Between Interruptions : Thirty Women Tell the Truth About Motherhood edited by Cori Howard
Published by Key Porter Books
Pages: 328
Buy It: Amazon Kindle | Author’s Website – Print Copy
Publishers Summary:

Most mothers don’t have time for long conversations. They may want them, crave them, begin them again and again, but they are constantly interrupted by kids, partners, work and the day-to-day of busy lives. Between Interruptions is a remarkable collection of original essays by Canadian writers that explores what is unspoken, cut off or lost in those interrupted conversations. Between Interruptions asks what becomes of us when our children’s lives interrupt our own. What prayers, what cries, what taboo thoughts are suddenly left unspoken? Marina Jimenez struggles with her decision to return to her job as a journalist—in a war zone. Carrie-Anne Moss lets us into her home during her self-imposed, forty-day seclusion after the birth of her first son. Chantal Kreviazuk learns to surrender to the limitations of motherhood. Joanna Streetly struggles to find a balance between protecting and letting go. Elizabeth Renzetti and Karrina Onstad search for friends in mommyland. And Estee Klar-Wolfond finds perfection in autism. Provocative, funny and honest, Between Interruptions highlights the differences and similarities between mothers today and generations past. It is, without a doubt, a conversation worth having.

Life after children is often something that takes most women completely by surprise. No matter the classes attended, books read and advice from friends nothing ever fully prepares you for those days of self-discovery. In Between Interruptions mothers from all walks of life share their honest and open experiences about this ever changing territory. Their stories range from hilarious to introspective, but their overarching theme remains the same…motherhood is an undiscovered country with a constantly changing environment that requires no less than what each mother has to offer, individually, for their own children and family.

Between Interruptions was a book I picked up because, well, I’m a mother. It goes without saying that I had an immediate interest in relating to other mothers who may have potentially been in my very shoes. As the publishers summary states, “most mothers don’t have time for long conversations”, and perhaps that’s part of the reason why I read so much. Reading is easily accessible, easy to stop and pick up, and it’s something I enjoy promoting to my children. That being said I love the opportunity to gather with friends and fellow mothers to chat about anything from our children to politics (yes, politics). So Between Interruptions was a no-brainer for me and I’m glad I picked it up.

Though I didn’t relate to or even connect with all or many of the mothers in the book I was still able to appreciate each of their stories individually. Before having children I think I was as naive as most of the women in the book, thinking that parenting would be a breeze. I’d simply tote along kiddos to whatever function or I’d get a sitter when needed. Well, surprise surprise my children completely changed the landscape of my life. The Turkeybird, though delightful and one of the two greatest blessings I’ve ever received was/is much more difficult than I could have imagined. He didn’t sleep through the night until almost nine months old, at eighteen months devoured books like candy leaving me at a loss as to how to stimulate him and certainly wasn’t interested in interacting with other children let alone a sitter. His medical diagnosis of Hyperlexia seemed to only bring more questions than answers. All of this aside, I became and am still becoming a different person than I ever thought I’d be. Though it’s been the most difficult transition of my life, motherhood is something I’m growing into and allowing myself to swim in.

Many of the stories that I connected with the most in Between Interruptions were much like my own. For example Carol Shaben’s story and how she related her life to the birth of her son by C-Section was inspiring. She quotes the words of famous American artist Charles DuBois toward the end of her essay:

“The important thing is this: To be able at any moment be able to sacrifice what we are for what we want to be.” (p. 59, Between Interruptions by Cori Howard)

It’s not the first time I’d read the quote, but in the context and feeling connected to this other mother I’ve never met before it became something more. It was stories like Carol’s that gave me that feeling that I’m not alone in this effort, which most of the time is all we need as mothers. A kind word, a phone call, an email or a short story from someone who knows the complexities surrounding the world we live in today as mothers. Now, obviously not all of these stories were like this and some of them quite honestly irritated me. Many of the writers were former journalists either in print or television media of some sort and many lived a life I only dreamed about. That being said, another thing I’ve learned since becoming a mother is to be less judgmental, to know that no one’s experience is the same and certainly of no less value than my own. Though perhaps I didn’t connect with all of the mothers I did connect with quite a few and I absolutely learned something from each one.

