Mundie Moms

Thursday, May 13, 2010

One Question Blog Tour with Lauren Baratz-Logsted


This year we're looking forward to both your Middle School release, The Sisters Eight Book 5: Marcia's Madness and your YA release,
The Education of Bet. If I were to sit down with your main character from each book, and ask them to describe their book to me, how would they describe their story?

I'll do The Education of Bet first since the main character of that book is a little less complicated than the, um, main character of The Sisters 8.

Here's Elizabeth Smith, aka Bet, from The Education of Bet: It's not that I'm not grateful. Of course I'm grateful to Will's great-uncle for taking me in after my mother died. That's not the point. I'm sixteen years old and I want a proper education. Many other girls do go to school or are taught at home, but I, being the orphan of the maid - well, let's just say my schooling has never been anyone else's priority. So it's had to become mine, which is why I've come up with my plan. You see, Will no longer wants to go away to boarding school. Will wants to go to war. Since Will is to start at a new boarding school soon where no one has seen him before, I thought I could learn to impersonate a boy so I could take his place. That way, he'll get what he wants, I'll get what I want, and just as soon as I work out a few minor details, I'm sure all will be well with no one the wiser. Of course, first I need to persuade Will of the wisdom of my plan. That shouldn't be too hard, should it?

And here's Marcia Huit of The Sisters Eight Book 5: Marcia's Madness: It's about time I got my own book. Georgia Huit: But it's not your own book really, is it? Yes, your name may be on the cover, but don't you see where it also says The Sisters 8? 8: that's us. We are octuplets, you know.
Annie Huit: Our parents disappeared on New Year's Eve.
Rebecca Huit: Or else they died. Do we have any pink frosting in the house?
Durinda Huit: Ask Carl the talking refrigerator. He should know. I'm going to start dinner soon.
Jackie Huit: Ever since our parents' disappearance -
Rebecca Huit: - or death -
Jackie Huit: - Annie, being the eldest, has taken over as Daddy of the family while Durinda is sort of the Mommy.
Petal Huit: The note in the wall said that in order for us to discover what happened to Mommy and Daddy we each have to discover our own power and gift. I don't want my power. The very idea scares me. In fact, I think I'll go hide under the bed now. Excuse me, please.
Zinnia Huit: Petal may not want her power but I do want my gift. I love presents. Each month one of us gets to be the focus of attention and get our power and gift. It goes by order of birth so even though we are octuplets we were born a minute apart with me last. I know what that means. Marcia is so lucky to finally get her turn and I only wish -
Marcia Huit:
Finally! Someone acknowledges it is my turn! I'm sorry, though, I can't really tell you what the book is about. It's like us needing to discover our own powers and gifts before we can learn what really happened to Mommy and Daddy. If you, the reader, want to know what happens in my book, you'll just have to read it. And now I really must go, I'm afraid. I have a very scientific mind and there's a little experiment I've been meaning to try. Don't worry. Our eight cats will see you to the door.

We are looking forward to meeting these characters. Thank you so much for answering our question Lauren.
The Sisters Eight Book 5: Marcia's Madness was released on May 3rd and The Education of Bet, which is set in Victoria England (definitely sounds like a must read) will be released on July 12th.

You can find more questions for Lauren on these amazing blogs here:

May 12: Keri: Did you play any sports? If so, what sport(s)? Any fun sporty story(s) to share? And if you never played, why?? :) http://kerimikulski.com/


May 14: You have a unique last name and have mentioned that people almost always pronounce it incorrectly. How should it be pronounced? http://thebookvixen.blogspot.com/


To find out more about Lauren and her books, please visit her site here http://www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com/

Book Review-The Owl Keeper

By Christine Brodien-Jones
Illustrations by Maggie Kneen
Published by Random House Children's Books
Released on April 13, 2010
Source- Random House
4.5 Stars-I really liked this book. Go pick it up.

Five years ago, Maxwell Unger was diagnosed with a rare and mysterious illness making him allergic to sun particles. Max had always loved the night, but now, at almost twelve years old, it was all he knew. During the day the shade were drawn, clipped tightly together, in order to avoid the sunlight.

Before Max was brave, he used to do things like go out into the forest with his gran after dark. He would listen to her stories about the world before the Destruction-about nature, and books and silver owls. But his absolute favorite, the one story that he love more than any other, was the one about the Owl Keeper. It was the Owl Keeper, according to his gran, who in times of darkness would appear to unite the owls and sages against the powers of the dark.

But things are different now. Gran is gone, and so are her stories of what used to be. Max is afraid now. The forest is dangerous. The books are destroyed. The silver owls are extinct (or so the Hight Echelon would like people to believe). But Max knows better.

