How much do I love The Hunger Games? Let me count the ways...

Finally! Another video of me.

Please forgive me when I accidentally say "The Hunger Games" instead of "Catching Fire." I do a lot of talking in here.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

In the Dells, there are animals, and then there are monsters. The only way to distinguish between them is that monsters have unique coloring, impossibly alluring beauty, and sometimes even the ability of mind control. That’s what makes monsters so dangerous, to humans and to each other. That’s why Fire lives such a careful and guarded life; this flame-haired young woman is actually a human monster. The Dells, the land she calls home, is experiencing supreme instability now that rebel lords are attempting to overthrow King Nash. Spies and other suspicious people are everywhere, only increasing the danger. And somehow, Fire fits in the midst of all this, because this beautiful girl can influence the minds of those around her. Wanted as an asset by each opposing side in the brewing war, Fire must determine the path she will follow, to save—or forsake—her land.

Talk about a page turner! Fire, though lengthy, is a fantasy filled with excitement, danger, spy work, brewing plots, and even romance. Cashore’s writing draws the reader easily into her fictional world of monsters and royal court intrigue. Generally, I find the settings in most fantasy stories difficult to adjust to since they generally include new lands and terrain, wording and languages, species, laws of nature, and occasionally magic; however, with Fire, part of the reason why it was so easy for me to get into the story was because the setting and atmosphere were really quite simple. The most unusual aspect of the Dells is the monsters, and those were quite easily explained and able to be understood. It’s amazing to me how Cashore so successfully creates a vivid new world with a realistic cast of characters. Character development is so well done, especially for strong protagonist Fire, that the characters hardly feel like they’re just part of a fictional story. I suppose there are segments of this story that are a little boring, but I feel that fades away next to the excitement that action, drama, and romance bring to the plot.

Fire is by far one of my favorite fantasies yet, and I cannot wait to read Graceling, for which Fire is a prequel. This novel will most definitely be enjoyed by fans of The Abhorsen Chronicles by Garth Nix, Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce, Foundling by D.M. Cornish, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from publisher Penguin

Darkside by Tom Becker

Jonathan Starling likes being invisible. It allows him to sneak off whenever he wants, usually without getting caught. But when his home is attacked and a strange trio start pursuing him, Jonathan finds he’s not as invisible as he’d like to be. There are some people—or things—extremely sinister hunting through London for Jonathan, connecting far back into his family’s past with secrets he never knew existed. It all leads back to Darkside, a dangerous place for otherworldy creatures like vampires and werewolves, a place of Jonathan’s heritage and where he must find refuge with his sick father’s old friend. But is coming to Darkside really any safer than the London Jonathan already knows?

Fast-paced and full of danger and excitement, Darkside is an enthralling read. The story is mostly plot-driven, but that isn’t a bad thing since Becker creates action exceedingly well. There is something so thrilling about Darkside, partially because of its sinister atmosphere and inhabitants and partially because it’s hidden nearly in plain sight in the middle of London. I love how Becker expertly sets the coexistence of Darkside and Lightside, or the world as Jonathan used to know it; it open up realms of possibilities for trouble. As with many action novels, the characters could’ve been better developed; in fact, with the descriptiveness of Becker’s writing, I’m surprised Jonathan and the other characters didn’t feel more real because despite Jonathan’s central role, the most that can be understood about him is his sheer determination. Also, I would’ve appreciated learning more of Jonathan’s and Darkside’s histories since disappointingly little was revealed. Still, I found Darkside a highly entertaining read and one with lots of potential for a sequel.

This action-filled story will be enjoyed by fans of Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer and Foundling by D.M. Cornish. I look forward to reading Darkside’s sequel, Lifeblood.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher Scholastic

Captivate by Carrie Jones is Munch-Worthy

Zara and her friends knew they hadn’t solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king’s needs grow deeper every day he’s stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It’s made him vulnerable. And now there’s a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent. The new pixie king is moving in quickly. He swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he’s one of the good guys. Zara isn’t so sure – despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But there’s a lot more than her relationship with boyfriend Nick at stake. It’s her life – and his.

