Uppercase June 2017 Box Review

Posted on by missprint

After experimenting with Owlcrate for a few months last year, I decided to give Uppercase a shot this year when I wanted to check out a new bookish subscription box.

Uppercase is a monthly book subscription box.

You have two options when subscribing: You can purchase the Book Exclusive Plan for $17/month which includes a new hardcover YA novel (signed or with a bookplate), a reading experience content (this includes a bookmark with links to special content to check out while you read the book), and a handwritten note about the contents of the box. The Expert Plan is $23/month and includes all of the Book Exclusive items plus one or two bookish items which can be anything from notebooks to wearables. Both plans adds $6.50 for shipping.

What I really like about Uppercase is you have options for buying as well. You can subscribe monthly with the typical automatic renewals (and option to cancel) OR you can pre-pay for a certain amount of boxes from 1 to 12 months. I decided to pre-pay for three months and got my first package in June.

I already shared about the box on Instagram but I’m so excited about it I wanted to do a full review on here too.

Here’s what I found in my June 2017 Uppercase which comes in the signature Uppercase pouch (and is mailed in a Priority Mail padded envelope):

  • Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser: This release from Bloomsbury has been on my radar since one of my best friends Becky reviewed it for School Library Journal. I am ready for this fantasy novel with pirates and adventure and I am delighted to know that Becky’s review was quoted on the back cover of this book. The book was also signed by the author.
  • Map: Inside the book is a pull out printed map for Song of the Current on glossy paper. I like that it’s a larger size that what would have been included if the map was in the actual book.
  • Experience Bookmark: This is a special feature unique to Uppercase. The bookmark features page numbers and codes readers can enter online to unlock special content. I am super excited to see what kind of things will be revealed as I read!
  • Tote Bag: This box featured an exclusive tote bag designed by Allison Cole Illustrations. The tote says “Reading is the Ultimate Adventure” and features a hot air balloon with a cat riding inside reading a book, of course. The tote bag is a nice quality with printing that isn’t likely to wear off and sturdy construction. I do wish the straps were a bit longer but I think they’ll stretch and anticipate this bag getting a lot of use.
  • Enamel Pin: The last item in the box is another exclusive. The Book Nerd pin is from Jubly-Umph and features a book with a ribbon across it reading “Book Nerd” along with some decorative flowers. I love Jubly-Umph but because they’re an Australian company it’s sometimes hard to find their jewelry in the US. I have a couple of necklaces from them (and after looking at the site I want almost everything they sell) and am very excited to add this pin to my collection. It’s too cute to put away so I have it pinned to a board I fill with artwork and other ephemera near my desk.

All in all I’m very happy with my first Uppercase. I really appreciate the option to pre-pay and may even order more boxes in the future. I like that it includes some extras without being overwhelming and I think it’s great that the books are signed. This is definitely a subscription box to consider for yourself or your bookish friends.

Wildlife: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

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“The only person you should be is yourself. You can’t control perception. All you can control is how you treat someone else.”

Just before her term at her school’s outdoor education campus, Sibylla unexpectedly winds up on a billboard advertisement near her school. She also kisses her super popular and super cute longtime crush Ben Capaldi.

Lou is the unexpected new girl at school when the new term begins. She isn’t at the school to make friends or to fit in. Mostly she just wants to be left alone and get by without having to think about her old friends, her old school, or the fact that her boyfriend Fred is dead.

Sib thought going through a term of outdoor education at her school would be upheaval enough. But adding the billboard, the kiss, and her often rocky and now definitely changing relationship with her best friend Holly makes everything even more complicated. Lou thought a term in the wilderness would give her a chance to hide and grieve. Instead, she slowly finds herself drawn into the dramas of the girls around her like Sib and finds that she doesn’t want to stay quiet as she sees a betrayal unfolding in Wildlife (2014) by Fiona Wood.

Widlife is Wood’s second novel. It is a companion set in the same world as Six Impossible Things and Cloudwish although it does function as a standalone and can be read without knowledge of the other titles. (For the most impact I do recommend reading these in order though.)

Wildlife‘s narration alternates between Sib and Lou. Sib relates her story to readers in conversational prose while Lou’s story is written in journal form–a coping mechanism suggested by her therapist as she transitions to a new school and out of therapy.

