Holiday Hop: OH! You're One of those People... by Glenn T. Schaefer

It might be the person sitting next to you in the movie theatre. Could be the person at work with the perpetual smile. It's difficult to always recognize someone suffering with the perils of depression or the humiliation of being homeless. These are not "diseases" that always select the socially downtrodden as is the public perception, but can alter the lives of anyone.
Depression is not a choice nor is it a fault and it can cripple the strongest. 

 Those suffering from depression don't always know how to reach out for help fearing embarrassment and ridicule, but when they do, it's important to listen, care and extend a helping hand. Depression is real and it does hurt. Medication can help, therapy can aid the efforts, but if you are a friend of someone with depression...reach out and squeeze a hand.
That will be remembered. 

 Having been born and raised on the south side of Chicago, two things were learned...almost at birth. Deep dish pizza was a culinary gift to mankind and rooting against the Cubs was almost as fun as becoming a life-long White Sox fan. Even a move to the rural areas of Illinois didn't curtail the passion for Chicago sports teams....and certainly not for pizza. A third possible lesson learned is that there really isn't a Sasquatch anywhere to be found and never will be. 

 After a rather uneventful two years at Eastern Illinois University studying journalism in his first life, Schaefer recently returned to school to complete a degree in Public Relations and Marketing and is continuing his educational process by working on a Master's Degree in Fine Arts concentrating on creative writing at Fairfield University in Connecticut. After 20 years on the streets selling advertising for CBS radio and television, the current passion is teaching at the college level and to help students expand their creative thoughts through the written word. The author's work can be found in numerous newspaper columns and sports blogs across the country. 

 Schaefer also works with the National Coalition for the Homeless as an advocate and at various local organizations serving those who are dealing with homelessness or depression. For information how you can serve, contact www.nationalhomeless.org.

Holiday Hop / Gift List: Best Young Adult / New Adult Titles

SECOND THOUGHTS by CARA BERTRAND

 

 

The continuing adventures of an ordinary teenage girl with extraordinary mental abilities, perfect for readers who love books and series such as Vampire Academy, Spellbound, and Sweet Peril



Secrets, lies, and looming deaths—all things Lainey Young deals with in a typical day of high school. In her senior year at Northbrook Academy—a New England boarding school where the majority of the students and nearly all the staff are members of the Sententia, a hidden society of the psychically gifted—Lainey has even more to worry about. Things like classes, college, her boyfriend, and, of course, the vision she glimpsed of her impending death. But to her surprise, Lainey finds one worry she can cross off her list, namely Senator Daniel Astor, the leader of the Sententia. After a shocking discovery when they finally meet, Lainey realizes maybe she was wrong to distrust the Senator. She relaxes even further when he seems to accept her refusal to work for him after graduation. But with her secrets mounting and the time to solve them running out, there’s a final enigma Lainey hasn’t yet encountered: Daniel Astor doesn’t take no for an answer. Ever.  

 

 

 

READ MY REVIEW

 

 

 

AMY'S CHOICE by MARCIA STRYKOWSKI

 

 

Amy Henderson’s freshman year starts with a new best friend, Cat, and a newfound confidence. But she misses her crush, Craig, who has gone to live with his aunt in Boston. Craig has promised to write, and Amy checks the mail on a daily basis, but to no avail. There are plenty of distractions, however. Cat’s brother, Ricky, seems interested in Amy, but is she interested in him? And a new friendship with Finn, the lighthouse keeper, who Amy discovers is a talented artist, keeps Amy and Cat busy as they arrange for him to exhibit his work. But things get complicated when Craig returns from Boston and Finn is accused of arson. There are more questions than answers for Amy as life becomes as turbulent as the cold and stormy ocean of her coastal Maine town. Ideal for preteens, this novel is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Call Me Amy and touches upon issues of friendship, boyfriend troubles, and the power of believing in oneself.

 

 

 

READ MY REVIEW

 

 

 

POPULATTI by JACKIE NASTRI BARDENWERPER

 

 

Getting in is hard. Staying in is harder...

Joining social network Populatti.com let sixteen-year-old Livi Stanley trade her awkward middle school past for the social life of her dreams. Because Populatti isn't just a social network. It's a club, providing access to friends. Parties. And Livi's crush, star baseball player Brandon Dash. Yet lately, online rumors have been threatening Livi's place in the group. And not even her friends are doing much to stop them. Leaving Livi to prove them wrong, and fast.

Before her life as a popster is over.

 

 

 

READ MY REVIEW

 

MAGNIFICENT MINDS by PENDRED NOYCE

 

 

Full of the inspirational stories girls need for exploring a future in science

Did you know that Florence Nightingale pioneered the use of statistics in public health? That Marie Curie is still the only person to have won the Nobel Prize in both physics and chemistry—and the only winner whose daughter also won a Nobel Prize? That in the 17th century, the most accomplished scholar in mathematical astronomy was a Polish woman, Maria Cunitz? That the pysicist who first explained nuclear fission was a woman, Lise Meitner?That two of the pioneers of computer science were women, Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper? For centuries, women have risen above their traditional roles to pursue new understanding of the natural world. This book, which grows out of an exhibit at the Grolier Club in New York, introduces the lives, sayings, and dreams of sixteen women over four centuries and chronicles their contributions to mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, computer science, and medicine. Sweeping and inspirational, this book should be read by all girls and young women who share curiosity about the world and the dream of making a difference.

