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Monday, October 20, 2008

Two Big Hunks of Bloody Good News

Okay, so I've held off on blogging until I could share what I did today. But first...School Library Journal gave NINTH GRADE SLAYS a yummy lil review today!

School Library Journal

November 2008

BREWER, Heather. Ninth Grade Slays. Bk. 2. 278p. (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Series). Dutton. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-47892-8. LC number unavailable.

Gr 6-9 Vladimir Tod wants be popular like his friend Henry and cool and carefree like Henry's cousin Joss. He would so enjoy putting bullies Tom and Bill, who have been tormenting him for years, in their place. And, of course, he longs to tell Meredith about his feelings for her. All of this should really be a piece a cake for him. He is, after all, the only vampire "living" in Bathory, and he possesses extraordinary powers. Unfortunately, luck does not seem to run his way. What is working for him is the opportunity to go to Siberia with his Uncle Otis to be trained by Vikas, one of the oldest vampires around. Vikas sharpens Vlad's skills, especially in the area of mind control, and educates him on vampire history, language, and culture. Vlad also learns about the prophecy regarding the Pravus, a powerful vampire born from a human mother who will not only rule over all of vampirekind but also enslave the entire human race. Upon his return to Bathory, he is pursued by a vampire slayer and attacked by another one. Could Vlad, whom readers have come to love, possibly be this evil Pravus? Brewer does an excellent job keeping readers on their toes with an intense plot full of many twists and turns. Her writing style is original, witty, and on target. It has a different intensity than series like Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" (Little, Brown) or Richelle Mead's "Vampire Academy" (Penguin), but teens will eat up this installment and be ready to sink their teeth into the sequel.
–Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

Yay! How fangtastic is that review?? Me likey. :)=

Okay, back to today. Today, my Minions, I spent all day (from roughly 10am to 3pm) with a film crew. Yes...a film crew. It seems that your Auntie Heather is going to be on the Scholastic Author Video for NINTH GRADE SLAYS! Watch for that looping at your book fairs starting in the Spring.

It was such a cool experience. The crew was made up of amazing, fun people. We shot footage at a cemetery, at a church, and yes, inside my home. And I can't wait for you to see it! It was a blast to do...but now I'm very, very tired. So off to couch with me. I must veg.

Edited to add: To find out more about Scholastic's Author Videos, check this out: http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/books/videos_all.asp

23 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh Auntie that's so exciting!! The review was awesome, and the video sounds totally cool, although I am a little confused on what a Scholastic Author Video is...like is it a mini-movie? Oh and be sure to get enough rest!

-Julz :)=

5:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's awesome! But i agree WIth Julz, what is this little mini-movie thing?
Oh whatever, i'm finally in a positive mood! Get some rest Auntie, you deserve it!

Jes

5:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cool beans! I think that Vlad is a polar opposite from those over-dramatic other vampire books, vampires need some air... and you deliver it perfectly.

But anyway... the video sounds exciting. Can't wait to see what exactly it is!

6:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's awesome about the movie...I just hope I'll get to see it!!!

6:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

omg a video!!! that's so cool!!! my school probably won't have it. my school is so cheap...~sigh~ oh well. sounds awesome!!! and make sure to get enough rest. i know what i'm like without my sleep...you do NOT want to see it. ...i love sleeping...zzzzz

6:12 PM  
Blogger Sherrie said...

Woo hoo, my Scholastic book fair is scheduled for January...I hope that's close enough to "spring" to score the spring author video!

6:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yay Auntie Heather!!!

7:58 PM  
Blogger AVL!_VLAD_LOVER! said...

AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! THAT REVIEW WAS REDONCULUOS!!!!! AND SOOO IS THE MOVIE THNG!!! THERE BOTH REDONCULUOS!!!!! YOU AND VLAD ARE REDONCULUOS!!!!!!!!!! YAYYY!!!!!!!


LUV AVL!!!!!!!!!

6:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

what does redonculuos even mean??? not that it's a bad word. it's great!!! i love it!!!! okay, i was lieing when i said i love it...but we all lie, so it doesn't matter. ♥

12:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

well i hope i get to see it, my school usually doesnt have a book fair(which i need, so i can get more books, i've been reading 6-10books every week just waiting for book 3)but if that doesnt happen i'll just youtube it. (yay for youtube!):)=

1:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope that it's on youtube! I don't think we have that fair at our school...although we do have bake sales...
Can't wait to see it!