While Sib spends a lot of the novel trying to make sense of her confusing relationship with Ben and Lou is mourning Fred, the crux of Wildlife is really the growing friendship between these two girls. Sib and Lou are unlikely friends and both are reluctant to take a chance on adding a new person to their lives. But in the wilderness where most of their coursework is about building strength and stepping outside of their comfort zones, both Sib and Lou realize it might be worth the risk to trust someone new.

Wildlife is a thoughtful story about friendship, first love, and all of the complicated moments in between. Recommended for readers of contemporary novels, fans of humorous narratives with a lot of heart, and anyone who loves the great outdoors.

Possible Pairings: Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo, Nothing But the Truth (And a Few White Lies) by Justina Chen, Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, Lucy and Linh by Alice Pung, Kissing in America by Margo Rabb, The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider, The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle, Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes, The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Six Impossible Things: A Review

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1. Kiss Estelle.
2. Get a job.
3. Cheer my mother up.
4. Try not to be a complete nerd/loser.
5. Talk to my father when he calls.
6. Figure out how to be good.

Six Impossible Things by Fiona WoodFourteen-year-old Dan Cereill (pronounced “surreal”) is reeling from moving and changing schools when the family’s fortune, such as it was, is completely gone. On top of that Dan’s father has announced that he is gay leaving Dan to wonder if his father ever wanted to be a father.

Inheriting a house should be a godsend. And in some ways it is because Dan and his mother have nowhere else to go. But the house is old, drafty, and filled with strange museum-quality possessions that cannot be sold for some much-needed cash. His mother sets up a wedding cake business in the kitchen but that seems to repel more clients than it retains.

Dan has enough problems without an impossible crush on the girl next door. But he knows he’s a goner for Estelle from the moment he sees her–especially once he realizes how much they have in common (although he doesn’t want to talk about exactly how he knows that).

Dan narrows all of his problems to six impossible things–with a penchant for making lists and following through, Dan is optimistic about fixing at least some of them in Six Impossible Things (2015) by Fiona Wood.

Find it on Bookshop.

Six Impossible Things is Wood’s first novel. It is a companion set in the same world as  Wildlife and Cloudwish although it does function as a standalone and can be read without knowledge of the other titles.

There is something very soothing about Fiona Wood’s writing. Her blend of humor and pathos as Dan struggles with the changes in his life make a winning combination. Dan’s narration is authentic and understandably sardonic as he adjusts and tries to make sense of his new home, new school, and new life.

Dan’s relationship with his mom is refreshingly two-sided as they both try to pull themselves together. Their challenges are realistic while also still feeling manageable in a narrative that is overwhelmingly hopeful.

Dan starts Six Impossible Things with no one. His support system is fractured and his everyday life is unrecognizable. Over the course of a rocky few months in a new house and a new school, readers watch Dan rebuild and regroup only to come out stronger than before. The slowly developing friendships with Estelle and other characters are wonderful additions to this charming story. No one captures whimsy and moments of everyday magic quite like Wood. Highly recommended.

Possible Pairings: Down and Across by Arvin Ahmadi; Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett; Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo; Boys Don’t Knit by T. S. Easton; I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo; Tweet Cute by Emma Lord; When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon; I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson; Kissing in America by Margo Rabb; 500 Words or Less by Juleah del Rosario; The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider; The Edge of Falling by Rebecca Serle; Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes; Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner; Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

Week in Review: June 24

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missprintweekreviewThis week on the blog you can check out:

 

Uggggggghhhhhhh. My office had a massive leak earlier in the week from the ceiling. Everyone had to clear their desks and our office ceiling is still a disaster. It helped me evaluate some of the books I really “needed” and I got rid of a lot of stuff. I just have to tackle the knicknacks I keep on top of my desk but I’m waiting to do that after the office is more fixed and not waiting to be painted.

I also managed to acquire a fine assortment of injuries with a burn on my left hand, a cut on my finger, and a bruise on my leg from a drawer falling on it.

My mom and I have been moving a lot of furniture and generally cleaning out the apartment and it’s been very hot and tiring and I need a vacation.

I also got my first ever Uppercase Box this week and I love it and will be reviewing it soon!

Here’s my latest from Instagram:

If you you want to see how my month in reading is shaking out be sure to check out my June Reading Tracker.

How was your week? What are you reading?

Let’s talk in the comments.