 

 

 

COMING JAN 2015!

 

PRE-ORDER NOW!!

 

 

 

 DARE TO KISS by S.B. ALEXANDER

 

 

Besides her family, Lacey Robinson’s only other love is baseball. She’s on top of the world when Arizona State University approaches her to discuss a scholarship. To be the first girl ever to grace a college boys’ team is beyond what she has ever dreamed.

Her fastball is impeccable, her curveball equally as good, and her slider annihilates anyone who dares to step in the batter’s box. But fate has its own way of throwing curveballs. When she loses her mother and sister to a home invasion, baseball and her dreams die with them. Tragedy has a way of seeping deep into her psyche, causing nightmares, panic attacks and blackouts. Diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, her psychiatrist recommends a change of scenery and picking up the things that she loved to do, and for Lacey that is baseball.

After a move clear across the country, only two things matter to Lacey—overcome her PTSD and make Kensington High’s baseball team. But trying out for the team comes with obstacles—the captain, Aaron Seever, doesn’t want a girl on the team.

Her life is further complicated when she meets Kade Maxwell, a tall, sexy and drool-worthy bad boy who has a magical touch that awakens her feminine side and a kiss that slowly erases her nightmares. But getting involved with him may be dangerous when Kade’s archenemy returns to town to settle a vendetta.

To complicate matters, her PTSD has taken a turn for the worse. She has to find a way to heal otherwise she may not have a chance at anything in life, especially love.

This is a New Adult Novel and contains strong language and sexual content. Intended for audiences age 17+

 

 

 

 

KIRIN RISE: THE CAST OF SHADOWS by ED CRUZ

 

 

Nineteen-year-old Kirin Rise doesn't look like a hero. Short and scrawny, she's not the type to strike fear into anyone, much less the brutes that make up the United Federation of Mixed Fighting. Despite her size, she spent her youth secretly training with her Sifu in the art of Wing Chun Gung Fu. What's more, Kirin has something that many people in 2032 seem to have lost--a conscience. Enraged by government corruption and corporate greed, Kirin sets out to do something about it in the most unlikely place: the weekly bloodbath known as Chum Night. With the guidance of her Sifu and the help of those who love her, she just might survive.

Kirin Rise: The Cast of Shadows is the story of a young woman struggling against the apathy of a nation in her drive to make the world a better place.

 

 

 

 

THE ODYSSEY OF FALLING by PAIGE CRUTCHER

 

 

Meet Odd. Audrey “Odd” Ashworth is an exceptionally bright girl with a sympathetic heart. She’s in the top 4% of her class. She’s obsessed with getting into Manhattan School of Music, committed to following the “signs” the universe delivers, and infatuated with her recently deceased best friend’s boyfriend.

Life is a little strange for Odd.

Until she finds her best friend’s diary in her crush’s car, and decides to do the bucket list tucked inside the pages. As Odd seeks closure and a way to honor her friend, she discovers there’s nothing wrong with being a little strange, especially if it helps you discover who you were meant to be. Along the way, Odd falls into trouble, adventure, and finally love.

****
"Paige Crutcher's writing turns simple words into delicious bits of alchemy. Her characters are fully drawn, her settings are reach-out-and-touch real, and her voice is honest and vulnerable. Don't miss this one." - Myra McEntire, Author of The Hourglass Series

“Tackling the very current lives of teenagers and their impossible choices, Paige Crutcher's debut is completely self-assured, original and unique. She has an unparalleled ability to build characters you'll love, root for, get angry with and miss when the story is finished. I predict big things for Crutcher -- THE ODYSSEY OF FALLING is a wonderful debut, and I can't wait for more from this authoritative new voice in contemporary YA.” - J.T. Ellison, New York bestselling author of When Shadows Fall

"In THE ODYSSEY OF FALLING, Paige Crutcher has written an anthem for every young heart looking to find its way in the world. This novel is tender and hilarious, beautiful and brave. Crutcher tells her story with a sure voice and a steady hand, all the while reminding us that youth, with all its complexities, is something to be savored. Just like the novel." - Ariel Lawhon, author of The Wife, The Maid, and the Mistress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Hop / Gift List: The Galactic Academy of Science Series

With time travel and mysteries that need solving, the Galactic Academy of Science (G.A.S.) series instructs readers on how to think like scientists. Under the guidance of a Dude or Dudette from the future, the middle school characters are faced with treacherous, present-day crimes that require a historical knowledge of science in order to be solved. From investigating problems to analyzing data and constructing explanations and solutions, this series blends elements of sci-fi with educational methods that distill the key thinking habits of scientists and engineers.

