure what to make of it. But I picked it up this morning and Bam! I'm already engrossed. I was afraid the number of pictures would detract from my ability to get into the story, but not true. I'm already on part two and dying to know the mystery.


OK, back to the books. What are *YOU* reading these days?