Author Interview: Tara Altebrando on The Possible

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Tara Altebrando author photoTara Altebrando is the author of several young adult and middle grade books including thoughtful contemporaries like The Best Night Of Your (Pathetic) Life and gripping thrillers like The Leaving. Her latest novel, The Possible, explores the growing popularity of investigative podcasts and what may or may not be a case of genuine telekinesis. I’m happy to have Tara on the blog today for our interview.

Miss Print (MP): Can you tell me about your path as a writer? How did you get to this point?

Tara Altebrando (TA): I’ve been writing since I was young and actually started out writing for grown-ups. But about ten years ago YA exploded in new ways and I shifted to writing for teens and have never looked back. What’s fun about the books I’m writing now (The Leaving, The Possible…and two more to come) is that the YA psychological thriller zone is a new space for me. It feels like a mid-career rebirth.

MP: What was the inspiration for The Possible?

TA: I’ve always been fascinated with telekinesis and telekinesis stories. Matilda. Escape to Witch Mountain. Carrie. Even Bewitched! And when the podcast “Serial” started I became obsessed with it and thought it would be fun to write a YA novel that featured a podcast that everyone was listening to. Everything grew from there.

MP: The Possible podcast features heavily in this book and you include some scenes about production and even transcribed audio clips that Kaylee listens to during the novel. Are you a podcast fan yourself? Do you have any that you would recommend or any that you listened to while writing and researching The Possible?

TA: I am a fan of podcasts for sure, particularly ones with a true crime bent. I loved Serial and binge-listened to In the Dark and S-Town. I love My Favorite Murder in a big way. I also listened to a bunch of episodes of The Paranormal Podcast when writing The Possible. The interview with Uri Geller, who started the whole spoon bending party trend in the seventies, is especially fascinating.

MP: A lot of the tension of this story comes from Kaylee and the reader not being sure what’s true about Kaylee’s biological mother and what’s been fabricated. How did you work out the pacing of this story and decide when to reveal (or not reveal) key details to readers to maintain the tight narrative?

TA: There is a lot of trial and error with regard to reveals in drafts when writing these kinds of suspense stories. It’s a real hat trick to know how long you can withhold something from a reader or character before it strains believability or patience. I’m still learning.

MP: Kaylee has a lot of “what if” moments in this story as she considers whether or not she may have inherited Crystal’s telekinetic powers. Have you ever had similar “what if” moments? How did you decide which situations would be used to question Kaylee’s presence (or possible lack) of telekinetic powers?

TA: I haven’t had any moments in my life where I thought I had telekinetic powers, no. I think we all have moments where we think maybe we’re psychic, though. Like you think about someone for the first time in ages and they call you right then…that kind of thing. For Kaylee and the book I just wanted a handful of really creepy and ambiguous scenes that could really be interpreted two ways: either she clearly had a hand in what happened, or she didn’t. I like the idea of throwing it back on the reader, making them question what they believe.

MP: Given the choice, would you want telekinetic powers?

TA: I would! And I would be sure to use my powers for good and not evil. Like I’d put the laundry away with my mind and deliver healthy snacks to my children without having to lift a finger. In my fantasies, I see telekinetic me walking down the aisles of the grocery store, filling my cart with my mind; I see the vacuum running around the house while I’m taking a bath. I’m so glamorous, right?

MP: Can you tell me anything about your next project?

TA: My next book is called The Opposite of Here. It’s a Hitchcock-inspired YA thriller set on a cruise ship. Basically, a girl on the cruise meets this amazing guy the first night and then he seems to disappear into thin air. Where could he have gone? 

MP: Do you have any advice to offer aspiring authors?

TA: Just to read widely and write what excites you.

—

Thank you to Tara for taking the time to answer my questions!

You can find out more about Tara and her books at her website: www.taraaltebrando.com

You can also find my review of The Possible here on the blog.

The Possible: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

Posted on by missprint

“What if life was all about letting go?”

Kaylee doesn’t remember much from when she was really young. She knows her biological mother is in jail but the details of her arrest for killing Kaylee’s brother and the trial are memories from another life.

Kaylee is happy now with her adoptive parents and her perfectly normal life. She’s a rising star on the school softball team and she is working on a plan to attract the attentions of her longtime crush. Simple.

