Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Meet Abbie Adams!


Abbie Adams is the main character in The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams. She is in the 5th grade and one curious little girl. Without further ado, here's my interview with Abbie! (Don't forget there's a chance to win a signed copy - click here to enter!)

What is the hardest part about being a witch?

Well, gee, I don’t want to get all poor me or anything because... well sure, I can do stuff like zap myself onto a beach in Hawaii any old time I feel like it. But just try never being able to tell your best friend about who you really are. Sometimes I even have to lie about it. To my best friend!!

Of all the spells you know, which is your favorite & what does it do?

I’ll tell you the truth, it’s one my mom hardly ever lets me use...but it’s a really sweet one that involves a little wiggling of the fingers and thinking about a dish towel. In two seconds flat, all the dishes are done and completely put away, counters cleaned and all. Am I right? Sweet? Mom only lets us use it on special occasions though. Since it’s a non-witch world we live in, she’s a big stickler about my brother and I learning to do things without magic. Sigh.
Oh. I bet you were thinking about something a little more glamorous weren’t you? But come on! Getting out of doing the dishes? You gotta admit, that’s a good one.

Can you tell us about your most embarrassing moment?

My dad says it’s not that unusual in a young witch but I have a little problem sometimes with buildup of excess magic charge in my fingertips. It drives me crazy! Just to make it extra horrible it always gets worse when I’m nervous. And I happened to be kind of nervous one day at school, when I was about to deliver my oral report on Betsy Ross...because the truth is, I didn’t really have a lot of time to do any research because all week long my brother Munch had been...well...that’s another story.
Anyway, while I was in the middle of a sweeping gesture showing how big the first flag was, a HUGE bolt of magic charge suddenly discharged from my fingertips—and it zapped my teacher Miss Linegar right on the rear end. She jumped about a mile and was looking around to see what had stung her...and I had to pretend I had no idea what had happened. That’s while I was right in the middle of trying to pretend that I had plenty of ideas about Betsy Ross..., which I unfortunately didn’t. I’m hoping I grow out of that one soon.

If you were allowed to use magic to turn yourself into anything for just one day, what would it be?

Um...I hate to seem braggy, but..well...I kinda can turn myself into anything any old time. It’s always fun but I think the most fun I ever had was when Munch and I turned ourselves into wild mustangs in Montana and joined a herd there. We spent the whole day running races against each other through the canyons.
Will you ever go back in time to visit Tom?

You know I’d like to, but I’m afraid it would make me really sad. You see when we go back in time, we’re not allowed to talk to anyone there because it would change the past. We always have to disguise ourselves as pillars or something and just watch. And just watching somebody you’re dying to hang out with...it would be awfully disappointing I think.

What would you like to be/do when you grow up?

That’s an easy one. I’m going to be an actress like my Aunt Sophie. She’s really famous and gets to be in all kinds of movies. And well... I mean here I go getting braggy again, but after Aunt Sophie saw me in my play...um, you don’t have to go telling everyone this or anything, but she said I was a born actress.

Thanks for stoppong by Abbie!

Monday, April 12, 2010

The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams + Giveaway

I am excited to host a week of The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter. This is a super cute, middle grade book which I reviewed last week. I hope you enjoy what we have planned. To start it off, I thought you'd like to know a bit about the book & author plus a chance to win your own copy :)


The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams

By Rhonda Hayter

Dial Books for Young Readers

Released: April 1, 2010


Synopsis

Abbie Adams is a regular eleven-year old girl with normal problems like a really strict fifth-grade teacher. (Meet Miss Linegar. Rhymes with vinegar.) She’s chronically behind in homework, forced to keep a big secret from her very best friend and hoping like heck she can remember all her lines in the drama club play. But Abbie also happens to be a witch and in addition to everything else, she has to cope with stuff like her little brother morphing into a werewolf and trying to eat his first-grade teacher...not to mention figuring out what exactly is up with her very, very peculiar cat.


About the author:

Rhonda Hayter was born in St. Jean, Quebec. She was an actress for some time, appearing in plays on tour and in New York and Los Angeles. Now, she works as a story analyst for a famous movie producer. When she and her husband found themselves with two little boys, one of whom morphed into a werewolf one day, The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams was born. Rhonda now lives in Los Angeles with her family. This is her first book.

To learn more visit: rhondahayter.com



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? April 12, 2010


It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week. Feel free to join in this weekly event if you'd like as well as use the picture above. Thanks Sheila for hosting!

Last week:
I reviewed The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting, Hourglass by Claudia Gray and The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter.

I read Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (review pending) and Never Blame The Umpire by Gene Fehler (for an interiew at Book Lovers Inc. this Wednesday.

This morning I just finished It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han (a must read for those who loved The Summer I Turned Pretty OR Sarah Dessen fans!)


This week:

I'm reviewing Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins and It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han.

I'm reading Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready and one more older book from my shelf, not sure what yet (I may have to close my eyes, twirl around & just pick the 1st one I point too LOL)

What are you reading this week?

Friday, April 9, 2010

1st Rate Friday's #6


A weekly meme to share favorite posts you've come across recently. Although it's impossible to follow every book blogger, this is a great opportunity to highlight exceptional posts you find. Hopefully along the way you'll find some great new-to-you blogs as well. Let's spread the love and support those awesome posts out there!

This was inspired by Cindy at Tynga's Reviews, Jennifer at Reading With Tequila, Lisa at The Little Reader...and me!

Let the fun begin!


Rebecca at The Book Lady's Blog, along with Brett Sandusky, Digital Marketing Manager at Kaplan Publishing are looking for your input! If you haven't already has the chance to fill out this survey, don't forget (open until April 20th): Book Blogger Survey for Improving Blogger-Publisher Relations!

What gems did you find?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Review: The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams


Publisher: Dial

Released: April 1, 2010

Hardcover: 256 pages

Reading level: Ages 9-12


My Rating: 4 / 5

My Thoughts:

Abbie is trying to cope being a witch and living a 'normal' life. She finds it hard to keep such a big sercret from her friends and often has to rescue her little brother from his magical tantrums. Her dad comes home with great news one day, and a present for Abbie...the pet cat she'd been asking for forever!! But one day Abbie notices something different about this cat and the family knows it's up to them to do everything in their power to undo the spell.

The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams is a cute story I think kids will love - who didn't wish they couldn't perform magic when they were younger? Written from the perspective of Abbie, a 10 yr old girl, Rhonda did a great job capturing the energy & excitement that kids have. Ok, maybe Abbie rambled on but to me this added a little excitement when reading. The plot moved along at a nice pace, with hints along the way as to who cast the spell. Although magic may appear to fix many problems, the whodunit did not appear from thin air :) A great book that teachers will love and could use in class as Rhonda (not so subtly but in a fun way) threw in a few english lessons and the historical references. Without giving too much away, I can tell you that the cat is an infamous inventor whom they must rescue and bring back in time, which offers lots of discussion opportunities!

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Next week I'll be hosting a week of The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams for YA Roundup with some fun interview (and a contest)!