Chicklish

INTERVIEW: Jackson Pearce

Chicklish is proud to kick off the blog tour for Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce.

Read our review of Sisters Red, and check out our fabulous giveaway.

We're delighted to interview Jackson Pearce below... (Thanks to Hodder Books!)

- Hello, Jackson. There's obviously a very strong focus on sibling relationships in Sisters Red. Do you have sisters yourself? If so, do you think your relationship with them inspired this theme? (And have they read the book?)

I have a younger sister—three years between us. Our relationship definitely inspired SISTERS RED! Katie and I are very different people (she’s a nurse) and it took some time for both of us to not only understand one another, but to understand ourselves and the roles we played as the younger an older sister. When creating SISTERS RED, I wanted to explore that younger/older sibling dynamic and show just how tightly sisterhood can bind you—for better and for worse. Katie has read the book—it’s dedicated to her! (Which, by the way, she claims was a total surprise, but COME ON—who else was I going to dedicate it to!?)

 - Sisters Red is also all about the kick-ass heroines. Do you have a favourite strong heroine from books or movies? (Or more than one?!)

Hm, that’s tough—I think strength can show up in many different forms, including—but not limited too—physical strength. Scarlett is definitely a tough, physically powerful girl, but she’s emotionally very weak; Rosie is also tough, but she’s stronger than her sister on the emotional front. So in terms of strong heroines from books or movies—Katniss from the HUNGER GAMES series in terms of the physical-tough-kick-ass-ness, and Ash from Malinda Lo’s ASH in terms of emotional strength.

- Will you be revisiting any of the characters from Sisters Red in future books? What other books can we look forward to from you?

I’m currently working on SWEETLY, a companion book to SISTERS RED, and am about to start kicking around FATHOMLESS, a third companion. None of these star the March sisters, but there are characters that connect the books together. I’m so excited about continuing the series and getting to live in the world a little longer!

- Lastly, do you have a favourite piece of writing advice that you can share with our readers?

A writer writes—even if they aren’t published, even if they’re swimming in rejection  letters, even if they aren’t positive the book is going to turn out great. You have to keep writing, because every word, ever sentence, and every book is a new, valuable learning experience.

Thank you very much, Jackson Pearce and Hodder Books.

Interview by Luisa

Find out more about Jackson Pearce here.

Read our review of Sisters Red.

Details of the first week of this blog tour are here.

GIVEAWAY: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (NOW CLOSED)

**This giveaway is now closed. See list of winners below. **

From our review of Sisters Red, by Tamika:

I loved this book! Rosie and Scarlett March are sisters. They live to hunt the Fenris, evil wolves who devour innocent people, ever since one killed their grandma, and stole Scarlett's eye. One day, their old partner, Silas, returns, and suggests they move to the city, because the Fenris are looking for the Potential, a human who could be turned at that specific time...

We have 5 copies of Sisters Red, together with Sisters Red tattoos, to give away! (Huge thanks to Hodder Books for this.)

**This giveaway is now closed and winners have been contacted. Winners are: J.M., M.H., A.C., L.McQ and P.C. Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone for entering!**

REVIEW: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Review by Tamika.

Rosie and Scarlett March are sisters. They live to hunt the Fenris, evil wolves who devour innocent people, ever since one killed their grandma, and stole Scarlett's eye. One day, their old partner, Silas, returns, and suggests they move to the city, because the Fenris are looking for the Potential, a human who could be turned at that specific time.

I loved this book! The best things were the relationships - the arguments between Rosie and Scarlett, the blossoming romance between Rosie and Silas. It makes you see how hard life is for Scarlett, she can't stop hunting because she knows its her duty, and it makes you sorry for her, showing that she's not so tough on the inside.

I think readers will like this if they enjoy a good romance. The only thing I found slightly annoying about the book is that I can predict the ending from about half-way through the book, and the characters can't!

4 out of 5 stars!

Review by Tamika, aged 13

Read our interview with Jackson Pearce here.