Between Interruptions by Cori Howard is a wonderful collection of essays that sheds light on the often difficult but joyous experiences of motherhood. With the demands we place on each other in this day and time mothers need connection, a shoulder to rest on and a listening ear. Each of the stories contained in Between Interruptions will leave readers with a sense of understanding and a feeling of peace knowing they aren’t alone in their experiences. As a mother who is still on her journey to becoming, it was wonderful to find these connections I have with fellow women for one reason or another and I’d certainly recommend Between Interruptions to friends and fellow mothers.

The1stdaughter Recommends: Perfect for mothers with children of all ages. You’ll laugh and reflect on your own experiences as you read about the lives of these incredible mothers.

Find Between Interruptions : Thirty Women Tell the Truth About Motherhood edited by Cori Howard at the following spots:
Amazon Kindle | Author’s Website – Print Copy | Goodreads

Follow the TLC Tour for other fantastic reviews and giveaways of Between Interruptions:
Monday, January 2nd:  A Musing Reviews
Wednesday, January 4th:  Acting Balanced
Monday, January 9th:  Seaside Book Nook
Wednesday, January 11th:  Overstuffed
Thursday, January 12th:  Just Another Mommy Blog
Monday, January 16th:  Juggling Life
Wednesday, January 18th:  Get Healthy with Heather
Monday, January 23rd:  Musings of a Bookish Kitty
Tuesday, January 24th:  From Tracie
Wednesday, January 25th:  Red Headed Book Child
Thursday, January 26th:  There’s a Book

Thank you so much to the author and publisher in connection with TLC Book Tours for providing a copy of this book for review and giveaway! Connect with them on Twitter and on Facebook!
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our various affiliate relationships.

Promise the Night by Michaela MacColl
Published by Chronicle Books
Pages: 336
Ages: Middle Grade
Buy It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s Books | Indiebound | Book Depository
Publishers Summary:

Immediately compelling and action-packed, this carefully researched work of historical fiction introduces young readers to the childhood of the famous yet elusive Beryl Markham, the first person to fly solo from England to North America. As in her debut novel, Prisoners in the Palace, MacColl propels readers into a multilayered story with an unforgettable heroine and evocative language that brings the backdrop of colonial British East Africa to life. A fascinating read for anyone with a thirst for adventure.

Galloping into the air much like the horses she later trained, Beryl Clutterbuck Markham was a young women coming of age in a time not prepared for her vivaciousness. Growing up the only daughter of a successful farmer and horse trainer, Beryl turned to the native Nandi people in her East African home to teach her discipline and survival. Every day was an adventure filled with lions, leopards, a “step-mother”, a governess and eventually school in the city. Beryl grew from each of her experiences to become a woman revered by many, but her youth was filled with not only skepticism but danger at every turn.

Generally speaking I’m not a huge reader of historical fiction, particularly fictional stories based in reality. What I’ve loved about book reviewing has been the opportunity to stretch myself and discover something I never knew existed or that I would not normally have given a second glance. Promise the Night by Michaela MacColl was one of those such books. Initially, the thought of a middle grade novel about a young girl growing up in Africa based on the true events of Beryl Clutterbuck Markham’s life simply didn’t grab me. What I’ve discovered though is that not only was I wrong, but that I would have missed out greatly on Michaela MacColl’s writing had I passed this novel by.

Beryl was a young wild girl and were it not for her father’s concern for her future well-being as well as that of the reputation of their family she may have grown up as one of the Nandi she so loved. Her adventures of lion hunting and leaping in the air above her own head were the things most young children only dream & read about. What was fascinating was Beryl’s headstrong behavior with nearly everyone she came in contact with. It was this determination and no-nonsense sincerity that finally landed her in the cockpit of an airplane ride across the Atlantic in 1936. The story is actually told in alternating parts between her youth (around age eleven) and her adulthood centering around her actual trip. As I read both the pieces of her life slowly fell into place and it became an incredible adventure I thoroughly enjoyed.

Promise the Night by Michaela MacColl isn’t only a story about a young girl with a strong personality, but it’s a coming of age adventure most middle grade readers will thoroughly enjoy. Beryl Clutterbuck Markham’s life was an adventure a minute. She ran to the African tribe of the Nandi, had a terrible governess who beat her so much that she had to escape, she chased down and hunted wild animals, trained gorgeous horses and eventually landed in the pilot seat of a small plane. Her life inspired many and will continue to through the wonderful words of Michaela MacColl. As I said, historical fiction is not normally my cup of tea, but in the case of Pomise the Night I’m grateful I made an exception because I truly would have missed out on so much.

