Flunked Virtual Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the virtual blog tour for FLUNKED! Today I'm spotlighting the book - so read on for more info, a great excerpt, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Before you read any further, think about this: If you get sentenced to Fairy Tale Reform School, it would help to have an ally. Take the quiz and find out who your mentor would be!
Fairy Tale Reform School Quiz

Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School)

Author: Jen Calonita

Genre: MG/YA Fantasy

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Description:

OUR MISSION:

To turn WICKED DELINQUENTS

and FORMER VILLAINS

into FUTURE HEROES

Gilly wouldn’t call herself wicked exactly…but when you have five little brothers and sisters and live in a run- down boot, you have to get creative to make ends meet. Gilly’s a pretty good thief (if she does say so herself).

Until she gets caught.

Gilly’s sentenced to three months at Fairy Tale Reform School- where all of the teachers are former (super-scary) villains like the Big Bad Wolf, the Evil Queen, and Cinderella’s Wicked Stepmother. Harsh. But when she meets fellow students Jax and Kayla, she learns there’s more to this school than its heroic mission. There’s a battle brewing and Gilly has to wonder: can a villain really change? 

Praise:

“Charming fairy-tale fun.” –Sarah Mlynowski, author of the Whatever After series.

“Flunked is spellbinding and wickedly clever. Gilly is smart, spunky, and a hilarious narrator!” –Leslie Margolis, author of the Annabelle Unleashed and the Maggie Brooklyn mysteries.

“Flunked is a fresh and funny take on the enchanted world. (And who hasn’t always wanted to know what happened to Cinderella’s stepmother?”)”  -Julie DeVillers, author of the Trading Faces identical twin series and Emma Emmets, Playground Matchmaker.

“A reform school where all the teachers are former villains.  Kinda writes itself, right?” -Betsy Bird’s Librarian Preview

 

There’s a boy up there, standing on the crystal chandelier! He has slightly curly blond hair and is wearing a uniform—­a navy sweater vest over a white shirt with khaki pants—­but his boots are muddy. He’s stepping on priceless crystals with cruddy boots? Is he insane?

“Jax! What are you doing up there?” Kayla whispers heatedly.

“I’m cleaning the crystal for Flora,” Jax says and rolls his eyes. “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m making

a break for it.”

Kayla applauds. “Yay! This time I know you can do it.”

I shade my eyes from the light bursting through the stained-­glass window next to the chandelier Jax is perched on. “Busting out? Why?” I ask Kayla. “I thought you said this place was cool.”

Jax laughs loudly and looks at me. I feel slightly stunned. I’ve never seen violet eyes before. “FTRS was fun for a while, but strange things have started happening and I don’t want to be here when something bad goes down.”

Strange things? What kind of strange things? Why does Kayla suddenly look pale?

“He’s exaggerating,” Kayla tells me, but she doesn’t sound convincing.

Drip. Whatever Jax is holding is leaking. Kayla and I move out of the way so we don’t get wet. “Grease,” Jax explains to me. “It lubes the window.” He swings the chandelier, and as it nears the window, he uses a fork to try to pry the window open. “A few more tries and I’ll have it.”

“Then what are you going to do, genius?” I ask. “You’re two stories up.”

Jax’s eyes gleam. “I’ve jumped from higher spots before.”

“It’s true,” Kayla says to me. “Jax once jumped from the gym to the dining hall turret. That was three stories up. We call him the Escape Artist. One time he even managed to break into Azalea and Dahlia’s rooms and borrowed their keys to the indoor pool so the whole dorm could take a midnight swim.”

“Impressive,” I tell him. “And I thought I was good at tricking obnoxious royals.”

“She stole a dragon’s tooth clip from one this morning,” Kayla fills him in.

“Nice,” Jax says. “Your first pull?”

“No, I’ve been doing it for a while,” I brag.

“Me too,” Jax says. “My father is a farmer. You can only get so far trading vegetables. I needed to kick things up a notch.”

For some reason, I don’t think any of us are going to make the transformation Headmistress Flora is looking for. “Why do you want to break out so bad?”

“I’ve got places to see, and Enchantasia isn’t one of them.” Jax swings the chandelier so hard the crystals clang together. The window latch pops open, and I watch Jax leap from the chandelier to the tiny window ledge. I’m in awe. Jax looks down at us smugly before pushing open the window. “Are you sure you two don’t want to join me?”

“There’s no time for us,” Kayla says. “Get out of here. Wait!” Her eyes widen. “You deactivated the alarm on the window, right?”