You wouldn't believe how long it took me to find a summary for this book. There wasn't one on Amazon, or on B&N, or the author's website, or the book's website, or the publisher's website, or even on any other site when I searched the title and author on Google.

I finally found above pasted glory on the regular (a.k.a. UK) Bloomsbury publishing website.

Sometimes Americans can be so disappointing. Thank goodness for the Europeans in this instance!

Anyhow, I nearly forgot how much I enjoyed the prequel to this, Need, until I saw the cover for Captivate on somebody else's blog (whose? I've sadly forgotten). I can't say the cover art is quite as captivating as that for Need. The model just does not have the right emotion for me. She doesn't look...captivated. And either she is miraculously crying a golden tear, or her gold eyeshadow is running. It's a toss up.

I'd assume there'll be more books to come from this series. I wonder what kind of gold makeup they'll do next. They've already done the gold lips (Need) and now the eyes (Captivate). That pretty much covers the basics unless Bloomsbury wants to douse their next cover model in gold powder (unless they're using a Photoshop type program, and then change her skin to gold). I think that would be a strange effect to say the least. It would almost be like Twilight movie Edward in the sun with jaundice.

But, I digress. A lot.

Releases January 5, 2010 from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books.

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson

Destiny Faraday has perfected her presence at boarding school. She doesn’t have friends, but she spends a little time in the company of a few people. She doesn’t refuse to speak but keeps her talking to a minimum. Des has the boarding school life of predictability and routine down pat from her endless observations of those around her and from her number-one rule: Don’t get attached. But things rarely go as one plans. When Des unexpectedly finds an abandoned running car, she realizes that although this day, October 19, is supposed to be bad, she can’t pass up this opportunity. Somehow her party grows to four with the addition of three of Des’ classmates, and they take off on an unauthorized road trip in search of one fair day where everything turns out just so. Along the way, Des finds out that someone has already broken her number-one rule for her—and that it might not be such a bad thing.

I’ll admit the first novel by Pearson I read, Scribbler of Dreams, was not one of my favorites. However, The Adoration of Jenna Fox convinced me to give this author another try, which I’m glad I did because The Miles Between was absolutely fabulous. It’s difficult to say what exactly about Pearson’s writing that makes this novel come together so magically, but perhaps it is its thoughtfulness. There’s something about the words on each page that makes each of the main characters so real and makes the reader wish he/she was on this random road trip. Both the characters and the plot are spectacularly formed, revealing the right amount of information at the right time to keep things well-paced but still interesting. I don’t really know what else to say about the presentation of this story besides that the effect is wonderful and stunning. I was so connected to this book, the story and the characters, also because of how coincidence and fate were so central to the novel. These are just some of the things about life that have always amazed and fascinated me, and their inclusion in this novel made it all the more unique and interesting. The Miles Between is not an action book; it is mostly character- and thought-driven but still with plenty of surprises hidden within its pages. It is a wonderfully endearing novel that will cheer anyone up and make them feel not alone.

Fans of Pearson’s writing, particularly in The Adoration of Jenna Fox, will enjoy The Miles Between. This sweet story will also attract fans of You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith, Crash Into Me by Albert Borris, Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern, and Sprout by Dale Peck.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters

When Phoebe’s best friend Adam takes a bullet for her, she finally understands that he loves her. And when Adam comes back as a differently biotic, Phoebe vows she’ll do all she can to bring him to a higher level of functionality. The theory goes that love is what helps zombies function more normally, but in order to devote himself to Adam, Phoebe must break up with her differently biotic boyfriend and zombie leader, Tommy Williams. Matters are made even more complicated by Tommy’s crusade for zombie rights and recognition. While there are some people who are open to the differently biotic and want to help them, still others are convinced the teens risen from the dead are evil and need to be exterminated. Will the zombies’ uphill battle for the right to exist be successful—or will their efforts only bring them in harm’s way?

