John Green Is Not A Pornographer

There's controversy brewing in Depew, NY. Two eleventh grade teachers want to use John Green's debut novel, Looking For Alaska, in their curriculum, and sent home permission letters to parents explaining that the book contains some mature content. The parents could either sign the letter (allowing their child to read Alaska) or not (meaning their child would read an alternative book). Some members of the public are not content to allow parents to make this decision for their child.

John (which you may remember from my Geeky Cute AuthorBoyz post on the BuzzBlog) is asking for support in the following ways:

1. E-mail a letter of support to sparksflyup at gmail (this is John's email addy).

2. Attend the Board of Education meeting on February 5th (that's Tuesday) at 7:00pm in the Depew High School Auditorium. (I have a feeling they'll have record attendance!)

Like Meg Cabot said, "Remember, being banned does make you look but a badass…but the dark side of it is that people don't get to read your work in school, which sucks." And, as she also says, pass it on.

Hugs,
TLC

REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN by Stephanie Hale

[I posted this review on the BuzzBlog a few months back, but thought it deserved a turn on my personal blog, too!]


Every high school has one. A girl you love to hate. A girl who has everything handed to her on a silver platter, complete with linen napkin and fresh ground pepper. She dates the most popular guy, wears the most fashionable clothes, and has no doubt where the homecoming queen tiara is going to land--on her head. Aspen Brooks is that girl.

Only, from the opening pages, her perfectly aligned life begins to go off track. The tiara goes to arch-rival cheerleader Angel Ives, the kingship goes to uber-geek Rand Bachrach, and she suspects her super-jock boyfriend is somehow behind the whole mess. Everything Aspen thought she knew is about to be tossed aside like last season's Dooney when she realizes that maybe--just maybe--there are some things that are more important that the right shoes, the right friends, and the right boyfriend. (But not the right bag--nothing is more important than toting the perfect purse.)

You might think you want to hate Aspen, but there is something naïve and honest about her that you can't help but love. She is everything you hope the popular girl is really like on the inside. You realize--right along with Aspen--that no one has a perfect life and there are always surprises that come out of nowhere to shake everything up.

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale is delightfully clever, laugh-out-loud funny, and touching in ways you won't expect. In her debut novel, Hale manages to address everyday issues of teen life and major social problems with equally sensitivity, and with a wry, witty humor the constantly surprises. This one is going to be on many a keeper shelf, so get your copy today.

Hugs,
TLC