Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Teens Editor, Brangien Davis FEATURED IN THIS E-MAIL: * What We're Reading: A story about the youth of a queen and new titles from Paul Fleischman and Robert Cormier * Editor's Choice: Laurie Halse Anderson's "Speak" * A Conversation with Judy Blume * Block Party: An interview with Francesca Lia Block * Fairy Tales Revisited: "Spinners," "Just Ella," and "Chinese Cinderella" * In Honor of Banned Books Week: Read a banned book! WHAT WE'RE READING ****************** "Mary, Bloody Mary" by Carolyn Meyer http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0152019065/entertainmentsit Fans of the recent movie "Elizabeth" will be equally fond of "Mary, Bloody Mary," Carolyn Meyer's gripping historical tale of another feisty queen. Mary Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII, suffered many indignities during her youth; Meyer portrays her rocky rise to power with compassion, detail, and emotional intensity. "Mind's Eye" by Paul Fleischman http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805063145/entertainmentsit Stuck in a nursing home with a severed spinal cord, orphaned 16-year-old Courtney has every right to be miserable. Can her imaginative 88-year-old roommate Elva succeed in pulling her out of despair? Find out in Paul Fleischman's quiet, moving drama, "Mind's Eye." "Frenchtown Summer" by Robert Cormier http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385327048/entertainmentsit A bookish 13-year-old boy watches, waits, and wonders amid the alleys and tenements of his hometown in "Frenchtown Summer," Robert Cormier's touching blank verse novel exploring a son's need for his father's love and the many mysteries of growing up. EDITOR'S CHOICE *************** "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0374371520/entertainmentsit Ignored by her parents, ostracized by classmates, and victimized by date rape, Melinda has many reasons to have lost her voice. "Speak," an unforgettable, frightening first novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, tells Melinda's complex story with compassion, unexpected humor, and an unwavering eye toward the many cruelties of high school. A CONVERSATION WITH JUDY BLUME ****************************** Judy Blume is no stranger to censorship, which makes her the perfect editor for "Places I Never Meant to Be," a new collection of short stories from frequently censored writers. To help promote the freedom to read, Blume spoke with her publisher about the book and her personal experiences with censorship. We share that discussion here. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/?keyword=Judy+Blume&tag=entertainmentsit BLOCK PARTY: AN INTERVIEW WITH FRANCESCA LIA BLOCK ************************************************** Whether it's Weetzie Bat, Witch Baby, or My Secret Agent Lover Man, Francesca Lia Block's dazzling characters never fail to enchant and inspire, and with her new book "Violet & Claire" she adds two more stars to the galaxy. Amazon.com's Brangien Davis spoke with Block about her visions of Los Angeles, fairy tales, and what it means to be a girl goddess. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/?keyword=Francesca+Lia+Block&tag=entertainmentsit FAIRY TALES REVISITED ********************* "Spinners" by Donna Jo Napoli http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0525460659/entertainmentsit Donna Jo Napoli, famous for her captivating retellings of age-old fairy tales, revamps "Rumpelstiltskin" and spins the story into gold. "Just Ella" by Margaret Peterson Haddix http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0689821867/entertainmentsit In a new version of the classic tale, Cinderella drops the first half of her name and wishes she could do the same with Prince Charming (who turns out to be a hunk without a brain). "Chinese Cinderella" by Adeline Yen Mah http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385327072/entertainmentsit This memoir tells the Cinderella story of a young girl who, despite growing up under the thumb of a truly wicked stepmother, manages to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor. IN HONOR OF BANNED BOOKS WEEK: READ A BANNED BOOK! ************************************************** "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316769533/entertainmentsit J.D. Salinger's edgy novel about a cynical young man's coming of age has been on censor lists since it was first published in 1951. "Forever" by Judy Blume http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671695304/entertainmentsit Stories about "going all the way" never fail to irk the censors--even when Judy Blume tells one with style, humor, and incredible insight. "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0440944597/entertainmentsit Frequently banned since its 1974 publication, this powerful book explores what it means to defy the status quo. ****** You'll find more great books, articles, excerpts, and interviews in Amazon.com's Teens section at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=ts/browse-books/26
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