ARC Blog Tour

I am very excited to announce that I have an ARC of Lynda Mullaly Hunt's Fish in a Tree, due out 2015 from Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin! I'm announcing this because I'm excited for this book and thrilled that Lynda & Nancy sent me an ARC. I love One for the Murphys, Lynda's first book. I also had the opportunity to meet Lynda at nErDcampNNE last January. She is a delight!

The real reason I am announcing that I have an ARC is that I'm going to share it! This beautiful book is going to travel about the country! The list is growing, but there is still plenty of room for you! If you would like to be a part of this tour, leave a comment on this post.

Lynda and her publisher have not attached any strings to this tour, therefore, I encourage you to do at least one of the following:
*blog about it
*share your love for it on Twitter & Facebook
*buy the book from your local independent bookseller when it comes out
*post a review on your GoodReads account
*post a review on Amazon (you'll have to wait until we get closer to the publication date for this one)
*tell people about the book
*encourage your local library to buy it

The ARC just arrived at my house today and both my husband and I have to read it before I send it out to the first person on the list. Once the book begins it's journey, I'll put up a post where those who are reading it can link their reviews.
I'm so excited!

TOUCHBLUE by Cynthia Lord

Cynthia Lord's RULES quickly became one of my favorite books the first time I read it. Now, as I'm reading it aloud to my 7th graders I am repeatedly struck by how meaningful it is. I was delighted when I found out Cindy had a new middle grade novel coming out.

Eleven-year-old Tess lives on an island off the coast of Maine. She loves her island life, including fishing with her father on his lobster boat. When the state plans to close the school house where Tess's mother is the teacher, the island community steps into action. Several families agree to take in foster children in hopes that they will help kids who need good families and save their school. Tess hopes her luck will hold as her family takes a chance on 13-year-old trumpet playing Aaron, but as things look like they aren't going to work out as she'd hope, Tess learns about luck and belonging.

I was not at all disappointed! Cynthia Lord has once again beautifully captured the voice and essence of "tweeners". Tess and Aaron are vibrant and real. The island is populated with interesting characters from a nosy neighbor to the class bully. I love it when an author has some sort of a frame that they weave their story around and Cindy cleverly weaves in various superstitions as Tess is a girl who very much one who believes in luck. I was delight to find that becoming an essential part of Tess' growth as a character. The setting is also beautiful created. I could hear the gulls cry and almost taste the salty air. Having spent time on the coast of Maine, I was transported back there as I read the story. There was so much that I could relate to, from the frustrations of missing your best friend to the strategies of playing Monopoly with a sibling.

I can't wait to share this with my class once we finish RULES! I'm also pretty excited to have received my very first ARC, thanks, Cindy!

*ARC provided by author


TOUCHBLUE is due to be released in August 2010 by Scholastic.