The Vicious Case of the Viral Vaccine 

by Pendred Noyce & Roberta Baxter

Mae and Clinton are fighting about whether a new vaccine is safe. But when protests against the vaccine threaten to turn violent, Selectra Volt insists that the two middle schoolers go on a mission together to find the truth. Mae and Clinton travel through tim from ancient India to Europe, Australia, and North America. They witness the fight against smallpox, rabies, polio, and other viral illnesses as they visit Louis Pasteur, Jonas Salk, Macfarlane Burnet, Maurice Hilleman, and Andrew Wakefield. Will they return in time to uncover a vicious plot involving the new vaccine?

The Harrowing Case of the Hackensack Hacker

by Roberta Baxter & Barnas Monteith

The new tablet Anita and Benson bought for the engineering fair crashes whenever a creepy face flashes on the screen. Then Dude from the Future Quarkum Phonon, while briefing them on a new mission for the Galactic Academy of Science, fades away with a look of terror on his face. Now Anita and Benson must race against time to learn about computer hacking, expose the enemies of G.A.S., try to save Quarkum and foil the computer virus that threatens to destroy the future of Earth. Part of THLs Galactic Academy of Science Series. 

The Desperate Case of the Diamond Chip

by Pendred Noyce

When the Russian scientist Professor Gufov accuses Clinton of stealing his invention, all Mae and Clinton want to do is get away and work on their science project. But that’s before a Dudette from the future tells them about the Galactic Academy of Science and sends them on a mission back in time to beef up their scientific knowledge. Mae and Clinton meet Dmitri Mendeleev, Niels Bohr, John Bardeen, William Shockley, and Robert Noyce. They break up a séance, escape the Gestapo, jump from a plane, and return with enough understanding of how electronics work that they can tackle the mystery of the Russian scientist and search for the missing diamond chip. 

The Baffling Case of the Battered Brain

by Pendred Noyce

Medical science combines with mystery in this G.A.S. adventure about concussions

 

Is the awkward stranger taking bribes to throw games? When Clinton hits his head in the championship soccer game, the stranger gets him benched, and Clinton’s team loses. Determined to nail the bribe-taker, Clinton and Mae take on a new G.A.S. mission—a journey across three continents and 4,000 years to learn about concussion and the brain.

The Cryptice Case of the Coded Fair

by Barbara & Robert Tinker, & Pendred Noyce

Learn to create and crack codes in this latest G.A.S. installment 

 

Dr. G and his companions are using coded messages in a plot to corrupt the International Science Fair. Quarkum Phonon, a Dude from the future, calls on four middle school students for help. Benson and Anita work on their computers while two new G.A.S. recruits, Ella and Shomari, travel through time, facing kidnappers, thieves, and spies in their scramble to learn about codes and ciphers. Across two millennia and five countries, they meet Julius Caesar, Thomas Jefferson, Alan Turing, and others, while learning about substitution ciphers, frequency analysis, wheels, cylinders, book codes, the Verginère Table, the Enigma, and public and private keys. But will they break Dr. G’s code in time to save the science fair? A computer-based online extension that allows readers to create and decode their own secret messages is also included.

The Perilous Case of the Zombie Potion

by Pendred Noyce

Only the G.A.S. kids can stop an evil scientist who wants to enslave humans of the future 



When a corrupt Dude from the future threatens to harm Sam’s mother unless he steals a zombie potion from his scientist father, Clinton and Mae know they have to help. This time-traveling journey on the science and history of death takes the G.A.S. crew to China, Italy, Belgium, Haiti, New Guinea, Arizona, and Indonesia. Along the way, Sam faces his greatest fears and grows braver, but when disaster threatens his father’s research camp, can he figure out how to save his father, outwit the evil Dr. G, and turn the tables on the bullies who have been tormenting him? 

The Furious Case of the Fraudulent Fossil

by Barnas Montieth

 

On a museum visit, Benson and Anita meet a famous paleontologist showing off his newest fossil find: a missing link between dinosaurs and birds. But something doesn't feel right. Then a Dude from the future sends them back in time to visit an ancient Chinese scientist, dig a huge sea monster out of a cliff, and outwit a fossil thief. Benson and Anita need to root out and expose a fraudulent fossil.

Dinosaur Eggs & Blue Ribbons: A Look at Science Fairs, Inside & Out

by Barnas G. Montieth

A personal look at science fairs from the varied perspectives of a successful participant, judge, policymaker, and science fair organization leader



Dinosaur Eggs and Blue Ribbons takes young readers on a journey into adventure science as experienced by a young aspiring scientist who turned scientific inspiration into scientific success. The book is full of anecdotes and advice from the world of STEM education and contains practical advice about judging, display boards, and other preparations for the big science fair day. Throughout the text and appendix are examples of original, winning science fair materials as well as links to a wide variety of proprietary online resources which complement the text. In the end, the hardships are all worthwhile when you work alongside some of the top scientists in the field, make groundbreaking discoveries, and win big in the science fair and beyond! 

Coming January 2015!

Available for Pre-order:

This is the perfect series of books for those future scientists of yours, so grab one or grab them all and let the fun begin!!

And, while you're at it check out Tumblehome Learning's GAS Science Book and Activity Club Contest