Until a woman shows up at Kaylee’s house wanting to interview her for a podcast investigating Crystal.The Possible podcast is going to spend a season looking into the telekinesis claims that made Crystal a media sensation as a teen, her trial after her son’s death, and what she’s like now in prison.

Kaylee is desperate to be special. To be noticed. Being involved in the podcast seems like the perfect chance to see if maybe, just maybe, she might have some of Crystal’s powers. As the podcast starts to air Kaylee gets exactly what she wants. But she does’t count on the bitter taste of notoriety or the secrets that begin to surface when she looks into her own past in The Possible (2017) by Tara Altebrando.

Find it on Bookshop.

In her latest thriller Altebrando taps into the wide popularity of investigative podcasts as she and her characters ask a simple question: “What if?”

Kaylee is a totally reliable narrator but she’s also eager to be swept away and believe that some of the hype surrounding Crystal, and by extension herself, might be true. Kaylee is athletic, a little self-centered, and striving for that elusive better, more popular, and generally more appealing version of herself. In trying to embrace telekinetic powers and familial connections that may or may not exist Kaylee realizes that she has to let go of what she wants other people to see when they look at her and focus on being herself in whatever form that takes.

The Possible is a tense, fast-paced story focusing squarely on Kaylee and the podcast. Most of the novel is narrated by Kaylee with pieces of the story being told in newspaper articles, podcast excerpts, and interview transcripts. While Kaylee reaches some conclusions for herself by the end of the story, the narrative stops short of actual answers leaving readers to decide the truth for themselves in this gripping story. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers, true crime, and anyone who’s ever asked themselves “what if . . . ” Recommended.

Possible Pairings: Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre, The Devil You Know by Trish Doller, Breaker by Kat Ellis, The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle, The Midnight Dress by Karen Foxlee, My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier,  We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, Soulprint by Megan Miranda, Pretending to Be Erica by Michelle Painchaud, Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten

*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*

Be sure to check out my interview with Tara!

A Conjuring of Light: A Review

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*A Conjuring of Light is the final book in Schwab’s Shades of Magic Series which begins with A Darker Shade of Magic and A Gathering of Shadows. As such this review contains major spoilers for book one and two.*

“Life isn’t made of choices. It’s made of trades. Some are good, some are bad, but they all have a cost.”

—

“We don’t choose what we are, but we choose what we do.”

Once there were four Londons. Black London was consumed by magic a long time ago. White London will die without more magic. Grey London never had any magic. Then there’s Red London, the jewel of the Maresh Empire and a shining beacon of magic across its world. That magic is what makes Red London so beautiful; it’s what is threatening to destroy it as well.

An interloper from Black London is tearing its way through Red London leaving destruction and death in its wake. Kell is used to being alone and to thinking of himself as isolated thanks to his Antari blood but all of that changes when the only home he’s ever had and the only family that matters is threatened. But Kell can’t fight this battle alone. Not if he wants to win.

Lila has thrived in Red London leaving behind her life as a thief to pursue her dream of becoming a pirate. She made it through the magical competition of the Essen Tasch but not she has to learn to control her magic before it begins to control her.

Kell and Lila will have to use every spell and trick they know to face a new threat from Black London. Along the way they’ll rely on old friends like Kell’s brother Prince Rhy and uneasy allies like the mysterious Captain Alucard Emery. Even old enemies may become allies before the battle is over. To survive, to win, will take everything the Antari have to give and maybe even more in A Conjuring of Light (2017) by V. E. Schwab.

Find it on Bookshop.

A Conjuring of Light is the final book in Schwab’s Shades of Magic Series which begins with A Darker Shade of Magic and A Gathering of Shadows. As such this review contains major spoilers for book one and two.

A Conjuring of Light picks up shortly after book two. Everyone is in peril and trouble is brewing. The tension does not let up from there. At more than six hundred pages you would thing this book would feel bloated of slow. It doesn’t. Schwab’s story is perfectly paced to give this series the conclusion it deserves.

Written in third person this novel alternates perspective to follow all of the major characters that readers have come to know and love over the course of this series. Rhy is still struggling with what it means to be a prince without magic while also processing the way his life is now tied to Kell’s. Alucard is haunted by his past and not sure he can ever be free of it. Lila still has so much to learn about being an Antari and letting people love her instead of running away. Kell, similarly, is still struggling to define what family means for a man with no memory of his past. Does a past he can’t remember mean anything compared to the family he has known for most of his life?