EXTRACT: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Chicklish is the third stop on The Sky is Everywhere blog tour, where extracts from the book are scattered over the web. The previous extract is now on Teenage Fiction for All Ages, and the one before that is on Wondrous Reads. After you've read below, you can read the fourth exclusive extract on Presenting Lenore.

Also check out our review of The Sky is Everywhere here, and please see details of our fabulous giveaway, too.

THIRD EXTRACT FROM THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE BY JANDY NELSON

“Something happened with Toby the other night.” Her worry has turned into something else, which is what I was afraid of. Sarah has an ironclad girlfriend code of conduct regarding guys. The policy is sisterhood before all else.

“Something like something? Or something like something?” Her eyebrow has landed on Mars.

My stomach churns. “Like something … we kissed.” Her eyes go wide and her face twists in disbelief, or perhaps it’s horror. This is the face of my shame, I think, looking at her. How could I have kissed Toby? I ask myself for the thousandth time.

“Wow,” she says, the word falling like a rock to the ground. She’s making no attempt to hold back her disdain. I bury my head in my hands, assume the crash position – I shouldn’t have told her.

“It felt right in the moment, we both miss Bails so much, he just gets it, gets me, he’s like the only one who does … and I was drunk.” I say all this to my jeans.

“Drunk?” She can’t contain her surprise. I hardly ever even have a beer at the parties she drags me to. Then in a softer voice, I hear, “Toby’s the only one who gets you?”

Uh-oh.

“I didn’t mean that,” I say, lifting my head to meet her eyes, but it’s not true, I did mean it, and I can tell from her expression she knows it. “Sarah.”

She swallows, looks away from me, then quickly changes the topic back to my disgrace. “I guess it does happen. Grief sex is kind of a thing. It was in one of those books I read.” I still hear the judgment in her voice, and something more now too.

“We didn’t have sex,” I say. “I’m still the last virgin standing.”

She sighs, then puts her arm around me, awkwardly, as if she has to. I feel like I’m in a headlock. Neither of us has a clue how to deal with what’s not being said, or what is.

“It’s okay, Len. Bailey would understand.” She sounds totally unconvincing. “And it’s not like it’s ever going to happen again, right?”

“Of course not,” I say, and hope I’m not lying.

And hope I am.

by Jandy Nelson

Read the fourth exclusive extract of The Sky is Everywhere on Presenting Lenore.

GIVEAWAY: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson - UK only, NOW CLOSED

**This giveway is now closed**

Read on for a chance to win The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to centre stage of her own life - and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, with a nearly magical grin. One boy takes Lennie out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But the two can't collide without Lennie's world exploding...

Read our review of The Sky is Everywhere, and an extract here.

Walker Books are offering this fabulous prize to one lucky winner based in the UK: a finished copy of the book, a Sky is Everywhere T shirt and set of post-it notes (see image).

 **This giveway is now closed and the winner is S.T. from London. Congratulations, and thanks to the hundreds of people who entered!**

NEWS: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce - blog tour

I've been hinting at some special posts coming up, and here's more news about a couple of them!

This coming Monday, we're proud to be the first stop on the British blog tour for Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce. We'll be reviewing the book, interviewing the author and giving away some fantastic prizes, including copies of the book.

Here are full details of the first few days of the Sisters Red blog tour:

Monday 31st May - Chicklish will be reviewing and interviewing Jackson to kick off the tour.

Tuesday 1st June - Jackson will be a guest blogger for ‘Time Travel Tuesday’ on I Was A Teenage Book Geek

Wednesday 2nd June - Read all about Jackson re-imagining fairytales on her guest blog for Chick Lit Reviews

Thursday 3rd June - Check out Once Upon a Bookcase and Ink & Paper to find out how Jackson came up with her ideas for Sisters Red.

Friday 4th June - So Jackson loves re-imagining fairytales in Sisters Red but what are her all time favourite re-tellings of fairytales and myths? Find out on The Sweet Bonjour.