“There isn’t one,” Jax insists. “If there was, I wouldn’t be able to do this.” But when Jax lifts the window, we hear:

EEEEEE! EEEE! EEEE! Unauthorized exit! Unauthorized exit!

The shrieking sound is so intense that Kayla and I cover our ears. Within seconds, Flora is out of her office and running toward us.

Swoosh!

I feel something brush past me and I whirl around. When I look up at Jax again, a large, muscular man with a long mane of hair is hanging on to the window ledge, his furry hands pulling Jax back by his shirt. How did the man get up there without a ladder?“Mr. Jax,” the man says in a low growl, “we really must stop meeting like this.”

Jen Calonita is the author of the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series and other books like Sleepaway Girls and Summer State of Mind, but Fairy Tale Reform School is her first middle grade series. She rules Long Island, New York with husband Mike, princes Tyler and Dylan, and Chihuahua Captain Jack Sparrow, but the only castle she’d ever want to live in is Cinderella’s at Disney World. She’d love for you to drop her a line at jencalonitaonline.com or keep the fairy tale going at http://books.sourcebooks.com/enchantasia/

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Amazon | B&N | BAM |!ndigo | IndieBound

 Giveaway: (5) Print copies of FLUNKED

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Rose Blog Tour: Guest Post + Review

Welcome to my stop on the Rose official blog tour hosted by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky! Today I have an exciting guest post to share with you along with my review of the book!

Rose (Rose #1)

Author: Holly Webb

Genre: YA/MG Fantasy/Mystery

Release Date: September 3, 2013

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Description:

Rose isn't like the other orphans at St. Bridget's Home for Abandoned Girls. Instead of dreaming of getting adopted by loving, wealthy parents, Rose wants to get a job and be independent. She doesn't need anyone but herself. She finds her escape working as a maid for Mr. Fountain, an alchemist. Unable to ignore the magic that flows throughout the grand residence, Rose realizes that just maybe; she might have a little bit of magic in her too. This new series featuring magicians, witches, talking cats, mist-monsters, and friendships will have young readers in a trance! 

 Dream Cast for ROSE

Rose – Chloe Moretz

This is so difficult! Rose needs to be brave, determined, but quite matter-of-fact. She’s horrified by her magic at first, as she wants to be a maid – she’s amazed that she’s been lucky enough to get a job, and she thinks the magic will spoil everything. So whoever played her would need to be able to get that determination across, but be overtaken by the excitement of the magic growing inside her.

At first I thought of Kirsten Dunst, as she was amazing as a child vampire in Interview With the Vampire, but of course that was years and years ago. Actually, if I could have any child actress from whenever, I think I would go for Mara Wilson, who played Matilda in the film. She seemed quite as I imagine Rose – pretty, but not beautiful, very sensible, but with a sly sense of humour lurking underneath. I wonder if Chloe Moretz (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hugo) would be able to look young enough to play Rose? In the book Rose thinks she’s ten, but she’s not quite sure, and the hard life at the orphanage, and having to be grown-up very quickly, would make her look older.

Mr. Fountain – Colin Firth

But only if he could grow a large, curly moustache.

Miss Sparrow – Emma Watson

Miss Sparrow needs to be very beautiful, possibly too beautiful – not to spoil the plot, but her looks are magically enhanced. I’d love to see Emma Watson play another magical character, but this time, an evil one. (Thinking about it, Emma Watson would also have been wonderful as Rose!)

Bill (Or Freddie! )– Asa Butterfield

Bill is another of the servants at Mr. Fountain’s house. He’s an orphan too, and he loves being a little bit older and more used to working than Rose. But he’s actually very kind, although he does his best to hide it. He needs to sound like a Londoner, which I think is probably easier for a British actor. But then I can see Asa Butterfield as Freddie, the snotty, conceited magician’s apprentice, too! He has a magical look to him. Can I have him twice with different-coloured hair, please?!

Gus (voice) – Alan Rickman

Because he has a lovely voice!

Gus is Mr Fountain’s spoilt white cat, and one of the first magical things to happen to Rose is that she realises she can hear him talking. He’s proud, lazy and obsessed with fishpaste sandwiches.

I first saw Alan Rickman in Truly, Madly, Deeply a long time ago but he can also be fabulously nasty (as the sheriff of Nottingham and of course as Snape in the Harry Potter films). He’s great at sounding grumpy, which is very important for Gus!

