Monster's Proof-REVIEW and CONTEST

We have a special post for you all in honor of the release of Monster's Proof by Richard Lewis today. You may remember Richard's Q&A with us a few months ago (if not it can be found here). So, in honor of the release, we have both a review and a contest:

Erika's Review of Monster's Proof by Richard Lewis

I took a look at the cover and was slightly creeped out, but then I opened it. (Though the actual cover is better than the ARC cover, which is the one I have) What I found inside was nothing like I predicted from the cover it would be. It was much better! It just goes to show that the saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover" is true. Monster's Proof is about a math equation that is brought to life, which just thinking about is slightly terrifying. It's about the question, what if an equation could be brought to life and didn't like how the world was. Imagine that, then pick up this book to find out what happens. Anyways, Lively is a cheerleader who isn't even good at math, though both her brother, Darby, and her father are math geniuses. Her brother finds their great-aunt's notebook and tries to finish her proof. It goes wrong (well, actually right) and read it to find out more!

Monster's Proof has something for everyone. There's math, mystery, romance, angels, equations, a math cult... What more could you ask for? I fell in love with another character (if I said what or who it would kind of ruin it). Overall, Monster's Proof played with many of my emotions, which makes it worth reading. Even if you don't like math, there are many other elements that will draw you into the book, I mean, Lively doesn't like it either, and she's one of the main characters. Personally it had me thinking about the mathematical concepts and how creepy if it were possible. It shows that sometimes it is normal to be scared of math, though other times you shouldn't be. Those who like math, those who don't, girls, boys, fantasy-lovers, and the list goes on, will all find some way to relate to the characters in Monster's Proof and will enjoy it.

Now for the contest.:

Richard Lewis is giving us the first signed public copy of Monster's Proof to give one of you.

RULES

• Leave a comment on this post or send an e-mail to yathenaeum@yahoo.com(with the subject as "Monster's Proof Contest")
• Please include your name and e-mail address.
• Entry deadline is July 30th at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

How To Enter

• Think of a seeming contradiction and then try to prove it. For example, you could prove why blue sky is good but feeling blue is not. The best and most original proof wins.

PRIZE

One contestant will win a signed copy of Monster's Proof by Richard Lewis.

Good luck! We're looking forward to reading the proofs!

-The YAthenaeum Team

Potter Paperback Party Tomorrow!

We'll take any excuse to have a Harry Potter party, I mean, come on, it's Harry Potter! So, since the paperback of Deathly Hallows is coming out, that's what we're going to do. We hope you'll join us! It's the perfect timing; not only the paperback is coming out, but the movie comes out in a week. So, come join us to get into the Harry Potter spirit for the season!

Books & Books

265 Aragon Ave.

Coral Gables, FL

Here's what it says on the Books & Books site:

"People, prepare for the Paperback Potter Party! We’re hootin’ and hollerin’ --Hooray for Harry – one more time. Harry Potter is our dear old pal, so we’re throwing him one more party, in honor of the paperback release today of the final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Arthur A. Levine, $14.99). Before you read the thrilling conclusion to the series, prepare the perfect the potion at our Prof. Snape’s Potions Laboratory. Put on your best Potter garb for a costume contest. Wind your way through our Gables store for Gryffindor Scavenger Hunt. Win prizes and celebrate Potter in paperback one more time. Everyone loves a Potter Party at Books & Books!"

There will be both an easy and an impossible scavenger hunt, so be prepared! We're making them... If you were there for our Breaking Dawn release last year, you'll know our trivia questions were impossible and our clues aren't much easier (impossible, the easy ones are, don't be too scared).

It's going to be tons of fun! 7/7 at 7 for year 7 in paperback!