The tour will continue after that, too... watch out for it! In the meantime, here's more about the book:

NEWS: Luisa Plaja book signing, Waterstone's Exeter, 29th May 2010

Just to let you all know that Luisa Plaja (editor of this site) will be signing copies of my - er, her - latest teen novel, Swapped by a Kiss, on 29th May 2010 (tomorrow) from 12pm in Exeter, Devon, UK.

Come and find me (her) in the Roman Gate branch of Waterstone's, opposite Next, 252 High Street, Exeter. I'll/she'll... I give up! I'll have free "Rachel" stickers* and little bookmarks and maybe some other freebies, and I'd love to meet you!

Swapped by a Kiss is currently in a 3-for-2 offer at Waterstone's and I'll happily recommend other books. Ask me anything! (To do with books, though I'll consider other questions...)

There will also be copies of Split by a Kiss and Extreme Kissing there for me to sign.

Have a lovely long weekend, everyone in the UK, and a happy half-term holiday to our teen readers and reviewers!

Oh, and please check back here soon for some special posts.

*Rachel stickers have been specially made from images chosen by the main character of Swapped by a Kiss. Kind of. OK, I helped, and so did Moo.com.

REVIEW: Kisses for Lula by Samantha Mackintosh

Review by Georgia.

Kisses for Lula by Samantha Mackintosh is a nice, easy read for a rainy day.

I think that everyone could relate to Tallulah Bird (Lula), the main character. She is a fifteen-year-old girl who is finding teenage life difficult.

It’s soon to be Lula’s sixteenth birthday, and as far as she’s concerned you can’t turn sixteen without having kissed someone. The clock is gradually ticking down and she has to do something fast. But she’s completely jinxed. Every boy she’s gone out with has ended up with missing limbs, serious injury or mental scarring. Everyone thinks it’s because of her deceased witch-like grandmother. But Lula’s not convinced.

Other than a kiss before her sweet sixteen, Lula has other things to worry about. For example she’s adamant that someone is stalking her. Her father’s acting a little weird, and a serious candidate on the 'kiss list' fancies someone else. Plus someone is stealing things, and a local heritage site is about to be obliterated. It’s a special area to her, and she’s doing everything she can to help protect it.

Kisses for Lula was a extremely exciting book. Something was always happening. Like most teenage books nowadays, you can relate to at least one of the characters. It was also good because there was always some suspense to keep you hooked. And 99% of the chapters ended on cliffhangers, making you want to go on to the next one. I think one night I stayed up until 12:30 just reading it.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Review by Georgia, aged 13

REVIEW: My Life on TV by Kimberley Greene

Review by Hannah.

This is the third book featuring Sam, a normal girl with a normal life except for one thing: her sister is Danni Devine, an INTERNATIONAL POP STAR! She juggles schoolwork and friends with limousine rides and being filmed for a TV show. It's weird but she's getting used to it... until her sister annouces that she's leaving the limelight for good. Sam has to make some tough decisions to try and keep her house and beloved friend/technical guy.

In this cute, funny and light book you'll be taught what the price of fame and friendship really is.

I found this book funny and interesting. I liked how the author didn't try to hide what "showbiz" really is but instead told a story of what it's really like being in the limelight for a teen.

Sam was a teenager with her own problems and interests and putting such a character in a world filled with completely different people was different to read. Each character added a bit more to the story.

This book is a great read for young teens, although it's not exactly a quick read but it is enjoyable. 

Great!

Review by Hannah.

Read this great guest post by Kimberly Greene on The Beaucoup Review.

Read an interview with Kimberly Greene on The Beaucoup Review.

NEWS: Joanna Nadin book - free in Sugar

UK residents: This month's Sugar magazine (on sale now) comes with a free copy of the brilliantly funny My So-Called Life by Joanna Nadin, the first book in the Rachel Riley series, worth £5.99.

Read our review of My So-Called Life here.

There's also a competition to win the rest of the Rachel Riley series and £100 of Topshop vouchers. Click here for more details.

Sugar's website, Sugarscape, also now has an online book club. More details here.