Thanks for stopping by the blog and sharing your dream cast Holly!

Rose is the first book in a young adult/middle grade series that follows main character Rose as she learns that she is different - very different - from the other girls at St. Bridget's Home for Abandoned Girls. She doesn't want to admit that she can do magic - all she wants from life is to get out of the home and secure a job as a maid. Soon her dream becomes reality as she is whisked away to the estate of one Mr. Fountain, who just happens to be an alchemist. As Rose adjusts to her new life, she realizes that she can't ignore the magic that is happening all around her and that maybe she might have a bit of magic in her as well - and that might not be such a bad thing.

This was a truly enchanting and fun young adult/middle grade fantasy novel. The plot was interesting and had several different aspects that wove together to form a great story. I loved the historical setting for the book - I think that it was a perfect choice for the story to take place. The characters were all wonderfully written - especially our leading lady, Rose. She's smart, brave, determined, and logical - but she's also forced to be open-minded and adaptable when she moves to Mr. Fountain's estate. I immediately liked her character from the start of the book and continued to root for her throughout the story. The other characters were quirky and fun - each had their own personalities that made them unique. The plot was exciting and fun - full of mystery, magic, fantasy and adventure - and there never seemed to be a dull moment for Rose or the reader. The writing was very well done with a quick pace and natural flow that made this a fast read for me. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what will happen in the next installment! Highly recommended for fans of YA or MG fantasy novels.

Holly Webb is the author of Dog Magic, Cat Magic, and Lost in the Snow. She has always loved animals and owns two very spoiled cats. They haven't said a word to her yet, but she's always listening, just in case! She lives in England. (Taken from Goodreads)

http://www.holly-webb.com/

Wonder Light Blog Tour: Review

Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist (Unicorns of the Mist #1)
Author: R.R. Russell
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Description:

Deep in the heart of a mist-shrouded island, an impossible secret is about to be discovered.

Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for "troubled" girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible — someone who needs her.
 
Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn.

A baby unicorn.

Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island's mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig's to care for. That she needs Twig's love and protection. Because there's something out there in the deep, dense shadows that's hunting for them...

Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist is a fun Middle Grade fantasy that follows our young heroine, Twig, as she is sent away to a home for troubled girls on a supposedly haunted island pony ranch. While there, Twig is woken from a dream with the distinct impression that someone needs her help. Following the strange sounds, Twig finds a baby unicorn alone in the forest. The island has exposed it's secret to Twig: it has the last free herd of unicorns on Earth. Along with the help of a mysterious boy named Ben, Twig must care for and help the unicorns before the dark shadows hunting the forest can get them.
 
This was a truly mystical and enchanting middle grade fantasy novel that engages the reader from the first pages. Twig is a wonderful lead character. She's young, vulnerable and feels as though her father and his new family doesn't have a place for her anymore. She's lost, alone, and scared. We see her character grow and mature when she discovers the baby unicorn and the island's secret herd. It gives her a purpose and a secret all her own, which makes her gain confidence and inner strength. She's a very likable character and one that the readers can easily identify with. The setting of the book was a great one - the mysterious island shrouded in mist and secrets. It added a great tone to the story and made the adventure even more fun. I loved the plot of the book - I thought it was magical and interesting. Not just a herd of wild unicorn, but the last herd on Earth? The island and its residents all hold lots of secrets and the mysteries of the island were fun to discover alongside the characters. The writing was fast paced and had a great flow, which definitely keeps the reader engaged and eagerly turning the pages to see what will happen next. This is a great middle grade fantasy novel that readers of all ages will want to dive into.

R.R. Russell lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. She grew up traveling the world as an army brat and now travels the country as a coach with a non-profit judo club. She loves to read and draw, and like Twig, once spent a lot of time sketching unicorns. Visit her at rrrussellauthor.com.

Spotlight & Giveaway: Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do…

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers out there! To help celebrate this special occasion, I have an exclusive book spotlight and giveaway to share - sponsored by the wonderful people at Sourcebooks!

Author and artist Marianne Richmond praises the amazing ways that moms show their love in her new picture book, OH, THE THINGS MY MOM WILL DO...  This delightful rhyming tale celebrates the unpredictable adventure that is motherhood, with its sometimes silly, always cherished, and wonderfully important moments — all rooted in love:

The Mother’s Tea is soon to start.

So far, my mom’s not here.

She said her work would end in time.

“I promise,” she made clear.

I start to cry as lunch begins

when…yippee—here she comes!

