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Faves of 2012

Okay it is that time of the year again where anyone and everyone puts together lists of their top picks of the past year. I am going to be no different, I will, however, not be doing a top 10. What I have put here are the ones that really stood out, but truthfully I had many wonderful reading experiences this year just about gone, and I did limit this list to those books published in 2012.

Let me start with the youngest first and believe me there were so many really cool picture books this past year but here are a few that stood out.

The Snorgh and the Sailor : Will Buckingham and Thomas Docherty

9781407116525

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore : William Joyce

9781442457027

I Love You Little Monster : Andreae Giles and Jess Mikhail

9781408314289

Plant a Kiss : Amy Rosenthal and Peter H Reynolds

9780061986758

What Does Daddy Do? : Rachel Bright

9780141502649

Fiction 4 – 9 years.

Secret of the Swords : Frances Watts and Gregory Rogers

9781742377285

Hey Jack! series : by Sally Rippin

9781742971254

Billie B Brown series by Sally Rippin

9781742971414Fiction 8 – 12

Floors : Patrick Carmen

9781906427900

Summer’s Dream :  Cathy Cassidy

chocolate-box-girls-summer-s-dream

Dork Diaries series : Rachel Renee Russell

9780857071194Young Adult Fiction

Stormdancer : Jay Kristoff

stormdancer-hi

The Fault in Our Stars : John Green

9780525478812

Team Human : Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan

9781742378398

 

 

Category:

A Little Fun, Topics and Recommendations

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Team Human

I received my copy as an ARC from the publisher.

By: Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan

Mel, Cathy and Anna live in New Whitby, a town where vampires have their own suburb – The Shade. They have seen plenty of them around but they don’t actually know any. This suits Mel just fine, she can live with vamps as long as they stick to their own kind. Everything is good until Francis arrives at school in a strange sun-proof suit. Cathy is fascinated by him and is soon totally swept away. Mel is horrified. She sets herself the task of convincing Cathy that dating a vamp is a very bad thing. The along the way Mel meets Kit, a boy who really makes her laugh but he has a very strange family history and it’s one Mel isn’t sure she can cope with.

They aren’t the only things going on with Mel, on one side her anti-vamp stance is in danger of jeopardising her closest friendship and on the other, her friend Anna is going through a really rough patch and Mel has said she will help. Anna’s father has left and her mother is acting really strange. Mel has promised to find out what is really going on but the closer she gets to the truth, the more she isn’t sure she wants to know.

This is a paranormal romance with a wonderfully humorous twist, that makes it a very rare kind of beast and a thoroughly enjoyable read. If you are like me and totally over the whole vampire YA romance thing then please don’t be afraid to pick this book up. Told from the perspective of vampire disliker Mel, it gives the genre a new lease on life.

Mel is a funny and opinionated character who is very loyal to her friends in her own way. Cathy and Anna offer different outlets to assist with her character development. Anna is the tormented yet coping friend who needs help and answers and Cathy is the smart, thoughtful one who listens to her friend but makes her own choices knowing the consequences.

Kit is a fun boy interest, the difference in his upbringing makes a nice counter to Mel’s life and he has the ability, predominantly through laughter and a willingness to learn, to affect and complement Mel.

I thought this sounded like a good read and I wasn’t disappointed. A fun story and a great laugh. One for both the lovers or paranormal romance and haters.

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Children

Published: 02 July 2012

Format: Paperback 372 pages

Categories: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

ISBN 13: 9781742378398

Purchase: using Booktopia link on the side of the page

Category:

Young Adult Fiction

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Team Human – Justine Larbalestier Q&A

Friends don’t let friends date vampires.

It’s not out yet but boy it’s a fun read, here is a q&a with one of the authors.

 

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A Little Fun

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2011 Locus Awards – Finalists

The Locus Science Fiction Foundation has announced the top five finalists in each category of the 2011 Locus Awards with the winners to be announced during the Science Fiction Awards Weekend in Seattle WA, on June 24-26, 2011.

Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier are finalists in the Anthology category for Zombies vs. Unicorns.

The Young Adult Finalists are

Ship Breaker – Paolo Bacigalupi (Little Brown)

Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)

Enchanted Glass – Diana Wynne Jones (HarperCollins UK; Greenwillow)

I Shall Wear Midnight – Terry Pratchett (Gollancz; HarperCollins)

Behemoth – Scott Westerfeld (Simon Pulse; Simon & Schuster UK)

Congratulations to all finalists.

The rest of the finalists can be found here.

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News

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Aussie Author Month

April is Aussie Author Month. A time we readers get to celebrate some of the awesome creative talent Australia has produced. In children’s literature there are plenty of wonderful authors to discover, rediscover or just continue to enjoy.

Below is a list of just a few people, and an example of their work,  worth checking out and celebrating.

Michael Pryor – Laws of Magic (Series)

John Marsden – Tomorrow When The War Began (Series)

Margo Lanagan – Tender Morsels

Justine Labalestier – Liar

Marianne de Pierres – Burn Bright

Matthew Reilly – Hover Car Racer

Kirsty Murray – India Dark

Karen Tayleur – Hostage

Jackie French – Lessons For A Werewolf Warrior

John Flanagan – Rangers Apprentice Series

Andy Griffiths – The Day My Bum Went Psycho

Wendy Harmer – Pearlie Series

Andrew Daddo – Skoz the Dog

Paul Jennings – Rascal the Dragon Series

Aaron Blabey – Sunday Chutney

This list is by no means conclusive, there are many wonderful Aussie authors not mentioned. I just encourage you to pick up an old favourite or find something new as a way to join in the celebrations of Aussie Author month.

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News

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