Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Other People's Books

So here's the thing, the only downside about being an author (or at least one with really tight deadlines!) is that I don't read near as much as I used to. Back when I was a flight attendant, I read all the time (yup, even when I wasn't supposed to!). I read four newspapers a day, burned through nearly every magazine on the newsstand, and tore through several books a week--but these days most of my reading is relegated to non-fiction research type tomes.

So when people ask me for book recommendations, I usually end up listing all the books that Iwant to read, rather than the ones that I actually have.

Well, today is no different. Here are two books that I really want to read!  The first is Greg Logsted's ALIBI JUNIOR HIGH and here's the scoop:

Thirteen-year-old Cody Saron has been home schooled his whole life by his father, an undercover agent for the CIA. Cody has never lived the same life as other kids his age. He never went to a regular school, never lived in one place longer than a few weeks, never had a friend or played on any sports teams. Cody’s a black belt in the arts of Tae Kwon Do and Ju Jitsu. He speaks five languages and has traveled to every corner of the globe. But what Cody isn't prepared for is . . . junior high.

When the danger surrounding Cody's dad heats up like never before, Cody is sent to stay with the aunt he's never known, Jenny Williams, in her small Connecticut suburb. Cody knows how to pick a lock or follow a trail, but he has no idea how to fit in with regular kids, how to handle his first crush, or 

how to make it through a day of classes. How will he ever fit in?

"Funny and fast paced, this fits right in with the beach crowd." Kirkus

Visit him at: www.greglogsted.com  


***

And then there's fellow TFCer and cyber friend, Stephanie Kuehnert's new release,BALLADS OF SUBURBIA  due in stores on July 21st!  She's having one heck of a blog party to celebrate with all kinds of awesome giveaways so click HERE for your chance to win!


Here's the story:

Kara hasn't been back to Oak Park since the end of junior year, when a heroin overdose nearly killed her and sirens heralded her exit. Four years later, she returns to face the music. Her life changed forever back in high school: her family disintegrated, she ran around with a whole new crowd of friends, she partied a little too hard, and she fell in love with gorgeous bad-boy Adrian, who left her to die that day in Scoville Park....

Amid the music, the booze, the drugs, and the drama, her friends filled a notebook with heartbreakingly honest confessions of the moments that defined and shattered their young lives. Now, finally, Kara is ready to write her own.


"....an intensely real and painfully honest novel of high-school anxiety." and "....Kuehnert nails the raw vulnerability of teendom and delivers a hard-hitting and mesmerizing read." - Booklist


Happy Reading Everyone!

Alyson
xoxo

9 comments:

Jessica Burkhart said...

I want to read both of those too. My reading has really declined bc of deadlines, but I'm sneaking it in when I can. Now to sneak back offline... :)

Anonymous said...

i've been wanting to read ballads of suburbia
--Tashi

Melanie said...

I haven't heard of the first book, however, I am excited to read Ballads of Suburbia. I know that Khy, from Frenetic Reader, said that it made her cry. I'm really looking forward to seeing if it has a similar effect on me.

kensbrown said...

Ballads of Suburbia sounds really really really good! i cant wait to read it(:

Alyson Noel said...

Hey Jessica- I hear ya on the deadlines!! Good luck with yours!

Hey Taste LIfe, Melanie, and kensbrown-- I know, doesn't it sound great?!

Siyu:) said...

Both of the books sound interesting!! XD

Jessica Brody said...

That's so funny because I was just looking at Greg's book: Alibi Junior High because we're featuring it on Free Book Friday Teens in a few weeks and I thought, "wow, this book sounds REALLY good!" I might have to take a look! But alas, it will have to wait until after my (VERY) looming deadline on August 15. Damn deadlines!

Jessica Brody said...

Btw...love the new blog look!

Alyson Noel said...

Deadfish-- Agreed!

Jessica- Ditto on the deadlines!