-The YAthenaeum Team

This Week in YA- July 4, 2009

Random:

• Happy 4th of July!
• R.J. Anderson posted a picture of the first look inside of her book Rebel (a.k.a. Wayfarer in the U.S.). 
• A group of 7 debut authors (Saundra Mitchell, Sarah MacLean, Carrie Ryan, R.J. Anderson, Aprilynne Pike, Sarah Cross, and Sarah Rees Brennan) have come together and are having a contest. Between now and July 7, go here and enter to win either the US or UK prize pack featuring their 7 books.
• Ally Carter will have an "Ally Chat" on July 12th at 5pm EST. To find out how to be part of it go here.
• Melissa de la Cruz posted the first chapter of The Van Alen Legacy (the fourth book in the Blue Bloods series).
• John C. Ford is giving away a copy of The Morgue and Me on his blog. (Stay tuned on our blog for another chance to win his book in the upcoming days)
• Justine Larbalestier is giving away a copy of Love is Hell signed by Scott Westerfeld and herself for telling her the most stalker song.
• Lisa McMann posted the cover of Gone on her blog.
• Maggie Stiefvater made and posted an amazing trailer for her new book Shiver. Be sure to take a look. (She's also having a contest to help spread the trailer and in turn her book. More info on that on her blog here.)
  
• Margaret Stohl is having a contest, she bought many signed YA books from a local bookstore and is giving two away a week. Every Monday she'll post the next contest. Go here for more information and to enter the first.
• Scott Westerfeld posted a piece of art from his new book Leviathan coming out in October. He also posted an update on the possible Uglies movie.

Books that came out last week:

• Ghost Town by Richard W. Jennings
• Dark Guardian #2: Full Moon by Rachel Hawthorne
• The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley 
• Hancock Park: A Novel by Isabel Kaplan
• Angry Management by Chris Crutcher
• Pretty Little Liars #6: Killer by Sara Shepard
• It Is What It Is: A So For Real Novel (So for Real Novels) by Nikki Carter
• Denim Diaries 3: Queen of the Yard by Darrien Lee
• ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley
• Access Denied (and other eighth grade error messages) by Denise Vega
• And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman

Books that come out this week:

• July 6- Over the End Line by Alfred C. Martino
• July 7- Simply Irresistible (The Elite) by Jennifer Banash
• July 7- Secrets of Truth and Beauty by Megan Frazer
• July 7- Monster's Proof by Richard Lewis 
• July 7- Libyrinth by Pearl North
• July 7- Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev 
• July 7- The Dragon's Pearl by Devin Jordan
• July 7- Crash into Me by Albert Borris
• July 7- Blue Moon: The Immortals by Alyson Noel
• July 9- Unclaimed Heart by Kim Wilkins

-The YAthenaeum Team

Death by Denim Giveaway!

We couldn't go a day without a contest. So now that our others have ended, a new one shall begin!

Linda Gerber was generous enough to give us 3 signed copies of her new book Death by Denim to give away and that's what we're going to do!

Here's a little bit about the book:

"Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom’s lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she’s in Paris—the most romantic city in the world? When her mom’s contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on. Sneaking away from her mom, Aphra tracks down the criminal mastermind in Italy, only to unwittingly reveal Seth’s location. And her mistake has just put them both in mortal danger. . . . "

RULES

• Leave a comment on this post or send an e-mail to yathenaeum@yahoo.com (with the subject as "Death by Denim Giveaway")
• Please include your name and e-mail address and which of the ways you are entering. (Provide the links and other information if applicable.)
• Entry deadline is July 24th at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
• Each entrant can only win one book, in the event the same name is drawn twice, another name will be drawn.

WAYS TO EARN ENTRIES- The more you do, the more chances to win.

+1= For just e-mailing or commenting.

+1= For writing a haiku as to why you want to win Death by Denim.

+1= For linking to this contest (provide link).

+1= For becoming a fan of YAthenaeum on Facebook (Make sure we can identify that you became a fan, write on the wall or if it's under the same name as the one provided that will work as well.)

+1= For adding YAthenaeum to your blogroll (provide link).

+1= For following YAthenaeum on Twitter (Let us know your twitter username to verify).

PRIZES

3 contestants will each receive:

• 1: Signed copy of Death by Denim by Linda Gerber

Thanks again Linda for giving us the copies! Good luck to all entrants!

-The YAthenaeum Team

The Clique Summer Collection Book Giveaway Winner!

The Clique Summer Collection giveaway is now over and we have a winner to announce.

Congratulations to

Rita!!!

Hope you enjoy the collection and thanks to all those who entered!

