KidsBuzz: Author Stories Plus Book Giveaways for Your Club

August 1, 2011

Kids' Authors Share Their Stories
Plus
Fabulous Book Giveaways for Your Club

Greetings:

In this issue of KidsBuzz, featuring book giveaways and behind-the-scenes stories from top kids' authors, you'll meet:

- Gwen Frost, seventeen-year-old Gypsy girl with psychometry magic, in Jennifer

Estep's TOUCH OF FROST;

- Charlie West, an ordinary kid, who stars in the fourth and latest of Andrew Klavan's The Homelanders series, THE FINAL HOUR;

- and Marguerite, heroine of THE SWORD IN THE HAND, an historical novel set in the Middle Ages -- the time of knights, war and plague. Exciting!

Warm wishes,

Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp

kidsbookclubbook.com

Ages 14 and up / Young Adult / Paranormal / Urban Fantasy / Kensington Teen

Win a set of TOUCH OF FROST by Jennifer Estep for your book club. Enter to win by emailing

the author (write "KidsBookclubbing" in the subject line).

Dear Reader,

Ever since I was a kid, I've always loved mythology and all the stories of the various gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines, and monsters battling each other and going on amazing adventures. My interest in mythology inspired me to write TOUCH OF FROST, the first book in my Mythos Academy series. The book focuses on Gwen Frost, a seventeen-year-old Gypsy girl with psychometry magic. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen gets shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Amazons, and Valkyries.

Here's a little more about the book:

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy - a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where Logan Quinn, the hottest guy, also happens to be the deadliest.

But things have been weird. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, an artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine - especially since I should have been the one who died ...

Happy reading! ;-)

Jennifer Estep

Book reviews:

"Touch of Frost is an intriguing start to an exciting new series!"

- Award-winning author Jeri Smith-Ready

"In this Urban Fantasy, surviving high school means staying alive!"

- New York Times bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks

Discussion questions:

1. What would your definition of a warrior be? What do you consider being brave?

2. What would you do if you had the power to uncover people's secrets like Gwen does? How would you use that power for good?

3. What would you do if you had to leave your friends behind and go to a new school? How would you feel? How would you handle those feelings?

To read excerpts and keep up with the author via her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, please see Jennifer's website.

Author call-in information: Jennifer Estep is happy to call-in to your club. She can also meet with your group if you live within a few hours' driving distance. Email Jennifer Estep to submit your request.

Ages 13 and up / Young Adult Fiction / Thomas Nelson

Win a set of The Final Hour by Andrew Klavan for your book club. Enter to win by emailing the author (write "KidsBookclubbing" in the subject line).

Dear Reader,

I'm writing to let you know about my new novel The Final Hour. It's the fourth and last installment in the Homelanders' series.

Homelanders is the story of Charlie West, an ordinary kid who went to sleep in his own bed one night and woke up to find himself hunted by terrorists and wanted by the police. Since then, he's been in danger constantly, on the run with nothing but his karate skills to keep him alive.

In The Final Hour, Charlie faces his most desperate challenge: a terrorist plot that could leave thousands dead. With time running out, Charlie finally has to face his enemies head on in order to solve the mystery of his past, and make sure his country has a future.

I hope you'll take a look. I'm betting if you read page one, you'll want to read it all.

Sincerely,

Andrew Klavan

Book reviews:

"Action sequences that never let up...wrung for every possible drop of nervous sweat."

- Booklist (review of The Long Way Home)

"A thriller that reads like a teenage version of 24...an adrenaline-pumping adventure."
- TheDailyBeast.com (review of The Last Thing I Remember)

Discussion questions:

1. Throughout this series, Charlie is faced with many difficult choices. Have you ever found yourself with no good options for action? How do you approach making important decisions?

2. When Charlie calls Beth for what he believes will be the last time, he tries to keep his emotions in check. Have you ever tried to keep your emotions under control in order to be strong for someone else? Have you ever sensed that someone else was doing the same for you?

3. Though Charlie is a fighter, he always maintains respect for human life. How do you see this respect throughout the book?

4. Charlie's friends, girlfriend, and parents suffer a lot because of Charlie's commitment to a cause. Have you ever worried that doing the right thing might alienate others or cause them to suffer?

5. What does it mean for Charlie to "live true"? How do we determine what "living true" means in our own lives?

To watch the book trailer and download a sample chapter visit thehomelanders.com.

Author call-in information: Andrew Klavan is happy to call-in to your club. Email him to submit your request.

Ages 12 and up / Young Adult Historical Fiction / Annick Press

Win a set of A SWORD IN HER HAND by Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem and Pat van Beirs for your book club. Enter to win by emailing the publisher (write "KidsBookclubbing" in the subject line).

Dear Reader,

Forget all you have been told about the Middle Ages. Fourteen-year old impertinent Marguerite will tell you, in her very own words, about life at the castle as it really was! She will tell you about the knights who are ill-mannered nitwits, the malodorous monks who teach her Latin verbs, her stern father who never wanted a daughter in the first place, handsome squire William who secretly kisses her in the reading chapel and English prince Edmund, aka the Pustule, whom she must marry before winter comes. You will not forget brave, quirky Marguerite, the heroine of A SWORD IN HER HAND.

We have based our novel on real-life Marguerite van Male, who grew up in a time of knights, war and the plague. Some of the novel is fact, some of it is legend. But one thing is for sure: Marguerite was anything but a damsel in distress.

Sincerely,

Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem & Pat van Beirs

Book reviews:

"Marguerite's fearless spirit, the fast pace, and the setting's gritty authenticity all elevate this noble historical novel above the rabble."

- Kirkus Reviews

"... an engaging, well-paced story that also gives a vivid picture of life in the Middle Ages ..."

- ForeWord Reviews

"This one has it all: romance, adventure, excitement. It's a very special book."

- January Magazine

Discussion questions:

1. How does the first chapter of the book prepare you for the rest of the story?

2. In reading this story, what did you learn about life in medieval Europe that you hadn't known before?

3. Marguerite has been described as a modern heroine; which of her actions support this view?

4. The Count of Flanders and his daughter are clearly enemies; however, there are some similarities in their character. Describe what they have in common.

5. Which scene in the book did you find the most memorable? Why?

Click here to read an excerpt of the book. You can also find out more on the Annick Press website or watch a trailer at Youtube.

A maximum of 10 books is available for each book club giveaway.
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