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages 9 and up. A beautifully written historical fiction novel based on the life of Beryl Clutterbuck Markham. An adventure a minute that will teach young readers the importance of perseverance and discipline.

Promise the Night

Find Promise the Night by Michaela MacColl at the following spots:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s Books | Indiebound | Book Depository | Goodreads

Thank you so much to the publisher, Chronicle Books, for providing this book for review and giveaway! Connect with them on Twitter and on Facebook!
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our various affiliate relationships.

Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge
Published by Nosy Crow
Expected Publication Date: 2nd February 2012
Pages: 256
Ages: 10 and up
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository
Publishers Summary:

Penelope Tredwell is the feisty thirteen-year-old orphan heiress of the bestselling magazine, The Penny Dreadful. Her masterly tales of the macabre are gripping Victorian Britain, even if no one knows she’s the real author. One day a letter she receives from the governor of the notorious Bedlam madhouse plunges her into an adventure more terrifying than anything she ever imagined…

A thriller with a fast-paced cinematic style, Twelve Minutes to Midnight is an electrifying story from an exciting new author.

After inheriting a newspaper empire, thirteen year old Penelope Tredwell does what any inquisitive thirteen year old would do…she goes into the family business, incognito. Writing under the name Montgomery Flinch, no one in the greater London area has any idea that their recent reading obsession comes by way of Penelope herself. Her tales of terror and mystery have a larger audience than almost any publication and it grows daily. When Montgomery Flinch’s presence is requested at a local insane asylum, Bedlam, Penny sees this as her next big story. Little does Penny know but within the walls of Bedlam she may discover more than she bargained for and it may leave her as mad as the residents she finds herself intrigued with.

Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge was my first completed read of 2012 and I’m having a hard time finding anything that holds a candle to it’s brilliance. For a middle grade fiction novel from a debut author this was completely unexpected. Twelve Minutes to Midnight was the first middle grade novel since reading Juniper Berry by MP Kozlowsky that I felt truly tackled the more inquisitive and thrill seeking minds of young readers. This will be the perfect read for young readers who may be looking to young adult books, but are not quite ready for the “relationship” aspects found in that genre. Not only that, but I’m positive they won’t be able to put Twelve Minutes to Midnight down until they discover what’s behind the creepy occurrences at Bedlam.

Not only is Twelve Minutes to Midnight perfect for young readers, but truly anyone who is looking for an extremely well written thrilling mystery. Initially I was drawn to the story because of the setting. Yes, I’m completely enthralled with stories that involve Victorian Britain coupled with a bit of mystery. Because of that I think steampunk fans will thoroughly enjoy this story. Obviously the setting, including the incorporation of an insane asylum, lends itself to the creepiness factor and I will fully admit to be terrified a few times during my nighttime readings. It was fantastic!

Each of the characters in the story were wonderful, especially the leading lady. Penny was the perfect inquisitive thirteen year old. The time in which she was growing up wasn’t one in which many female authors were looked kindly upon and women in general certainly didn’t have much business being involved in the affairs of typically male roles. So to have Penny assert herself as the editor in chief, writer and many other positions at the Penny Dreadful was something of a stretch for her, but it was handled perfectly. Penny was obstinate at times, but also knew when to step back. Of course she still managed to get herself as well as her good friend, Alfie, into quite a bit of trouble while snooping around for her stories. It also must be said that the actor Penny hires to “play the part” of Montgomery Flinch is perfect! His cowardice and neediness is so contrary to the role he’s playing that you can’t help but be annoyed and laugh all at the same time. It also creates the perfect conflict when they Penny and Monty make an appearance at Bedlam. All of these characters as well as the occasional appearance of a famous author here and there (Sir Conan Doyle for one) make for a marvelous cast that have you flipping the pages until the very end.

Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge is my first “must-read” of 2012 and will continue to be one that other middle grade novels will be held up against. Christopher Edge has proven that he not only knows how to enthrall young and old readers alike, but that he also has an incredible ability to capture a time period so perfectly that readers will become lost within it’s pages. Penelope Tredwell is a character to be reckoned with. Her courage and determination often lead her into sticky situations but her inquisitive nature always leads her to the answers she’s searching for. Twelve Minutes to Midnight is a mystery that has readers guessing all the way to the last page and is filled with just enough creepiness to make the story one that’s best read during the day…or night depending on which you prefer. I’ll be eagerly anticipating and hoping for another installment in Penny’s story, but until then Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge may just need another read through!