I don’t see the speeding ticket

She’s hiding as she runs!

Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do…

Author: Marianne Richemond

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Release Date: April 2013

ISBN: 9781402232331

$16.99; Ages 4 & up

 Description:

Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do is a sweet, inspiring book that will speak straight to a parent’s heart in the nuanced way we’ve come to expect from Marianne. Using heartfelt sentiments, Marianne showcases poignant moments that express the universal emotions all mothers feel. With Marianne Richmond’s beloved artwork and insightful prose, this book beautifully illustrates what it really means to be a mom.

Praise:

“Follow the everyday routines of busy, loving moms who help look for lost toys and take care of tots' tummyaches in this delightful story told from a child's POV.”

—Working Mother

“[A] humorous slip of a tale . . . Eschewing the usual saccharine odes to motherhood, this title should lead to laughter and some recognition for all the crazy things moms do out of love.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Will surely warm the hearts of both readers and listeners . . . a heartfelt awareness on what it really means to be a mother.” —School Library Journal

“From forgotten lunches to sick hamsters and scary thunderstorms, Richmond’s smudgy watercolors offer a catalog of relatable mother-and-child moments.” —Publishers Weekly

Beloved author and illustrator MARIANNE RICHMOND has touched the lives of millions for nearly two decades through her award-winning books, greeting cards, and other gift products that offer people the most heartfelt way to connect with each other. She lives in the Minneapolis area. Visit www.mariannerichmond.com. 

The publisher is generously offering giveaway copies of both OH, THE THINGS MY MOM WILL DO... and Marianne’s bestselling IF I COULD KEEP YOU LITTLE… board book!- US Only!

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My Epic Fairy Tale Fail Blog Tour: Review

My Epic Fairy Tale Fail (My Very UnFairy Tale Life #2)
Author: Anna Staniszewski
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: March 1, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Description:

Fairy tales do come true. Unfortunately.

Jenny the Adventurer is back, and this time she's off to the Land of Tales: the crazy place that all fairy tales come from. If she can defeat an evil witch and complete three impossible tasks--all without getting eaten by blood-thirsty monsters--Jenny might finally get some answers about what happened to her parents.

This is one adventure Jenny can't afford to fail.  

My Epic Fairy Tale Fail is the second book in a fun young adult series that shows us that fairy tales may be true, but they are far from perfect. Our leading lady, Jenny the Adventurer, is back this time and off to the Land of Tales - the place where all the fairy tales in the world came from. All she needs to do when she gets there is defeat an evil witch and complete three impossible and crazy tasks, without getting eaten by monsters, of course. If she's able to do all these things, Jenny might finally get some answers about what happened to her parents. She really can't afford to fail this time. Will she be able to do what needs to be done to save her parents?

This is a really light and fun second installment in a fairy tale themed young adult series. Jenny is a great lead character - she has a great attitude and personality and also doesn't give up - even though all the odds are against her. The setting of the book was really fascinating and I loved reading about the Land of Tales. It was another great setting for the adventures that Jenny goes on and I hope the next book has another great place for us to visit. The writing was well done and fast paced, so it keeps the reader engaged in the story and eagerly turning the pages to see what will happen next. This is a wonderful story and a fun and easy read - highly recommended for younger readers and YA fans who like fantasy and fairy tales.

About Book 1 in the series:

My Very UnFairy Tale Life (My Very UnFairy Tale Life #1)
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Description:

You know all those stories that claim fairies cry sparkle tears and elves travel by rainbow? They're lies. All lies.
I've spent my life as an official adventurer. I travel across enchanted kingdoms saving magical creatures and fighting horrible beasts that most of you think are only myths and legends. I've never had a social life. My friends have all forgotten me. And let's not even talk about trying to do my homework. So -- I'm done!! I'm tired and I want to go back to being a normal girl. But then along comes "Prince Charming" asking for help, and, well, what's a tired girl like me supposed to do?
 
"Jenny is an adventurer I'd definitely want in my corner if my life ever took a wrong turn from Happily Ever After." -- Helene Boudreau, author of Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings 

"Readers will laugh their way through the ups and downs of Jenny's many (mis)adventures." -- Jennifer A. Nielsen, author of Elliot and the Goblin War  

Anna Staniszewski lives and works in the Boston area. She's the author of the My Very UnFairy Tale Life series and the upcoming Dirt Diaries series–-both published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky–-as well as the occasional dinosaur picture book. You can visit Anna at www.annastan.com or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/annastanisz.