Then, of course, there’s Holland. Before A Conjuring of Light it’s easy to say Holland is the villain of this story and stop there. Schwab’s deliberate and complex characterization, however, slowly reveals that there is much more to this oldest and most experienced Antari. This story is also peppered with flashbacks for all of the characters though most notably for Holland.

It’s a rare epic fantasy that can be grim and tense and also make you laugh out loud. Schwab makes it look effortless here. A Conjuring Light is a perfect conclusion to a truly original series filled with memorable characters, adventure, and one of the most stunning redemption ever.

A Conjuring of Light is a story of uneasy alliances, fierce bonds, and at its center three powerful magicians whose lives are inextricably linked–whether or not they want to be. This series is a must read for all fantasy enthusiasts. Highly recommended.

Possible Pairings: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh, The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black, Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake, The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi, Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Caraval by Stephanie Garber, Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton, The Glass Sentence by S. E. Grove, Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones, Winterspell by Claire Legrand, The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Week in Review: June 17

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missprintweekreviewThis week on the blog you can check out:

I really thought I had this post scheduled for the weekend but I didn’t. The more you know.

Work didn’t have AC all last week and we are in the midst of dealing with a massive, nightmarish leak.

I spent most of the weekend moving furniture.

Here’s my latest from Instagram:

If you you want to see how my month in reading is shaking out be sure to check out my June Reading Tracker.

How was your week? What are you reading?

Let’s talk in the comments.

Top Fives Simon & Schuster Fall 2017

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On May 19 Simon and Schuster hosted their Fall 2017 Librarian and Educator preview to present upcoming titles from their imprints. You can find my Top Fives below and check out #SSKidsPreview and @SSEdLib on Twitter for even more.

Picture Books:

  1. The Antlered Ship by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Terry Fan and Eric Fan: An adventurous fox embarks on a seafaring adventure in this beautifully illustrated tale. Coming September 12, 2017.
  2. Bamboo for You, Bamboo for Me by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Purification Hernandez: Twin. Pandas. Rhyming. Text. Coming November 7, 2017
  3. Night Out with Mama by Quvenzhane Wallis, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton: The Academy Award nominated actress turns her hand to picture books in this story about a little girl preparing for a night out with her mother. October 3, 2017.
  4. Pocket Full of Colors by Jacqueline Tourville and Amy Guglielmo, illustrated by Brigette Barrage: This picture book biography tells the story of Mary Blair during her time at Disney. Blair’s career from her work on animated films including Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella to her work designing Disney’s It’s a Small World ride is framed in terms of colors throughout the story. Coming August 29, 2017.
  5. How the Cookie Crumbled by Gilbert Ford: This non-fiction picture book features three versions of the invention of the chocolate chip cookie. You’ll have to read the entire book to decide which is true. Recipe included. October 24, 2017.

Middle Grade:

  1. The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie: In this mystery a girl has to piece together a centuries-old mystery when her family moves into a haunted house and her little brother’s doll begins crying actual tears. Coming October 10, 2017.
  2. Forest World by Margarita Engle: In her first contemporary verse novel Engle follows a Cuban-American boy during his first visit to his family’s village in Cuba where he meets a sister he never knew about and takes on poachers in the nearby forest. Coming August 29, 2017.
  3. The Player King by Avi: Truth is stranger than fiction in this rags to riches and back to rags story of the boy who was pulled from obscurity to dethrone the King of England. Coming October 29, 2017.
  4. Super Max and the Mystery of Thornwood’s Revenge by Susan Vaught: Twelve-year-old Max will need more than her knack for electronics and her super-charged wheelchair to solve the mystery surrounding a haunted mansion. Coming August 29, 2017.
  5. Littler Women by Laura Schaefer: A modern retelling of Little Women that is meant to be timeless. This book focuses on the first half of Alcott’s original story. Coming September 5, 2017.