Kiss of Life is a fantastic sequel to Waters’ awesome debut Generation Dead. The writing and characterization were great and the plot satisfactory, but what stood out most to me was the unmistakable, if possible unintended, social commentary. Although America prides itself on being an advanced and modern nation, it is still capable of quite heinous crimes against minority groups and the unfamiliar in the spirit of fear and intolerance; the evidence is stacked through history, which Waters may or may now have been discreetly referring to throughout the novel. I saw so many parallels between the zombies’ struggle in this story to the civil rights era, to name a historical example. What it all boils down to is acceptance and tolerance; it’s frightening how some people can lose sight of those qualities so quickly. I also really liked how this novel didn’t automatically assign the religious to the intolerant list, because while there are the zealots, the religious can also be some of the most generous and kind people. Aside from the fact that this novel is mostly about zombies, the situations it presents are scarily realistic. Kiss of Life is just a great read both for the story and the simple truths about life and love it presents.

This novel will be eagerly enjoyed by fans of its prequel Generation Dead as well as by those who liked Night Road by A.M. Jenkins and Peeps by Scott Westerfeld.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster UK

It's been a long time coming...

...and I feel terrible that I haven't posted this sooner. So for those of you upset with me for not announcing winners earlier for like 5 or so of my past contest, my apologies. Here they are:

Jessica won Summer Girls &
Diana Dang won The A-List: Hollywood Royalty
in the Summer Guilty Pleasure Giveaway

Paradox
won Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin

Okie & Blair Lewis
each won a James Patterson prize pack

Sarah Woodard
won a signed copy of Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

and, most recently of all
Froggy, Kelsey, & Dottie
each won awesome Catching Fire prizes

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Isabel, better known as Belly, always looks forward to summers. That’s when it’s time to relax, to swim in the pool or the ocean, to lay on the beach doing nothing. That’s when she, her brother Steven, and her mother drive to the beach house, when they spend three glorious months with loving Susannah and her sons Conrad and Jeremiah.

Brothers Conrad and Jeremiah have been there since the first summer. Just older than Belly, they always treated her like the baby, but despite the teasing, the three were pretty close. To Belly, they’ve been everything from best friends to unattainable crushes, and most definitely, people she could count on to be at the summer house when she arrived.

But this summer is different. Almost sixteen, Belly feels like she’s old enough to be included in the boys’ antics. She’s ready to make this summer perfect. But between Conrad’s moods, Jeremiah’s lifeguarding job, and Steven’s college road trip, there seems to be hardly any room left for Belly. But Belly can’t just give up; she’ll find a way to make this summer the way it should be.

Read the rest of my review at Young Adult Enchanting Reviews.

Rating: 3.5

Review copy from publisher Simon & Schuster through YA Enchanting Reviews

Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen

Sara Black is so not thrilled about moving. In fact, she’s not too thrilled about her life either. Her mother recently ran away to France with her new boyfriend, and her father’s OCD has been getting worse since her mother left. Now she has to leave behind her best friend and shot at valedictorian in Lundon, Massachusetts when her father takes a job as a janitor at the elite Anton High in Boston. Anton is no ordinary school. Sara’s new classmates make her intelligence look average and live for competition. Right away, Sara knows she’ll never be accepted for being the janitor’s daughter. The Ants seem to think Sara is from London, and with that, Sara’s first lie is born. But it doesn’t stop there, because the lies are so much easier than the truth. Sara’s lies start to build up like a house of cards as her homework piles up, her new friends get nosy, and her father’s OCD worsens still. How much will Sara lie before the truth can no longer be salvaged?

The idea behind Little Black Lies is not very original, particularly the “girl moves to new school and lies to fit in” storyline, but this novel is nonetheless enjoyable. Sara is a realistic protagonist; she loves her dad but worries his OCD is destroying him, she’s hurt by her mother’s absence, and though she deeply misses her hometown and best friend, she’s enticed by the power and glitz of most popular girl Carling. Despite her many lies, Sara is very likable and easy to sympathize with. The reader grows to really care about her and the consequences of all her lies. Though the minor characters are somewhat poorly developed and at times unbelievable, and even though the story’s ending is very predictable, this novel was made more intriguing by a scandal in Sara’s past and her father’s OCD. I’ve never read a book that included this disorder before, and it’s interesting to see how both Sara and her father deal with the problems it creates. I also loved learning about earlier events in Sara’s life that led up to her present situations even if the flashbacks were sometimes distracting. My only other issue with this novel is that Cohen seemed to be trying too hard to include symbols and metaphors in her writing, and this also distracted me from the story. Overall, Little Black Lies is a moderately well written and ultimately hopeful story that will entertain readers.