-The YAthenaeum Team

Sarah Dessen Q&A!

Today we are lucky enough to have a Q&A with Sarah Dessen. She's super nice and though she won't admit it, gave awesome answers.

-Who pwns everything?

Oprah. Or maybe Ben Lee. He's an Australian singer and I love him. Or Taylor Kitsch from Friday Night Lights.

-If someone suddenly threw a wad of twenty thousand dollars at you, what would you do?

I'd have to give some to charity because I would feel guilty otherwise. I would save some maybe five thousand because my father taught me to save. I'd shop and have a nice dinner. If it belonged to someone though, I'd give it back since I'm a strong believer in karma.

-If 'they' decided to make a movie of your life, which actress would you want to play you?

I'm the biggest celebrity freak and I've completely blanked out. Kristen Bell because I love Veronica Mars or Mandy Moore because I just love her.

-What's the most random question you can think of? Answer it.

What's my favorite snack food?

Fritos

-Can you do the Time Warp again?

I cannot though I know what it is. Admittedly I've never been to the Rocky Horror Picture Show and am not even sure I've seen the whole movie.

-When writing some authors plan every detail and others just dive into the book, so are you an outliner or a diver (or a mix)?

I have a general idea and a skeleton before I start. If I outlined everything, I would have to stick with it because I'm a control freak.

-Why hasn't Jason grown up? When will he? (Referring to the Jason in both The Truth About Forever and Along for the Ride)

I wanted to believe that he had changed. Though the book is about people changing, so maybe he just can't change. He represented Auden before she changed, so he couldn't change in Along for the Ride. Maybe he'll change in college.

This Week in YA- June 27, 2009

Random:

• R.J. Anderson is asking those who've read Knife a.k.a. Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter if they have any questions they'd like answered. If you have a question, ask in her blog post here.
  
• Sarah Rees Brennan put up a short story called Sorcerer and Stone on her blog for her first installment of "My Big Idea". Find out more and read the story here. 
• Tera Lynn Childs began playing "Goal Wars" and you can too. Details on her blog post here.
• Kami Garcia is having a contest for one of her original paintings. All you have to do is let her know an artist whose work reminds you of a novel. Details on her blog.
• Linda Gerber's freebie friday this week is with Tera Lynn Childs. You can read Tera's interview and find out how to enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Goddess Boot Camp on Linda's blog here.
• The Liar pages are up on Justine Larbalestier's site including an excerpt, influences, and reviews. You can find the section here.
• E. Lockhart will be on Random Buzzers beginning Monday until July 10th to answer any questions you may have. You can start posting questions now.
• Suzanne McLeod is having a contest for an anthology, The Eternal Kiss or Mean Streets, and  a signed copy of one of her books. More information on her blog here.
• Lauren Myracle has a quiz on her blog to see what character from Peace, Love & Baby Ducks you are.
• Mary E. Pearson posted the new cover to The Miles Between on her blog. 
• Shana Silver is giving away a couple of Ally Carter's books. Details on her blog here.

Books that came out last week:

• My Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught
• Just Another Hero by Sharon M. Draper
• Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
• Alyzon Whitestarr by Isobelle Carmody
• Alibi Junior High by Greg Logsted
• The Shadrach Trilogy by Joy Cowley
• Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer
• The Sorcerer of the North: Book Five by John Flanagan
• The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford
• The Duel: The Parallel Lives of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burrby Judith St. George

Books that come out this week:

• June 29- Ghost Town by Richard W. Jennings
• June 30- Dark Guardian #2: Full Moon by Rachel Hawthorne
• June 30- The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley 
• June 30- Hancock Park: A Novel by Isabel Kaplan
• June 30- Angry Management by Chris Crutcher
• June 30- Pretty Little Liars #6: Killer by Sara Shepard
• June 30- It Is What It Is: A So For Real Novel (So for Real Novels) by Nikki Carter
• June 30- Denim Diaries 3: Queen of the Yard by Darrien Lee
• July 1-  ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley
• July 1- Access Denied (and other eighth grade error messages) by Denise Vega
• July 1- And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman

-The YAthenaeum Team