Libba Bray sings Prince in a cow suit. (Would I joke about something like that?)

Fans of Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, The Sweet Far Thing) have been anxiously awaiting her next book which is mere weeks away from hitting the shelves.

To celebrate the upcoming release of the Publishers Weekly red-starred Going Bovine (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009), the ever-hilarious Ms. Bray has taken cow videos to the next level. I laughed, I cried, I stood up and mooed... It was MUCH better than CATS.

Enjoy "Between the Covers" starring Libba Bray. And look for an upcoming review of Going Bovine. I can't WAIT to read it.

The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff

The thing about 9 year old Georgie is... he's a dwarf. But as the narrator of this story will tell you, that doesn't mean he's small in things like personality, talent and smarts. In fact, kids will quickly learn that the main thing about Georgie is that he's a lot like them.

For instance, Georgie is coming to terms with the fact that he's going to be a big brother. He's been the center of his parents world, and, on top of that, he's worried that it won't be long before his "little" sibling will be taller than him. On top of everything, he's had a falling out with his best friend, Andy... and the incredibly infuriating Jeanie the Meanie won't leave him alone.

This is a wonderful story that gives kids a glimpse into the world of a child who they may consider "different". Every kid wants to fit in, but for Georgie it goes beyond that. He has to adapt to a world made for taller people while he's trying to fit in, and his story is a nice lesson about walking in someone else's shoes.

What I really like about Graff's writing style is that the narrator's voice is very conversational and approachable, making the reader empathize with Georgie without being preachy. A surprise reveal to the narrator's identity at the end brings a smile.

Overall, kids will find themselves relating to someone they might not have thought they could relate to. Kids 9 to 12 will enjoy reading Georgie's story although I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. 4 bookmarks!

Graff's newest book, Umbrella Summer, is also in bookstores now. I'll definitely be adding it to be "to be read" list. Hope you will, too.

Final Fablehaven book release date announced!

Brandon Mull posted on Facebook last night that Fablehaven 5 (Keys to the Demon Prison) will go on sale March 23, 2010.

Start counting down now!!

Also, his first picture book for younger readers is out: Pingo. Perfect for little brothers and sisters of Fablehaven fans.

YA/Teen Review: Wait Until Twilight by Sang Pak

If you read this blog often you'll know that I mostly review middle grade or young-ish YA books. But every so often I come across a book for older teens that makes such an impact on me that I want to share it. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher was one. Wait until Twilight by Sang Pak is another.

Make no mistake, this is a gritty, extremely disturbing coming of age novel. There were moments while reading it that I thought I wouldn't be able to continue. But by time I reached the end, I was glad I hadn't given up.

Wait Until Twilight (2009, HarperCollins) is the story of Samuel, a sixteen year old boy who lives in rural Georgia. It begins a year after Samuel's mother has passed away and it's clear he still has issues. A school project exposes Samuel to a set of deformed triplet babies whose mother believes they were immaculately conceived. He becomes obsessed with them and their family situation. As he deals with the last few weeks of sophomore year, Samuel feels continually drawn back to the babies' home, sensing they are in danger from their older brother (an adult who is seriously warped).

The author's background in psychological studies is apparent, and he does a wonderful job in capturing the mental struggles Samuel faces trying to deal with not only his grief but a series of life-changing encounters.

The dialogue is so real sometimes that it seems jagged and disconnected, and I struggled with why Samuel doesn't go to some authority figure (his dad? his brother?) when things cross a dangerous line with the triplets' brother. It's beyond creepy. But in the end, Samuel does what he needs to do to right wrongs and the resolution brought tears to my eyes.

As I said, this is not a book for younger readers, but the language, disturbing themes, violence and adult situations are (unfortunately) probably not unfamiliar to those kids old enough to drive a car.

It's being compared to Catcher in the Rye, and Samuel does have that intelligent rebelliousness of Holden Caulfield. I doubt this will be the last we hear from Sang Pak. 3 1/2 bookmarks. A debut worth catching. Hits bookshelves August 4th.