Little Black Lies will be enjoyed by teen girls who also liked the Private series by Kate Brian; the Upper Class series by Hobson Brown, Taylor Materne, and Caroline Says; and How Not to Be Popular by Jennifer Ziegler.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy from publisher EgmontUSA

Gorgeous by Rachel Vail

Allison Avery has always felt invisible. The middle child sandwiched between older, smart, talented, and accomplished Quinn and younger, pretty, and popular Phoebe, Allison thinks herself the epitome of mediocrity. It doesn’t help that she feels like an ugly duckling in public. And with not-quite-supportive friends, distracted sisters, and parents with their own financial problems, no one has really told her different.

But that all changes the first time Allison hands out with Roxie, a used-to-be big city girl also rumored to be a model. Suddenly Allison realizes she’s tired of being the girl in the shadows. So, she makes a deal with the devil. In exchange for gorgeousness, all Allison has to do is let the devil possess her cell phone. Sounds like a great deal, right? Not. Allison’s looks may have earned her more popularity, but do her new friends like her for her—or her face? And is her semi-finalist spot in a competition to find America’s next teen model all what it’s cracked up to be? And now that the devil’s control of her phone is wreaking havoc with her personal and social life, Allison has to ask herself—is beauty really worth this?

Read the rest of my review at Young Adult Enchanting Reviews.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher HarperCollins through YA Enchanting Reviews

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

The only honest thing Micah will ever tell anyone is that she’s a compulsive liar, and she is—a very skilled one. She’s tricked everyone from teachers and classmates to psychiatrists and her own parents into believing even the most outrageous lies—that she’s a boy, that her father is an arms dealer, just to name a couple. But why? Because for Micah, lies are so much easier—to tell and believe—than the truth. When Micah’s maybe-boyfriend Zach is killed, all Micah’s lies start to get tangled up, prompting her to find the truth—a search that can only begin once Micah starts telling the truth. But even is Micah swears what she’s saying now is true, how can you ever completely believe a compulsive liar?

Liar is a truly fascinating psychological read. I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it. Micah is such a complex, realistic, and unique narrator, born and raised in unusual circumstances that don’t allow her to tell her truth because it’s so unbelievable. Micah is such a good liar that the reader doesn’t know truth from falsehood until Micah says it so or tell the “real” truth. This entire novel is a guessing game, but that’s part of what makes it so intriguing, the peeling away of the lies in an attempt to reveal the real truth. Larbalestier’s dissection of a compulsive liar’s psyche is entirely authentic, as I’m sure anyone who’s ever told a lie will recognize. There is power and safety in lies, and it is interesting to see how Micah uses lies due to her understanding of this. Even though I was completely thrilled with Micah’s complicated character, I was somewhat unsatisfied with the story’s ending. It was frankly anticlimactic; also, so much truth remains unknown, what little is known is muddied with all of Micah’s lies, and the questioning of the validity of Micah’s truth is very disconcerting. There’s something about Micah, though; you can’t help but like her and simultaneously be disturbed by her lying. And it’s even possible that I might believe Micah in the end.