With the help of a mysterious girl who appears under his owl tree, Max is forced to reach inside and find his bravery once more, because the time of the Owl Keeper is coming soon. (taken from press release about the book, received from Random House).

I am so captivated by the cover. It's beautiful. The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are just as intriguing. Get ready to be swept away into an amazing world where nothing is what it seems, and as the darkness is taking over the world, the hope of many rests on two eleven and twelve year olds.

Max and Rose live in a world that has been taken over by The High Echelon. They have destroyed everything that was good in the world, and have killed off most of the animals, altered the weather, which destroyed much of the world and in the year 2066 they are now altering people. Books have all been burned, people go missing, families aren't what they used to be, and people's memories are fading. Now The High Echelon is about to destroy the last hope anyone has to fight the darkness, Max. Except for Max doesn't know that he's the last hope. At least not yet anyway.

You can read more of my review on our Children's Book Review Blog here-http://tinyurl.com/35ka8w2

Thoughtful Thursday- Chile Relief

There have been so many catastrophes around the world lately, from devastating earthquakes, to floods, tornadoes, the oil spill and more. Each Thursday we're finding it harder and harder to spotlight just one of many wonderful organizations who are helping those in time of greatest need.
This week's Thoughtful Thursday is to bring awareness to those who are in need from the devastating Chile earthquake that has claimed more than 700 lives and has left more than 1 million people without homes, foods, shelter, clothing and more. We want to spotlight two wonderful organizations who are helping those in need.

Our wonderful friend and affiliate, Heather with Fire & Ice (http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/) has been a crusader for raising awareness for Chile. With the help of family, friends and followers she has sent many packages of much needed supplies to Chile, but sadly the need is so great and there's many more things that need to be sent. Heather has set up a Pay Pal link to donate directly to help cover shipping costs of the many supplies she's been given here Paypal heatoddgardner@yahoo.com or mail. 100% of the proceeds go directly to the Chile Relief.

When I asked her what they needed most, here's what she said:
"The greatest need is for money to ship the relief. We have one man who needs a wheelchair and have one donated that needs to be delivered. They are living in tents outdoors and it is winter which means freezing weather and rains. Survival items, shoes, underwear, formula, blankets, tarps, tents, winter clothes, tights, socks and non-perishable food. Some of the towns in the South, near the epicenter were 80% destroyed which means STILL no running water or electricity."

To learn more about Heather has done and help meet the needs of those who are truly in need, please visit her site, http://tinyurl.com/33cf924.

I Am The Country was started by Wilmer Valderrama and Camilla Belle, who wanted to join forces and bring to light and raise awareness of the ways we can all help the country of Chile.
Please be sure to visit their site for more ways you can help, here (http://iamthecountry.com/).

*pictures used from Fire & Ice's blog*

Happy Birthday Katarina's Mama!!

I am totally sneaking this post in, yes, it is Rob's birthday and we do want to wish him a Happy Birthday- (just for S & S)
But the real reason for this post is to wish our very own Katarina's Mama a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! She really wanted us to forget about this day, but how could we. She can't except us Mundie Moms Admin not to say something. Sophie is our amazing Admin PR and I don't know what we'd do with out her. So, we've gathered up a few wonderful presents for her to enjoy today.

No Mundie Moms post would be complete without one of her favorite Mortal Instruments quotes:
"Good night, Clary," he said.
His hands lay flat on either side of him, his arms at his sides. He seemed barely to be breathing; she wasn't sure she was breathing herself. She slid her own hand across the bed-sheet, just far enough that their fingers touched-so lightly that she would probably hardly have been aware of it had she been touching anyone but Jace; as it was, the nerve endings in her fingertips prickled softly, as if she were holding them over a low flame. She felt him tense beside her and then relax. He had shut his eyes, and his lashes cast fine shadows against the curse of his cheekbones. His mouth curled into a smile as if he sensed her watching him, and she wondered how he would look in the morning, with his hair messed and sleep circles under his eyes. Despite everything, the thought gave her a jolt of happiness.
She laced her fingers through his. "Good night," she whispered. With their hands clasped like children in a fairy tale, she fell asleep beside him in the dark.
- Clary & Jace, City of Glass, page 334

Now, onto your Knight, I mean Prince in shining armor. Oh and look, he's holding a sword.
No birthday would be complete for you with out your Prince Caspian.

AND of course your other gift, and I don't think I need to really say anything else to you other than, enjoy!
Thank you for all you do for us. On behalf of all of us Mundie Moms, we hope you have a wonderful Birthday Sophie! We love you!

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