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages 10 and up. Perfectly thrilling, mysterious and creepy. A marvelous debut that inquisitive young and old readers alike will thoroughly enjoy!

Find Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge at the following spots:
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Today’s post is part of our month long celebration of all things Nosy Crow. Make sure to stop by the Nosy Crow site for more information about this title and more. For more information about our Book Publishers 101 feature take a look at this month’s opening post.

Also be sure to enter our Nosy Crow Giveaway for a chance to win a copy of this book as well as many other fantastic titles by Nosy Crow!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Nosy Crow, for coordinating many of this month’s features and reviews! Connect with them on Twitter and on Facebook!
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our various affiliate relationships.

Today I’m thrilled to be a part of the A Wrinkle in Time 50th Anniversary Blog Tour!

When Macmillan contacted me to be a part of the tour I was excited because this was a favorite book of mine in my youth. Not only did it impact my love of all things science fiction related, but it also taught me about the importance of standing up for yourself and those you love. Meg was one of the first female characters I felt completely connected with. Her determination and ability to believe in herself & her father was something that I carried with me throughout the rest of my life. Also Meg’s inability to relate to others is something I feel that not only myself, but other children around her age can understand so well.

It’s no wonder A Wrinkle in Time has remained a classic over the last fifty years. Madeleine L’Engle wrote a book so many years ago that not only connected with readers back then, but readers of all ages today. Though my impressions upon reading it as an adult are different from my passion for it as a child, it in no way diminishes the miraculous way in which L’Engle reaches across time to create a story that spans the ages. In fact, my appreciation of A Wrinkle in Time was enhanced as I read another favorite of mine, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. Both have changed and shaped the way I feel about myself as a child and now as an adult. It’s a story about being yourself, challenging your concept of reality and stretching yourself in ways that help you and those around you reach their potential. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle is a story I will treasure for years to come and one I hope to pass down to my children & grandchildren one day.

If you haven’t yet read A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle I highly encourage you to pick up a copy of the newly released 50th Anniversary Commemorative edition that includes some of this fantastic new & old material:

• Frontispiece photo*†
• Photo scrapbook with approximately 10 photos*†
• Manuscript pages*†
• Letter from 1963 Caldecott winner, Ezra Jack Keats*†
• New introduction by Katherine Paterson, US National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature †
• New afterword by Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte Voiklis including six never-before-seen photos †
• Murry-O’Keefe family tree with new artwork †
• Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery acceptance speech

* Unique to this edition † never previously published

Please stop by the A Wrinkle in Time 50th Anniversary Blog Tour every day for the next 50 days to hear from another fantastic blogger and their experience with this magnificent book! 

And be sure to take a look at Macmillan’s Facebook page in honor of this the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition of A Wrinkle in Time. 

Take a Deep Breath: Clear the Air for the Health of Your Child by Nina L. Shapiro, MD
Published by World Scientific Publishing Company
Pages: 260
Buy It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s Books | Indiebound | Book Depository
Publishers Summmary:

At some point during childhood, 80 to 90% of all children have a breathing problem. ‘Take a Deep Breath’ is a comprehensive, accessible, and indispensible guide for parents, caregivers, teachers, and healthcare providers on the subject of children’s breathing issues.

From the uppermost part of the airway — the nose, to the lowermost part — the lungs, Dr Nina Shapiro explains which problems are truly worrisome, and which are actually normal stages in a child’s growth. ‘Take a Deep Breath’ will enable you to do just that, take a deep breath, and get a better, clearer understanding of what’s going on when a child breathes in and out.

Parents often find themselves with many more questions than they originally anticipated prior to a child’s birth. There are most likely very few parents who anticipated an infant with pneumonia and fewer were probably curious about whether their child at age one would snore as loud as their grandfather. Some of these situations are obviously much more severe than others, but determining when to take action and when to wait it out can sometimes be the most difficult question. A parent’s number one source of information and advice is always their child’s pediatrician, but who couldn’t use a “go-to” manual? Take a Deep Breath: Clear the Air for the Health of Your Child by Nina L. Shapiro, MD is the premier guide book for parents looking to “clear the air” for their little one as well as themselves.