With humor and mystery, Liar is a modern read that delves into the ambiguities of life and the very words we say and the gray areas between truth and lie. Liar is very different from the only other novel by Larbalestier I’ve read, How to Ditch Your Fairy, but fans of Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series and So Yesterday will enjoy this psychological novel.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowen

All Nikki Donovan wants to do after her mother’s fourth marriage and subsequent move is fit into her new home. So, it’s almost too good to be true when she becomes best friends with Melinda, the most popular girl in school. Now, Nikki is the worthiest member of Melinda’s “Royal Party” entourage and can benefit from the perks of being popular, particularly in the form of hot boyfriends. But all that social perfection is threatened when she finds out that she is a half-human, half-demon princess, and heir to the throne of the Shadowlands. That’s a lot of weight to absorb, if Nikki can even believe what Michael, her long-lost father’s messenger, tells her. According to Michael, her father, the demon King of the Shadowlands, is dying and wants Nikki to assume the throne upon his death, as is her right. There’s only one way to escape this responsibility, but this seemingly simple decision is complicated by her forbidden feelings for Michael. Add in a deadly plot brewing in the Shadowlands and strange half-demon powers, and this might be more than plain old Nikki can handle. It might just be a good thing this princess is half-demon.

Reign or Shine starts out as a snippet from an unexpected social climber’s life, but the story quickly gains momentum with the introduction of supernatural elements. Nikki is undoubtedly a realistic and likable character; she struggles to come to terms with the knowledge that she isn’t entirely human, and even if she is somewhat shallow, she has a good and caring heard, as evidenced by her valid friendship with popular Melinda and her protectiveness of her mother. Another plus was the development of the minor characters, which I enjoyed reading about very much. There were only a couple of characters that escaped this trend by being too evil or too perfect, but as a whole, the cast was very believable. The plot is fun and exciting, with the unpredictability of Nikki’s half demon nature, the king’s mysterious ailment, and especially Nikki and Michael’s forbidden romance. For a debut young adult novel, I am quite impressed that such as lighthearted and entertaining read as Reign or Shine is could be so enjoyable for me, even if I was generally one step ahead of the plot. The greatest part of this is that there’s so much room for the story to grow, character-wise and with plot surprises, in a sequel. There’s nothing particularly meaningful about this novel, but it is still a great read for a boring day.

Reign or Shine will be enjoyed by those who also liked Need by Carrie Jones, Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins, and Devilish by Maureen Johnson. I look forward to catching the continuation of this story in its sequel Reign Check.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from Amazon Vine

Secret Society by Tom Dolby is Munch-Worthy

Secrets, secrets are no fun. Secrets, secrets hurt someone. . . .

An eccentric new girl. A brooding socialite. The scion of one of New York's wealthiest families. A promising filmmaker. As students at the exclusive Chadwick School, Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch already live in a world most teenagers only dream about.

They didn't ask to be Society members. But when three of them receive a mysterious text message promising success and fame beyond belief, they say yes to everything—even to the harrowing initiation ceremony in a gritty warehouse downtown and to the ankh-shaped tattoo they're forced to get on the nape of their necks. Once they're part of the Society, things begin falling into place for them. Week after week, their ambitions are fulfilled. It's all perfect—until a body is found in Central Park with no distinguishing marks except for an ankh-shaped tattoo.

Tom Dolby makes his teen fiction debut with this riveting novel about a dangerous society so secret that once you get in, you can never get out.

Well, doesn't this sound intriguing? Obviously, it does to me. There's something about secret societies that always interest me; they're so...mysterious, to say the least. And a secret society with a deep dark secret (likely) and a mystery is even better.

This novel does sound a bit similar to Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series, though probably without the vampires, but I would still love to learn more about Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch's world.

Plus, ankhs are awesome.

Releases September 29, 2009 from HarperTeen.

Win Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji

CONTEST CLOSED

In a middle-class neighborhood of Iran’s capital city, 17-year old Pasha Shahed spends the summer of 1973 on his rooftop with his best friend Ahmed, joking around one minute and asking burning questions about life the next. He also is secretly in love with his beautiful neighbor Zari, who has been engaged since birth to another man. But the bliss of Pasha and Zari’s stolen time together is shattered when Pasha unknowingly acts as a beacon for the Shah’s secret police. The horrific consequences awaken him to the reality of living under a powerful regime, and lead Zari to make a shocking decision…

(2) lucky winners will receive Rooftops of Tehran by Marbod Seraji.

