ELPHAME'S CHOICE by P.C. Cast - REVIEW

 Elphame, a satyr goddess born to a human mother and centaur father, has never felt a part of life.  She has been worshipped and taken care of to the point no one feels comfortable enough with her to be free to speak to her like a friend.  She has always been on a pedestal in the eyes of the people in Partholon.

Elphame decides it is time to strike out on her own.  Along with her brother, she travels across the country to restore the long abandoned MacCallan Castle.  A century has passed since the terrible Fomorian battle that killed many of Elphame’s clansman.  While tales of ghosts keep most people away, Elphame feels the pull of the castle and knows deep in her soul she is meant to restore it and claim the castle as her own.  She is meant to become The MacCallan, the leader of the clan.

Love is something Elphame assumed she would never experience.  Who would want to love someone so clearly not human.  She loves her strong hoofed legs, but at the same time is aware how they set her apart from everyone around her.  She is completely caught off guard when she meets Lochlan, a hybrid Fomorian who claims to be her destiny.  But, what are Lochlan’s true intentions?  Can she trust the well-being of her clan for a chance at love?

ELPHAME’S CHOICE is a great romance.  Anyone who enjoys reading about days of warriors and castles will find the setting appealing and Elphame is a very strong character and wonderful role model for girl readers.  My major concern is this – I don’t think this should be marketed as a young adult novel.  I found my copy in the young adult section at Borders and as you can see from the publisher information, it is being rereleased by Harlequin Teen.  P.C. Cast first published this book in 2004 under Harlequin’s Luna imprint.  I realize Harlequin didn’t have a teen imprint at that time, but…. ELPHAME’S CHOICE contains clearly spelled out sex scenes with typical “romance” language.  I’m totally for allowing people (including teens) reading what they want to, but I think labeling it young adult and putting it on the young adult shelf is a little misleading.

Has anyone else read this yet?  If so, tell me what you think.

MODELS DON'T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES by Erin Dionne - REVIEW

Celeste Harris used to not think anything about her weight. But when a girl named Lively starts calling her names and when her aunt enters her into the Miss Husky Peach pageant Celeste decides it is time to do something.

Not wanting to be in the pageant Celeste plans on losing weight so that she will no longer be the type of model that the judges for Miss Husky Peach are looking for.

Losing her best friend to her tormentors only cements Celeste’s determination to lose weight even when the chocolate cookies call to her.

Celeste agrees to enter the first round of the Miss Husky Peach contest with plans to sabotage her ability to win. There are things though that she likes about the pageant. She meets some new girls that are also competing that are encouraging to her. She has a stylist that helps her with her make-up and hair style. As she realizes that she isn’t all of the names that she has been called she slowly gains confidence in herself.

Being able to overcome the heart-break of losing her best friend and to withstand all of the teasing from her tormentors we are able to see Celeste grow up and gain confidence in herself. There were some humorous parts in the story. I especially loved when it comes out that Lively wears water-bra’s in order to enhance her bust! It made for some very humorous incidents. Even though that makes for great poetic justice though, I think Celeste’s ultimate triumph is learning to be comfortable with who she is.

Congratulations to the Winner of COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL

Everyone give a big round of applause to Courtney H. from Another Time Suck.  She is the winner of the latest Edifying Meets Edgy Halfway Giveaway.  Courtney will receive a copy of COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL by Suzanne Selfors.

Check out our full reviews of this wonderful book.
Julie and Karin

100 Followers Contest

Julie and I have really enjoyed collaborating on Edifying and Edgy and we are amazed at the response we've had from readers. At the time of this post we have 71 followers. We are so grateful. To show our appreciation, we are hosting a contest.

Once Edifying and Edgy reaches 100 followers, we'll give away a 2 book prize pack. You could win BAD GIRLS DON'T DIE by Katie Alender (Karin's pick) and THE TOTAL TRAGEDY OF A GIRL NAMED HAMLET by Erin Dionne (Julie's pick).

Just to clarify! The 100th follower isn't automatically the winner. Every one of our followers will be eligible. As soon as we hit 100 we'll choose a winner.

Edifying Meets Edgy Halfway - COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL by Suzanne Selfors

Coffeehouse Angel is on my "favorites" list. I actually think I ranked it one of my top 10 of

2009 reads. It is a great example of a very good book that doesn't stoop to using language or sex to keep a students

attention. It has friendship issues, family relationship issues and romance in it. I found it delightful and very "sigh" worthy! I recommend it quite frequently to students.

COFFEEHOUSE ANGEL is a light-hearted tale of love and friendship. Suzanne Selfors uses wonderful language to describe the small town and its quirky inhabitants. The reader easily feels like one of the family and will want to organize a campaign to save Anna’s Old World Scandinavian Coffeehouse. OH! Coffeehouse Angel was #6 on my Top 9 of 2009 List.

Do you want to win a copy? If so, fill out the form below. Be sure to enter by March 7, 2010 at Midnight (CST).

BAD GIRL DON'T DIE by Katie Alender - REVIEW

Alexis lives a dysfunctional high school existence. She keeps to herself taking and developing her own photographs in a darkroom at home. She doesn’t have any friends at school. She watches her parents grow farther and farther apart while they focus on their careers instead of home, but most unsettling of all is her younger sister’s fascination with her doll collection. Kasey won’t allow anyone near them and Alexis knows she has heard Kasey talking to them in the middle of the night.

Strange things have been happening around the old house they live in. Water boils on its own, doors open and close automatically, and Kasey’s eyes begin to change from their normal blue to a fiery green. With the help from an unlikely ally, Alexis begins to put together the pieces of a mystery that will lead to the cause of the disturbance in her house and the cause of her sister’s evil possession.

As far as ghost stories go, this is a good one. There are several layers to the mystery and the author generates a completely creepy feeling throughout the entire book. Be sure to pick up this book as soon as you can. You won’t be disappointed. Plus - what a cool cover! Even it is creepy.

THE TOTAL TRAGEDY OF A GIRL NAMED HAMLET by Erin Dionne - REVIEW

Hamlet Kennedy is starting the 8th grade. Hamlet’s goal for the year is to stay under the radar both at school and at home. Unfortunately that is difficult to do in a family like hers. With parents that are Shakespearean scholars and a genius 7-year-old for a sister Hamlet’s family is anything but ordinary.

Right from the start Hamlet’s school year is destined to ruin her. To start with, her sister Desdemona is starting the school year at Hamlet’s school. She will be taking Art and a few other classes along with being supplemented in her education by various tutors. Hamlet’s job is to help her sister navigate middle school for the first days until Dezzie(Hamlet’s nickname for her sister) knows how to navigate on her own. Also Hamlet is mysteriously receiving origami shaped pigs in her locker. And to top all of that off the big project for the beginning of the school year is Shakespeare. The students will be performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Hamlet attempts to hide that fact from her parents to try and keep herself from being further embarrassed by her family.

Trying to protect her sister from being used(for her brain) by two mean girls along with trying to figure out who is giving her origami pigs in her locker and keeping her parents in the dark about what is going on at school Hamlet has so much stress that something is about to give.

I thought The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet was so cute! I enjoyed it very much. I felt for Hamlet as she struggles to navigate her school life and her home life. A very delightful read!