Initially I agreed to review Take a Deep Breath: Clear the Air for the Health of Your Child by Nina L. Shapiro because of our own family’s struggle with breathing problems with my son. What I didn’t expect was how wonderful a resource it would turn out to be. There were many points that Dr. Shapiro explains that we encountered during my son’s infancy that we never considered simply because we felt he wasn’t in any urgent distress. That’s not to say we simply let him suffer through most of his first year, but had we known that using Afrin coupled with Saline drops could have relieved his allergy symptoms we would have jumped to use it. This isn’t the only point, but now that he’s older and suffers with severe allergy problems we will now be seeking out specific allergy testing that I wasn’t aware was available until now. It also became clear to me that this would make an excellent gift to the parents of the new nephews we’re welcoming into our family.

One of the aspects of Take a Deep Breath that enjoyed the most was the wrap up at the end of each chapter. Dr. Shapiro breaks it down into summaries titled: “The Big Picture”, “Don’t Worry”, “Worry” and a “To-Do List”. These are so unbelievably helpful because, as it is with our own pediatrician, it can sometimes be difficult to get an appointment. There have been times I’ve “pushed” my way into an appointment only to discover that my daughter merely had a virus and ended up being better a day later. That’s not to say the book will resolve all of a parents concerns and you’ll never need to see a pediatrician again, but as a parent sometimes you just need a little bit of reassurance from an intelligent and reliable source to give you the peace of mind for the “waiting period”.

Also, I shouldn’t fail to mention Nina’s humor. Sometimes in medically based books it starts to read like a text book. For me personally, I don’t feel the need to take a walk down college year’s memory lane. Reading the sections in Take a Deep Breath were truly refreshing. Nina is not only a doctor with all the skills and education that comes with that title, but she’s a human being with a wonderful sense of humor. She’s obviously seen it all in her many years of practice and can find the humor in a two year old shoving a pea up her nose because it seems just like another “pocket” to put things in. I couldn’t help cracking up through this section because I’ve been there. My daughter has been found numerous times with little balls of cereal in each nostril. It simply doesn’t matter how watchful we are or how many times we’ve told her not to do it, she still loves sticking things in those tiny convenient holes. What was great though was to know the main danger rests in what she puts up there and never to joke around if she manages to stick a battery up there.

Respiratory and breathing issues in children is something most parents can’t avoid, but luckily Take a Deep Breath: Clear the Air for the Health of Your Child by Nina L. Shapiro, MD is the perfect go-to manual for parents looking for answers and reassurance. This is definitely a book I’d recommend to new parents as well as potential grandparents who may be spending any amount of time with young children. Nina Shapiro covers an extensive list of symptoms and issues, including CPR techniques, that sometimes may go overlooked and could easily provide not only your child with relief but yourself as well. Though our children are now almost ages three and five I still found a great deal of comfort as well as potential solutions to some of their respiratory issues that I’ll be seeking out in the near future with our own pediatrician. Take a Deep Breath: Clear the Air for the Health of Your Child by Nina L. Shapiro, MD is by no means a replacement for your child’s pediatrician but in a parent’s life when sometimes you need to seek out answers and find comfort on your own this is the go-to book for child respiratory issues!

The1stdaughter Recommends: Perfect for new parents & grandparents as well as those with older toddlers & pre-schoolers. Literally clear the air and bring peace of mind to your entire family through a number of recommendations and resources.

Find Take a Deep Breath: Clear the Air for the Health of Your Child by Nina L. Shapiro, MD at the following spots:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s Books | Indiebound | Book Depository | Goodreads

Thank you so much to the author, Nina L. Shapiro, MD, for providing a copy of this book for review and giveaway! Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook!
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our various affiliate relationships.

Don’t Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala
Published by HarperTeen
Pages: 299
Ages: Young Adult
Release Date: 3rd January 2012
Buy It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s Books | Indiebound | Book Depository
Publishers Summmary:

Joy delamere is suffocating.

From asthma, from her parents, and from her boyfriend, Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. She can take his cruel words, his tender words . . . until the night they go too far.

To escape, Joy sacrifices her suburban life to find the one who offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. He introduces her to a world of fierce loyalty, to its rules of survival, and to love—a world she won’t easily let go.

Set against the backdrop of the streets of Seattle, Holly Cupala’s power­ful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the secrets we keep, and the ways to redemption. But above all, it is an unflinching story about the extraordinary lengths one girl will go to discover her own strength.

When the world you love leaves you broken and battered sometimes your only hope is to flee, even if that means risking your life. For Joy Delamere this is a harsh reality. Left under the care of someone both herself and her parents thought they could trust she’s left only a sliver of the person she remembers. His abuse drives her over the edge and into a world where she may never come back. With raging asthma and very few resources, including medical, Joy becomes Triste on the streets of Seattle in hopes that she will escape the fears that follow her every footstep and nearly leave her without air.