Other details:

• US mailing addresses only.
• Contest ends 10/30/09, at 9 p.m. PST.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern

It’s Jessie’s sophomore year of high school, and all the wrong things in her life are changing. While her hair is still brown, straight, and boring, her friends are nearly unrecognizable as punk poseurs and her older brother has shaved off his Mohawk and traded his punk band scene for dating last year’s Prom Princess. When Jessie’s supposed best friend goes too far with Jessie’s long-time curst, Jessie finally has enough. She decides she needs new friends. In an attempt to discover the social niche she fits into, Jessie unexpectedly finds herself hanging out with the Dungeons and Dragons crowd. Sure, Jessie has always loved math and rather enjoyed studying, but does she really want to actually be declared a nerd by adopting these role players as her new friends? Is there any way to recover from being nerdiest of them all—and does Jessie even want to?

I fell in love with Halpern’s witty and utterly true to life writing in Get Well Soon and was thrilled to see it continue in the cleverly titled Into the Wild Nerd Yonder. Halpern has a talent for portraying adolescent social situations in a way most readers will be able to relate to. I couldn’t believe at times how accurate Halpern was in her analysis of high school cliques, particularly the popular crowd; she includes little facts I thought no one else thought about. It also helps that Jessie is such a likable character, not only for her sense of humor and other quirky traits, but also because she has to deal with teen year crises such as best friends turning into disloyal strangers, a protective and beloved older brother going away to college soon, and confusion and self-doubt over liking and fitting in with people she used to negatively label as “nerds” and “dorks.” And Halpern accomplishes all this with a sweet and laugh-out-loud hilarious story. The minor characters are somewhat less developed than they could be, but this can be easily overlooked in the bigger picture. Into the Wild Nerd Yonder is without a doubt a very enjoyable read, successful in showing the difficulty in forgetting the imaginary constructs labels are for many teens, and that life without conformity and labels is generally much sweeter.

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder is the perfect read for any teen who’s ever felt underappreciated or questioned their position in whichever social clique, or just anyone looking for a funny and inspirational read to cheer them up. Readers who liked Halpern’s Get Well Soon will also love Into the Wild Nerd Yonder, as will fans of The ABC’s of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro, A Little Friendly Advice and Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian, King of the Screwups by K.L. Going, and Alive and Well in Prague, New York by Daphne Grab.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from author Julie Halpern

Win Circle of Friends, Book IV: Mike by L. Diane Wolfe

CONTEST CLOSED

Remember that giveaway I had way back when for the first novel in the Circle of Friends series? Well Dancing Lemur Press, LLC has decided to let me do another contest, this one for the fourth book in the series, titled Mike.

A prisoner of guilt for so long…

Mike Taylor is the epitome of stability. His family is proud of his academic and athletic achievements at Georgia Tech, and despite the temptations of college life, he has maintained his moral standards.

Yet beneath the peaceful surface, Mike is consumed with guilt, fearing condemnation and rejection. A former girlfriend’s abortion and the intense love he feels for his roommate’s wife constantly remind Mike of his failures. Unable to forget and full of shame, he refuses to forgive himself.

When Danielle enters his life, he realizes he can no longer hide the past. Will she be able to reach him or is Mike past the point of redemption?

(1) lucky winner will receive Circle of Friends, Book IV: Mike by L. Diane Wolfe.

Other details:

• US mailing addresses only.
• Contest ends 10/19/09, at 9 p.m. PST.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.

The Vampire's Assistant Movie Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED

In honor of the release of the movie, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant on October 23, I'm having a giveaway.

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, is a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.

(2) winners will receive:

• Cirque du Freak book Set (3 titles in one book)
  
• Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant Locker Mirror

Contest ends 10/15/09, at 9 p.m. PST.

The Fine Print:
The Cirque du Freak: Vampire’s Assistant movie giveaway is open to participants with a United States mailing address only (international readers can enter if you have a friend in the States who can accept your prizes by mail!). Entrants under age 13 must have parent or guardian permission to enter.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered and you can only submit the form once per contest period. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.