Jess

1:42 PM  
Blogger Camidee said...

Scholastic Author Video? My schools never had anything like that before... Usually they just have book fairs in the library and we go in and buy whatever, or more recently, little catalogs we just order from. I hope they show a video in class or something. X3

3:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

is that th video we whatch before the book fairs that show the books that will be there, and interview some authors? i think it is.

also auntie, do you have any idea how to switch the format of a scanned drawing? i am trying to send mine for the contest, but it is in the wrong format!
-amanda^^

4:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

congrats! that's so cool.

4:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Man i wish i had whatever they do in ur school Amanda! Although, i am very grateful that the play in our school dramna is Dracula!
And agaiun, yes, i did have a lot of sugar beofre i wrote this :P

Jess

5:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i love sugar!!! ☻

5:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's so exciting! I am happy for you! ^__^

7:05 PM  
Blogger AVL!_VLAD_LOVER! said...

Redonculuos is just a good word that teenage boys yousta say. i dont really think they say it anymore:)= they said that in like when my big bros were like 14 and 15 or sumpen. i love all those old stupid boy words O_O there awsomenova

Luv AVL.

6:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yes they are!!!haserhaerhatehajkteykthnjwrmkjsrmkstmykfydj...that's one of them...♥

12:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks alexis and jewel! And yes, sugar makes the world a better place.
I'm only an extra in teh play since i'm a freshmen and stuff, but i am gratefull all the same! I get bitten in the first part lol!

Jess

1:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

you get bitten?!?! that's awesome!!! do you bleed to death or do you become a vampire? or does something uncool happen?

7:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I get dragged off. I'm just an extra, but it is pretty kewl.
The only time i come back is when i'm a 'dark sister' adn i crawl across the stage. that's kind of kewl lol

Jess

12:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

kind of kewl? that's awesome!!! why can't i have that part??????? ???

???
??????
????????????!???

8:40 PM  

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What People Are Saying About 'Eighth Grade Bites'

"A spooky mystery that's funny, gruesome, heartwarming, spellbinding, sad, joyous, surprising and topped off with a tasty blend of blood and chocolate. Yum. What more could you ask for?" ~D.J. MacHale, New York Times-bestselling author of PENDRAGON: JOURNAL OF AN ADVENTURE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE

"'Eighth grade Bites' had me on the edge of my seat. It's a great piece of fiction. It drops you right into the action, grabs you by the throat (pun intended), and won't let go. Vladimir Tod is a truly sympathetic character cursed with an existence not of his own doing, but doing his best to do the right thing. It's part 'Goosebumps' mixed with 'Harry Potter' and a dash – no, a heaping tablespoon – of Stephen King. If you're in eighth grade, or a vampire, or an eighth grade vampire, 'Eighth Grade Bites' is a definite must read!"~Butch Hartman, creator of Nickelodeon's THE FAIRLY ODD PARENTS and DANNY PHANTOM

"Eighth Grade Bites is a terrific vampire tale told with a sharp, middle-school grin. It definitely does not bite!" ~Christopher Moore, author of BLOODSUCKING FIENDS and A DIRTY JOB

"Eighth Grade Bites is a delightful novel filled with dark, biting humor that will appeal to everyone who ever felt they were different. A deft hand at depicting the angst of teen years, Heather Brewer does a wonderful job blending vampire legend with the modern day horror that strikes fear in the heart of so many: the eighth grade."~Katie MacAlister, New York Times-bestselling author of EVEN VAMPIRES GET THE BLUES

"Heather Brewer has invented the most endearing of vampires in Vlad, an eighth grader juggling the woes of adolescence with the decidedly unique difficulties of being a vampire. She perfectly captures the humor and angst of eighth grade, mixed with a nail-biting adventure. Utterly charming and irresistible!" ~Liza Conrad, author of HIGH SCHOOL BITES: THE LUCY CHRONICLES

"This book will fool you. Just when you think you've identified it as a story lit by the cheery glow of a slightly scary jack-o-lantern, it becomes something else -- a tale told by the flickering light of a dying campfire late at night. And the shadows are very dark indeed. A surprising mix of humor and horror." ~Douglas Rees, author of VAMPIRE HIGH

"Fresh and fast-paced, with just the right brew of chills and laughs. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens when Vlad hits Grade Nine." ~Nancy Baker, author of KISS OF THE VAMPIRE

"A fabulous book from a gifted storyteller! I never wanted it to end." ~Gena Showalter, author of OH MY GOTH