Again, I’m left breathless. My first experience reading Holly Cupala’s writing was with her debut novel Tell Me A Secret and in that case I was completely blown away. Holly Cupala has a proven talent for knowing how teens think and feel. Much the same way that authors like Courtney Summers and Beth Kephart get inside the minds and bodies of their characters, Holly reaches in to share their deepest fears and vulnerabilities making them characters you quickly hope for. This time it’s Joy/Triste and her broken heart, body and mind. And again, in many ways my own heart is broken on her behalf.

In some ways there are parallels between Holly’s two novels, the biggest being the characterization of the two girls each story is centered around. In both Don’t Breathe A Word and Tell Me A Secret you have two girls who both have a need for acceptance or validation of some sort. In Tell Me A Secret it comes from a place of betrayal by her best friend, boyfriend and ultimately her sister; with Don’t Breathe A Word it’s from her boyfriend Asher. Both girls, Rand and Joy, have parents that are flawed and in a lot of ways have left them both to fend for themselves. What results are girls who are insecure and in need of love. I’m obviously over-simplifying things here, because there are a number of variables that contribute to both girls situations but at the heart is the fact that they both need to be loved.

As for the plot and story of Don’t Breathe A Word, let me simply state that it’s brilliant. It’s subtle messages and the pain you feel through it’s pages are something you don’t find often in young adult literature. For me, someone who has lived through much of the same types of abuse Joy suffers through, it was heart breaking but overwhelmingly comforting. What I would have given to have had the opportunity to read something like Joy’s story during that time in my life. Her abuse at the hands of Asher is unfortunately something I know happens all too often for a number of reasons, but I’m grateful for stories like Don’t Breathe A Word that bring attention to and potentially help those who suffer in these situations. The comfort Joy/Triste finds through her new friends on the streets, including Creed, was something I could completely relate to. Yet again proving Cupala’s ability to understand and know teens as they are.

Holly Cupala has again proven that she knows not only her audience, but knows how to reach them. Don’t Breathe A Word is Holly’s second novel and yet again she leaves her readers breathless and gasping for more. Joy/Triste is a character that reaches out from the pages begging for help and sheds light on not only abusive relationships but the harsh reality of homeless teens. Don’t Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala is easily one of my favorite books ever and I’d quickly recommend it to readers who love a story filled with brilliant writing, real characters and a story the grips you from page one until the very last.

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages 16 and up. A favorite. Realistic contemporary young adult fiction at it’s finest. A story about love, abuse and the ways in which they connect and divide.

Find Don’t Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala at the following spots:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s Books | Indiebound | Book Depository | Goodreads

Giveaway!

As part of the Don’t Breathe A Word tour readers have an opportunity to win a copy of this brilliant new novel by Holly Cupala once a day during the tour! It’s even open internationally! Take a look at the details:

• There will be one book given per day, drawn weekly. Everything entered by Saturday night of that week will be put into a drawing on Sunday.
• The points DO accumulate, meaning entries put in for week one will count for the drawings in weeks 2 and 3.
• There will be up to ONE international winner a week. If the winner is international, a copy will be shipped from The Book Depository.
• Only US/Canada copies will be mailed from Holly and those copies will be signed.
• The final drawing will held Sunday, January 15, and will include all entries through midnight CST Sat, Jan 14.
• No purchase necessary.

That’s it! So many copies of Don’t Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala are up for grabs that I’m positive you won’t want to miss this one! You can gain additional entries as well, but you will have to complete the form for each entry you submit. Here is a rundown of all of the possible ways to accumulate additional entries:

• One automatic entry for the first initial filling out the form.
• For every post you comment on during the tour you gain one entry. You must fill out the form and link to the blog post for each comment.
• Tweet, facebook, do a blog post or somehow include the tour on your blog. Only one entry per option, no additional entries for tweeting/posting daily.

This giveaway is put together thanks to The {Teen} Book Scene Tour and Holly Cupala. Thank you! To enter click on the following link and complete the form for each entry you wish to submit. Good luck!

Entry Form for the Don’t Breathe A Word Tour Giveaway

Thank you so much to the author, Holly Cupala, for providing a copy of this book for review and sponsoring the giveaway! Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook!
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our various affiliate relationships.