Monthly Archives: December 2011

Best of 2011: Our Favorite Young Adult Titles

Posted on December 29, 2011 by

Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about the Young Adult section of the bookstore when compiling our Best of 2011 list. Today we share our favorite books for teens that featured Slatebreaking characters and themes. Although there is a lot of … Continue reading →

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Best of 2011: Our Favorite Middle Grade Titles

Posted on December 26, 2011 by

It’s the last week of 2011. That means both of the Slatebreakers have left Arizona for the freezing cold of Wisconsin and Michigan, that most of us are celebrating a range of holidays with our family members, that we’re preparing … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle Grade, Miscellaneous | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Review: Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy

Posted on December 22, 2011 by

Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2011. Currently available. Genre: Middle Grade Realistic Fiction. (The reading level of the book leans toward the middle grade category, but the content is more YA. I’m calling it Middle … Continue reading →

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Review: How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Posted on December 19, 2011 by

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr Little, Brown & Company,  2011 (Currently Available) Genre: Contemporary Realism Face Value: As far as cover art goes, this is straight up lovely. I love the benches, the snow, the footprints, the … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare-Inspired YA Titles We’d Love To Read

Posted on December 16, 2011 by

The Shakespearean mash-ups we read this week inspired us to come up with our own prospective plotlines for YA novels. Here are the gems that we would like to see in bookstores sometime soon: The Tempest, but set at the … Continue reading →

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Review: Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

Posted on December 15, 2011 by

Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray. Little, Brown, and Company, 2011. Currently available. Genre: YA Fiction Face Value: Oh my goodness. Here we have a severe example of the male gaze ruining a book cover. As Sarah so beautifully said when … Continue reading →

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They Don’t Look Alike and Other Thoughts While Watching She’s the Man

Posted on December 14, 2011 by

Somehow, despite a love for teen movies and Shakespearean retellings, neither of us had seen the 2006 Amanda Bynes vehicle, She’s the Man, based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. At first glance, this seemed super promising. There’s something really likable and … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare Week Review: All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rosen

Posted on December 13, 2011 by

All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rosen Tom Doherty Associates, 2011 Genre: Steampunk / Historical / Retelling Face Value: Eh. I’m pretty indifferent to this cover. It doesn’t set off any of my usual triggers – it has an … Continue reading →

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Use Your Grey Matter: Was Shakespeare a Feminist?

Posted on December 12, 2011 by

AAAAAAND it’s time again! It’s another theme week. Last time we did one of these we celebrated the amazing Meg Cabot, this time around we’re switching gears (and centuries) and talking about William Shakespeare. So we’ll be upfront here: we … Continue reading →

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Review: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

Posted on December 8, 2011 by

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. Walden Pond Press, 2011. Currently available. Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Face Value: This is definitely an intriguing cover. When I saw this cover image popping up around the blogosphere, I was interested enough to Google the title … Continue reading →

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