Young Adult:

  1. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds: This book takes place over the course of sixty seconds as a boy rides in the elevator preparing to kill the gang member who shot his brother. Coming October 17, 2017.
  2. Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman: This debut strikes a balance between literary and commercial as Kiko struggles to figure what happens when she’s rejected from her dream art school. Coming September 26, 2017.
  3. The Victoria in my Head by Janelle Milanes: Victoria Cruz is a rule following scholarship student at her fancy Manhattan prep school. Then she joins a rock band. Coming September 19, 2017.
  4. Bad Girls with Perfect Faces by Lynn Weingarten: Sasha’s life gets out of hand when she tries to catfish her best friend’s horrible new girlfriend. Coming October 31, 2017.
  5. The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed: This powerful novel takes apart the virgin/whore dichotomy at the core of rape culture in this story when three outsiders band together to avenge the rape of a fellow classmate. Coming October 10, 2017.

#MoxieGirlsFightBack and You Can Too.

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I’ve been excited to read Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu since publicist Mary Van Akin emailed me about it in March. It’s a story about a girl named Vivian who is inspired by her mother’s Riot Grrrl past to create a zine to expose and challenge the sexist culture in her high school.

You may have heard yesterday that Kirkus published a negative review of Moxie yesterday. I use the term “negative” pointedly here. Usually I say “critical review” instead because I don’t think a bad review is necessarily negative–it just has some criticism for a book that is likely valid. 

I don’t think that’s true for the Kirkus review which seems intent to highlight flaws in the book that are minor and also completely irrelevant to the story. More pointedly, the review manages to center male exclusion and male discomfort in a book about female empowerment and inclusion.

This review is indicative of the deeply internalized mysogyny and systemic sexism that plagues American culture. It also serves to underscore the deep-seated feminist backlash in the US that helped to contribute to our current political climate. 

Kirkus’ review is a problem for Moxie because it comes from one of the most respected and visible professional review sources (not to mention being the first professional review that I’ve seen publicly). In other words, because of a review that I think largely missed the point of the book, Moxie‘s sales might suffer as schools, libraries, and bookstores with limited budgets justify not purchasing this title. That is a huge problem for any book but especially for one that is so sorely needed.

I’m doing everything I can to support Moxie and, if you’re so inclined, I have some ways you can too:

PreOrder:

Usually I’m all about waiting until release week or later to get a book but in this case I’m making an exception. Pre-publication sales go a long way to demonstrate that a book is getting buzz and positive attention. They also contribute to release week sales which can determine if a book hits one of the bestseller lists (another important benchmark for a book’s success). I don’t want anyone breaking the bank BUT if you can afford to, here are some links to preorder from your venue of choice:

Word of Mouth

  • A great way to promote books is just by talking about them! Read an excerpt over at Entertainment Weekly and tell your friends.
  • Tweet about it: Moxie already has a hashtag. Show your love tweeting about the book with the tag #MoxieGirlsFightBack
  • If you’re an Instagram type tell your friends there with the tag #MoxieGirlsFightBack
  • This review, this book, this point in time are all teachable moments about feminism. Don’t let it pass without discussing it with your friends and family.

Tell Your Local Library

Ordering schedules vary but now is a great time to ask your local library to order copies of Moxie. Even if the library doesn’t handle ordering directly, chances are good they can pass on your recommendation. Library purchases contribute to book sales and by getting the title in your library you will be making sure lots more people have access to this book and maybe even getting it on your friendly librarian’s radar!

Read It

This is more for my blogger/librarian/bookseller types. If you have an early copy of Moxie read it now so you can start promoting it and talking it up ASAP. There are physical ARCs and eARCs from Netgalley and Edelweiss. If you have access, request and get reading! Alternately if you are going to read the book after it’s out, try to read it near the release date so more people hear about it and buy it. Please don’t let this book become a shelf sitter!

Review It

Whether you are a blogger, vlogger, bookstagrammer, or an avid reader, your review makes a difference. Online retailers (especially Amazon) offer special promotions and more publicity to books that receive 50 or more reviews. So if you read the book at any point, be sure to cross post your review so other readers can see it on Goodreads, Amazon and anywhere else you’re so inclined. If you’re a blogger, remember your audience. Most readers are going to want to purchase a book near its publication. Release week reviews are incredibly valuable and pre-publication reminders to watch for a book speak volumes.

I know I’ve been talking about Moxie here and if that book strikes a chord with you, I hope you join me in supporting it. But also remember these steps apply to any book you are excited about and want to help as much as you can. 

Buying a book is always a great way to show your support but I hope this post helps everyone who isn’t in a position to put their money literally behind every book they love.