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In: Author Appearances, Picture Book Reviews, What's Happening at PBC
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Phoenix Book Company was excited to be able to premier Chris Gall’s newest book, There’s Nothing to Do on Mars, at the AzLA conference in November 2007.  We received 50 books in advance of the February 1, 2008 release date to support Chris’ program at the conference.  50 lucky AzLA attendees were able to get this book, signed by the author/illustrator, before anyone else in the US! Thanks to Chris and his publisher, Little, Brown for making this possible. Posted by CoriRead More →

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A bit overdue, but online nonetheless! Phoenix Book Company had a great time at the annual AzLA conference November 14 & 15 at the Mesa Convention Center.  Our booth was stocked with tons of YA hardback fiction, cute & cuddly Folkmanis puppets, and all of the kids’ author books.  It was fun to see many of our regular customers and to chat with plenty of other folks who just discovered us at the show.  We love taking our great books out to events to meet new people, participate in conversations about books & reading, and deepen our relationships with our customers. We were busy from openingRead More →

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In Someday This Pain Will be Useful to You, Peter Cameron superbly captures the disconnected feelings and wry observations of a young man.  James is an 18-year-old New Yorker who doesn’t connect with anyone in his life.  The novel focuses on a few days in the summer of his 18th year as he struggles with his future – college at Brown and the life his parents expect of him or an escape to the Midwest where he would buy a house in a small town and live a quiet, sheltered life. James’ great fear is of an existence that doesn’t “touch or overlap with anyoneRead More →

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Over tea this morning I came across an interesting article in the Sunday NY Times Week in Review section entitled “A Good Mystery: Why We Read” by Motoko Rich. The article examines the current state of reading today and in interesting interviews with authors such as National Book Award winner Sherman Alexie explores how and why some people become life-long readers.  I was particularly struck by 2 things in the story: the fact that reading is, ultimately, a personal, private activity (it certainly is for me, although I love a good discussion about books) and that often it is one remarkable book that comes to aRead More →

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Before I Die by Jenny Downham is sharp, poignant, sometimes funny and sometimes heartbreaking story about 16-year old Tessa, a young woman living in London under the heavy veil of terminal lukemia. With just months left to live she makes a list on the wall behind her bed of the things she must experience before her life ends.  Sex, drugs, learning to drive and falling in love are just some of the things she must do to really live life.  While she’s free of the constraints of normal life to pursue her list, she is also constantly dogged by pain, exhaustion, sickness and her deteriorating condition. While the premise has theRead More →

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In: Arizona Authors, On the Edge, Supernatural & Horror (YA), Young Adult Book Reviews
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 Wake 17-year-old Janie has a secret. She enters people’s dreams. She doesn’t want to, but she can’t stop it.  And it’s really annoying when it happens when she is at school, or work, and especially when it is a nightmare.  Things get complicated when she befriends Cabel. Some of his dreams are about her.  And some of his dreams are frightening.  When they end up in a dream together, they learn each other’s secrets.  Can they help each other? This was a quick, enjoyable read.   Due to some language and mature situations it is recommended for older teens and adults. http://www.lisamcmann.com/ Posted by MichelleRead More →

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In: Middle Grade Reviews, Sci Fi & Fantasy
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This is the third book in the Grey Griffins series and they just keep getting better! Max, Ernie, Harley and Natalia are the Grey Griffins, four kids in the small town of Avalon, Minnesota who enjoy playing a card game called Round Table. In the first book, The Revenge of the Shadow King, the exciting adventures begin when the kids discover that the fantastic creatures and characters on their Round Table cards actually exist!  Max finds a magical book in his grandmother’s attic and is tricked into releasing an evil creature from it. Max becomes the new guardian of this important book, called the Codex.Read More →

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The Other Half of Me by Emily Franklin.  Jenny is a teenager with some typical teenage problems.  She is struggling to fit in with her athletic family.  She wants them to be more supportive of her interests.  She is jealous of her twin sisters’ close relationship and also feels that nobody understands her.  In her family of 6, she feels lonely. Jenny loves to paint.  The big art show is coming up and she wants to paint something good enough to get into the show. She has a crush on Tate, and now he seems to like her too.  Jenny also has some problems that are far from typical.   Her dadRead More →

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In: Middle Grade Reviews, Reaching Reluctant Readers, Sci Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy (YA), Young Adult Book Reviews
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The Softwire: Virus on Orbis 1 is a fantastic sci-fi book for all ages.  Excellent for reluctant readers! Johnny Turnbull, aka JT, and his little sister Ketheria never knew their parents.  Years before they were born, their parents agreed to leave Earth to make a long trip through space to work on the far-off rings of Orbis.  After a malfunction killed all of the adults on the ship, the computer raised the embryos that the adults had brought on board.  When these children, no older than twelve, arrive on Orbis they discover that they must work off their parent’s debts by being virtual slaves for theRead More →